Always on the move.... *Beware of spoilers!!!!!!!!!*

Rating: 8/10 (27 May 2005)

This is one excellent movie!!! The effects, the story, the action, it was tremendous! The story opens up over the home-world of Coruscant. Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been summoned to help stop the attack and save Chancellor Palpatine who has been kidnapped and taken onto one of the enemy ships by the movie's new enemy, General Grievous (a half droid, half alien commander). When Anakin and Obi-Wan find Palpatine, they have to confront Count Dooku, the guy who sliced off Anakin's arm in the last film. Obi-Wan is knocked out and it's down to Anakin and Dooku. In his anger, Anakin chops off Dooku's arms before slicing off his head with his own lightsaber. The Dark Lord of the Sith now had to look for a new apprentice. And he has someone in mind.
After that, we find out that Padme is pregnant with Anakin's child. He says that he's happy, but he has dark dreams of her dying in childbirth. He becomes desperate to save her, claiming that he would be nothing without her.
Meanwhile, Anakin's relationship with the Jedi Council is becoming estranged. He has been appointed by the Chancellor to be his representative on the council, and the Jedi accept him but don't promote him to the rank of Jedi Master, which he deems extremely unfair. The rest of the movie becomes considerably darker after this....
This is by far the best installment of the Star Wars new trilogy. It wasn't nearly as bad violence-wise as I thought it would be (tho the fighting is still extremely intense, not appropriate for small children) and the acting, while still suffering from some bad delivery, is better then some people have deemed it the past few years. Even the girl who plays Padme was able to deliver some of her lines well.
The effects hardly need mentioning. Star Wars has become notorious for having some of the best effects out there, and, while still not up to par with Lord of the Rings, are still outstanding. The Starship battles, creatures, the fighting scenes (much of it does have to be CG. There's no way you can get Christopher Lee to jump, do a somersault in the air, and then land squarely on his two feet without risking some serious back injury) and of course lightsabers and backgrounds are done better then in any other of the SW movies.
The movie still suffers from skewed theology, which everyone has become accustomed to. Its highest peak of incorrectness is when Obi-Wan tells Anakin that only a Sith deals in absolutes. Not only does it attack many religions including Christianity for its "single-mindedness", but it's contradictory since the Jedi seem to be absolutely devoted to protecting good and also seem to be absolutely sure that the Sith and their ways are evil. Also, it's saying that it's absolutely wrong to deal with absolutes. See how confusing it is? But ultimately, it's a satisfying thrill-ride that finishes the story of Anakin Skywalker and begins the tale of Darth Vader. It sets up for the original trilogy done in the 70's and 80's while giving the viewers the satisfaction that they haven't just wasted their money unless you're a stickler who does not accept some wooden acting in the least. The Force is indeed, strong with this one.