Episode II Redux

After a 2nd viewing episode II was a little better. It all seemed to fit together better and has a very Empire Strikes Back feeling about it. There are obvious similarities of course - but mostly it is the feeling that this movie is just a segue to the 3rd in the prequel trilogy.

There is a pretty good review on Slashdot by Rob Malda (aka CmdrTaco of Slashdot)

Here is a good quote from it about Anakin:

"Anakin is little improved from Menace. I know he's supposed to be full of anger and angst, but mostly he just comes off as constipated and bitchy."

Aside from bowel problems, Anakin (as do most of the characters) suffers from poor writing. Lucas always has to state the obvious and worse, he must state the obvious in the simplest of terms. I came away from Episode II with a feeling that I wish there was more depth to the story - an underlying plotline, more subtlety or anything that I could take with me from the theater and think about. Lucas would say the movie is "kid-friendly" and I wouldn't want it to be otherwise, but how about throwing the adult fans a bone here?