GREAT-depressing-Stunning visually

Rating: 7/10 (19 May 2005)

I'm updating my first post because I saw the movie AGAIN, and now have different view of it. The first time I saw it was 12 midnight and I was very tired with a headache too. So I saw it again the next day, fully rested, feeling good, and now can give a fair assessment of it.
Acting is fine in this film with the exception of Portman in 1 or 2 scenes, and Jackson in a few scenes. Portman is weak with her "oh Anikin - let's go somewhere where its just you and me and our love" bs. Jackson isn't "official" and "military" enough in his demeanor and presence. He struts when he walks. No disciplined use of the English language- casual and lax in word pronunciations. It doesn't seem appropriate for the military "flavor" of "Jedi-status" individuals. He and Portman are A-list, fine actors who are fantastic in other roles but not in these.
We all know this is the story of the fall, so I wasn't expecting a happy ending. However, Lucas chose to end this thing with a scene that I thought was absolutely FANTASTIC. In the first movie, there is a scene (which I won't reveal) which became a sort of Landmark for its emotion, power, and uniqueness at the time. I thought that I was the only one who really loved this scene and remembered it. But Lucas, obviously recognized it as well and it was a fantastic way to end this movie. That being said...
My problem with the film: I personally don't think we're given proper motivation for Anikin to fall to the dark side. If Lucas had shown slight clues of instable character, betrayal tendencies, or character flaws inclined towards evil previous to this movie, then this fall would have been more believable, as this sort of "hidden" but dark side started to grow. When Anikin falls to evil, it is so tragically depressingly unbelievable that I simply wanted to walk out of the theater; I mean - there was no well-developed REASON for him so suddenly turn to evil, I was like- so "what's up wid dat"!??
Regarding endless fight scenes, Its a time of war; there's going to be much fighting. Deal with it. Just don't go to the movie tired with a headache; it'll wear you down fast if you do.