If you have any desire to see this film -- see it in a theater.

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2002)

This film is just too huge to wait to see at home -- even with the best home theater system.
The panoramas, the sets, the scope, the battles and especially the SOUND will just not work anywhere but in a theater. So see it in a theater and hopefully, in a state-of-the-art theater with a digital projector and all the sound equipment that the amazing score by John Williams deserves.
This is the film that clarifies many of the plot points in the other films in the Star Wars franchise -- to date it is the most important film as far as explaining what happened long ago in that `galaxy far, far away.'
Since this film attempts to shed light on some of the gaps that left the audience wondering -- especially in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, there is quite a bit of lengthy exposition. However, not all of it is necessary; a bit of judicious cutting would have been helpful.
There is an obvious attempt to exonerate the pitiful character of Jar-Jar Binks -- he has little screen time and when he does appear he is much less annoying and more effective as a plot device.
Christopher Lee is his spooky best as Count Dooku, the Jedi that has fallen to the dark side. He can always be relied on for an outstanding performance.

Natalie Portman (now Senator Padmé Amidala) has grown -- both as an actress and a character. She is surprisingly athletic and very easy to watch.

Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) continues to develop into who Sir Alec Guinness became in the 1977 Star Wars film that introduced the franchise.
Unfortunately the only thing that Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) has going for him is his look. He is not an actor -- yet. He was the weakest element in the film.
This is a huge, glorious film that will become just one piece in the Lucas Masterwork. I can't wait for the completed totality.