Better but still not perfect...

Rating: 8/10 (23 June 2002)

Episode II was a much much better effort than the much-derided Episode I (Jar Jar anyone?) but it still lacks noticably in some areas. The action is fast and exciting and the light sabre battles are a thrill but the romantic plotline (which dominates and drags down the first half) is cheesy, cliche, amazingly uninteresting, and proceeds to nearly kill the movie. The second half of the movie, loaded with lasers and fights and cool-as-I-can-be lines still feels a bit hollow as a result of the lack of good character development. The franchise, although somewhat redeemed by this movie, still feels manufactured and uninspiring.