Let me start this off by saying I am NOT and have never been a cult follower of the Star Wars mania. I am a movie goer that loves to sit in the dark and watch the light shine through the celluloid (digital sucks). I judge every picture on it's merits (my opinion) and not on it's sequel, prequel, original, predecessor or any other comparisons. One picture, one review. That out of the way, let me say that this picture stands totally on it's own and should be judged on what it is, a well made and entertaining story put to film. The long awaited voyage of Anakin Skywalker toward the dark side of the force has begun. He's torn between the life of his wife, Princess Padmé (Natalie Portman), and his allegiance to the Jedi brotherhood. The distrust of the Jedi Council towards him and the direct pull of the unknown Sith Lord gives cause for great concern in the Republic. Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) sees a drastic change in his mentee but continues to have faith in his abilities and direction regarding The Force. With all of this happening Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) places young Anakin under his wing and puts him on a path that will alter him, The Force and the Republic. Science fiction these days is 90% special effects and 10% story, acting, casting and all the rest. This picture had all the effects even the most avid fan could ask for, from the opening scene to "The End". The acting was sufficient and the cast was ok. What this installment had going for it, in a BIG way, was the "tie up". This story "tied up" ALL the loose ends from the saga. Everything that you ever worried and wondered about is explained and solved. In fact, if you take all six episodes and watch them in numerical order, they're chronologically correct. Totally! I like that. The story is now complete. Well done, George, and thank you. "You're breaking my heart, Anakin!" RECOMMENDATION: Of COURSE you should go see it! You saw the other five and this one ends it, and very well I might add. Take the family. Rated PG13 for Sci-fi violence with no guts or gore. TWO NON-SEQUELED, NO PREQUELED, GOOD ON IT'S OWN, THUMBS UP!!! (The end of an era) Movie Review © 2005 by Terry Anderson |
