Better than Episode I, but still disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (21 May 2002)

At first: I'm a great fan of the old Star Wars trilogy. "Return of the Jedi" was my second movie ever seen after "Jungle Book" and it made me a real SciFi-Freak. Ok, now let's take a look at Episode II: It is really much, much more better than that Kiddie-Style Episode I !!! It has a lot more of the elemts that made the old trilogy that famous and great it is: Great Battles, extraordinary creatures, a basicly much more dark mood than Episode I.
But: Remember the Millenium Falcon, elegantly swinging around asteroids, pursuited by some Tie-Fighters in Episode V... 20 Years old and still stunning. In Episode II we have the same scene, but even (or because) they increased the speed and added missiles, it looks like a video clip or game. No elegance, just effects.
Remember that great idears of George Lukas in past: A spaceship, so huge it looks like a moon. Topped by the idear to fly in it an destroy its core. AT-AT Walkers and to kill them by twisting their legs with wires.
And now ? Flying cars like in "Fifth Element". Creatures copied out of "Starship Troopers", "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" An arena fight inspired by "Gladiator" And an Yoda, fighting like in Matrix or Chackie Chan Movies. It was so dishonoring... just made to please teenagers, with no respect to the fans and the venerable old Yoda.
The same Teenie-Thing with the dialogs. Dialogs have never been the strength of Star Wars movies. But they always were short and most time seriously and that was okay. Now we have to suffer awkward things like "I hate, when he's doing that". (That was the German translation of Obi-Wan, after Anakin jumped out of the car - don't know if it's the same in English) Whatever, that has the level of B-Movies or of series like "A-Team".
But the worst thing: casting and directing of the actors.
It's Lukas basic mistake still to be unintersted in his actors (This is his own opinion): Ewan McGregor, boring like he always was, trying to be as wise and charming than the old Obi-Wan with no change to reach his level.
Hayden Christensen, boring too, with no charisma, no depth, no one likes that guy, he's just arrogant. Why should Amidala fall in love with him ?
Now the talented ones: Remember Natalie Portmans stunning performance in "Leon - The Professional" - and that was years ago when she was a little girl... what a waste. I guess a good director would have led this unexperienced actress to an outstanding performance. Christopher Lee: Looks like a neewbie, if he never played the great roles of "Dracula" or Saruman in "LotR". Samuel L. Jackson, the unbeatened Mr. Cool: No chance for him to develop his strength because of the missing depth of his character.
And than this love story... (I guess Lukas revenge to the lack of understanding of the fans for Jar-Jar Binks) So mediocre, so trashy, so unimotional, so cold.
No one awaited a love story like in Braveheart or Casablanca. But compare with Han and Leia. They were funny, playing with each other the old cat and mouse game. Solo the charming warhorse and Leia the tough but sweet Princess. So simple but so effective. Everybody knew why they loved each other, even they never told us really. Has anybody an idea why Anakin loves Amidala ? Or why Amidala is falling in love with Anakin ? ...I don't know and i couldn't see or feel why.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away.... there was an director, fulfilling his dreams and the dreams of his small but fast growing fan community. Now he only lines his pockets, by creating 100-million commercial spots with only one goal: maximize the target group.