See it, See it now

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2002)

Let me start this off by saying that yes, I am a Star Wars geek. I loove the movies, love the characters, love the places and planets that occupy Lucas's mind and are then projected onto screen for the rest of us to enjoy. I own ALL of the other Star Wars movies, yes even Phantom, and have the dubious distinction of being one of only 4 people in the world who have not lambasted Phantom for 2 years now, and the only one without the last name of Lucas. Now, when I say geek I do not mean someone who comes to the movies dressed as Darth Maul or someone who refuses to see Lord of the Rings or Matrix becomes it disrupts the force. I am just a geek, not a loser. Getting that out of the way, onto the movie.
****I don't know how to do this without spoilers so if you don't want to know ANYTHING, and I do advise that, then turn away now. I will try and keep them at a minimum but I am also not going to hold back.*****

THINGS NOT SO GREAT:
The Love Story: It drags. Yes, it is important and yes all of us should have been, or should very well be ready for this story. It is important. I mean we need to see how a hotty like Amidala could ever hook up with Darth Vader, right? I mean was she the only female in the world who bought the "I fell down and it just kinda went in there, and then I tried to get it out...."? No, I think not. So we need to see them talking about politics and family and love and dreams and blah, blah, blah. Yes, it is needed but it is tedious. For anyone who argues that the problem with this movie is character development is off his or her rocker. This movie develops, and then some.
CGI: There is just too much of it. There just wasn't enough "REAL" people to go around. I think that Lucas and his cohorts have become so adepth with the computers that they have forgotten that one of the beauties of the first trilogy was all the people running around in funny costumes. Maybe the next one will have a bit less of the computer and a bit more latex.

THINGS I LOVED:
YODA: I am not even going to go there. Even if you think you want to know about Yoda in this flick you really don't. Just, WOW!!!!!!
Obi-Wan: Its his movie. He gets less screen time overall then Anakin, but this is his movie. He is calm, cool, collected, kick ass, and funny all at the same time. Unlike Qui-Gon, who was good in the first, Obi-Wan has a humor, a temper, and some stubborness to him. He doesn't take certain things too serious, and other things he gets all riled up about. And his interaction with Anakin, very good, and much more interesting then his own interaction with Qui-Gon. Ewan Mcgregor is one of the best in any of the Star Wars films.
Anakin: For some reason he is being slaughtered in the press, as is everything else about the movie, and it isn't fair. he is not the most likeable character in the world because he isn't suppose to be. I mean, remember, this dude eventually throws on a all Black suit, starts hoping around the galaxy killing Jedi, tries to turn his own son to the drak-side, cuts off his hand when he doesn't come around quick enough, and also sends his own daughter up for execution. No, not likeable at all. But Anakin is likeable enough in this movie to root for, he shows a wide range of emotions, makes you believe that he could kick some interstellar ass, and also has a very tender side. He does a very good job of being annoying yet innocent at the same time and it is easy for us to see his eventual path to the dark-side and who is going to take him there.
Count Dooku: Yes, yes, yes. This guy is classy, he seems and acts like a Jedi, yet he has turned. He is powerful, he is bad ass, but never, ever losing his composure. He is a wonderful villian and even though he is introduced in the middle of the movie, kind of out of no where as a matter of fact, he is terrific.
The Jedi: They are all there and you get to see them in action. Mace Windu and the others kicks some butt and the light sabers are swinging this way and that. For every Star Wars geek out there, you are going to love this.

IN THE END:
This movie is not perfect, as no movie is perfect, and certainly as no Star Wars movie has been perfect. What every Star Wars fan should except is that these movies, in this trilogy, are vastly different then the other ones. This has politics and vast worlds, while the others are simply the fight to restore order, mostly taking place on desolate planets that offer nothing but despair. Though I would have preferred less CGI, the images are breath taking, unlike even the first one which saw only 3 planets. This movie is wonderful, where it ranks I do not know, but I do know I will be back to see it again, I will be back to cheer for the Jedi, and I will be back in two year when the next one comes out. Don't listen to the critics. Remember, many of them hated the first trilogy as well, how you like those? Go and have fun, root for Obi-Wan, Padme and the rest, and at the end take a deep breath. You will need it.
PS. Jar Jar is non existent in this one.