Highly Enjoyable, but not without flaws

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2002)

First off - I must stipulate, I am a movie buff, but not specifically a Star Wars buff. I have enjoyed the first series, but like most was let down by TPM. I went into AOTC with few expectations, and was more than pleasantly surprised. The action was swift, easy to follow, and there were enough silly one-liners. The effects in the fight and action scenes were superb, although were occasionally poor in the dialogue sections. The acting was highly appropriate - just over the top enough to fit in well with the rest. As a Kiwi, it was a bit odd seeing Jay Lagai'a (sp?) and Temuera Morrison on the big screen, still looking and sounding like kiwis, but they acquited themselves well.
All in all - an enjoyable 2 1/2 hrs, although the dialogue in some areas was worse than weak, and occasionally the film felt a little too "knowing" about what was to come (in IV, V and VI).