Overall, I think the great actors stepped up in their roles, but the problem is the main characters are Lloyd/Portman/Christenson and the bulk of the drama/chemistry comes from them, and that is why the great actors in the cast couldnt save it.
True. But I don't think any woman could have stepped up in the role of Padme with the stupidly embarrassing and uncomfortable dialogue. It would have been C-material, regardless. And I didn't think Christenson was that bad really, just a little uninformed. Christian Bale anyone? lol