Not brilliant, but an overall satisfactory addition to Star Wars

Rating: 7/10 (15 November 2005)

Let me start off by saying that this movie was R-O-B-B-E-D at the Academy Awards. No nominations for Best Costumes, Best Makeup, or Best Art Direction is downright stupid. Aesthetically, this film was downright beautiful. I really honor George Lucas for realizing a time when The Republic was at its prime, and it was basically a golden age for the galaxy. The special effects are also fantastic and, in my opinion, was the first really big visual effects film that broke down the door for other FX films like LOTR. Truly brilliant.
Writing wise, I felt the film was kind of flat and uninspired, if you will. The plot was almost incoherent (even now I don't know what the film is exactly about) and the story with the Trade Federation is unnecessarily complicated. The dialog is probably the worst of the six (but AOTC had some bad lines). "Are you an angel?" If you compare it to the original trilogy, dialog like that doesn't seem right and comes off sort of awkward. However, I will give George Lucas credit for bringing attention in very subtle ways to Palpatine and his intentions. Seeing him rise to power is a really neat tie-in to the original trilogy.
Acting wise, the movie isn't all too spectacular either. Liam Neesan does his best to keep the movie flowing, and for the most part, he does pretty well. He didn't really have that great of a script to work with. Ewan McGregor wasn't given that great of a part, but it's obvious that his time to shine came in the next two episodes. Pernilla August does a wonderful job of playing the mother part, and it's a shame that they gave her such a small role. Jake Lloyd, to put it very very kindly, was stilted. He tried, I know, but I can't help but roll my eyes when ever I hear "Yipee!". On the other hand, it's hard to hold your own when you have a bad script to work with. Ray Park is the best performance of the film, even though he delivers the fewest lines. His intensity and the way he digs in to the role makes you unable to take your eyes off of him whenever he's on screen. They couldn't have made a better cast choice.
I haven't said much positive about the movie, but I will say now that the action in this film is unparalleled. Almost instantly the excitement grabs a hold of you and keeps you wanting more. Some of the best sequences, such as the stunning three-person lightsaber duel and the masterfully executed podrace scene, hold their own against the best action of the saga, and even manage to surpass some. George Lucas did a marvelous job of planning these scenes, and even though the film may have been panned, it is undeniable that these sequences influenced action films of the coming years. Action in one word: breathtaking.
If there was another nit-pick I could make, it would be how this film really looks nothing like the original films. It's a beautifully shot and decorated movie, I know, but I can't help but think "How did it change so fast in 30 years? Why has everything gone to crap?" Oh, and don't even get me started on that Yoda! It's not that he's a puppet, but that he looks NOTHING like he did in the other films! I really hope George fixes this in the future. And I don't think I need to talk about the Gungans. It's been beaten to death and I personally didn't mind Jar Jar as much as everyone else did.
That being said, this movie was by no means the piece of crap mess that people originally said. I thought it was a fun, epic, visually amazing, yet emotionally flat addition to the Star Wars saga. Yes, it was a bit disappointing and yes, it is the worst of the Star Wars films, but it's still a non-stop thrill ride that is well worth watching and is actually better once you've seen the other five films.