It's okay

Rating: 5/10 (12 July 1999)

The commentary seems to be divided between those who loved and hated this picture. I did neither, which is why I found the whole thing such a disappointment. When the credits finally rolled, I found myself rising from my chair and walking out thinking, "Well, that's it, then."
Maybe it's because the entire movie felt like foreshadowing for the next one. Lucas and his gang should have tried harder to generate a self-contained piece of work (you can watch any of the other Star Wars pictures without the rest and still have a fun time-- not that I know anyone who has tried). Maybe Lucas is getting too comfortable. He knows full well we'll all come back for the next one, so he doesn't feel like he has to work for this one. It's a shame.
On one or two other topics. Jar-Jar Binks needs to vanish. Do whatever you have to, George, but ditch him. He's a useless, racist stereotype (and you don't have to go looking for the racism either. It's right there). There is no reason for his presence in the picture. As for Darth Maul, I'm sorry but I wasn't scared. The double light sabre was neat, but I guess he was where The Phantom Menace came in. There might have been menace, but you never saw it.
The other thing these pictures need is some kind of reluctant hero (like Han Solo or Lando Calrissian). Everyone in the picture was so earnest-- so desperate to fight for the cause-- that I wanted to see someone deflate it with an ironic comment or a dash of pragmatism.
One last thing. When Luke Skywalker appears in Episode IV, he's living with his Aunt and Uncle on Tattooine. Where does his uncle come from. There's just Anakin and his mother. They never mention a sibling. Princess Amidala doesn't appear to have a brother either, so what's the deal?
That's all.