Should've been the beginning of the Clone Wars.

Rating: Null/10 (20 April 2003)

First I'd like to say that I liked Episode 1 well enough.Jar Jar didn't bother as much as it did others...I suspect that despite what he says,Jar Jar was a test so that Lucas could try out a new toy when he replaces his actors with CGI in his future films...Apparently those are the only ones he can direct...Ep. 1 is a visual feast but is rightfully lacking in story...I know this is the set up for the next three but you could've still had a good compelling story...The problem lies in several factors.1-This should've been the start of the Clone Wars or at least the Clone Wars should've been happening...2-Anakin should've been played by Hayden Christensen from the start..and he should've been a cross between Han and Luke..Then that would've explained his arrogance and a lot of other traits that would become evident in Episode 2&3...Instead we got the little boy who is supposed to have this crush on this older woman....Doesn't work....and it doesn't create the heat needed for these two to get together as you know they will...The third thing is that the Qui-Gon character is unecessary...Obi-wan should've been the one to discover Anakin...He should've been just promoted to Knight status and a bit full of himself too...Then the remorse he feels in Return Of The Jedi would've been more poignant....The villians aren't anything to be feared....Without an enemy that is rightfully identified as the villian you don't know what's going on?That's what made 4-6 classics...The Empire was the enemy....But here there is no enemy and Lucas isn't good at trying to fool you with suspense over who are the good guys and who are bad and he can't cut it in trying to create the'Menace' in the title....There are some good points...The lightsaber battle is fantastic...But overall it too much of a technical thing...There are continuity issues....And let's face it...Lucas is in love with his toys....