2002, 2 hrs 15 min., Rated PG for sustained sequences of sci-fi action/violence.�Dir: George Lucas. Cast: Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Senator Padm� Amidala), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Ian McDiarmid (Supreme Chancellor Palpatine), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Frank Oz (Yoda), Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Jimmy Smits (Senator Bail Organa), Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker), Joel Edgerton (Owen Lars), Bonnie Piesse (Beru Whitesun), Jack Thompson (Cliegg Lars), Andrew Secombe (Watto).

Whew! It�s 2 p.m., Thursday May 16 and I just woke up here in Nashville after seeing the midnight showing of Episode II with Scott, Jenn, their friends Jeremy and Dave, and we made a few new friends in line between 5 and midnight last night at the Hollywood 27, playing Uno, Fluxx and a Lord of the Rings game. There were even a couple of television stations (Fox 17, CBS 5) at the theater, reporting that there were plenty of us weirdos lined up around the building, and they interviewed some of the more colorful ones (meaning, dressed as Jedi or Sith and wielding lightsabers).

I'm not sure what the reaction will be among the laypeople today or this weekend, but last night the crowd was rowdy and went wild several times during the film. There are some scenes that are a fanboy's dream, i.e. many "whoa" moments. Two stand out the most (swipe to see spoilers):

When we finally see what happens when a group of Jedi fight together, and when Yoda pulls out a can of whoop-ass in a mano y mano duel with Dooku.

There are only a few flaws to speak of, from weird effects here or there to one TREEmendously piss-poor acting job that had everyone groaning (swipe to see spoilers):

After falling from a speeding ship to the desert floor, Natalie Portman is lying motionless, but when a trooper comes to see if she�s okay, she jumps right up and says she�s great, as if she was just looking for shapes in the clouds.

Hayden Christensen is questionable, but I will confess that he wasn�t as gag-inducing as the trailers made him out to be. Sure, he was a little bratty and had me rolling my eyes, but you can see where Lucas had him mimicking Mark Hamill a little bit to show the father-son connection.

I think I�m way too cynical about the love story (probably due to my own lackluster love life), but however necessary I didn�t buy it. She�s a proper Senator, some ten years older, and he�s an arrogant Jedi with emotional problems. Why do the cute girls always go for the idiots? Even ten years out of high school, I wonder this. If George Lucas wants to solve the mysteries of the galaxy, he should explore this next. Episode XII: The Search Continues - Jeff Still Hasn�t Married and/or Started a Family.

Ewan McGregor shines. He has grown wiser as Obi-Wan and is successfully morphing into Alec Guiness of Episodes 4-6. Sam Jackson seems to struggle with the clunky dialogue at times, but is still the biggest badass in the galaxy, and has one line that has the audience applauding. Hey, it�s a midnight showing among diehard fans. We cheered at everything, including when the guys at the concessions squeezed the right amount of butter on my Goobers ("Gosh, Jeff, I can't imagine why you can't get a date").

Christopher Lee, in his Star Wars debut, and Ian McDiarmid, reprising his role as Senator Palpatine, are each yummy in their ooey-gooeyness as "Are they bad or not?" guys. Great stuff from both.

The special effects were excellent. In fact, there�s even a noticeable big leap just since The Phantom Menace. Only a few times was I taken out of the film by noticing subpar graphics, usually backgrounds that didn�t seem right.

Overall, a positive review � Episode II locks in some of the plot points in the Star Wars universe and gives us a feeling of connection with 4-6, something I didn�t get from Episode I three years ago. There are no perplexing new points to ponder, either, meaning no talk of midi-chlorians. And thankfully, Jar Jar has little to do, other than be the downfall of the universe. See for yourself.