Disappointing. And what's up with Darth Maul?

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 1999)

I did not think that a lack of substance could leave me disappointed at a Star Wars movie, but it did. The technical achievement of this movie is beyond what you expect, most notably the pod race and the deployment of the battle droids in the final battle scene. I even liked Jar Jar. But the script was lame, the was not sense of urgency and the great evil presence that over shadowed Episodes IV, V and VI simply wasn't there. And then there's Darth Maul - what a grave disappointment. Good movies have great bad guys and Vader is one of the all-time greats. Darth Maul is extraneous fight scene filler (albeit well-done). He had no more personality than a school yard bully. I would not recommend this movie, although I will see Episode II and hope for more. **1/2 out of ****.