No surprises

Rating: 3/10 (25 May 2005)

The special effects on Star Wars Episode III are breathtaking. If anything they are too good. All buildings are immense, heights dizzying, and space ships as numerous as swarms of plankton. But they are all computer generated, which means that the actors have nothing to interact with. They can't put a hand on a door frame, can't slump against a window, and don't get jarred around in the seats of their fighters.
There must have been armies of highly talented visual artists working on the film. I only wish that some good writers had been allowed to help too! If you have seen the original Star Wars film (Episode IV), you will know exactly where the the strands of this story must arrive, but they are stretched thin, and go nowhere unexpected or interesting. In fact George Lucas has felt the need to explain how all the plot lines that happen in the next film start by inserting scenes that will seem odd if you haven't seen it. George Lucas has created a wonderful universe, but I feel he has wasted it. Imagine where a writer like Joss Whedon, who's stories are inventive, and who's characters real and involving, could have taken it. Sure, we know where we had to go, but we could have had a lot more fun on the way.
If you love special effects and production design this film cannot be bettered. If you enjoy character, development and narrative drive then you will be disappointed. No surprises here.