They finally got it

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 2005)

I'm just old enough to have watched the last 5 movies in the theater. I feel like I saw the first one as well but that seems unlikely as I'd have been about 4 at the time but who knows in 1973. At any rate, I have to say that they finally got it with the new cast. I think everyone has really matured and it came through in this movie. I was floored by the special effects and quite moved by the drama, though I wouldn't say I was surprised by anything. The movie unfolded more or less exactly as any real Star Wars fan would have surmised:
1) The transition to Darth Vader. 2) The death of the Jedi (minus Ben and Yoda of course), though I think I had expected that to take a bit longer and to not really complete until after the full transition to Darth Vader. 3) Yoda going into "exile". 4) The culmination of the Empire. 5) The first real vision of the Death Star under construction. 6) The death of Padme, the birth of the twins, and their split to Alderaan and Tatooine.
I think the only other issues they could have spent a little time on might have been the formation of the rebel alliance, the early lives of the twins, and the eventual rise to power of Princess Leia. That said, none of that was really necessary. Thank you Lukas for a truly memorable ending to a story that has spanned nearly my entire life up to this point. I'm extremely satisfied.