Keep trying, George

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2002)

I cannot say this was better than Episode I. If you like space battles, the one at the end of Episode I is better than anything here. If you like lightsaber battles, the one between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul in Episode one is more intense and spirited than anything here (Yoda's duel is impressive, no doubt, but lasts nowhere near as long as it should). It is interesting to see a lot of Jedi wielding their lightsabers in combat...but they only chop down those pathetic-looking battle droids. Ho-hum.
If you like good dialogue...there is much more in this film that will make you cringe. Some of the dialogue--especially between Anakin and Padme--is downright embarrassing. If you like computer-generated effects, yes, there is plenty here...but it sometimes looks fake (I think it's because the lighting on the actors often does not match that of the computer-generated backgrounds well).
All is not lost: Christensen is convincing as the troubled young Jedi, and Christopher Lee makes a very smooth villain (although his character seems to come out of nowhere). The story is somewhat more involving, but it's still hard to get interested in the problems of the Republic.
I give this a 7/10. For a really good Star Wars experience, I still recommend the original trilogy.