what did you expect?

Rating: 7/10 (28 May 1999)

OK, I've been out of the loop. I didn't see the trailers, and I didn't read any of the critics' reviews. I happened to see the first showing, but only because my girlfriend and I heard that there were still tickets left on the radio at about 11:30 Tuesday night. So, I really didn't know what to expect.
I think that helped. I have to say that I enjoyed this movie as much as any I have ever seen. The special effects and the action scenes were awesome, and the fight between Darth Maul and the two Jedi Knights was nothing short of inspirational. Sure, the plot was a bit weak, and there were some cheesy moments, but I think the pure fun of Anikan's pod race more than makes up for that. In short, I think people were expecting a life-altering, philosophically deep movie. That's not what this is. It's an action-filled special effects showcase, and it's really just a whole lot of fun.