> He did have an aura of mystique, but he was a flat character -- even though he did jump out of nowhere, or did pace behind an energy wall, or did have a neat theme song. It was almost as if there wasn't anything behind the character except an overly-confident combat animal.
>
> He looked like the devil. He had a double-bladed lightsaber. He was the evil Jedi.

Right. That *is* his character. What's wrong with that? Star Wars is not about characterization; it's about story and myth, stunning visuals and spectacular music and sound. Mythology is *loaded* with pure evil devil-like characters. This was one, and he was both appropriate and effective.

I dismiss any arguments made about the marketing of the character, hype, "potential," and whatnot that you and Christine have made in this thread. They have nothing to do with the movie itself, and it is not valid to evaluate the movie in light of these things. Fault the marketing, not the movie, if Darth Maul did not live up to your preconceived notions.