Sorry but this film is pretty dire.

Rating: 5/10 (26 May 2002)

I went to see this movie with an open mind. I had enjoyed Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back, but thought a lot less of Return Of The Jedi, with its cute teddy bears. I am no Star wars Geek, not even what you would call a SW fan. I like movies and I like all types of movies. I thought that the last SW film, The Phantom Menace, was a truly dreadful movie. Awful acting, too many special effects, and a pod race that went on forever.
So I went to the cinema hoping for better. I didn't get it. The first 45 minutes were excruciating. Yawn. When are we going to get some fun? When is this lame acting going to improve? Truly, the love scenes between the two leads were completely unbelievable.
Yes the effects were excellent. The Yoda scene near the end was fun, but really it was too little too late.
Perhaps George Lucas should step back and allow others to write the screenplay or direct.
When you consider this movie alongside The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, there is just no contest.
Both have similar stories about Good Vs Evil, and both set in a mythical place. Even Christopher Lee turns up in both with a similar character, but that's as far as it goes.
LOTR is a far superior fantasy movie in every department, from story to acting to direction to effects. I cared about the characters in LOTR, but I didn't give a damn about one single person in AOTC.
So this Christmas I and millions of others will be looking forward with baited breath to the next installment of LOTR: The Two Towers, knowing full well that the film is in the can and of the same high standard as the first and third episode. I wish I could say the same for SW:AOTC and SW Episode 3.