and the final verdict...

If you have to see one movie this year, it's Star Wars.

The wait is finally over and was it worth it?

You bet.

And it's not because I’m a die hard Star Wars fan, far from it. I stood with the majority view that the first prequel was an over-played rat race and the second was a political mumbo jumbo of madness. I loved the original trilogy but i demanded my time and money back after seeing the first 2 prequels. My impressions were sack the art department, sack ILM and the saturating special effects and bring back my Star Wars~!

It would seem Lucas has finally redeemed himself.

After spending bloody 20 minutes of watching almost every bloody movie preview that's about to premier in the next 2 months and slap an additional hour wait for the good seats the movie finally started. (Though Batman looks like a good contender of movie of the year, i will award the no bullshit, no fuss, non-celebratory award that pisses all over the Oscar called the "Jay").

Initially after watching the trailer a couple of days ago I thought "hmm cool, Lucas has gone old school with their hair styles" and true to my word, Obi Wan is a ugly mother f#%ker. Thankfully due to the incredible acting talent and lines by Obiwan you can almost believe the two were the played by the same guy.
Anakin bears the same 70's "boof" as seen in Luke Skywalker which i thought played a real homage to the original platform.

The "feel" of the movie was very much like the older versions when the movie opening with a space battle that resembles the ones in episode IV. Fast paced and action packed it's a sight that sets a new standard of space battles. What really impressed me were the internal designs of the space ships. Very old school, especially the blockage runner with ancient 80's dials and lights. Nostalgia and consistency is the word.

The scenery, fight sequences and special effects didn't fail to impress either. At times I felt there is so much going on around the environment it was hard to take in all at once.
That's the underlying question isn't it?

Lucas has often been criticized over the years with the failures of the first two movies by going over the top with "rad" designs and expensive computer rendering.
This movie makes up for it.

You see, the costumes, set and the acting is superb. I will mention Hayden Christensen has also redeemed himself as he gave a moving performance along with the rest of the cast which makes this movie believable but there is one element I have yet to mention.

The magic behind this is telling a wonderful story. Everyone who knows Star Wars is aware that Anakin becomes Darth Vader and the republic falls into the hands of the empire we are very familiar with. My futile attempt to ruin the spoiler with my previous post is an example of that.

How it happened however, is the believability not because of inevitability.

For some strange reason Lucas struck a cord and there was many instances where I felt the dilemma of Anakin Skywalker. All of a sudden, the bratty little twat in Episode I and the cocky and well natured (not to mention monologue) teenager in Episode II is now a Jedi Knight who is faced with making a humane choice.
That’s the key.

I believed everything this movie was throwing at me, for instance Anakin says goodbye to Obiwan as Master and pupil, friend to friend for the last time before they face each other again as enemies as genuinely real. Another twist I picked up on is the Emperor’s love for Anakin which reflected like a “Father and son” theme.

All of a sudden it’s not just about purple lightsabers, stupid and annoying Gungans and medichlorians and other trivial space crap. It’s about the characters and this time he got it right.

The lines are rational and logical. I personally believe will become memorable like the original trilogy.

The movie becomes very tense almost unnerving (when you see the Younglings scene and the fall of the Jedi you will know what I mean) and to the point where I can say tragic, dark and depressing!

The little twat gets used, betrayed, burned and incased in a hollow suit is not my idea of the original Star Wars family values theme. This is definitely intended for the mature audience as the movie becomes sadistic and brutally violent. The ending doesn’t serve justice but that’s the point!

It welcomes Episode IV by ending with the note that there is such an imbalance in the galaxy and we can finally understand why Anakin became Darth Vader which provides a new dynamic to a once hollow, malicious and feared character.

There was scenes that I thought was not necessary at first in particular the Wookie’s home planet and the re-introduction of familiar faces but I suspect this was to ease the tension and the pace of the story. Like the other movies, lame quirky comic relief is also included as part of the package.

This movie strike the heart cords of film critic and satisfies the fans with a ‘bang for your buck’ conclusion. Personal and powerful it will continue to inspire and entertain not existing Star Wars fans but the generations that will follow.

Lucas has truly given the world a treat with his epic that took decades to complete but will be enjoyed for many more to come.

Best 11 bucks I ever spent. Don’t really want to watch it again I admit, the emotional nature of this movie becomes too overwhelming but I remind myself in Episode IV Luke makes it better and that makes me sleep well at night.

Spoken like a true geek and I’m damn proud to be one today.

10.5/10.

-Jay, Jedi Master