Great ending to an average trilogy!

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2005)

I just came back from the theater after witnessing the final chapter of the new trilogy... well what can i say, i'll make it as short as humanely possible since i'm dying to doze off a bit and tomorrow i won't bother writing anything anyway (i'm sure of it).
Anyway, the film starts with a rather spectacular space scene, reminiscent of the "space-corridor" flying experience in the previous trilogy, and the digital effects employed in this one, especially considering all the new camera angles showing off the bouncing shape-changing droids was a sight to behold (the attention to detail is REALLY unmatched by anything else out there) and the CGI in the movie (read: the movie) is really amazing, what with the flashy explosions, the incredibly detailed character models (General Grievous was tricked out nicely) and the vast environments which were lush and vivid and these sort of effects permeate the entire movie and probably make it the most glamorous film i've EVER seen in my life so kudos for Lucas for actually overthrowing the previous two films (which were not half-bad by themselves) from the throne of CGI-mastery. Now for the bad things... well, the acting went up a few notches (especially the scenes between Padme and Anakim), but they were still kinda corny and phony and at times i felt as if i was sitting in a theater and watching a theatrical play... which wasn't really satisfying as you can tell. The rest of the cast does a pretty good job: Samuel lee reprises his role as a Jedi Council master and does so gracefully and with nary a hitch, while Ewan McGregor gets his job done as Anakins mentor, though not as skillful as i had hoped but more on that later). Ian McDiarmid was the big surprise this time around, he really puts a good facade for Anakin, and the man really dominates his scenes.
Now on to the story bits: 1) Anakin's transformation was a bit too quick for my liking but i suppose they did a good job, considering how Lucas successfully managed to condense all that material in a 2+ hours movie and i actually did buy into it, even though is was not entirely convincing as a man torn apart by his love to Padme and his obligations to the Republic (on a positive note, it did give some pointers to the previous chapters, which cleared up some things for me). 2) Darth Vader looks really comfortable and lively in that new mask of his and both it and the suit fit him perfectly and you could really tell he radiated a dreary and powerful vibe. 3) Yoda is so INDREDIBLY ANNOYING, in particular, the way he always refers to everything in a 3rd person, i mean why complicate an already long-winded viewing experience (damn his scenes seemed to go on forever!!) and isn't it simpler to refer to everything as at flows out of your mouth?! - you big gooegy glob of green paint! :) 4) The 3rd incarnation didn't really impress me in the fighting department. The choreography was pretty much left intact, but the fights all seemed kinda out-of-place (watch Samuel fighting with palpatine near the transparent window (before it shatters to pieces) and sometimes it really seems as close-ups were avoided to compensate for the noticeable miscalculations in the saber combat). 5) And finally... the much talked about Padme-dying scene... all the hubbub surrounding her deathbed scene was really hilarious and made me laugh my ass off in the middle of the auditorium - i mean is it me or the following dialog lines are so taken out-of-context that the mighty Seinfield could be jealous? "She doesn't seem to have any medical condition but we are losing her. She seems to have lost her will to live" - yeah rrriiigghhtt...
Overally, this is CLEARLY (and make no mistake about it) the BEST movie of the latest trilogy and is EONS ahead of the two prequels in terms of character performance, story cohesiveness, visuals and drama and it's all interwoven in such a way that i doubt even the most die-hard SW fans will be left disappointed of the final Lucas masterpiece.
Comes highly recommended - 8/10