Puts the 'Wars' back in Star Wars!

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2002)

The Force is back with George Lucas, without a doubt! Ewan McGregor is hilarious as a more sarcastic Obi-Wan Kenobi this time as he tries to tolerate and instruct his arrogant and somewhat whiney apprentice Anakin, played in a mixed performance by Hayden Christiansen. Hayden does quite well in the second half of the film, but he falls short in the first half with some very cardboard lines and some pretty fake emotions. However, after one encounter on Tatooine, everything changes and we see the anger in Anakin. That's what we've been waiting for, and Hayden delivers. Natalie Portman, finally free from some of her awful dialogue, is handed a somewhat more palatable script, but she still has some clunkers to deliver. However, she is given a much sexier and personality and wardrobe this time around, and manages to balance the diplomatic side of Padme with the take-charge fighter. The effects are unbelievable, the lightsaber fights(while not as elaborate as in Menace) will leave you cheering, and the villains Jango Fett and Count Dooku ooze malice. All in all, a great overall movie! If only George would have re-written the dialogue for the romance scenes....