I personally feel it's underrated

Rating: 8/10 (18 September 2008)

Most people seem to dislike this film, and I'm not entirely sure why. I personally like all of the "Star Wars" movies, and though this is one of the lesser ones, it is still enjoyable and a well-made piece of an excellent saga. A few things seem to make people dislike this movie. One, apparently no one was expecting Anakin Skywalker to be a kid here, and though it isn't what we thought, it really doesn't affect the rest of the saga, and it shows how Anakin was influenced from an early age. Second, most people cannot stand Jar-Jar Binks. Personally, I like him, and I don't think he's any more annoying or unusual than any other comical characters from the rest of the saga (many characters from "Return of the Jedi"). Third, Darth Maul. I might agree in this case. He is not a great villain, has no character, and is simply a disturbing person to look at. Fourth, the Podracing scenes. Though they are not essential to the plot, they are some of the most well-done scenes in the saga. They really do add to the movie. There may be other reasons people don't enjoy this film, but I've tried to justify the main ones. People seem to be missing many of this film's good points, such as Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), one of the best characters in the entire saga, a brilliant and intelligent role as a Master Jedi. It's not a perfect film, I will agree. However, I love the dark, uncertain nature of this film, meant simply to set the stage for more great films in the saga. There are enough good points for me to enjoy the film. Not one of the best "Star Wars" movies, but definitely one of the most underrated ones.
*** out of ****