Lord Taylor of Warwick

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The third and final installment of the Star Wars prequels, Revenge of the Sith, delivers some of the most awesome breathtaking special effects. The movie's opening pulls you into an intense and thrilling space battle that doesn't let up for thirty minutes. Lucas' technical wizardry is second to none, whether it's battles taking place on lava worlds or even high powered meetings held in futuristic sky scrapers, one can't help but by impressed with the universe that Lucas has created and the level of detail he's put in. From a purely visual standpoint, Revenge of the Sith is probably one of best movies I've ever seen. However, much of the awe that Lucas generates throughout the movie is shattered by the stiff acting of Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman. Their portrayal as a couple in love was unconvincing.

Some people say that this is an improvement from the last film, but I think it's too little too late. In addition the the poor acting, the dialog is quite choppy and cheesey. I suppose with all of the special effects, Lucas couldn't be bothered with character development. So if you're hopelessly committed to things like great dialog and actors that move you, Revenge of the Sith is not for you. But if you're just looking for 2.5 hours of entertainment and great effects, you might have fun with this one. Of course, one character stood above the rest and that was British actor, Ian McDiarmid's portrayal of the evil emporer. Like many British villians portrayed by Hollywood, he was rather eccentric, but that's what made him great in Return of the Jedi. Revenge of the Sith finally reveals the emporer's intentions that explain the first two pre-quel movies, and as a politician, one can't help but admire the skill with which he defeats his adversaries. However, again, a good thing comes to an end with Christensen's bad acting. His submission to the dark side wasn't very believable-one minute he's a good guy battling to save the world, and the next he's being christened Darth Vader. But I suppose if I wasn't convinced that he had any real chemistry with Natalie Portman it becomes impossible to believe that he would become a mass murderer to save his wife and unborn children. Revenge of the Sith was rated 12 and it is certainly the darkest of the six Star Wars films. The film is not gorey, but the intensity of the plot and Vader's rampage towards the end may not be suitable for young children. But teenagers and those people who were children when the original Star Wars was released may find this movie entertaining. It may not live up to expectations, but with 20 years of waiting, how could it. It's two and a half hours of visual wonder and CGI excitement. Of course, one could be forgiven for giving the movie higher marks if you are able to block out the acting or take a well-timed bathroom break.

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