I finally saw it tonight.
Not as bad as all the vented spleenage I've read on the net made it out to be. Dare I say it was more fun than most of the prequels? The animation style is very different, and I like that it doesn't look like a Pixar film. The character design is highly stylized and gave me a bit of a Supermarionation vibe. (Which apparently is what Lucas was after.) Palpatine reminds me of one of those dried apple head figures! I noted they didn't try to conceal his visage in one Sidious hologram.
Anakin is actually likeable for a change. Ashoka takes a bit getting used to, but she does pay off in the finale. (I look on the whole Padawan issue being a wartime condition, much like battlefield promotions.) She will probably be neatly tucked out of the way before the events of Episode III, so why lose sleep over it? The old Marvel comic unintentionally dug itself into deeper holes than this, and managed to set things straight before Empire and Jedi came out. ;)
The battle scenes are fun, and easy to follow what's going on. I liked the wall climbing assault on the Bomarr(?) monastery, which was easy to mistake for Jabba's palace in the trailer. No major continuity busters, and less time on Tattooine than what was dreaded.
As in ROTS, the things that evolve into the Empire's hardware and uniforms are in evidence.
I couldn't help but smile at Jawas drooling over a wrecked spaceship before the engines are even cold. Beats the heck out of falling off a ronto antics.
I'm glad Dooku gets some onscreen villian time. He was dispatched much too soon it ROTS.
Ziro the Hutt was interesting. Hutts are the sell your own mom up the river back-stabbers I've imagined them to be. Some people are reading way too much into the Truman Capote voice though. I liked that he had IG-88 type droids for his muscle, as I long thought they should have been the design for the battledroids, which unfortunately, are back as bad comedy relief. Even the bad guys get fed up with them! If I hear "roger roger" one more time!
The cute baby Hutt stuff threatens to go over the line at times, but as the McGuffin, the little spudboy serves his purpose.
It's amazing that a simple look between Padme and Anakin speaks more eloquently than most of the dialog they had in the prequels.
Strangely enough, no JarJar. Have to give them points for that. ;)
So I laughed, I cried, I kissed $9.50 goodbye. I will give the series a shot. And hey, it's better than those Ewok movies!