Some flaws but a highly enjoyable SF movie

Rating: 7/10 (30 November 2017)

I watched it recently and I really liked it.
The Jedis are presented like some diplomats, but we quickly see their power as they free themselves from a setup trap made in the ambassador star-ship. This one scene is really important. Not only we see their mastering of light-sabers, but we see some use of the Force, so we have everything we need to understand what are they capable of in a matter of seconds. And the movie keep this kind of efficiency until the mid-part.
The characters are well-written and enjoyable, even evil ones. It's interesting to see the Force used to tweak a dice roll, rather than it's usual, powerful bash. Don't get me started on Missa, the biggest wacko of the galaxy. When the war with the droids has begun, he just goes bananas, but he is killing a lot of enemies by his accidents, really fun to watch.
The pod race is sheer awesome. I enjoyed every second of it. Watching Anakin beating older, stronger opponents, with a fair-play handling of electronics crafting skills. He even made a robot for his mom, how lovely is that.
Aaaaand then the movie dives into an hour of boring negotiations. We lose some sense of characters, the pace is entirely gone. But eventually it ends.
Overall I recommend it. It aged well.