Apart from Natalie Portman's Scene, a Great Movie

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2006)

Not to pick on Natalie Portman, but those sections of movie which featured her interaction with Hayden Christenson were still lacking in watchability. The only scene between them that succeeds is when they are gazing at each other across the city during sunset, the somber wails of an Arabic maiden reaching out of the scene and taking hold of the viewer.
But the rest of movie is excellent, partially since it feels better acted and more alive than Attack of the Clones. I feel that this movie could have been stretched over two movies, and the romantic element of the second movie blended into the first half of this movie, but it would have broken the compartmentalization of the Star Wars saga.
Samuel L. Jackson finally getting a lightsabre duel of his own was my favorite scene. I only wish his character had been more dubious (like he wants absolute power for himself), but nevertheless.