The Force is strong with this one

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2002)

Just seen Episode II and I got to write something to get it out of my system... (No spoilers, I promise!)
I... loved it!
It's far better than Episode I.
Plotwise it is about as complex (or non-complex, if you like) as the first prequel and the following (original) movies. Structurally it is more sound than Episode I. For instance, the climax is at the end of the movie, instead of in the middle.
Visually it is stunning. Lots of visual easter eggs to look out for, both design-wise and character-wise, to serve as tie-ins to both Episode I and the original (following) episodes. (This baby is going to run in slow motion and on repeat on my DVD when it is released!) One Swedish reviewer complained that he could discern which backgrounds where digital and that it looked like a video game. In that case I would like to have his game console, I have never seen a computer game this life like.
Well, okay, so the acting wasn't top notch. Jake Lloyd as the nine year old Anakin in The Phantom Menace is actually a better actor than Hayden Christensen as the nineteen year old jedi apprentice in Attack of the Clones. However, he whines just like Mark Hamill as Luke in Episode IV, very amusing! Jar Jar Binks is in it though, but he hardly has a minute of total screen time. The digital characters are better than ever, and even though the all-digital Yoda sometimes isn't as good as the puppet one, the audience cheered and applauded when he finally reached for the lightsaber...
Lastly, one reviewer complained that while technically brilliant this movie lacked catchy lines for fans to pick up. Not so, you just have to pay attention. I picked up one five minutes into the film: Jedi poodo!
10/10. May the force be with you.