SCI-FI Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2002)

What can be said about this movie that has not already been uttered? I will try my best. Once again, as with The Phantom Menace, the critics are fairly divided. This time, however, the fans seem pleased. I, myself, enjoyed phantom very much. Still, ATOC is more like the original films than phantom was. The acting is overal good. Hayden (Anakin) does a fine job, especially in the scene with Padme after the Tuskin slaughter. Portman is OK. She is a little too reserved for my taste, but that is what the character is like. The real star of the movie is Yoda. He simply steals the show at the end. It is so remarkable that Yoda is all CG. No critic seems to acknowledge this accomplishment. The story is very complelling. I love how Lucas adds the sleuth element to film, a first for SW. Visaully, Lucas proves once again that he is still the Master. The images in every frame are potent enough to tell the story without dialog. Perhaps that is why some dislike this film? Once again, we see various elements that influenced Lucas cascading across the screen such as Dex's Diner and so forth. Also, the design are remarably familar. This allows the foreign worlds such as Corusant to have relevance to us. In the end, Lucas has created a great old style sci fi flick with state of the art design and technology. As a side note, I am really sick and tired of the comparisons to Lord of the rings and Peter Jackson. Fellowship was great, but remember unlike Lucas, Jackson takes no creative risk in LOTR. Jackson has one of the greatest stories to work with. The environments and much of the dialog are already laid out. Lucas has to do ALL OF IT!!