Looks, just looks, good

Rating: Null/10 (15 June 2002)

Well Episode II looks terrific, every CGI crammed scene is very impressive. The film is let down (supposedly by Lucas) by the script and, dare I say it, plot. A lot of the acting (from the humans) appears truly wooden though I blame it more on the writing than the skills of those involved. Apart from Hayden Christensen that is! I saw Star Wars (Episode IV nowadays) when I was 11 back in 1977, and for an 11 year old it was perfect - blew away anything seen before, and full of corny dialogue to copy at school. Unfortunately the writing hasn't moved on!
WARNING, SPOILERS!!!!! READ ON WITH CARE!!!
Some plot holes, though I accept these may be filled in in the next film. For one though, how does the 'just' Republic countenance the use of an army of genetically engineered clones? Don't even WE find that idea totally repellent? Who actually ordered these clones? Who's paid for them? Since they're cloned from one of the baddies, can we expect that in the next film they go bad and become the Empire Stormtroopers? The Galaxy is supposed to be filled with Jedi and yet their total force amounts to about 30 people. The Amidala / Anakin love story is contrived and ridiculous. She is easily 10 years older than him and he acts like an obsessed, petulant child - not her perfect catch! After 2 or 3 days and displays of his obsessive, arrogant behaviour, she decides she's in love with him. Well go figure. And as we all know, Yoda limps along with a cane and can then suddenly leap into action for a saber fight, more agile than Jackie Chan. I'll put that down to the Mr Myagi syndrome.
Well enough ranting. You have to see it, it's a fun film, looks amazing, just don't expect to understand everything! The day must be very near now when some truly great Sci-Fi books can be realised on screen.