It came off very well.

On the plus side, the CGI seems to have advanced to George's (and the audience's) satisfaction. As has the acting - while some stuff was melodramatic or just hamming it up, on the whole we had a movie acted mostly better than average. The story also satisfies, for the most part, as do the numerous duels and action sequences. It felt like a Star Wars movie, far more than the other prequels, very much transitory to the original thematically, if not visually (as a director, the styles are just apples and oranges).

Nitpicks? There are a few. Anakin's turn in Palpatine's office, I think, should've take a wee bit longer. But looking back over all the prequels? His fall is gradual, but definite and Mace killing the potential savior of his wife as the tipping point worked for me...when taken with everything else.

I sort of wish we had more of the Purge cut scenes, more Dooku, even more Padme/Anakin to give it some oomph and establish that force bond that echoes Anakin's pain, quickening her death (it's as reasonable as anything in the Star Wars universe). Clonetrooper CGI was lackluster. Nothing substitutes for real people in real costumes yet, George.

Overall? 8/10 I'd say.

one thing sums it up

today was a good day to be a Star Wars Geek

home for about an hour and need time to Absorb everything i just took in. my eyes hurt from trying to catch the entire screen.

can say for certain right now that i'm very happy w/ the end result.

Once I was a TFN sheep . . .then in like November, I learned of MF, and have been a lurker ever since. On to the review . . .

Revenge of the Sith is for me, too much, too late.

I loved this movie . . .I definitely think it's the best of the prequels. But it sure as hell is no Return of the Jedi. I think the biggest problem I had was watching iconic characters being preformed almost "out of context", if that makes any sense. It was like watching 'The New Adventures of Jesus Christ'. The worst example of this is Emperor Palpatine. I love his character up until the turn, when he basically blew his top. He became very over the top, melodramatic, and a duelist? Palpatine seemed like the cool calculating type . . .atleast in ROTJ he did.

I remember when people used to say George Lucas raped their childhood with Episode I. I am here to say that George Lucas "screwed with" my childhood with Episode III. He took Chewbacca , Yoda, and Palpatine and modified their *established* traits.

Grevious was great . . .and I think he was better than Dooku. I would replace Dooku in the prequels with Grevious, then have Anakin execute him . . .and send Obi-wan to Kashyyk with Yoda.

I think the characters that were the best were the prequel characters. I think Mace and Padme turned in much better performances. Anakin was a hell of a lot better than in AOTC, and actually outpreformed Obi-wan in their action scenes together. But make no mistake . . .Obi-wan carried ROTS for me. Obi-wan was us in ROTS, and Anakin was our best friend.

The opening dogfight/rescue sequence was complete Star Wars brilliance. It was the kind of thing Episode II needed . . .which brings me back to my "too much, too late" comment. ROTS is a very rushed movie . . .sacrificing impact for time constraints. I think there was just too much to explain, not enough time left for it to be a movie. It was a bridge . . .and though it succeeded at this, it didn't feel like a conclusion to the prequels, it felt like the first half of the rest of the saga.

I am not one of those guys who wanted a suited Vader running around killing jedis . . .again, seeing him talk about Padme (in suit), and the way his head moves when he does, seems like giving an *established* character new traits, in the past, which doesn't make any sense. (alas, the curse of any kind of prequel)

I wish the continuity and story gaps had been taken care of in Episode II, and we were left with the gaping question . . ."How does he turn." Not the end of the Clone Wars. Time was against the writer in this movie . . .I think when Anakin decided to turn, it needed to be shown that he did it not only for Padme, but because he was now alone. Harry Knowles said that he fell because he didn't have a friend to turn too . . .that needed to be more pronounced. We never see Anakin struggle with telling Obi-wan the truth . . .we never see how Obi-wan fails Anakin as a friend . . .only as a mentor, and that breakdown, and the subsequent duel, we not as captivating as a result.

I will list what I think are the "Ball drop" moments.

- The ridiculous modulation of the Emperor's voice in the "turn" scene. The entire scene would have been much better with a good ole non-synthed voice.

- Yoda vs. Sidious. This is the decision that I think has made me rant this entire time. I think I was in love with ROTS . . . right up until this. Palpatine was a schemer, not a fighter. Yoda was a philosophizing green training dude . . .not a fighter. Yet there the two of them were, fighting away and hucking senate pods at each other. Then Yoda just ditches? He failed . . .he should fight to the bitter end . . .not run away.

- The duel . . .sort of. Although I was impressed with it . . .the intercutting with the ridiculouslness of Yoda vs Sidious drained it of its importance and impact. Only after Yoda gets away, the duel gets its proper focus. Anakin and Obi-wan actually talk, and fight, and move, and fight. In my sheep opinion, give us the duel unabridged. The prequels were the story of Anakin and Obi-wan. . .. not Yoda and Sidious.

My two cents of the whole "NooOoOoo" thing . . .I back up whoever suggested that the room just be ripped apart. I loved the akward walk . . .it was as far as it needed to go . . .but the scream was too much.

But, like I said, I really liked this movie (hard to believe, I know). This is my first post on MF, and I would like to thank all the great guys on this website who do all the good work, you know who you are.

This movie was a good movie, that stumbled away from greatness with a little too much, a little too late.

Yes indeed it was.

I'm so happy. Lucas finally gave me what I really wanted. A prequel that I can say I enjoyed as much as the OT.

Ok... see if I can write this with my eyes and brain in the state they are:

One- this was a first and a last for me. I am but nineteen years, so I was biologically inhibited from seeing the originals on the silver screen. But I have seen all the prequels in theaters. However, I'd never seen a midnight showing, so just being there was great; the waiting in line, the soaking up nerdniness... just to let it out. Shoot.

Then there was the movie itself. I dunno.. I think I'd have to say that reviews slayed my enjoyment of the first few scenes. I put the movie on the pedestal erected of many good reviews, and I'm not sure exactly what I wanted, but I think it was something akin to nirvana. And that ain't gonna happen in any movie this side of heaven. I thought the opening space battle was kind of too-small, despite its grand setting. It was Obi-Wan and Anakin talking with a vibrant background, but nothing of import taking place. But snap, "Lock s-foils in attack position..." Oh baby, oh baby. That was suwweeet. Some of the stuff Artoo did seemed a little over-the-top to me, and I was especially not in favor of him jumping out of the starfighter like he did, throughout the movie. But then I really liked the Tyranus duel, it was nice and concise, and not overly embellished. From then on it went pretty well, however.

I was a bit worried about some of the love scenes going in (and obviously, the first meeting of Anakin and Padme was the first taste of that fear), however, as I watched, they weren't bad at all, and that, in part, helped me to shift from reviewer-mode to fan-mode.

I must say, I am absolutely in love with the cue that is "Grevious Speaks to Lord Sidious." Whether it be allegedly recycled or not, it is brilliant. It is, and probably will stay, my favorite lick from that movie.

Then, more of good, nothing exemplary, nothing bad, until about when Obi-Wan gets to Utapau. I really enjoyed the fight with Grevious, although I probably would have more if it'd been a surprise that he could fight with lightsabers, or had four arms. My favorite part was the kill with the blaster, and the follow-on, "How uncivilized." However, I do wish that Grevious had just sorta been taken down with a single, more explosive, shot; it would have provided a nice counterpoint to the speed and furiousness of their [Kenobi's and Grevious's] combat.

[Now, I know there's a lot of nitpicking, but I'd rather have set down what it actually was that I was truly not thrilled by, rather than, later, setting down what I have been induced into being not thrilled by. It happens to all of us, and I'd dare say that what I actually disliked is far less than what I would find that I "disliked" after soaking in two weeks of internet chatter about the movie.]

The Opera scene was brilliant; and for a second there I saw what the contention might have been with the whole "influencing the midi..s to create life = 'I'm your pop'" theory, but when it was neatly and rapidly followed up with "or prevent those you love from dying," I was satisfied and my mind was put to rest. And then the following scenes in Palpatine's office were far better than I thought they would be. They were excellent.

And Order 66. Oh my word. Beautiful.

The execution of that scene (get it, "execution," hahahaha...) was great, the tragedy of the Jedi was... no words to say it. Anakin in the Temple, also wonderful, and the scene with the "What should we do, Master Skywalker?" Mmm, yes. That was great. And when it was capped off with Yoda on Kashyyk (get it, "capped off?" Man, my wit is truly at 100% right now...), that was pure "Sit. Down." from Yoda. And I liked it. It, and the poignancy of Yoda's realization that something was tragically wrong.

Not much to say about the duels, they were pretty much what I expected. Which is to say, they were pretty awesome. But, still, not much to say.

The end was great, especially the finale to the Mustafar scenes. I liked the transformation of unsuited- to suited- Vader, although I would have liked to see some more power and rage let loose upon him having found out the consequences of what he's done. I wanted the "Noooo" more over-the-top, I think.

There you have it, I mean, I'll discuss it more, but the most powerful thing I can say or do is write my true feelings immediately after having seen the movie.

I feel like I just turned to see the force ghosts of Episodes I-VI looking at me, and I turned away. And wipe, and cue end credits.

Tony, tell me you're joking.

there is music from Eps I and II in RotS???

ok here goes my detailed review (or rant)

pre show hilarity: for about 90 minutes, we waited in a line outside the theater. it was sectioned off with uhh...metal poles (like the velvet rope ones), but its just ribbon instead of a rope & they clip into the sides of the poles. one guy tried to walk under & caught his cellphone on the ribbon. it snapped off, knocked over 2 poles and launched his cellphone across the hallway. it was hilarious and we burst out laughing and then did a terrible job of hiding it. then when he tried to fix it, he couldn't quite click in the ribbon and it snapped back & hit him almost in the face, which made us laugh even more.

once in the theater, we had some funny guys beside us. they were joking about bootlegging the movie and had a whole ton of rude jokes to yell. the best part was when a girl came dressed as slave leia, but it was just a normal bikini top, with the gold painted on. and lets just say she was endowed. just about every guy was leering at her for 3 hours and the guys beside us screamed, HEY BABY, I GOT A LIGHTSABER FOR YA!

then the tv crews were there taping and they asked if anyone wanted to be interviewed & be on tv. me & my buddy went for it and they asked a buncha questions and we're gonna be on the news tomorrow.

now the movie: the first 5 minutes sucked hard, cuz the projectionist must have been drunk or something, cuz it was REALLY dark. like to the point where you could barely make anything out and everyone was screaming. they fixed it then.

the first battle & the ship stuff was excellent and very fun, though i thought dooku would have lasted a little longer. the following 25 min or so of talking was actually pretty well done, despite a few clunky scenes (i love you so much. no i love you so much more). the stuff with palps was great and really helped make anakins turn more believable, even though the dream stuff wasn't all that great.

grevious wasn't as annoying as i thought he would be, but his voice still bugs the hell outta me. the action scenes after were pretty awesome and the movie just got better. the scene that stuck out the most was anakin in the council room & padme in the apartment with the tense music and the following order 66 scene, which was extremely well done. there was also something really cool, when yoda throws his saber into a clone, jumps on him & pulls it out. plus anakin burning up was cool & pretty intense.

the bad: what the hell was happening with the emperor during the mace fight? his voice was changing all the time, its like he was going through puberty and some stuff he said i couldn't even understand. him begging for his life wasn't as good as it could have been and even got a few chuckles from the crowd with his whiny "oh please help me"

more on the emperor was his fight with yoda in the senate, when he goes insane and laughs like a maniac the entire time, even when he's hanging by one hand.

my complaints: the dagobah scene should REALLY have been left in, another 15-30 seconds would not have hurt the film and given yoda an offical goodbye.

as well, i was hoping that palps would actually confirm that darth plagueis was real. its implied enough, but it would have made anakins turn more concise, instead of speculation.

the qui-gon thing. it just kinda came outta left field and then as quickly as its mentioned, its over. it could have been done better i think.

and the big thing, padme dying of a broken heart. this was just really lame i think, it would have been better if she needed to give birth because of anakin choking her to save the kids & she died as a result. maybe this would have been going too far and would make anakin a wife killer, but i'd take that over dying from a broken heart.

overall: right now, i'd give it 4 stars for great action scenes, fairly decent dialogue, mostly good acting and great CG.

Now, I was thinking about this. Follow me here. She states earlier in the movie that she can "feel" Anakin, and this is at a distance. There exists between them a bond of sorts, something deep and emotional. All right. When Padme is giving birth, Anakin is being encased in his Vader suit and is in considerable pain. Couple the pain of labor, the heartache of being choked by your husband and the emotional/pain backlash going on between them over this bond of there's, and it's not too hard to think she died from a sort of pain-fueled, emotional shock to the system.

Eh. The echo of his pain is magnified in her, causing distress and hightening her already precarious condition. That's what I think, at least. It makes sense, given the fiction that we're watching anyway.

I don't want to come off as sounding patronising, but I kinda do feel sorry for you guys who were disappointed with ROTS - Tony and Tern in particular. You guys have been long standing members here at MF, delving deeply into the darksi....I mean spoilers... for a good part of 3 years and to see you feel this way about the movie is saddening, for me at least.

I hope in time you can come to appreciate it more and come and join me here on Cloud 9...

While the movie did not live up to my expectations, i don't think it ever could have. What I saw, I loved. By far the best of the prequels... and now i need a chance to soak it in before going back to the OT.

But, for now...WOOOHOOOO!!!

Too bad half the speakers in the theater didn't work at their full capacity...of course the guys behind me did the wookie sound effects during the wookie scenes...so that worked out.


Overall though, A great addition to the sacred saga.

we had 2 Tusken Raiders in our screening and when Palpatine reminds Anakin of his mothers death at their hands these guys jumped up with their gaffi sticks and did a wonderful rendition of a Tusken howl and sent cheers throughout the audience....

I'll side with you Tony. I don't know if it's because of the amount of time I've spent on here reading all tidbits for the past year or that I'm just being nit picky. I haven't had enough time to think about it. I only got out about an hour ago. Action was good, CGI the best, but story and dialogue were very eh. I don't know. I just doesn't feel as good as I thought it would be.

Upon returning from the Century Cinema in Corte Madera ... (Marin county, suckers) ... my opinion is:

That was the best cartoon I've seen since the Incredibles!

I think the caffienated pace will make for some seriously weird Star Wars marathons once the DVD is out. Episode III is just so fast, fast, fast, fast! What? Did Padme have a 2 week pregnancy? I haven't seen people travel that quickly from location to location since ... well, "24."

Minor gripes and quibbles aside... Acting was MARKEDLY improved. So much so that even serious howlers were recovered from quickly. (Like when Yoda admitted to having great relations with Wookies. There's something I hope we see in the extras. Hot Yoda-on-Wookie action.) And the movie was entertaining. That's the bottom line with this one. I'm also of the opinion that ranking these prequel Star Wars movies alongside the OT movies is just silly. These are a totally different breed of film. They're Star Wars. They're just two very different kinds of Star Wars.

My rating, based on S.U.P.E.R. S.H.A.D.O.W.'s midichlorian count list:

With Anakin Skywalker as the HIGHEST / BEST (27,700) and Boba, Jango, Han and Owen tied for the LOWEST / WORST (1,500) ... REVENGE OF THE SITH ranks: 11,300. That's right. It ranks a Yaddle.


Oh, and PS you nerds.

A voice actress has recorded some dialogue for Shaak-Ti. It's not in the movie. This means it's intended for the DVD. Along with tar baby Yoda! The advantages of being in a theater crowded with ILM-types is that you overhear some kooky stuff.

First let me say where I stand, I fucking loved this movie. It was so tragic in the final hour. I think that Ewan really shines in throughout the film. It's his smirky attitude that really holds together the first half of the film and creates a great sense of comraderie.

I think the love scenes were handled excellently. The editing style was much more close up, more sensuous I guess. I think that really helped in a BIG way. I actually enjoyed the Padme scenes, though I, and the people behind me, seemed to waiting for that one scene that would disappoint.

This film just grabbed me on an emotional level unlike the other five movies. The tragedy towards the end. The couple of lines immediatly following Anakin choking Padme were possibly the best part of the whole movie. The whole final duel, for me, just had so much emotion invested in it that it puts every other duel to shame. I cannot think of another time I felt so much emotion for the characters. I had a huge lump in my throat the whole time and had never really felt that kind of emotion before in Star Wars. I'd say this is the emotional center of the saga.

NEGATIVES:

The biggest problem for me was the arrest scene. As I was watching it for the first time, I actually found myself wishing it could be redone. There was no music (?) underneath parts of the exchange between Mace and Sidious, and that whole moment seemed so flat and odd to me. This is the key moment. That was the moment I was waiting for and hoping would rock the house, but it fell totally flat.

For a movie that filled me with such incredible emotion, it's strange how that pivotal scene really did nothing for me. If I had to pick a worst moment, that would be bit by a long shot. Not that I hated it, but I felt that moment could of been a saga defining moment, but something was off--editing, music, pacing--hell, maybe all of them. I tried to let myself go and enjoy it, but it was hard--very strange in a Star Wars movie.

My other gripe was the donning of the mask scene. I fucking loved seeing the scared Vader writhe on the table. That was perfection. The "Noooo" wasn't bad though. And I think on this part it was my being spoiled that let me down. Again, this was THE MOMENT, moreso than the arrest scene, and in my mind I had pictured so much more chaos and shit flying, and a more horrifying yell. I had this classic image in my mind that didn't quite live up.


Overall, I can't really say enough about the emotion of this movie. The other movies were fun, and engaging on a certain emotional level. But the whole final hour, Padme's "Your going to kill him?" to Hayden's awesome lines after the choke, to the burning in Lava (possible a favorite of the entire saga)--it was all just so fucking tragic and emotional. It affected me ten times moreso than I thought it would.

I just hope with repeated viewings the arrest scene gets better. Sidioius's makeup/acting actually got a few chuckles in my theater. And I spent the whole scene hoping that hood would go up.

EDIT: The music, there was great use of Padme's Ruminations and some other music used as more of an underscore. I thought Battle of the Heroes was Fucking brilliant in combination with the action on screen. It fit perfectly, I now withdraw any doubts on that front.

SECOND EDIT: The arrest scene. I think in particular it was from the point of the back and forth closeups between Mace and Sidious that the scene lost it's momentum. The exchange between them, as well as them trying to convince Anakin just did not work as well as I'd hoped for me. I think it was the editing and music mainly, but I need to see it again.

All I can say is that this was a brilliant film. My eyes almost drank in the scenery. So much to see. Very emotional, I was choked up several times. I am going to see it again and write a more in depth review.

Well done GL!

Holy Crap! Absolutely loved it! Camped out in line for 35 hours and got the whole experience topped off with a great film. Hayden did a complete 180 with his acting and restored my faith in the Anakin character and Ian, despite having some straight up corny dialogue, stole the show with his evil ass self. Is it the best flick of the saga? I'd say best of prequel trilogy obviously and I think I'd give it a tie with ESB only because ESB has that sentimental value. Great job!

Additionally, among all the discussions we had in the front of the line, it was brought up that the digitgal projection of the film would have 7 minutes of footage not seen in the reel-to-reel projection. I saw reel-to-reel tonight and am seeing digital tomorrow. Any validity to this? If anyone knows let me know too thanks!

you feel that...? that's sentimentality fucking with you.

I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact this movie overshadowed every other SW film. I'm still battling myself about it, but as it stands today after 2 viewings it is my fav SW movie.

I felt the same way at that point in the movie. Anakin's turn was a bit sudden, but I thought throughout the final hour, much of that was cleared up for me. At first I was worried it might not quite work, but the subsequent conversations with Padme, the heated pre-duel arguments with Obi-Wan, they all seemed to define Anakin's state of mind. Kind of shoddy how I NEEDED that final hour to look back at the turn and understand, but I'm happy with it.

I would've liked a few more lines before Dooku's head got cut off, as well less strange looks from Palpatine.


I also thought the pacing was good after the initial battle until things went into hyper mode. I was worried, knowing all the lengthy dialogue scenes that the film might settle down too much, but I found this whole section of the movie to be very entertaining..

nice edit there afro - good to see you expanded on your original, but lacklustre, post.

My review...

It's OK,

The end of the movie was rushed to get everything in.

Anakin's transformation came off flimsy.

Padme' popping out twins and naming them at the drop of a hat...nah.

The TF droid humor is horrible.

The acting was good.

It tied up the loose ends, but the force ghost thing was "plopped" in there.

Loved Yoda knocking out the red guards.

Yoda was well done.

Palps makeup was horrid.

Padme's death was weak.

Owen and Beru accepting Luke like he was a UPS package...no dialog, no biggie, lets just go back to watching the suns set.

Greivous and Upatu seemed like a waste of time, time that could have been devoted futher add substance to Anakin's turn, dropping off Luke, death of Padme' and more Vader and more length to the final duel.

That Lizard thing Obi rides hurt my fucking ears and annoyed the hell out me me...even more than "General i'm obviously a over the top goofy bad guy and clearly CG Greivous".

Chewbacca was completely unnecissary, nice to see him, but an obvious cameo for the fans sake.

Best of the prequels...OT is still a notch above any prequels for substance of story over effects, poor plotting and miscasts made for the PT.

I'm disoriented from an onslaught of wipes and jump cuts and twirling Jedi.

Give me five minutes and I'll actually come up with a rating system for my opinion.

I saw it twice in a row - 12am and 3am. I loved it, I was really engaged. The second time was better than the first. I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did.

I can understand the emptiness some of you feel now. I simply don't know how I will be excited about a movie after having this.

well Jedi Strider has pretty much summed up my feeling about the movie.

Got started waay too fast compared to what people have said.
Fucking gay and/or retarded wipes (amateur = adjective, shit = noun)

Other than that, 9/10. (I want deleted scenes though. A 3 hour Revenge works for me)

Franken-Vader's baby steps set off a few chuckle-bombs in my theater. I'm sure he treated Young Moff Tarkin to "Putting On The Ritz" in a lost scene.

Another stumble was the transformation scene. The visual of Palpatine's transformation was creepy and cool. New vibe for the SW universe ... but still, cool. The moment somehow came across as zany ... and set off a good number of laughs.

From now on I'll always be hoping elderly Obi goes for some higher ground aboard the Death Star in ANH... Oh, that sweet, sweet higher ground.

Just saw it....whew...

Overall i thought it was much much better then the other films.

But i was really disappointed with the first 30 mins. Didnt like them at all...

Right when it went really well, Anakins turn is rather quick. Its all well done and seeing vader burning left chills. But i couldnt help feeling that overall it couldve been much better...

On a positive note, i thought Hayden did a fuckin great job.

Sam Jackson gets worsed actoraward. I dont like him.

Order 66 was moving.

Music was butchered again..geez

Im gonna seeit again maybe i will change my mind..

People say that this movie will make Ep1+2 better...i disagree.

It only makes it even more disappointing that lucas didnt make Vaders turn slower...just too fast to suddenly give your friends the finger.

3 out of 5 for me

I can't for the life of me figure out why people are complaining about the way newly resurrected Vader stumbled out of his bindings.

In all seriousness, if this is the extent of your complaints you got serious fucking problems.

The complaints are valid. George was paying homage to Frankenstein and played it out a little too obviously eliciting some groans and laughs in a lot of theaters. The hammer of subtlety could have only come crashing down harder if Sidious declared, "It's aliiiive!"

All I can say is that the theater erupted in applause and cheers at the end.

God that was so fun.

it would have been comedy gold if Sidious actually said:

"Lord Vader, can you hear me?"

fuck must leave now but shall return after "LOST".

Fucking learn to handle the nitpicking...not everyone is going to love it.

Yeah, well, tough shit.

I wouldn't say this was the best of the series, or even my favorite -- ANH will always hold that spot for me. It was a groundbreaking work in the genre, and it was everything I could have hoped for as I was learning to enjoy that genre. But I do think that Lucas did his best work here. It took him a couple of films to shake off the cobwebs, but he really got his shit together. I plan to see this one quite a few more times.

Disappointed the first time because, despite so much of it being great, there were some absolutely glaring flaws. Saw it again, enjoyed the hell out of it, and stuff was less jarring. Not sure of a score yet, but probably 7.5/8.

Shoot me if you must, but I just feel odd
I watched episode four last night, in hopes that when I finished three I
would feel the need to watch four again, and it just isnt happening.
I gota watch III like five more times and then try the transition.

It was agreat movie, just so many things didnt sit right. Way to fast.

The final battle of Return you felt for the peopel because you had spent an
entire movie with them, an entire three movies.

This opening battle was more eye candy, so It cant really be compared
well as far as which is a better battle, but Im leaning twords Return.

Palps transformation brougth laughter to my audiance, and I swear if he
made that same damn laugh again in the senate room, I was just going to
strangle the sound editor.

I wanted to feel the presense of vadar through Haydens acting, and for
some reason, it always still felt like Anikan. I wanted to see hayden
delivering lines that reminded me of the classic vader, and it just didnt
happen.

The wookies where cool, but once again, no emotional impact or purpose
to the story besides ocupying Yoda.

Jumping from scene to scene, I felt like we ended up at Anikan Padme
scenes a little too often. BTW, how can they be living together with no one
knowing? Jedi are dumb and those dreams?? WTF

Luke in the Cave was a perfect example of what they could of been like, if
you had to visualize them, they should of been simliar to somthign in star
wars cinematography.

And, omg those wipes, did someone get a new toy or somthing, lets do the
box ones again with the checker board that spins it sideways like
windhshield wipers.. ya that one will be cool!!!!!!

Overall I enjoyed, but once again, it went to fast, and I need to watchin it
again, several million times.

Cut your legs and arms off, burn your body, get robotic limbs and try to handle yourself better after the operation. Then your complaint might be more valid.

Right, red-eyed and ears buzzing from tiredness, here is my more detailed review.

Basically, I thought that the film was superb. Really rather good. That’s not to say I don’t have criticisms, but nothing that I consider massive. Although as I come on to mention, there are a few things which are a ‘shame’ i.e. if it wasn’t for them I’d be reading negative reviews and 9 times out of 10 going ‘you’re talking sh!t’, rather than ‘yeah, you’ve got a point’.

The action scenes are excellent. The opening 20-25 minutes is an absolute adrenalin rush, and there are some hilarious moments with R2D2. While most of the exposition is in the half hour or so after this, I can ensure you that it’s done at a rapid pace – I honestly couldn’t think of a scene you could cut… though I can think of some lines I would cut (as I come on to say). The dialogue between Palpatine and Anakin (setting the scene for his turning) was spine-chilling at times – particularly when it would cut to a close up of Palpatine allowing himself a smile.

From the ‘reveal’ of Palpatine as the Sith onwards it’s virtually non-stop action. The whole things unravels as a massive tragedy. Anakin has 2 opportunities to slice Palpatine into some sort of Sith kebab, but makes the wrong decision both times. The subsequent annihilation of the Jedi is possibly my favourite part of the film….. it gets bleaker and bleaker before a Yoda moment which made me and I’m guessing most of the audience sh!t ourselves and go ‘f*ck yeah!’. You’ll know the bit I’m talking about.

It all ends in two almighty fight scenes (With more Yoda moments ) which don’t quite hit the heights of the duels in ROTJ and TPM (in my opinion). Technically they are on a whole different level, and there are some outstanding moments. But I’ve worked out the unfortunate problem – they lack the emotion of ESB or ROTJ fights….because you know what happens. Literally. If anything Yoda’s was the better fight because at some stage both he and Palpatine are on the back foot. With ‘the duel’ there isn’t really any major sense of peril, although it obviously still rocks.

Excellent/Better than expected bits

The acting is 95% fine. I include Natalie Portman and Hayden in this. MOST of the dialogue is fine also… in fact some of the dialogue was excellent. Most of this is said by Obi-wan, Yoda or Palpatine.

Did I say that Yoda rocks?

Grievous was better than expected. He has a couple of ‘holy sh!t’ moments.

R2D2 amused me greatly

I’ve said this earlier – anyone who didn’t like the Vader born/Padme dying scene needs to go home and rethink their life (or rather, go back and rewatch it). The music-less, ‘click’, ‘hiss’ and ‘kiiiiii-hooooo’ of Vader’s mask being put in place and his first breath sent a massive chill down my back. The only lines that Vader has – wanting to know where Padme is – put a massive lump in my throat and the chicks I was with cried. FFS – the guy turned in the first place for his love for the woman, which Lucas had spend a film and a half battering into our heads, so he’s not going to wake up and say ‘jesus, that f*cking burned, right let’s go conquer the universe’.

Each of the fight-scenes were absolutely superb. Shame that Dooku and Mace’s were, to be honest, slightly on the short side.

This film has more ‘holy sh!t’ moments than most films could ever dream about. Stupid example – Obiwan taking off his coat and lighting his light saber just before the duel was one of those moments.

That’s a shame

There was nothing in particular that annoyed me, but there are bits that will/have been picked up by critics already which I can see their point about. If you’re not a Star Wars fan and/or allow these sort of things to annoy you then it could reduce your viewing experience. In no particular order :

SLJ - Mace is a bit more, er, confrontational in this. Now I’ve liked him as Mace, but unfortunately every time he’s acting badass you can’t help but here Pulp Fiction et al.
Minor.

Obi-Wan – Now this is a real shame. Clearly he’s Scottish. Clearly Sir Alec Guinness isn’t. 95% of the time he nails the accent…. However 5% of the time he sounds like he’s taking the pisz with his elongated ‘posh-voice’ vowels. Given that a) you can do more than one take and b) You can dub the fecking thing, in some ways this is inexcuseable as it detracts from an otherwise superb performance. (and he really nails his last speech to Anakin)

Love dialogue – nowhere near as bad, but as I allude earlier there’s usually one line that undoes all the good ones. Here’s an innocent, but very representative example. Early on Anakin has just got back from the Clone wars. He hugs Padme (good). She was worried that he may have died (good). He comforts her and says he misses her. (good). Believeable dialogue. But then, just when ‘the job’s been done’ and he’s nailed the scene (Lucas) and he should f*cking shout CUT with all his might, Anakin/Padme will come out with something retarded like ‘I really really love you’ (I don’t know if this actually said, but you get the idea!)

Palpatine – now I love this guy, think he’s superb, but again there are times (notably after first ‘changing’) that his voice sounds weird/ cackles sound OTT!

Final one. Only truly bad scene. Padme brushing her hair. Clearly a pick-up, as Natalie Portman is 2 stone lighter and looks about 60.

Its impossible not to have some disapointments about this film, for years we have put this movie on a massive pedistal, "the movie where Anakin turns into Vader will be the best one" thats what we've all said, all the long.

We've all been guilty of making this movie into a legend/myth before we have even seen it.

I loved it, I really loved it, yes its flawed in places, but I thought to myself, I'm watching this a 30 yearold man, what would the 6 yearold that first saw ANH thought watching this ?

the Answer: "this is the best thing I've ever seen !"

Grevious was excellent, but wouldn't the whole PT been better if instead of Dooku or Grevious, we had had Darth Maul throught the films, this would have added some much needed character bonding which I think the whole PT lacks in some areas.

I thought the acting was superb, especially Ian McDiamid, Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor, top notch all of them, I was very impressed how the character of Anakin had matured, I think we all cringed at the sulky teen in AOTC.

My nit picks are:

Anakin's turn to the darkside was too quick and easy, it should have been more tragic.

The duel was impressive but not mind blowing, it had been built up too much, I still feel the Kenobi/Maul was better.

The "Noooooooo" moment, I physically cringed.

The naming of the kids, not needed.

The Dying of a broken heart, totally lame.

Not enough mechanical Vader, there should have been far screen time of the Mechanical Vader, I felt very disapointed by it.

The Qui-gon moment, it seemed rushed and lacked any mystisism at all, crap.

Even with my critisism I loved it !!!! For me its the best since ESB, but thats after just one viewing, I'm watching it again tonight, and I can't wait.

after reading some of those reviews, do people really shout/scream/applaud in theaters over there in the States? Isn't that like kind of annoying?

I know here people SHUT THE FUCK UP during the movie unless there's something to inevitably laugh about.

I third that.

Might have been a cheer at Yoda's 'backflip double decapitation', which after the Jedi Purge was understandable. For me, that was near enough the highlight of the film!

For the most part people are quiet. There were a few cheers during key scenes. Yoda owning the red guards got tons of cheers, Lots of laughter at the R2 moments, etc.

Attack of the Clones had MUCH more cheering when I went for some reason.

Nothing unusual in my experience though.

Rightly or wrongly, I've certainly get the impression that audiences in the US, er, 'overdo' their cheering. Yeah, I think a cheer is good - no problem with that.

However a fucktard shouting 'Yoda, you fucking rock' (or whatever) at the screen, and you miss the next line of dialogue is a bit OTT in my opinion

For the record, we had some twat laughing at all the corny dialogue.

"So let me get this straight fuckstick. You just queued for 2 hours, at 12 at might, to piss off 500+ people by being the 'enlightened one' who spotted that a line of dialogue sucked" Con-fucking-gratulations - you're a cunt.

The movie left me speechless as I walked out. It was that good and I hated to see it end. The end of the Mace/Palps battle gave me chills. Unbelievable movie, it was just awesome. Definitely worthy of the originals and perhaps my favorite one of all

I don't care how many light saber battles there are, or how many buttons are missing on Vader's chest plate.

I just want a plot that makes sense and doesn't expect the audience to be half-brain dead by dazzling them with showy scenes.

What exactly was difficult/didn't make sense about that plot?

Just got back. I was incredibly lucky to see it twice. The theater I went to added about four ot five more showings at 3:15 am, so after the midnight showing, I got in line with my brother for the 3:15 am showing. I have one piece of very good advice: SEE IT TWICE. I was blown away the first time, but there was so much to take in that by the end I was overwhelmed. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Then I saw it again only thirty minutes later, and the initial sensation of being overwhelmed was gone. It played incredibly well a second time. I was better able to take it all in, and I enjoyed it so much more. When I walked out of the second showing, I felt like I had just seen the perfect Star Wars movie. Granted its not perfect, but I don't really have any nitpicks. Any of you out there who have doubts after the first viewing need to see it again. Trust me, its like watching a different movie. It works better, it flows better, and it pays off much better.

Highlights (for me anyways):

The OSB
R2's adventures in the hanger
The Opera Scene
Kashyyyk
Mace and the Posse/Mace vs. Sidious
Order 66
Jett Lucas kicking Clone ss
Grievous vs. Obi-Wan
Yoda vs. Palps
The Duel
Vader (including the "Nooooooo!") Definitely James Earl Jones' voice.
The Last Shot
Ian
Ewan
Hayden
Yoda

Now I'm gonna go upstairs and lose the will to live (sleep).

My verdict:

Strike three, I'm afraid.

ILM's second (unofficial) animated feature played like a Star Wars film made by a less than cohesive "team" of fan filmmakers.

It was a frustrating experience. The good moments -- and there were quite a few -- were rendered null and void by some truly baffling choices.

George coulda been a contender.

I agree, Opera Scene was great, I think Ian McDiarmid was definately the highlight of this film - excellent deliverence of his dialogue. I found the scenes of the various Jedi being killed moving.

Loved the film.

Jesus Fucking Christ, SITH is fucking awesome!!! awesome shit.

I saw it in a shitty theatre at midnight, then I went to the Arclight to see it digital at 3:30 am and fuck me, it felt like a totally diferent movie, the sound, the look, everyone was either crying or clapping at the end.

BTW the "nooooooo" isn't the one we heard on AOTC, when Yoda heard Qui-Gon/Nooooo/Vader's breathing?

When it happened in ROTS, that's exactly what I though.