My wife (somewhat interested) and myself (extremely interested) saw this movie at a 7pm showing on a very large screen in Wash. DC.

This edition of Lucas' epic has two personalities. Personality number one is the serious, dark, ominous battle for the Republic. Personality number two is the ridculous, shallow, predictable love story between Anikin(Christensen) and Amidala(Portman).

G. Lucas has spent considerable effort creating his epic and this movie continues in his already rich tradition of providing exciting, and involving content for the movie go'er.

The Story In-Brief
The Republic, run by former Senator now President Palpatine, a paralized Senate, and an increasingly outnumbered Jedi Order is suffering from several breakaway star systems and internal strife. The Republic needs an army to defend themselves, and help the Jedi's keep the peace.

Anikin Skywalker and Obi Wan (McGregor) continue their Master and Apprentice storyline with the young (now late teenage?) showing much angst at being held back by Jedi rules and wisdom. Anikin's fall from grace begins in this movie and when the young Jedi get's angry he shows his real power.

The Jedi council, headed by Yoda (super-cool short guy) and Samuel Jackson (super-cool tall guy), are forced to find the evil that is causing all the problems for the empire, watch over the upbringing of the young Jedi Skywalker, and look cool doing it. They send Obi-Wan to track down the person behind several assassination attempts on Senator Amidala's life, while assigning young Skywalker as her body guard.

Effects
Lucas has outdone himself again. The special effects are incredible and will likely have you forgetting to blink. There are incredible light-sabre duels, large scale battles between armies, a spaceship battle, and very beautiful backgrounds and planetscapes.

The variation between the dark and light side of the movie is shown most readily in the effects. When Lucas wants you to feel scared or know that something bad is going to happen, the scenes are colored appropriately dark and foreboding. The opposite is true as well. When you are suppose to bask in the "love" between Skywalker and Amidala, the scenes are brite and warm.

Music
John Williams has done a terrific job once again. He tosses in some music from the previous 4 movies as well as plenty of new scores which appropriately drive the scenes and the audience's emotions.

Acting/Dialogue
Let me put this in order by Actor --

Christensen - Believable as the angry young Jedi wishing to have enough power to make everyone do things his way. As the young love smitten Jedi, he is horrid. His character couldn't seduce a $20 hooker into the back seat of a new Thunderbird. I am not sure that the blame should fall entirely on his acting ability as the dialogue with which he is forced to act, was corny, lacked any depth and at times so predictable that audience members were calling out the next lines before they were spoken.

Portman - The movie takes place 10 years after the last episode, and she is now a Senator. But she apparantly hasn't aged a day. I think she may even look more sexy or in shape than the last movie. Her acting parallels Christensen's in that it is bad. Again though, I think that this is due to the script she had to work with. George Lucas may be great at making this kind of movie, but he should NEVER be allowed to write love scenes. Even when Portman is not involved in a love scene, she is only given 2nd rate dialogue. As Queen Amidala, she was great. As Senator Amidala, she is almost ridiculous.

McGregor - Obi Wan is good in this movie. If this movie had centered more on his relationship with Skywalker, instead of Skywalkers relationship with Amidala, it may have been better. McGregor, as Obi Wan has some of the better lines in the movie and acts well opposite Christensen.

Yoda - Yoda looks a bit "animated" at times, but for the most part his role is the most well acted of any in the movie. He certainly shows it ability to lead and why he is the Uber-Jedi Knight. I would never have guessed that underneath his robes he had six pack ab's and buns of steel. His action scenes are the best in the movie and he delivers some of the more poignant lines. If you choose to see this movie just to enjoy Yoda's performance, you will not be disappointed.

Jar Jar Binks - Yes he is in the movie and no he does not die. Yes he has a more important role in the Republic than I would have thought a bungling oaf could get.

Jimmy Smitts - I think he had less lines than Jar Jar did. If he is Senator Bail, I would have thought he would have had a more active role.

Samuel L. Jackson - His role is important, though he doesn't get to do much with it. He has some good dialogue though he is forced to act mostly with Yoda, and is generally eclisped by Yoda's oscar winner performance.

Palpatine (I forget the actors name) - This role is once again played well. Palpatine is supposed to be the brains behind all the evilness in the movie and this is clearly evident in all he says and does. In some ways it feels as though this movie is a documentary on how an evil dictator can tear apart a 1000 year old Republic and not get caught. He is the true master not of the dark side but of political machinations and double dealing. I wonder if he has ever thought of a career in US domestic politics.

Chistopher Lee - As Count DooKu (stilted name for such a powerful character) he is great. He shows his evil wisdom and knowledge of the force well. In his fight with Obi Wan, Skywalker and eventually Yoda, he shows that while he may be silver haired and older than everyone but Yoda, he can kick some serious Jedi butt. He delivers one of the better acting roles in the movie and as a central evil in the movie he definitely delivers.

R2D2 and C3PO - Wonderful wonderful wonderful. They are truly hitting their acting stride and show their abilities to portray comedy and true depth of character like never before.

Final Analysis
This is a good movie with bad dialogye. The story, actions and effects make the movie. Do not laugh too loudly when Christensen and Portman are expressing their love to one another. Eventually, the movie moves past these cornball love scenes (was there a shot from the Sound of Music in there??) and gets back to the real meat and potatoes of the story. Se this movie for the bigger story and Yoda. Forget about the rest.

Cheers!


Recommended: Yes