Star Wars has come full circle, and its done it with style!

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2005)

So, at 3 in the morning on the 19th of May 2005 I emerge from the cinema in Portsmouth and have finally, after waiting 6 years, seen Star Wars: Episode III.
Revenge of the Sith.
Apt title.
I can honestly say now a few hours later that the film was amazing, a complete success and here's why. I have thought of nothing else since I left. Its been 7 hours and I still can't get my mind off Star Wars.
I know that people are going to watch that film and say it wasn't as good as they'd hoped. It was slow moving and whiles it was dark, the hype has been so great there was no way it could live up to expectations. However, the fact still remains that the movie was fantastic purely because it has achieved what Episodes I and II could not. It had forged a bridge between the Trilogy and the Prequels. The first thing I wanted to do after seeing Episode III was to watch Episode IV.
That is what this film was meant for, to seal the gap and create a seamless transition between all six films. And it has, and its done it well.
There are no unanswered questions as to how and why Anakin turned to the Dark side, why Luke and Leia were separated or what happened to all the Jedi. You spend the movie hoping Anakin doesn't choose evil, begging Mace Windu to encourage, include and trust Anakin, as this will undoubtedly prevent Anakin's betrayal.
There were elements that could have been improved. Padmé's emotional strain was convincing, her immortal line, "You're breaking my heart" will probably be seen as cheesy, but you can feel her pain. But the fact that she was carrying Force sensitive children was not made reference to, even though it was clear that Padmé was not connected deeply to the Force.
Ewan McGregor played Obi-Wan much in the way Alec Guinness did, so I can just about forgive his apparent detachment. The few lines between Anakin and Obi-Wan during their battle at the time seemed harsh and, I hate do say it, obviously 'acted', but then remembering Guinness's portrayal of the old Jedi, McGregor has like the film, completed the transition. Obi-Wan is now a Jedi Master, and unlike Anakin, manages to remove himself from his emotions to do what he has to for the good of the Republic.
Learning that only Threepio has his memory wiped suddenly makes sense of why Artoo runs off to find Obi-Wan in A New Hope, you can't help but love the little droid who manages to get the only laugh in the entire film.
All in all, after reflection, I loved this film purely because it finished off what was started nearly 30 years ago, and it ends the Star Wars hexology beautifully. The iconic image on the Tatooine suns allows you to leave the cinema knowing that although this is the last film, it isn't the end.
May the Force Be With You.