Lucas fell asleep

Rating: 7/10 (28 May 1999)

I would like to start this review on a positive note. I loved the special effects. I have never seen anything like them. The fighting scenes between Jedi were the most awe-inspiring I have ever seen in any movie.
Now for the things that I thought were bad. The space fighter scenes were lacking in comparison to the original trilogy. The viewer doesn't get to know the good guys like one does in episodes 4-6. I also didn't like how Anakin just does everything by accident. Lucas could have explained some sort of connection with the force.
I also thought that Lucas left some of the scenes unfinished. One of the scenes left unfinished was Darth Maul on Tatooine. Lucas could have anything happen to make that a little more realistic.
All in all, I thought that this movie is a poor showing of Lucas's perfectionism that we all know. It seems that he rushed the movie. I don't understand how someone could make a move for 16 years and still rush it.
Now for what I rate the movie. If it were not a Star Wars movie it would have been much better in my mind. As a regular movie I give it a 8.5. As a Star Wars movie, a 5. This is based on the above comments and the other three movies. Lucas swayed too much from the equation that worked in the original movies, and this takes a lot away from Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. I am hoping that episodes 2 and 3 make me change my mind about the quality of this move or I will be a very disappointed Star Wars fan.