My feelings about movies are always a bit biased straight after the first viewing. Often I rave about how good a movie is, only to lower my opinion after the second or third time I watch it. So I may come back and edit this post after seeing Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith again.

My opinion right now: This movie is as good as The Empire Strikes Back. That's a big call, I know.

All the problems with the previous two movies are gone. The pacing is better - no extended dialogue scenes that drag the movie along. The acting seems to be much better than in the first two movies, as does the dialogue itself. The special effects (which have always been state-of-the-art, but Episode I has started to age a little bit now) are seamless. And Jar Jar has no lines.

Spoilers follow. I'll make it harder to read in case you accidentally see anything you don't want to. Highlight with your mouse if you want it to be easier to read.

I loved the nods to the next set of movies. Like Obi Wan referring to his use of a blaster as "uncivilised", and the use of the Alderaan blockade runner that we first see in Episode IV. There was even a brief glimpse of a ship like the Millennium Falcon at one point.

Astute fans will note that Ewan McGregor has some little age-spots, like warts, on his forehead, which match those of Alec Guinness in the next movie. His hair and beard match nicely, too. (Hmm. Having said that, I can't find a picture of Alec Guiness that features those little forehead-bumps. Maybe I'm mistaken.) Edit: I am mistaken. Those little bumps are a Ewan McGregor thing, not an Alec Guinness thing.

Obi Wan's battle with Greivous (who was a remarkable piece of CG) was a stand-out. The interaction between a human being and a series of pixels was so convincing. It's amazing.

The scene where Anakin must choose between helping Mace Windu or Palpatine, while the two are locked in a force-lightning duel ... and chooses incorrectly. Classic. That makes the same scene in Return of the Jedi all the stronger, since then he makes the right choice.

I was disappointed that Lucas decided to include Chewie in this movie, but it was cool to see Kashyyk and the Wookiees.

The final battle between Obi Wan and Anakin has to be seen to be believed, and the final fate of Anakin (or Vader, as he is known by then) is the most gruesome and disturbing thing I've seen in a Star Wars movie. Heck, it's pretty edgy even outside the Star Wars mythos. He has all but one limb severed, then he starts burning alive? Nice.

Having Vader believe that he has killed his own wife was a nice touch, too, and explains why he isn't searching for his son by the time Episode IV comes around.

So many things to remember and discuss. Leave some comments and tell me the bits you loved and/or hated.