Visuals 8.2, Plot 7.4, Acting 4.5, Dialog 4.1

Rating: 6/10 (17 May 2002)

(No spoilers) The summary says it all. I read another review where someone said they will go back and watch the movie while listening to some music so he won't have to hear the dialog. That's a great idea.
The visuals are quite good. I don't think they are better than Lord of the Rings but they are quite good. There are several good action sequences. One near the end is amazing.
I think the whole story line ties in well with the future episodes, gives a very good story/history and there's some excellent irony (not the literal kind but the kind that people normally us the word for) in what happens throughout the movie.
There are some scenes where you can almost read on the face of the actors "Do I really have to say this line coming up?" There are several scenes where the direction given to the actors does not seem congruent with the situation. Adding to this is the fact that several characters are mostly/entirely computer animated, so the eyes don't line up (either in the real actors or the animated actors).
I think they used some previous characters well, if not a bit forced. Unfortunately, some of the jokes/puns were so very, very bad I literally heard my wife saying (quietly) "they did not just say that."
It's the start of the summer movies. This one is OK. I went in with moderate expectations. I was somewhat disappointed. I won't rush back to see this one again.