The gauntlet has been thrown down and the challenge accepted

May 19 2005 will be a big day for me and thousands of other movie goers. 'Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith' will hit the big screen and the story of the life of one of the best known movie bad guys will be complete.

Darth Vader of course.

I have known Bill Wilson, whom you may know as the movie reviewer for accessnorthga.com and as host of 'Now Showing' on WDUN, since 1997. He and I both love entertainment but almost never agree on what is good and what
is just terrible.

Here are a few examples. I have always loved the show 'Gilligan's Island' primarily because it was intended to be dumb and was real good at it. Bill thought it was terrible. When TBS resurrected the classic with 'The Real
Gilligan's Island' as a reality show, Bill liked the idea. I hated it.

Sometimes we do agree.

We both are big fans of the British imports 'Red Dwarf' and 'Coupling' and
like them for pretty much the same reasons. Almost like one brain in two heads.

But perhaps the biggest disagreement yet is over the resurrection of the 'Star Wars' saga.

I think the concept is great. George Lucas wanted to revisit the tale of the most dysfunctional family in the universe, (the Skywalkers) and explain how Darth Vader came to be a villain.

Wilson believes this is pointless and all that ever needed to be known was learned in the original 'Star Wars Trilogy'.

Well sure, that is all you needed to know. But, is it all you wanted to know?

Let's recap.

I will assume almost everybody knows the storylines for 'Star Wars,' 'The Empire Strikes Back,' and 'Return of the Jedi.' If you do not, in a nutshell, the villain is the hero's long lost father. The father in the end gives his life to save the life of his son.

George Lucas resurrected the series in 1999 with 'Episode I, The Phantom Menace.'

We learn that Anakin Skywalker, later Darth Vader, was a slave boy whose freedom was purchased by a Jedi knight. The movie sets were elaborate, the film very expensive, lots of action but a pretty weak story. However, we
learn that Anakin has a lot of anger and fear in him and is rebellious.

'Episode II, Attack of the Clones' came out in 2002. Anakin is 20 years old and is rebellious, arrogant and very skilled with a lightsaber and even more angry. Worst of all he is also in love. Not good for a Jedi. In fact it is forbidden.

Neither Wilson nor I could figure this out. But with the cheesy dialogue and lack of a solid story, I saw it in the theater four times. Twice in Imax format in less than a week. I have never done that with any other movie. But I just loved the character development of the Jedi that would become
Darth Vader.

Now we are almost here. May is only a few months away. It is part of Bill's job to review movies and he has reviewed many. But, he is of the opinion that the prequels are pointless.

So I put forth the challenge in late December and Bill accepted. We will both write a review for this Web site for 'Episode III, Revenge of the Sith.'

Wilson pointed out that I should not bother because he is right and I am wrong. I am of the school that no opinion is wrong or right, it is only an opinion.

Besides, in his movie review section he gave 'The Passion of the Christ'
three stars and 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' five stars.

What is he thinking?

Scott Kimbler is a reporter for WDUN NEWS TALK 550, AM 1240 SPORTS RADIO THE TICKET, MAJIC 1029 and accessnorthga.com.