Great special effects, fun, but something missing

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 1999)

I couldn't be classified as a Star Wars nut, probably have seen the first 3 two or three times over the years. So, I just went without too high a level of expectations.
It's a pretty movie to look at, lots of good special effects. Go read "The age of spiritual machines" by Ray Kurzweil if you want to think twice about the world of droid/robots and people...lots of robots in this movie.
Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor were fine as Jedi master/apprentice, and they are the depth as far the cast of the movie goes. Jake Lloyd was fun as Little Anakin, Natalie Portman reminded me much more of Princess Vespa from Spaceballs than a queen. Somehow Samuel L. Jackson wandered onto the set by mistake and ended up an executive Jedi (Lucas must have lost a bet or something).
Maybe Lucas really is missing the influence of Joseph Campbell (check out some of his writings if you want a great read and wonderful set of stories...Lucus did) to develop the mythology and legacy of the picture. There's an odd nod to a big Bible story (don't want to give it away)...see if you get it. Beyond that, not too much going in the good vs. evil, path of the hero department.
On another level, it's another movie with tons of guns and bloodless deaths. Sort of 'Saving Private Ryan' meets 'Starship Troopers', without the gore. (On a side note: Lots of cute creatures to lure the young kids in with, then lots of violence. Not too sure of this formula; seems like something the tobacco industry would do)
All in all, a fun movie though. Just not at the same level as the first three, IMHO. Not sure if I'd take young kids to this; the 10:45PM showing I went to was packed with them.