It makes sense, is great fun and has great effects. (slight spoiler?)

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2002)

AOTC is visually great, with the scope and story in line with the spirit of the original story. It improves The Phantom Menace (I believe that I was one of the few who liked it, at least according to the feedback here and elsewhere), and links well to episodes IV-VI. Thus the story makes sense. It is great fun to watch.
Noteworthy are the following details: Acting: Generally okay, though this element has never been the most important aspect in the series.
Effects: Top notch! ILM shows what they can do and a little more. Like WETA with "Fellowship of the Rings" and several animated films (Shrek, Ice Age, Monster's Inc.) last year effects have now reached a level, where nothing should be impossible. E.g. as seen in the animation of Yoda and the battle scenes.
Story: While there are serious flaws within the entire structure of the SW Universe, AOTC actually enhances the story. It is great fun!
Cinematography/scenery/costumes/etc: Very good and consistent.
Good: The political element of the story is explored further; the effects; the almost total absence of malplaced 'cuteness'; the exploration of Corousant; the increased sense of darkness - this makes it a much more interesting story; it is great fun and not very deep; finally, (spoiler) please note how Senator Palpatine guides young Anakin - "You're the best Jedi" and "you don't anybody" ... see how he nurtures the budding arrogance and overconfidence of the young Jedi, who is rapidly sliding towards the Dark Side?!
Bad: Well (slight spoiler) ... in a battle between thousands or millions of soldiers, all armed with blasters or heavier gear, it is remarkable how few shots actually hit anything! Also, please do not believe that what you see is in any way indicative of correct physics and astronomy ... Finally, it is a great mistake to have C3P0 and R2D2 appear in both Episode I and II.
Inevitably AOTC and the current status of the SW saga will be compared to the Lord of the Rings. However, it is a little unfair to compare the two films to each other. The first Star Wars film from 1976/7(?) began the technologies that have made all special effects/CGI films possible since, just as it made science fiction generally popular. The rest of the films in the SW saga have 'just' expanded upon this, amongst other driving the technology further. The first installment of LOTR, which is on my top ten list of all time films, has returned filmmaking to the roots of great films like e.g. "Gone with the Wind", "Anthony and Cleopatra", and "Spartacus". The fantasy genre will also benefit from this film, just as it proves that a good story can be told on screen for the sake of telling a good story, just as proving that nothing is impossible anymore - the 'un-filmable book' was very successfully adapted. Thus both films have contributed to expand the boundaries of filmmaking. And thus both should be honoured as important for the History of Filmmaking.
Final verdict: Great popcorn flick ... go and see and enjoy!
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