With high expectations of "The Force" practically bludgeoned to death by Episodes I and II of the Star Wars prequels, the third and final instalment can at least say that its light-sabre shines the brightest. In fact, the mere absence (except for a two-second non-speaking cameo) of the annoying Jar Jar Binks is enough to make you jump for joy.

In Revenge of the Sith, however, revenge is not sweet as special effects fail to mask a script too weak to support the famed saga.
What really is annoying is that of all the prequels, Episode III is the one that had the most promise.

This is partially because of the edge and intensity that delving into the "Dark Side" offered and partially because it was the most relatable - it being the one that spawns Darth Vader and bridges the gap between the old and new episodes. Unfortunately, the few sparks of hope do not exactly light up the screen.

For one thing Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen) transition into Darth Vader comes far too easily. Yes, we all know it's going to happen, but at least make the progression have a greater level of conflict! It's not as if Christensen does not have the ability, but it comes and goes throughout the film.

His Sith-entranced character has the right look though, being something of a cross between a pasty-faced heroin addict and someone in dire need of an exorcist.

The love between "Ani" and Padmé Amidala is thankfully not as painful to watch as in Episode II, but there is not much to write home about. As with Anakin, the fate of the young senator is presented as something you should readily accept from the beginning.

Apart from bearing the rigours of child birth, Amidala apparently has other abilities, as for a split-second it almost looks as if young Luke is black. This fact obviously did not go unnoticed by other viewers, as someone in the audience here in Kingston quickly shouted out "Jacket!"

In any Star Wars episode, fight scenes are inevitable and are a part of its appeal. While there are many light-sabre duels and full-on battles in Episode III, they somehow lack the pull of a tractor beam.

The fight sequences or special effects are not bad, but you don't really care about the outcome. In other words, there is nothing in the script that really draws you to a particular side or character.

When it comes to Star Wars films, George Lucas may have been better off when he was poor and struggling and clearly took more time to develop characters and dialogue rather than use special effects. Gone are the days of the wise-cracking Hans Solo and a cast of characters who really pulled viewers into the film.

In Episode III, with a few token "Oh dears!" from C-3PO and a one-liner here and there, as with all the prequels, the dialogue is as dry and empty as the deserts of Tatooine.

As the best of the prequels, Revenge of the Sith is not a bad movie but it isn't a particularly good one either. Driven by a great score, it has the promise that you wish could have come in its earlier counterparts and therefore paved the way for better films to come.

As it is, the final film gives too little too late, relying too much on general knowledge of the story and the passion of fans to make the leap into hyperspace. An okay movie experience, but the only thing tried and true is R2D2.

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