Sometimes one can get too excited

Rating: Null/10 (19 November 2001)

This movie is not the worst in the history of theater. It isn't even the worst of 99. It is a decent movie that had to live up to the impossible dream of that which is the Star Wars Trilogy. So many people have grown up with those movies as a staple that it was almost destined that Episode 1 would disappoint. Not that Lucas helped himself with a certain CGI character named Jar Jar (shudder). But annoying sidekicks and bad child acting aside, this movie had some great moments. The pod race was excellent, albeit long, and the final battle soundly put all the others in the previous movies to shame. Ewan McGregor is an excellent actor who really did embody my vision of a young Obi-Wan. If only there had been more of him and less Jar Jar. I can't wait to see him more in the second and third movie. Natalie Portman too was a good choice, but under used. You hardly knew her, so you hardly cared. And let's face it, this part of the saga really isn't all that exciting, things don't really start moving until Anakin grows up. All in all, Lucas did make some blunders, but they could have been much worse, and I for one eagerly await the rest of the first trilogy.