Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace-6.5/10
I always liked this as a title.
There's no doubt that the prequel trilogy would be a stunning audio/visual feat that stretched the limits of modern cinema technology. That being said they were never going to be three films that matched the magic of the original trilogy.
It is interesting, with all three of these flicks totally done to death now, to see how some of the dialogue in this flick really hints at the films to come in Eps. 2 and 3.
However Lucas could never write good dialogue and in this film it just makes the kid a really annoying brat. (Something that carried over into the adult Anakin Skywalker). Writing dialogue for the kid that makes him sound adult is just lame. I never liked the choice of the kid actor in this film. If Lucas had picked someone else I would have probably given this a 7.5/10.
Definitely the weakest of the prequel films despite the stunning eye candy. My opinion.
Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones-7.5/10
After the annoying kid we now get an annoying adult Anakin. However this is really where the series gets rolling properly in my opinion.
Incredible art direction. Incredible visuals. This is sci-fi on an immense scale that was promised in the first film.
Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith-8/10
I wouldn't ever take young kids to see this movie. It's dark, it's violent and it's definitely the most "adult" of the Star Wars films (both series). Someone getting burned alive is a bit too much for the kiddies.
The opening battle scene above Coruscant is a staggering display of attention to detail and digital composting that has rarely been matched (sorry about the pun).
I think Portman steals the performance in this film. She really kicked her acting up a gear for this.
The special features/deleted scenes on the DVD's for the prequel trilogy point to the fact that Lucas has considered reinstating some of this material in (yet another) director's cut. In fact there was one small scene added to the DVD release of Clones that wasn't in the theatrical release.
It's over George. There's nothing more to see here George...... move along now.
And you still can't write dialogue Mr Lucasfilm.............
I have been watching these too (about one a week, when I can squeeze in some time), though I would lower the ratings a bit to 6, 7, 7. Phantom Menace is garbage, but pretty, Clone Wars is ridiculous, but pretty and Sith is both a better story (and yeah, Portman decided, what the hell, even if no one else was gonna do it, she would actually ACT in the movie) and more poorly paced--and pretty. All of them, however, are far too long. Their lengths should be 90, 100 and 120 minutes, respectively, and that's only to cram in all of the plot points.
That being said: even though they aren't good movies and the use of CGI is most of the time PAINFUL in how poorly integrated it is with the live action (it blows me away how much better a movie like War of the Worlds, which came out at the same time, integrates its live action and CGI aspects) and the composition can become too muddled too often, it is still a pretty awesome technical display and for the most part flat out bit of awesomeness.
