Rated: PG
Running Time: 2:12
Tabitha's Rating: ***/5
Synopsis: In the second chapter of this prequel trilogy, the clone wars begin and the romance between Amidala and Anakin, the future Darth Vader, grows.

It is really hard to rate a Star Wars movie. There are those hardcore fans who will love it no matter what it turns out to be, and those such as myself who enjoyed the first trilogy and have hopes high enough to be let down. I have to say I was let down.

The first thing you think of when you think of star wars is the special effects. There was so many elaborate shots of cities and landscapes, and the wars. Yeah yeah yeah, cool, we saw it in the last movie, what do you have for us that's new this time around? If it were any other movie, it would be ok, but this is Star Wars, legendary for bringing something new to the screen. It must be hard for George Lucas, because people expect so much of him. One thing I didn't like about the special effects, however, was because they looked a little cartoonish. They were all done on computer, so this is expected, but it was just like I could tell it was fake. I didn't really feel into the movie. At one point I was looking at water in the background of scene, and there was no ripples when something dropped in. Small thing but noticeable. And during the dialogue, I could practically SEE the blue screen behind them. Not literally of course. The dialogue didn't make you think they were actually in the places they were standing, it was like you could tell they were standing in front of a blue screen, with no real atmoshpere.

Now that I mentioned dialogue, let's go deeper into that. George Lucas should have spent A LOT more time on the script, and less time on the special effects. I even heard Yoda say a sentence in the regular fashion, instead of backwards like he always does. There was nothing witty or clever said. Anakin sounded like a whining baby half the time. And the "romance" between Amidala and Anakin is a joke. He met her when he was a kid, doesn't see her in ten years, but he's in love with her all that time...um...yeah...I don't believe it for a second. Now, I can see why he would like her once they saw eachother again. Natalie Portman was beautiful, truly. But it really comes off as nothing more than an adolescent's infatuation. And there is absolutely no reason for Amidala returning his affection. There is no chemistry between the two. She goes from disinterested to madly in love in a matter of a few very, very short scenes. And nothing good happens in those scenes. The dialogue is dry, cheesy, and sooooo not original.

Ewen Mcgregor did a good job as Obi Wan Kenobi. Samuel Jackson did a good impression of talking to something that wasn't really there, since most of the time he was with Yoda. Anakin, played by newcomer Hayden Christenson, like I said before, was pretty whiny. The only really notable thing I can say about his performance was there were times when they did close ups of his face when he was angry and looking at Amidala, and you could see a little danger and the shadow of Darth Vader in those eyes. Which is the only thing I saw which would attract a woman to him. But Amidala isn't the type of woman who would be attracted to a bad boy. And I am disappointed by Portman's performance. She is so much better than that. I was sorry right away in the first one when I saw she would be doing the trilogy. I always thought of her as above this. I really expected more of her in this movie, I know she is capable of it.