By no means disappointing

Rating: 7/10 (29 August 2002)

Now, despite being pretty much a sci fi geek, I wasn't actually aware of Star Wars until the Digitally Remastered box set was released, and as such Episode 1 was the first Star Wars film I saw in the cinema, and I was stunned. It had almost everything, interesting new (or rather, old) technology, nice glimpses into different cultures, fantastic graphics, I'd go as far as to say it was the first film in ages that I felt came close to the standard set by Jurassic Park and awesome sound, the pulsing of Sebulba's Pod Racer's engines as he flew past took my breath away. I left the cinema absolutely wowed, I wouldn't have faulted the film at all. When it was released on video I bought it straight away, and it was the first film I noticed as being somewhat... lacking on video, to me it is very much a film built for the cinema. Furthermore, on about the third or fourth overall watching that critical factor began kicking in. The Jar Jar factor. I'd never much noticed him the two times I saw it in the cinema, in fact the second time I was very much on a "I don't see what's wrong with Jar Jar" vibe upon leaving, but for some reason I really saw him on the TV, and I suddenly saw what the big problem was. I also started getting a bit annoyed by the Annakin character, well, more annoyed at the acting than the character. Obviously you can't really expect a child role to be impeccably acted, but I've seen better.
Now, since the original trilogy were never such an intimate part of my early life I fail to get so passionately embittered about the folly that is Mr. Binks, but I would say he spoilt an otherwise decent film, I actually find him literally cringeworthy, which doesn't often happen. However, I definitely find the incessant "jumped up toy advert" claims unjustifiably harsh (especially since I can't for the life of me find a decent model Destroyer Droid!) and Binks aside I thought the film was more or less all I'd hoped for.