Overall entertaining, but someone needs to take away George's CGI toys....

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2002)

I won't give any plot spoilers here, but just my general impressions after seeing the film at 12:01 last night. High points were definately the music (although I didn't recall any new themes being introduced, rather variations on old), the costuming (Natalie looks spectacular in everything), the creatures (although one needed to be attacked with some lemon and drawn butter rather than a blaster *grin*), and the ships (the first big one being very reminiscent of the prop plane in Casablanca). The droids were very entertaining, and Yoda kicked his little green butt into overdrive for some seriously Jackie Chan-type action! Who knew? However, while overall the plot and storyline started coming together, I felt that similar to Episode I the dialogue and acting really have taken a backseat to the special effects. While I can't deny that they are indeed beautiful, I have two specific issues with them. First that they are indeed so perfect as to not have the somewhat gritty reality quality that the first films had. They feel more like a video game or a cartoon at times than a film. Secondly, that there are so many separate elements included on the screen in some scenes that it becomes overwhelming and scatters the focus of the scene itself. Also, in re-watching the first films, I was struck at how much edgier both the dialogue and the characters were then. While many of us could recite and quote the great lines from the first three films, the lines from Episodes I and II seem to be forced and in some cases are simply recycled poorly. Amidala could have been edgier with better lines, and a more intense, less "American Pie" teenage boy to play against. The audience laughed in places that it obviously wasn't intended, and it was unfortunately due to the hormonal rather than anguished/love-struck performance that should have been. Ewan was good, but again needed to be more edgy and less wishy-washy....the interaction between Obi-Wan and Anakin fell flat for me, particularly since it was supposed to be taking place after they'd been together for 10 years. 10 years training as a Jedi would certainly have ingrained far more maturity and tact in Anakin even if he would have still had the ego of a 20 year old. They would have been more like partners of mutual respect, rather than the relationship seen.....one that could have been undermined in a far more effective subtle fashion than occurred. It was actually this relationship that was the key to the entire plot of this film.....Anakin's desire for respect and praise of his abilities, to be thought of as an equal while being egged on by the Senator who played to his ego. Unfortunately, it simply didn't succeed. I know some will think it blasphemous to say so, but it seems to me that while George Lucas has continued to develop his skills as a director of special effects, his skills of directing actors and his writing seem to have atrophied a bit over the years. I was reminded of the adage that simply because you *can* do something (i.e. with technology) doesn't mean that you *should*. Less is more, and using effects as enhancement and backdrop rather than making them the overwhelming star would have instead made this a film at least equal to the original three. I feel that Lucas is truly visionary, has blazed the trail for the present movie industry, and will bring them finally into the age of digital projection that has so long been overdue. However, in regards to this film, I think that perhaps to have done this as a collaborative effort with another strong director (such as the "Raiders" series with Spielberg) would have achieved a far more effective end result.