Pah!

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2003)

I'm sorry but I've got say this is absolute rubbish. I'm a huge fan of episodes 4 to 6 and even liked episode 1 in a weird kind of way, but this is dysmal.
Where to start? Well (and I may get flamed for this), the special effects are so-so - there's so many films now that seem to use CGI as a replacement for good old-fashioned film making - and this is one of them. Witness the 'bucking bronco' anakin thing, this is on a par with the Mummy Returns (and that's not good). Come on Hollywood, CGI is no replacement for 'proper' special effects and to me just exemplifies 'lazy' film making.
The story was long and drawn out with some magnificently wooden acting - It's takes some director to get crap performances out of Samuel L, Ewan MacG, Natalie Portman et al - but Lucas has managed to do it.

In my opinion, I don't think they will EVER recapture the magic of the first 3 (you know what I mean) - they had a faintly ridiculous (and camp) story line, ahead of it's time special effects and some superb characters. The interplay between Han Solo and Chewbacca creating some stand out moments. Fast forward to this film, and my god, Anakin comes across as being an angst-ridden, whining, spotty teenager - and we're expected to believe he will become the most feared man in the Universe? Give me a break. Obi Wan also comes across as being, well, boring and weak - this is the man who fought Darth Vader and was so strong in the force that he was able to guide Luke from beyond the grave - yet a slight cut on his leg in this film almost kills him!
In my opinion, they're seriously jeapordizing the whole franchise and spoiling a wonderful film series ... Episode 3 has GOT to be good...