Not just Lucas, but Star Wars, too, is back.

Rating: 6/10 (19 May 2002)

This is the most entertaining out of all the Star Wars movies. Lucas brings back the franchise where it belongs with loads of nostalgic hype and links to the originals. This may be a simply effective tool to reign the box office, but I think I stand with most Star Wars geeks in saying that those subtle and obvious foreshadowing points, etc. effectively brought huge grins on each person's face. On top of this, the visuals in the film are simply unparalleled. While Phantom Menace (which still is not a Star Wars movie in my book) had good stuff, the art was not so effectively implemented with the new visual technology as in this film. Every new amazing shot of a spaceship, and you think they will not be able to top it, and then the next one leaves you hyperventilating because the visuals are that awesome. The computer-generated character models are especially good--Jar-Jar looks even better than he did in Phantom, etc.
There aren't too many flaws in this film for actual movie quality. (There are none for entertainment value.) The dialogue in a few scenes, especially the romantic ones, can get really lame. Other times, though, the script is some of the best throughout all of Star Wars. Even still, looking back at the originals, there has always been some pretty poor dialogue once in a while, and that did not hamper them in any way, and ultimately ends up only as a one point drop on 10 scale, at most. Another problem was the presentation of Natalie Portman in a few scenes. She obviously has great acting talent, and the problem was not her. (Also, she is absolutely, constantly beautiful/sexy) But she was not given the regality from Phantom that many of the scene's scriptings still called for. The biggest one was a packing scene in which she kept stooping over, even when she needed to express her power, and the script doesn't really intend for her to appear so awkward throughout the scene. I originally felt that the plot did not move enough in this movie, it mostly just thickens, and there is a lot to be taken care of in the next one, but then my friend reminded me that Empire really did not move that much, either, so much as leaving us on a cliff-hanger, and Empire is the best of all Star Wars. So, the plot is fine overall. Other than that, not too many problems.
The good stuff. Surprises of all surprises, the character of Jar-Jar Binks has completely redeemed himself. I love the way he was used in this movie, for the deservedly short screen time he had. Ewan gives the great performance we always knew he could for Star Wars, but the script still limits him as compared to some of his more powerful performances. Natalie is good when presented correctly, and Samuel Jackson gives a basic, Steve McQueen-esque performance that has no fault but does not steal the spotlight (fortunately). Hayden Christensen is the man. Except when the scripting for him absolutely bites, he takes the cake for best performance in the movie, rivaling the quality in Star Wars of Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams (my personal favorites) A few scenes will have you gaping at just how good this guy is, and I hope many casters and producers will pick him up for more, because he can do it. Oh, and by the way, in case you had not heard it enough, Yoda = god. Basically, combine the great character he has always been, then take the level of coolness of the younger Marlon Brando, or maybe Shaft, and combine it with his philosophical character, and you have the freaking coolest thing in a really cool movie. The main bad guy is pretty cool, as well, but not as cool as his lightsaber.

Basically, the coolest part of this movie is the large battle sequence at the end. Easily the best in all sci-fi/fantasy ever, this battle is amazing, and I dare to say it rivals Black Hawk Down in actual movie quality of capturing the action. It is simply amazing, and perfectly done.

Lucas really treads some new, sweet ground in this with a totally sweet chase scene resembling noir stuff, and the realism-based epic battle. Overall, in actual movie quality I think this is better than Return, a little better than A New Hope (my second favorite) and almost touches Empire, even though by touching it it would not necessarily be as good. If the script for the romance sequences had been improved it would definitely touch Empire. By the way this movie headed, the next one could very easily beat Empire in quality, because so much great plot-stuff has to be taken care of.
See this as soon as you can, and then as many times as you feel are necessary to take in all the great details and entertainment. I plan to see it around four, maybe five times in theaters, and I rarely go out to see a movie. It is that good, and mostly because it is that fun.

(9/10)