Better the second time

Rating: 8/10 (21 June 2002)

I enjoyed the film the first time I saw, but like anyone who has studied film, its hard not to be critical. So going a second time I normally go with a different mind set. Meaning that really I go to enjoy the film or hate it with LOTR's. I have had the video Star Wars sin I think 1982 although I did see it when it first came out at the cinema and have seen it too many times to keep count (Enough that I now can't watch it in one sitting). I state all this so you should know that I am a huge Star Wars fan, who like most hated the phantom menace when it came out, Although I do admit that there are parts which I do enjoy and I hate Anakin more the Jar Jar. Well thats all over with lets get on with it.
The title is still a bit crap. The beginning is good though not great. The middle has some wonderful bits but some boring bits. The end is good and coming close to great though the CGI lets the film down. More does not mean better. The dialogue is wooden as are some of the performances. Special note must go to Christopher Lee is his normal wonderful self and I am glad to see what happens to him at the end of the film. The music is ok to good but rarely stunning. The Jedi are wimps though and can someone tell the fight choreographer that anyone who spins around with a light saber deserves to die because he's stupid. The fight scenes are directed better in this film than LOTR's, though they are nowhere near perfect.
Overall, I enjoyed the film better the second time around which is always a good sign. I hope the last film is going to be even better then it may live up to the title it has and not be seen as three tag ons to the original classics. One worry though is that everything is going to have to be hurried in the last film because there are so many plot points and history to be cleared. I am not sure that only one more film can clear it up neatly.