When I grow up, I want to be Yoda

Last night, along with every other self-respecting geek on the planet, I went to the midnight opening session of Star Wars, Episode II. I did the same for Episode I, and actually found myself a little disappointed. Episode II, however, does not disappoint.

Episode II is perhaps the fastest paced and most involved movie in the series to date. The special effects are quite astounding, including stunning scenery, explosions and an impressive cast of computer generated characters, most of whom stand quite comfortably next to their real-life counterparts. In fact, the CG characters were often the better actors. The sound was also equisitely executed, making good use of the abilities of modern theatre sound.

The movie strikes an interesting balance between politics, love, character development and action. The plot is somewhat thicker than previous Star Wars movies, and while this means kids may not enjoy it as much as the previous episodes, I think it was exactly where the series needed to go. Kids will enjoy the kabooms and flashy effects, while adults can enjoy a little bit more of a plotline.

I was honestly worried that Lucas might mess up Star Wars with these new movies, particularly after seeing Episode I, but it seems my fears were unwarranted; Episode II is most certainly worth watching on the big screen at least once, if not twice.