Worth seeing twice, you can't catch all the subtleties in one viewing.

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2005)

(Star Wars  Episode III) George Lucas has put his crowning touch on this quintessential "pas de la resistance" finale. With cinematic grandeur that only Lucas could achieve, this ending saga quite eloquently weaves continuity into all the loose ends of the five prior epilogues.
The battle sequences are exquisite with saber swords blazing; whether matted before mountain fortitude or cascading lava flow. The audience is slowly manipulated through the ominous sequences and events which lead to Anakin Skywalkers lure to the dark side of the Force. Though I have serious reservations if that exact reasoning used in the film to trigger the turn to the dark side was indeed strong enough to do so; however, we all knew that Anakin's turn to the dark side was inevitable.
As in all of Lucas' films, the CGI effects are seamless and highly effective in whisking us into a galaxy far, far away. The film's focus was tri-fold. First, was Chancellor Palpatine's rise in the Senate and his continued stronghold over young Skywalker. Second, was Anakin's lost of faith with the Jedi counsel and his lure to the dark side; and third, was the rise to power of Darth Vader, and the annihilation of the Jedi warriors.
Again, I have nothing but accolades for this sixth and final episode. The apprehension regarding the "darkness" of the theme of this film was highly over exaggerated. As a matter of fact, except for one very disturbing scene where "newly turned" Anakin encounters some "youngling" Jedi's, everything else in the film is very palatable. The funny thing about the "youngling" sequence is it's implied rather than shown on the screen, and a scene in which (I felt) was more apt to occur at the hands of the evil Emperor, than a newly turned Darth Vader. (Just my opinion).
Sit back and enjoy. Worth seeing twice, I was not disappointed in the least; however, with all good films, I do have my reservations.
My suggestion: Worth seeing twice, you can't catch all the subtleties in one viewing.