If it's BAD, why is everyone watching it?

Rating: 3/10 (20 May 2002)

I was a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy (heretofore known as Episode IV, V and VI, nuts huh?). Great story telling, magical feel with real actors in brilliantly crafted suits (Ewoks, Stormtroppers, etc.), puppet characters manipulated by humans (Yoda, Jabba, etc.), and most of all, very like-able actors in very like-able roles (Harrison Ford as Han Solo, etc.). George Lucas was a visionary in his time.
Then came the news that he was going to make a trilogy of prequels. That didn't sound right but I thought, hey, more of the same magical stuffs. Great! Hype and anticipation preceded Episode I, the Phantom Menace...I went to see it with great expectations, came out of the theater feeling nauseous. From great looking villains like Darth Vadar, to roadkill resurrection Darth Maul. From like-able characters to unlike-able spittoon resident Jar Jar Binks.
I thought Episode II might be different and gave it a chance. Went to see it but again came out nauseous the second time. For sure, it's better than Episode I but it's way off the standards of the original three. The magic is gone - in place of neat puppets, we get CGI, lots of it. There are no like-able actors (should have asked Leonardo DiCaprio or anybody to be Anakin Skywalker instead. There's something about Hayden Christensen and how he looks so wrong in that hair-cut) or characters (where's the wise cracking Han Solo persona? and what the heck is John Shaft doing in a Star Wars film, sans the shades and the face hair?).
In short, a disappointing film that did not match up to the original films. Definitely not worth the hype nor the cash to go watch it. Only the fight scene between Yoda and Dooku was not too shabby but if I had known that to be the only scene that would crank my gears, I would have waited for it to come out on DVD or video to rent it.
Final comments - I'm still willing to give George Lucas the chance to make amends for what I perceive to be a sacrilege of the original films. Re-employ some good old fashioned Star Wars film making for Episode III and you might get back the countless of fans you lost for the next trilogy of sequels to the original films.
Rating 3 out of 10 (3 for the fight scene between Yoda and Dooku). Spider-Man was a much, much better film. If you have the cash to see one film, go see Spider-Man.