Title: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
File Under: Space Saga Extroidinaire!
As Cool as:  Episode 1(Times 10).
Grades: Vs. what I expected...9  Vs. other movies...7.
 
Well, I have seen the newest incarnation of Star Wars, and I must say that I am impressed.  Star Wars junkies around the world helped Episode One to record breaking numbers, but frankly it was a shitty movie.  George Lucas manages to get his ships turned in the right direction for Episode II.  He doesn't pull a complete 180, but he comes damn close...we'll call it a 170.  The script needs some help.  Lucas is a master story teller, but he's like that math teacher you had in high school:  he's way to smart to translate it into terms that are engaging.  The dialogue is mostly boring set-up, and I found myself bored during scenes of extended discussion about the trade federation and the Jedi way and all that.  I must admit that it is great fun to find out all of the back story from the stories we already know and love (Episodes 4-6), and this movie has several clever moments of revelations into the future. 

I think that George Lucas is probably going to go down as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time purely for his visionary style.  Technology has yet to catch up with his mind, and it shows in several scenes that look overly digitized, but it's still a major improvement over Episode 1.  The action in this movie is simply fantastic, especially the final 20 minutes.  Very well done.  And all I need to say is that Yoda fights.  How, you ask?  Ask not.  See the movie you must. 
 
Mr. Pickles...still has jujubees stuck on his shoes...