A good movie which could have been much, much more

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 2001)

I own this movie on video, and in my opinion, it is an OK movie- nothing more, nothing less. Certainly several parts of the movie, i.e. the technological showcase, the elaborate costumes and scenery, stand out and are [may I say] better than the actual character developments and plot.

When I first saw this movie, I could only think of one word- DISNEY. The movie seemed so juvenile and "kiddie", for lack of a better term, than the trilogy. The trilogy was, by far contrast, darker, deeper, less simplistic, contained more thought, and just generally more intriguing. Secondly, about the Phantom Menace, I couldn't understand anything the horrendous Jar Jar Binks was saying (why did they add him, anyways? He's insanely annoying and just completely pointless...).
After about a year of forgetting about Star Wars completely, I discovered some info on the 'Net about an Episode II. I was immediately interested, and delved in deeper. I learned that the next movie would be set 10 years after the first one. I was instantly hooked. I then bought the trilogy and spent the next few weeks watching the prequel and trilogy over and over and over again...analyzing it, watching with my relatives, learning more about the background. I was, and still am, hooked.
When I saw the prequel for a second (and third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh...) time, I cut it a little slack. I learned to love the movie, as several of the things I hated about it grew on me. I looked for irony and foreshadowing, and that made me love it even more. So, even thought I was (and still am, hehe) disappointed with this movie, I have come to appreciate it in the scheme of things. It could have been so much more, but what it is right now, I simply love, and cannot wait for the next one to come out in 2002. :)