Easily the best of the prequel trilogy, but still struggling to match the magic of episodes IV, V and VI. The visuals, as you would expect, are spot on with many alien creatures and worlds bought convincingly to life - you may well complain that there is too much CGI, but you can't deny that what is there is done incredibly well. All the actors seem to have settled into their roles, the best performance coming from Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine/Emperor. There's a few moments to make fans cringe, but the film is really only as good as it ever could be and provides a satisfying bridge to the original trilogy.

This one has the best storyline, some sensational effects and an overall sci-fi classic,l amazing action and a heartbreaking climax, see it now.

Lucas raps up his trilogy with a special effects bonanza but ultimately fails in his quest to satisfy everybody all of the time. The single biggest factor in the ultimate failure of the trilogy is that Skywalker senior is just not likeable enough. We don't feel his pain or loss because we don't really care about him. We don't buy his love affair, we don't buy his friendship with Obiwan, and we certainly don't buy how quickly he crosses over to the darkside when that fateful moment comes.
In the original trilogy the darkside of the Force seemed to be the ultimate evil-something to be feared and respected. The torture on Luke's face when confronting his father and The Emperor in Empire and Jedi is painful to watch. In the new trilogy the danger seems to have evaporated into the CGI scenery along with any feeling of dread for Anakin's fate.
Still, Lucas delivers enough money shots to keep most of the people happy most of the time. The opening space battle, General Grevious' lightsabre duel with Obiwan, and the slaughter of the Jedi, are all handled superbly.
The final battle between Obiwan and Anakin is breathtaking against the volcanic setting but its tragic outcome is botched badly. The sight of the newly created Vader screaming "NOOOOOO!" like Grant Mitchell after Tifany's death on Eastnders is hilarious. Thank god the later sight of Vader looking at the Death Star with a young Grand Moff Tarkin reminds us of the heady days of A New Hope when Lucas and his audience were more in tune with one another.

This is a great film, i seen it at the cinima and got it on dvd. This is the best one of them all by far.

I know that saying this puts me in a minority but I'm an old school fan (as in saw all six films on the big screen first time around) who actually likes the new movies, including this one. It's/they're well paced, look(s) good and fulfill the required task of filling in the back story to Episodes IV, V and VI.
OK, I admit that the plot isn't as meaty as the originals but did it occur to anyone that even back in the '70s Lucas knew that the good stuff came in the last three parts? That's why he started at IV, because no-one would want to wade through the earlier episodes without the incentive of first seeing where it all ended up.
It could also be claimed that Lucas is playing to a less sophisticated audience now (and just compare any "Blockbuster" of recent years to their '50s, '60s or '70s equivalents before trying to dispute that) and it's unreasonable to expect him to alienate the mass-market money just to please hardcore old school fans.
At the end of the day this is a fun, good looking, space romp and that's all that it needs to be. Two thumbs up, George.

i think episodes 1 and 2 were a bit dodgy, but episode 3 is just like episodes 4, 5 and 6 i think this is because it features darthvader and the death star, i own all the star wars including the 2 disc originals of 4 5 and 6. i am a big fan of starwars and always will be... i think the end fight of episode 3 was brilliant, the special effects couldent have been better. hayden christensen suited anakin/darthvader right from the start, his eyes acctulay scared me a bit. darth maul, should have lived untill the second one, i would of liked to see anakin vs maul, instead of count dooku, he was over rated! i cant believe the saga is over! R.I.P starwars. i hope they one day sell the indiana jones originals! please george lucas!!!! any way i think episodes 3,4,5 and 6 were the best, episodes 1 and 2 wernt as gd, they should re-make them, or alter them at least!

A very average film with excellent special effects and an excellent pedigree. Let's face it, if you were born anywhere near the 70s you know this film doesn't really stack up with the original trilogy. I'm a die-hard Star Wars fan, but to be honest, I'd sooner kiss a Wookie than watch Phantom Menace again. Ep II was just as tiresome. And this is no improvement. So wake up and smell the thermal detonators and spend your hard earned paper-round money on some decent Sci-fi like Star Wars eps IV, V, VI, Close Encounters, Alien, Aliens, Predator, The Terminator, Terminator 2, Total Recall or The Matrix (Not the sequels).

Getting worse and worse and worse.
I actually didn't want to see this as it had Hayden Christensen again.
But what kept it from utter crap was the special effects.
Wow, could have never been better.
And Ewan Mcgregor was better than ever.
He was perfect his acting is indescribable.
I don't know how he manages to cope with Hayden.

This is what we have been waiting for. The missing chapter of this saga. After the so-so episode 1 and the better ,but no classic episode 2, the chances were high for this to fail to live up to the Star Wars name. How pleased I was after first watching this, that this is up there with the best of the episodes. It still does not manage to take the crown off The Empire Strikes Back as the best of the saga, but at times it does give it a good run for it's money. From the opening space battle, to the brilliant Rise of Darth Vadar, this is a very powerful episode. The cast have grown into the parts and added credit should go to McGreggor as the now mature Obi-wan. The film is just a brilliant build up to the battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin. And the final fight is just cinamatic brilliance.
This is just brilliant escapism and if you have not seen it because of the short falls of Episode 1 and 2, buy it as you don't know what you are missing. This is a rousing conclusion to the classic saga.

If you want to be spoon-fed a script without the need to engage your brain this is for you. The actors weren't given any room to actually act. There was no hint of menace as in Return of the Jedi and no humour as in New Hope. In fairness this was the best of the Prequels though thats not a high recommendation.