George, have you learned nothing?

Rating: Null/10 (28 October 2004)

Let me begin by saying I saw Star Wars for the first time on the Fourth of July in 1977. It absolutely changed my life, particularly in terms of film.
My favorite of the series is The Empire Strikes Back, I thought it was brilliant. I loved Jedi, cried at the end, thought it was all over. Nine years of my life. Little did I know there would be more. I was elated to learn that Lucas decided to continue the series, but go to a prequel. I watched The Phantom Menace in a near-empty theater during the weekday with my head in my hands the entire time. I hated the kid who played the young Annakin Skywalker, I hated all that time spent on the pod race, as for Jar Jar Binks, well, he is undoubtedly one of the most offensive characters I have ever witnessed in film. And then, finally, Attack of the Clones. Where do I begin? Natalie Portman and the 100 Costume Changes. Hayden Christiansen playing the whiny, petulant, pouting teen -- this is the person who is to become the evil Vadar? It cannot be! And a film almost consumed by the CGI. The overwhelming difference between the early and later films is that George Lucas did not direct or write Empire & Jedi, and of the middle three, Empire is arguably considered the best. Whereas in I&II he does both, and fails miserably. There is no secret that George Lucas has only directed a handful of films. I wait, nonetheless, for Revenge of the Sith, with that ridiculously lame title, still hoping for the best, but expecting it to be awful.