What can I say that has not already been said?

Rating: 4/10 (3 June 2002)

I wrote a review for this movie and was disappointed to find that the review and vote completely vanished into the ether. So after reading some brilliantly written commentary, I realized that I could add little to the body of opinions about the film.
The bottom line is that the move truly is mediocre and barely credible to me. I am amazed at the sheer quantity of hype-fed fans who lowered their standards in order to tolerate the sad flaws that detract from the quality of AOTC. I can tell from the grammatical flaws and consistent brevity in the positive reviews that young adults are writing them. Here's a message you should think about: it's OKAY to have critical thinking about the entertainment you are consuming! It's okay to recognize the warts on this toad of a sci-fi film and not go with the herd mentality that this movie is less than great. It's okay to have standards higher than yesterday's boxer shorts. Please, you run the risk of being an unthinking robot who will like anything popular if you just think that the flavor of the month is the best flavor ever.
I did not hate AOTC, but I did not love it. The movie was so badly written and directed that George Lucas has lost whatever appeal he had for me when he was younger and more adventurous. To paraphrase a line from another film, he would do best to take a hard look at the stuff he's shoveling. He might actually believe all the hype he's generated. For those of you die hard fans who think I'm on the other side of the fence, think again. I saw the first trilogy with the kind of rabid adoration you give the prequels. I skipped school on Wednesday May 25, 1983 to see ROTJ on opening day. I love the mythology and grandeur suggested by the original trilogy. I loathe the effort that went into making a film of such inexplicable superficiality and vapidity. Lucas could have given half the money to feed Bangladesh, cut some of the badly introduced exposition, hired Bill Goldman to script doctor, and made a better film. Or talk to J.M. Stracyinzski on how to make a powerful sci-fi story that has humanity and pathos and energy and darkness. Or just give the reins over to someone who can direct your movies better than you (which should be easy for you to find).
I suppose it is disillusioning to watch someone milk their own franchise just because they want to make movies only their grandkids will really understand.