The right movie for the job

Rating: 8/10 (27 July 2009)

Hayden Christensen is the best thing in this movie. From start to finish, his annoyance and rage at the Jedis appropriately builds. I felt nearly moved to tears when he killed the sand people to free his dying mother. I absolutely sympathized with his rage and desire to be the most powerful Jedi and to stop people from dying.
The initial chase scene through the busy city planet after an assassination attempt on the Senator set the movie off to an exciting pace.
I had to give 8 out of 10 for AOTC in order to leave room for a 10 out of 10 for Episode III: "Revenge of the Sith". Natalie Portman is thankfully less wooden than in "The Phantom Menace". I hate to deduct points for the slightly cartoony feel inside the robot-manufacturing plant. Otherwise, a perfect film.
For evaluation of my objectivity and for context: I saw all three prequels in the theatre. My memory is a little hazy, but I believe I saw all six episodes in the theatre (I definitely saw one of the first three in the theatre way back then).