I just saw Star Wars Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith yesterday and I have to say that I liked it. As a Generation X’er, I’ve been a Star Wars fan since the original trilogy began in the late 1970s. Episodes I and II were good as well, but Episode III is among the best (like many other critics have said, it’s probably tied with Empire Strikes Back as the best of all six Star Wars movies).

However, that’s not to say that Revenge of the Sith was perfect. I still found much of the acting to be rather superficial and hollow, especially (and unfortunately) from two of the movie’s more high-regarded actors, Natalie Portman as Padme, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The movie obviously was not supposed to be a hig-brow Shakespearean drama, but there were several times when I wished these three actors would have put a little more emotion into their scenes. I was also not fully impressed with Anakin Skywalker’s scene where he turned to the Dark Side -- his “conversion” felt a little too abrupt and lacking in emotional impact as well.

Nonetheless, the special effects were incredible as expected, the fight scenes were well-done, and I liked the dramatic muscial score that set the background for many of the climatic scenes. The final scenes of Padme’s giving birth, death, and funeral, interwoven with Anakin’s mechanical transformation into Darth Vader were also very well done. Overall, I would give the movie and 8 out of 10.

Let’s hope George Lucas or one of his chosen successors does another trilogy later down the line . . .