Why is the young Darth Vader an all American moppet called Ani

Rating: 4/10 (26 March 2011)

First of the Star Wars prequels released in 1999 with much anticipation and a resulting chorus of disappointment.
THE PHANTOM MENACE isn't an awful movie (ATTACK OF THE CLONES is much worse) - it's perfectly watchable, but cold and unemotional. George Lucas can't really write an interesting story or dialogue or create mood and tension or direct actors. Lucas's forte is visual effects. The film suffers from too many computer generated characters - including Jar Jar Binks, of whom I couldn't understand a word of what he said. And why is the young Darth Vader an all-American child moppet called 'Ani' rather than a dysfunctional delinquent?
The film has three climaxes all going on simultaneously, the result being like flicking between TV channels at random. It's as noisy, destructive and uninvolving as a computer game. When the villain Darth Maul is killed, the emotional response is zero since he barely registered as a character.
On a positive note, the film is spectacular and technically wonderful, especially during the Ben Hur-like race around Tatooine. I only wish those effects had been put to better use.