Overall a satisfying beginning to the Star Wars saga

Rating: Null/10 (21 May 1999)

I was a little nervous about the thrashing this movie had gotten, but was pleasantly surprised when I saw it for myself. The plot was decent enough, and the special effects were, as expected, stunning. My main criticism, though, would be of the incredibly annoying character Jar Jar. I understand Lucas' desire to insert some comedic relief, but he was given too many pratfalls and "getting into trouble" scenes. The voice is incredibly annoying, and I can't picture anyone actually approving it. However, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson were excellent, and most importantly, the film felt like Star Wars.