Good Technology, but Character Development Doesn't Hold Up

Rating: 6/10 (8 December 2005)

I would give examples, but I don't believe in putting spoilers in reviews, so don't look for them here. This review gives only my personal impressions of what I saw on the screen.
The visual effects of this movie are spectacular. The use of CGI was awesome. The technology has advanced rapidly from where is was just a few short years ago. The musical score was very good. The acting was great in some places and weak in others. The story line? That's another matter.
The basic idea of showing how a man falls from grace into evil is a good one. Certainly we all wanted to know how Darth Vader came to be after we watched Episode IV, "A New Hope." And after a fashion, George Lucas has delivered the answer.
But the answer isn't logical. The story breaks down. The reason for Anakin Skywalker's turn to the Dark Side just doesn't hold up. I've watched the movie several times now; I've even gone back and re-watched Episode II: Attack of the Clones to try to put the current movie into context, and I still come away with the same feeling. The character development of Anakin isn't believable - not even when I factor in his youth, his love for Padme, his raging hormones, his inexperience in dealing with his emotions, and the manipulation of the Emperor.
The young often think they know everything better than those who are older and have more experience, and they make some big mistakes as a result. Sometimes tragic ones. But I don't personally know of, nor have I ever heard of or read of, a case where an individual was so easily driven to such a pure and all consuming hate as was Anakin Skywalker. Over time, it is conceivable a person could fall that far, but not after only a few sentences of conversation with the one person he had sworn to rid the galaxy of. I might have rated this film 2 or 3 stars higher, but for this failure.
All of that said, the film is full of action, and some of the best sword-fight scenes ever put on film. In fact, there is so much high drama and fast action that it is difficult to now go back and watch the original movies with their light hearted approach to life.