Best of the bunch, but how good is that?

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2002)

There are two ways to look at this film: on its own, or in the context of Lucas' overall project.
Taken separately, this movie has been somewhat underrated by its critics. The sets and effects are excellent, the atmosphere is great, the acting is mediocre, the dialog sort of corny, the plot is...well...let's say the plot is better than the title suggests, and has some very nice twists. Yoda once again steals the show. AOTC gets a hard rap from people who expect a lot more from movies than a rollicking good time, which brings me to the second way to look at the movie.
In the context of Lucas' Star Wars series, this is a great film. Having seen the others, I rate this better than ESB, which was my former pick. Christensen gets knocked for wooden uneven acting, but one has to consider where he's going with the role -- he's been directed to act this way. The romance twixt Anakin and Padme is every bit as good as that of Solo and Leia. For those who shred on this film, I recommend watching SWIV-VI again: the originals aren't as good as you thought they were when you were 10. This movie in every way lives up to the standards set by the series. Everything that was good about the "old school" Star Wars is still good about this one, and maybe better. The problem is not that we are let down by the plot or acting, but rather that we are no longer surprised and dazzled at the visual effects.
Lucas' major downfall is his incredible success. By making films that everyone rushed to emulate, this movie no longer stands out in the crowd. So lower your expectations, and enjoy it while you still can.
Worth mentioning: Coruscant at the height of the Old Republic (and I thought my commute was lousy!), interstellar society falls into imperial fascism through staged uprisings, a much-subdued Jar Jar Binks, *Master* Yoda kicking tail, a groovy solar sail spacecraft, faces that look increasingly familiar