Merely good but wraps it up

Rating: 7/10 (28 December 2005)

Star Wars II is merely a good movie, compared with the classics. However, it did do a good job of wrapping up lots of loose ends. The fight scenes were too long, the pacing off, and I hate Jar-Jar. But overall, it was good. It's certainly worth renting if you didn't see in in the theaters.
The story is basically how the take-over of the Republic by the Chancellor occurred, who uses his guile and the Dark Side to turn Skywalker over from the light. Much of the background seems to be political - the "you're for us or against us" bit. The Republic is too bit for its own good -- too many aliens races can't come to democratic compromises. It does not help the Republic that forces are conspiring to kill off the Jedi.
Two bits of gratuitous violence -- the killing of of the young-lings and the burning alive of Skywalker pères to make him into Darth Vader. I'm not sure they need screen time.