The waiting is over for Star Wars fans who can now see how Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side and became the evil Darth Vader.

There were long queues outside the Odeon on George Street, Oxford, as fans waited to see reportedly the last ever movie of the Stars Wars series to be made -- Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith.

It was a long time ago, that the Star Wars phenomenon was born with the release in 1977 of the first film.

Now, the circle is complete with the final 'missing' chapter in cinemas across the country.

The final film in the prequel trilogy to the original three films -- Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) -- has been one of most eagerly-awaited films of all time.

Not all fans had been impressed with the first two prequel films, The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002), but there were high hopes for Revenge of the Sith.

Some were too young to remember when the original three films were released in the cinema, while others remember all to well the excitement and thrill of seeing Luke Skywalker and Han Solo do battle with the evil Empire.

But people leaving the cinema last night seemed delighted at what director George Lucas had achieved.

One Star Wars fan repaid his dad for having introduced him to the space saga when he was just seven years old.

Steve Belcher, 33, of Virginia Way, Abingdon, treated his father, Ken, a retired engineer, to a visit to the Odeon on George Street last night as a 'thanks for the memories' gesture.

Steve, said: "Episode III is a darker film, but the circle is now complete. It all makes sense. All your questions are answered. It's sad, it marks the end of an era. The special effects have improved. The original trilogy had something the most recent two films didn't have, and this final chapter has redressed the balance."

His father, Ken, of Parson's Mead, Abingdon, said: "It was good. I've enjoyed them all."