Love/Hate relationship with LUCAS

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2002)

I just saw this thing yesterday (and I'm still confused as to what they're fighting for), but so far this is my opinion:
WHAT I LOVED:

1. Ewan McGregor made/saved this movie. Obi-Wan is becoming my favorite character now. It's James Bond meets Jesus.
2. All the flying/chase/fighting sequences in this movie really blew me away. I felt like I was right in the middle of it. The industrial design/special FX of the different environments was, for the most, part absolutely amazing.

3. Even thought Frank Oz's voice still makes me think of "Fozzy Bear", the new CG (and therefore less "muppety") Yoda works wonderfully for me. And it was good to see him show us why he is the "Jedi Master" in this film.
4. Christopher Lee as "Dooku" was amazing. I wish he could have been the Emperor/Darth Sidius. Now that he and Cushing are part of STAR WARS lore, I only wish Vincent Price could have been too.
5. Samuel L Jackson got to say "the party's over" and you know what, it worked for me. If anyone else said it, it wouldn't have worked.

WHAT I HATED:
1. What made me cringe first, was that 50's diner where Obi-Wan went to ask about the origins of Jango's dart. There are certainly very-coincidental parallels to our galaxy found within the Star Wars galaxy (Library with stereotypical Librarian and busts of Authors for one), but come on, George! A chrome and red diner!... with electronic blues music too!!... and that sassy waitress droid?!!
2. The second and recurring problem was the terrible and forced "let's make 'em fall in love" script for Padme and Anakin. That was really hard to watch. Think back to how Leia and Han finally kissed... it felt right... it felt like it was time. Han and Leia also had plenty of time together with bickering arguments. That tension was going to lead to some kind of emotion; whether it was love or hate. And whether you agree with that or not, Portman and Christensen both acted like they had no souls, no humor, no nervousness, (maybe that works for the future "Darth Vader", but Padme?). Maybe it was the script too, but outside of possibly being sexually attracted to each other, they had no reason to kiss yet.. let alone say "I love you". It's not like they ever did anything for each other (risked their lives etc.); showing their true love or devotion... or really spent a considerable amount of time together. I guess they just had to "shoe-horn" their marriage in there so that they could eventually have Luke and Leia. What a shame. I'm not saying they couldn't fall in love, but just standing around in flowers for a few days...
3. Although C3PO actually did make me laugh as he was accidentally forced into the droid army, when I heard him say "what a drag" (on his head being dragged by R2) and "I'm beside myself" (on his head being layed next to his "headless" body), I thought "what the hell is that?". That was horrible! Why, George? Why?