A swashbuckling end to the beginning of Star Wars...

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2005)

This movie was simply outstanding. Despite some occasionally wooden dialogue, everything came together to set up the next 3 movies...
Ian McDiarmid was brilliant as the coldly manipulative Palpatine, playing on Anakin's fears and desires to make him his personal tool and trap him in the Dark Side of the Force.
Natalie Portman is stunning, but is short-shrifted this time around, as we have seen her more active and interested in previous movies.
The battle scenes, replete with the usual CGI effects, are all excellent, especially the first lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and General Grievous, and the final battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Fantastic summer fare, best of the prequels, worth of the name Star Wars.