Life was crap, I was in a hideous mood, I had a splitting headache this morning and wanted to stay in bed but the bathroom remodel started today, the English-speaking contractor was late, it's going to be more involved than I had imagined, I got to work late, my head still hurt, I was still grumpy, I felt like crap, I blah blah blah ugh.

And then I had an important business meeting this afternoon, with a certain Mr. Lucas....

Yes, I was a total geek -- along with Lotti, John, Liz and a hell of a lot of other people -- and saw Episode II today. I'm in a much better mood now.

Reactions, in no particular order:

• Is the word "cringeworthy" too harsh for the dialog and chemistry of the love scenes? No, no, I'm afraid it's not. "Cringeworthy" pretty much sums it up.
  
• For all his faults, Hayden Christensen is a hell of a lot better than Jake Lloyd.
  
• That's still not saying much.
  
• I mean, he's so... pretty. And pouty. When he does something... not good, very not jedi-like, sinister, even, and has a crisis of conscious about it, it comes off as more of a temper tantrum.
  
• He does kick some ass, though.
  
• And never once says "Yippee." Thank God.
  
• I like Natalie Portman. I think she's a good actress. So, Lucas, why does she come across so wooden in this movie, hmmm?
  
• What in the hell was she wearing for half those scenes, anyway?
  
• I can't believe I'm saying this, but Jar Jar Binks becomes almost a tragic figure. I feel sorry for him.
  
• Icky space centipedes. Bleh. Well done.
  
• Jango Fett! And li'l Bobba Fett! How cool is that!
  
• You can feel my force any old time, Obi Wan.
  
• And that goes double for you, Mace Windu.
  
• Still, why are the jedi so frickin' oblivious? Hello, maybe you should turn your mind from The Force and start using, say, your eyes? Your instincts? The little hairs on the back of your neck?
  
• Clone army: Oooh, ominous. Nicely done.
  
• Ditto droid army plant.
  
• Still confused about what R2D2 and C3PO are doing there. I mean, yeah, they're great and all, but shouldn't they have nothing to do with this story? Hello?
  
• Yoda doesn't have sideburns anymore. Thank God.
  
• "Hmmm. Innocent, inoffensive green muppet thing I am. Harmless, you think. Until kick your ass I do!" Awwwwwwwww yeah.
  
• Oooh, double-handed light-saber action. Bring it, baby.
  
• How cool is Christopher Lee? So damn cool.
  
• However, has he ever played a good guy? Or at least a guy who doesn't start out good and go very, very bad?
  
• Amazing the way they managed to work Amidala's bare midriff into the fight scene, in an almost *cough* organic fashion.
  
• Good creepy crawly things in the arena. And nice reactions from the bad guys.
  
• Look at her, being effective! You go girl!
  
• There is some awesome, awesome army vs. jedi action. Really well done fight scenes.
  
• Why didn't his head fall out?
  
• Evil hand! Evil hand! Dude! Awright!
  
• Last 30 minutes -- faboo. Ass-kickin'.
  
• Episode I could have been the first 10 minutes of this movie.
  
• Ooooh, machinations, machinations. Very cool the way things are getting set up.
  
• Boy, the next movie is going to be depressing.
  
• I don't care. I can't wait.