A better script and this might have been the best one yet!

Rating: 8/10 (17 May 2002)

There are so many mixed reviews of Episode 1, but my stance is that it was pretty poor. I came out of the cinema wanting to like it and went back 2 times in an attempt to enjoy it, but at the end of the day was left cold. The dialogue was clunky and poorly delivered by pretty much everyone, Obi Wan was stiff (ooer) and uncharismatic, the Young Anikin was just young and unintresting, Ja Ja Binks was annoying, the Pod Race wasn't as exciting as it should have been and the end was absurd with Anakin saving the day by complete accident! The main saving grace was Darth Maul and the lightsabre battle, but it was not enough for me to save the film from being a major disappointment.
So onto Episode 2. One of the inherent problems with this saga I feel is that, where the original 3 were set amidst an Empirical rule, the Jedi's all but wiped out, they were able to concentrate on a bunch of misfits coming together to fight evil. Thats part of what made them work so well, thier simplicity. In this proceeding trilogy though there is so much more politics involved in the development of the story and politics is rarely intersting, even when discussed by Jedi Knights. This is a problem that I feel Lucas really needed to focus on, if he had got a better sreenwriter to write the dialogue for these scenes, as well as some of the slower parts between Anakin and the the Queen, then he might have really kept our interest throughout the whole film. As it is we have to sit through a mis-paced and clunkily scripted mid section in Episode 2 before things really get going. I have to admit, I was on the verge of being a bit bored at times, during the mid section involving Anakin and Amidala's blossoming love and Obi Wan's investigation of the strange Cloners. I didn't even think the episode 1 suffered from poor pacing quite as much as this lengthy section of the film did.
Which is a shame, because for the rest of the film Episode 2 is up there with them all, even matching The Empire Strikes Back at times!! There I've said it! Hayden Christensen is excellent as Anakin, he is likable and has a good screen presence, yet we are unsure of him as he expertly shows flashes of the arrogonce and anger that will take him to the dark side. Ewen McGregor is much much better as Obi Wan, though at times he slips back into his stiff and forced speech, but during the fight scenes he really makes up for it. Natilie Portman is a lot better and seems to come to life more away from her royal duties and there is definatly a chemistry between her and Anakin that, whilst not quite rivaling that between Leia and Han Solo, does help us empathise with them. As for the rest of it well the list of positives is endless..Tusken Raiders, Jawa's, R2 and 3P0 (though be prepared for some really cheesy comedy oneliners from 3PO!!), JangaFett and the story of how BobaFett was created, Jedis kicking ass, Yoda kicking ass (I really wasn't prepared for this bit, a real crowd pleasing moment!)and loads of new monsters and creatures. In terms of relentless breathtaking action then there is no doubt that the final 45 minutes or so of Episode 2 outclasses the whole series by far, the effects are awesome, the fights are amazing, the good guys are likable, the bad guys are cool....Its darker, louder and faster for most of the film than the others and this time I came out of the cinema knowing I'd enjoyed it.
So to sum up, the beginning is promising, but you will have to risk being slightly bored before that promise is delivered on in the final hour. But what an hour! An hour of Star Wars done how it should be! Plus I think Episode 3 is really gonna be good!!