Warning: The following review may seem negative. It may appear mixed. It may even seem to bash George Lucas and/or the giant money-making machine he nicknamed “Star Wars.”

However, you must understand, it was not my intention to do so. Frankly, I loved “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.”

I knew long before I ever saw it that I would. And therein lies the problem.

It was exactly as expected.

After “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” was in theaters some three years ago, all Lucas had to do was listen and make a checklist.

No. 1: Audiences were annoyed with Jar Jar Binks. Solution: Lessen his role in “Episode II.”

No. 2: Audiences like big, fast, loud action sequences with thousands of computer-generated beings in the background. Solution: Have a couple of good action sequences.

No. 3: Audiences thought “Episode I” was too bright and kiddish. Solution: Make it darker. Throw in some beheadings, or better yet, three blood-thirsty monsters helping themselves to our beloved main characters.

No. 4: Make it sexier. Make it everything audiences want it to be.

Keep outdoing yourself, George. Hell, throw away Yoda’s cane and give him a lightsaber. That’ll do the trick.

Now, I am not saying that any of this is bad. It is just expected.

But that is the problem. When we expect the best for so long, we assume the finished product is golden regardless of what it really is.

Expectation blinds every moviegoer.

I would have had no problem giving this movie five reels in the beginning, but it never gave me that extra punch - that hit that I did not expect. I do not know what it could have been. I just know it was not there.

What I do know, however, is that all the good, classic “Star Wars” themes, details, action sequences, musical scores, etc. were all present and accounted for.

The same old magic was there. There is no doubt of that.

The opening sequence blasted the audience with the ever-popular scrolling explanation of what is going on. It began the same as it did 25 years ago.

Anakin Skywalker - soon-to-be Darth Vader, father of Luke and Leia and husband of Padmé Amidala - is the exact dual-natured good/bad guy we would expect.

The lightsaber fights, now intricately choreographed, hold the same exhilaration as they have in the last four films.

And do not forget the overwhelming cast of characters. From the newly digitized Yoda to bounty hunter Boba Fett, they are all there.

However, simply cloning the old film’s virtues does not always set in stone a positive response. It’s called innovation, Mr. Lucas. And shooting the entire film with digital cameras is not enough. Sorry.

Now, in all of this, you might have lost me.

Here is my point: When all you work with is silver and gold, it is quite impossible to make something cheap and dull. And Lucas does not know how to make anything but gold.

In the end, I expected more. However, I almost feel guilty for it.

“Episode II” is, as many of you probably already know, the pinnacle of movie-making and all the magic that ties it together.