A disappointment

Rating: 5/10 (17 May 2002)

Weak dialogue, weak acting, and plotholes the size of Wyoming hurt this film tremendously. While the final half hour is riveting, the first 90 are painful to behold. Particularly groanful are any and all scenes between Padme and Anakin...they are directed as if in a high school play, and because of this their "romance" seems forced and contrived. Kenobi's half of the story came off much better, since McGregor was actually instilling some fun qualities into his character. Perhaps the biggest flaw the film has is having characters with whom the audience may invest emotion in. It may be true that Anakin will become Darth Vader, but it is still the film's obligation to present him as sympathetic and someone whom the audience should care about. Here the film failed. Though Christensen's wooden performance did not help the cause either. 5/10