I saw it with my girlfriend on Sunday. And guess what?

I liked it. I really enjoyed it. We both did.

Now, we both still have big problems with the prequels. But I tried to go into the theater with no real expectations either way. And I quite honestly had a really good time watching it. It reminded me of reading the old Marvel Star Wars comic books back when I was a kid, or the newspaper strips. It was basically just fun stories set in the Star Wars universe. They didn't always have to be great, but they were always exciting to read. And something about this being animated rather than live-action gave it an excuse to be less serious. I really laughed at some of the jokes that would have irritated me in a live-action film (the battle droid screaming "whyyyyyyy?!" when Ventress force-throws him off the ledge is one good example - I pointed and guffawed!). I didn't find myself cringing like I did with the prequels. I think I had a smile on my face the whole time.

I do need to mention though that we were absolutely the only people in the theater. Period. I don't think I've ever had an entire theater to myself before. Of course I didn't mind; we could sit anywhere in the whole place and make as much noise as we wanted. But it did drive home the point that this film has really bombed. I don't think it really deserved to bomb like it did (far worse films that deserved to bomb have done far better), but on the other hand I do hope it finally sends a wake-up call to George Lucas that the majority of the fans have had enough of buying anything he wants to sell them.

Personally, I'm excited to see more chapters of the Clone Wars... but realistically I really do think it's time for Lucas to put Star Wars aside and move on. You cut the golden goose open, George, and there's nothing in there but entrails now. Concentrate on the golden eggs you already have called the Original Trilogy... polish them up properly before you sell them (again), and then move on and make some great, non-Star Wars movies. Please.

--SKot