The final fight is worth it, but it may be the real underrated Star Wars movie

Rating: 4/10 (16 May 2002)

I say that comment in full understanding that this film isn't perfect; the love story at times reminded me of something out of a Hallmark love movie, and Hayden Christensen as the padewan Anakin shows how the right looks and attitudes still need some better acting choices to make it work right. Yet, after viewing it in an almost packed theater, and a few times since at home, I am assured it is a return to form after the very good but lacking TPM. Director/Co-writer George Lucas returns to the vivacity and great visual splendor he had in his original trilogy, and thank goodness, Jar Jar Binks was kept very minimal here. This time there's room for some new creations, though more than anything it's more of a mystery movie than anything else- also one of loss.
I know I shouldn't give away spoilers, and the one line summary might give away enough, but I will say that it was a better idea than I expected to see Yoda in computer animation. Oz's original puppetry can't be touched, but with all things considered the animation team and designers matched up to the work that was cut out for them. Whether you view this movie in regular projection or digital or in a full-screen TV cut is irrelevant. Lucas just filmed it in digital film to give those in digital theaters a bit more of a kick and if you see it on a regular screen won't matter in difference. Bottom line, if you felt a little cheated from Phantom Menace, this will bring back the believer in you that a story can be told in absorbing and cool fashion while delivering awesome graphics and action, not to mention a fantastic lot of new visuals that help tell a basically good story. That it still has a couple of acting ticks should try to be overlooked