Better than the critics are saying, worse than I was hoping for

Rating: 5/10 (6 June 1999)

Episode IV - it is not... I am a huge Star Wars fan - unlike most current viewers, I've seen them all at the theater when originally released - and was hoping for a lot more, especially after all the hype. The special effects of the movie are incredible, but the storyline was very weak. You never feel close to any of the main characters and there isn't the humor that the original trilogy had. Of course, as everyone is saying, Jar Jar Binks is the most annoying, child-pandering character George Lucas has ever created... its as if he's trying to entertain toddlers who are fans of Barney or Teletubbies... I just hope episodes II & III return to the original strength of the trilogy.