Not as bad as critics say - not as good as we wanted

Rating: 6/10 (19 May 1999)

If you're a Star Wars fan as am I you'll like this film but it's tough to love it (at least on first viewing). The film simply tries to give so much it doesn't let you step back and appreciate it. Key characters don't give you a chance to love them and the characters you do like aren't on screen enough. It certainly had the highest of expectations which didn't help and it isn't as awful as critics would make you feel. You should see it, but don't kill yourself if you're a fan of Star Wars to like it. Not every episode is going to be something you cherish forever, and I certainly won't be with this one. Lucas has pushed technical and visual things very far, now it's time for him to reclaim that storytelling magic he had once before...