Cold and Detached feeling

Rating: 5/10 (4 March 2003)

I grew up with Star Wars. I loved episodes IV, V, and VI. I can't help but feel disappointed though with the prequels. It goes well beyond the inanity of Jar-Jar Binks. Episodes I and II seem fundamentally flawed. The basic story is dry. There is action, but no excitement... no tension. Part of this is the problem inherent in a prequel: you already know what is going to happen. But it goes beyond that. The actual sequence of events has no electricity. This is compounded by the wooden acting that is rampant in this film (and Episode I). Since I know that McGregor, Portman, Lee, and others can act from other movies I've seen them in, I suspect the problem lies with Lucas's direction. Lucas is a wonderful producer and good at creating a basic plot, but he should stay far away from the screenplay and direction. What he has managed to do with Episodes I and II is create the visually stunning equivalent of a slow motion train wreck.
5/10 (though 2 of those points are bonus points because I was brainwashed by Star Wars in the 80's... actual score is 3/10)