Griselda Wrote:1. As far as the Anakin character, though, somebody with such an extreme lack of mental discipline would never have been made a jedi, prophecy or no prophecy. They want to claim that there's a mental and spiritual component in there, but apparently all they care about is strength in the force. Bah. They could save a lot on training and just install a VR fighting machine for the new recruits.
Storyline stuff:
2. -Couldn't they have made Padme die of *something*, rather than the old "you're not convenient to the storyline anymore, so you have lost the will to live?"
3. -Time. They could have done a better job showing the passage of time in the movie. That would have helped, too, because it would have made Anakin's progression to the dark side happen over time, in a more believable way. As it was, the movie looks like it happened over the course of about two weeks, except for the fact that Padme went through an entire pregnancy in that time. 
4. That said, my daughter loved the movie. She was very upset that we were making fun of it on the way home. So, maybe it's just that we're looking at a movie that was intended for children, but from the point of view of an adult.
I disagree with point 1. My reference? Flight training. There are some folks with immense talent who get through flight training with a lot less effort and self discipline than the regular flight students. With Anakin's incredible midochlorian level, he coasts through a tough course, even though he starts late. "The Chosen One" halo effect blinds his teachers. "The next Chuck Yaeger?" Pilots of this sort turn into Pete "Maverick" Mitchells (Movie = Top Gun) and also tend to get into accidents due to the lack of self discipline. Anakin is based on a valid human model, hot dog pilot, and is ironically an excellent pilot.
It is the failing in spine of his leadership, who are in awe of his potential, that set the disaster up. In aircraft accidents, we call that supervisory error. Dead is still dead.
Point 2. I am with ya. Lack of will to live when she just gave birth to two little babies? Post Padme Depression? And with such excellent medical care available, not to mention a supportive guy like Obi Wan. (Handsome to boot) Plot hole as big as a Death Star.
Point 3. Yep. Padme is a cradle robber in any case, or Anakin matures physically at an accelerated rate. He never matures emotionally. Male bimbo.
Point 4. Jar Jar is alive. Lucas must be punished.
5. Early space battle silliness was a bit un necessary, with the little electro gerbils on the wings thing. Bah.
Occhi
