This is one of the best Star Wars

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2002)

OK, Empire Strikes Back is still #1 for me. But this one is close; definitely better, in my book, than EP1 and Return of the Jedi. And I can't wait to see how EPIII (possibly the darkest of all six -- we know what must happen -- and who's going to die -- before Episode IV begins) unfolds.
The first time I saw it, I was really tired and so some of the scenes in the middle part (exposition) dragged a little, but it was still engrossing enough to keep me interested. And by the time the final battles started, it was a thrill ride all the way.
At first I was laughing with the rest of the theater audience at the corny dialogue (especially those between Anakin and Padme). But then I realized that's what Star Wars is all about. It's not NYPD Blue. This is a comic book, Sci-fi fantasy. If you have ever read a comic book, you will know that the dialogue actually fit very well. On my second viewing, they actually worked very well for me. The love story arc actually worked for the purpose. It's important to move it along, so we know that they fall madly in love (and that leads to Luke and Leia).
But we all know why we are there in the first place. It's the fantasy, the action, the mythology, the lightsabers, the Force, the machineries, the technologies, the scenery... and I believe EPII delivers. The final 40 minutes is exhilirating. I have to go back a second time to truly appreciate everything that is put on the screen (you're bound to miss a lot of details if you only see it once). The arena scenes are amazing -- a fine tribute to the original trilogy and the great Ray Harryhausen movies.
If George Lucas keeps this up, EPIII is going to kick ass.