Wolff rating: NOT BAD
Plot summary: Assassins stalk the senator from Naboo while separatists try to break away from the Republic.
Biased, pithy comments: Well, it wasn't too bad. Something about Lucas's approach these days cows the life out of the actors. Maybe it's the blue-screening, maybe it's that Lucas is worth 3 billion dollars at this point in his career. Whatever it is, every line not delivered by an animated character tended to be flat and disconnected from the rest of the characters. When the movie is rolling near the end (about 40 minutes or so) the movie is great; action, adventure, war, flashing lightsabers, Jedi mind battles, and some kickin' Yoda stuff (I never thought I'd say that). When they aren't doing that, though, it's not great. Expectations are high for Lucas, and it's hard to beat the ghosts of ``New Hope'' and especially ``Empire,'' but I still think he could have loosened up his actors, removed some of the less important sleuthing from the first half, and really knocked our socks off. Your mileage will vary.
Other Notes: I could write a whole essay about how I feel about this movie, but I'll just leave it at this.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, many animated dudes.
Directed by: George Lucas