Lucas should have asked himself before making all these prequels: "What would this movie look like with original 1977 special effects?"

Rating: 7/10 (29 May 2005)

I love the original Star Wars trilogy and I'm even enough of a goober that I'll read some of the Star Wars books that continue the story of Luke, Han and Leia. So, honestly, I think I'm your typical American. Star Wars is right up there with apple pie and baseball, and if you've never ever had an incredible urge to pick up a lightsaber and go at it after watching the Star Wars movies, then you should have your head examined, or grow an imagination, whichever one is easier.
So I'm just the type of sucker George Lucas was counting on when he made these prequels, because let's face it, these prequels are for the fans. Like many, I was disappointed with Episode I and II. They lacked everything that made the original trilogy a classic. The critics are right, Episode III is the best of the prequels and the first one that comes close to being a satisfying movie but it still lacks that "oomph" that made Star Wars such sci-fi greatness. I honestly think the main reason why most people are happy with the third film is because it introduces most of our favorite characters from the original films, and it has lots of Jedi lightsaber fights... lots of 'em!
The problem I have with all these prequels is if Lucas had the same "stone age" special effects technology he did with the first ones, I don't think there would even be a reason to make most of the scenes in these prequels. You know, back when Jaba the Hutt was actually a huge puppet, when the Death Star interior was really a set piece and not a blue screen, or when lasers and lightsabers weren't CGI. Lucas couldn't fall back on incredible ten minute pod racing sequences, spectacular city backgrounds or insane Jedi stunts in the original trilogy but none of us cared! What pulled us in was a great story, compelling writing, on-screen chemistry with the main stars, a continuing storyline, and everything else that this prequel is missing. You know your trilogy has problems when even the eternally cool Samuel L. Jackson looks awkward as hell.
So if you're asking if this third prequel justifies the first two wrecks and gives us an overall trilogy equal to the original films, the answer is no. Go check out The Lord of the Rings if you want a fantasy trilogy on par with the legendary original Star Wars trilogy. But in Lucas' defense, there have been trilogies that managed to destroy their series far worse than he did. Just look at The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, and suddenly Lucas looks like a genius! If you're just a casual Star Wars fan and wondering if you should pay the bucks to watch this movie, I say yes! You don't need to watch the first two to get into the third movie and now I'm not even sure if it was necessary to make the forerunners as a trilogy. Episode I especially looks pointless.
Now that the prequel hype is officially over, I feel as though I've read another fun Star Wars book series or maybe even played one of the better Star Wars video games out there like Knights of the Old Republic or Jedi Knight. And that's how I recommend you view the prequels. They're more Star Wars candy for all of us fans who have ever wanted to pilot an X-Wing or fight with a lightsaber, but they'll never replace the feeling we had when we watched Luke Skywalker face Darth Vader or Han Solo fly out of trouble one last time.