Obvious flaws and CGI dated and unrealistic, but a truly captivating story!

Rating: 6/10 (16 August 2017)

Ten years after the events of Episode I, Anakin Skywalker and Obi- Wan Kenobi are reunited with Padmé, now Senator, to protect her after an assassination attempt they will investigate. This gives rise to a speedy chase almost at the beginning of the movie, giving a perspective of the chaotic magnitude of Coruscant, the industrialized capital of the Republic. The CGI works best with dark colors, and as this chase occurs at night, the result is acceptable.
Following the failed assassination attempt, the Jedi Council orders Obi-Wan to follow the investigation trail to the aquatic planet Kamino and to Anakin to escort Padmé back to Naboo and serve there as bodyguard (with benefits). Given that Obi-Wan knew that Ani and Padmé could fall in love, he would be expected to contest the decision, since the Jedi Code forbids love; but given his neutrality, it is clear that he disagrees with that precept.
So while Obi-Wan does the 'dirty work' of investigating and unraveling a mystery on his own, Ani and Padmé curl up and roll merrily through Naboo's green meadows. The scenarios on this planet are really beautiful and idyllic, but they serve only as a backdrop for a painful romance with an agonizing dialogue that seems to have been written by elementary school kids to some Shakespearean-themed school play. I do not mind a bit of romance even in the Star Wars universe, but this one has gone too far in plot and movie time. Meanwhile, in Kamino, Obi- Wan discovers that an army of clones is being built and trained secretly for the Republic. Although Kamino has a great design, that much CGI can sometimes become disconcerting.
Anakin's "Midsummer Night Dream" ends when he senses that his mother is suffering in Tatooine, and so he and Padmé will revisit the bi-solar desert, where Anakin will take his first step toward the dark side of the Force. In turn, Obi-Wan continues his investigation that takes him to the arid planet Geonosis, where he discovers a plot to overthrow the Republic with an army of droids that is there being assembled. When he is transmitting this information to his allies scattered throughout the galaxy, he is captured and placed in the most ridiculous prison I have ever seen, unless it was a torture chamber. Would not a cell with a force field be cheaper and more practical?
Ani and Padmé are the first ones to arrive to Obi-Wan's aid, only to be captured after a completely stupid and unnecessary sequence on the assembly line of the droids factory. Completely stupid and unnecessary... The three are then taken to a coliseum when the combined forces of the Republic and the Jedi appear, thus beginning the first battle of the Clone Wars. The action that takes place in the coliseum is a good spectacle, but the CGI is so evident that cuts immersion. The final duel against Count Dooku is a tremendous disappointment: I cannot imagine Yoda capable of such acrobatics not even with the help of the Force and the duels are weak. If there was still Darth Maul at least we would have more action and less chat.
Actor Christopher Lee (Dooku) may be a good villain as a scary Dracula and even a full-fledged Saruman, but in the Star Wars universe he is totally dislocated, so much more as a swordsman: if there is to be a grand final lightsaber fight, it should be with someone fit to it (oh Darth Maul, what have they done to you!). Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan) seems much more comfortable in his role as a Jedi, managing to outperform himself in the previous film. Natalie Portman (Padmé) is only a bit better than before, especially since she does not spend so much time on state affairs and can be more natural. The performance of Hayden Christensen (Anakin) is tolerable, especially when he's not whining or courting Padmé, which happens rarely. Jar Jar Binks fortunately must have suffered an epiphany or had a brain surgery because he stopped being a goofball to become a diplomat; although he hardly has screen time, it is enough to make me feel uncomfortable - the first bad impression he left me is still an open wound: I cannot stand him!
The soundtrack is very good coming to acquire an epic tone and the story is very well worked out and developed. I find that a good story is one of the main factors in my evaluation of movies, so even though this film has its obvious flaws and CGI so dated and unrealistic, it has a truly captivating story! So once again I will be generous: 6/10.