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George Lucas takes us back to the beginning. |
| On May 4 a few hundred of us got to see an unfinished
print of STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE. I say this so that you know that somethings I say may change
by the May 19th release date. Now, the first thing I will do is apologize ahead of time, for saying things that may offend loyal Star War fans, of which I am one. I attended with my wife, two friends (who are huge fans) and hundreds of people who were expecting a great film. What we got was a good film instead. Boy, this is one tough review to write because there is so much to say. Before I tell you some of the story, I will explain a few things. The special effects and computer graphic effects were absolutely, unrefutably the best ever seen. The CGI characters looked incredibly real. I expected that Jar Jar Bink was going to be the only CGI human-like character we were going to see...surprise...there were thousands. They appear in some awesome sequences.The Tatoonie pod racing sequence and battle scenes were also incredible. The sad thing is that everything about this film was incredible, except for the script. The situations and plot seemed to be almost exactly like all the other episodes of Star Wars. It was interesting enough but would I go rushing out to see it again? I don't think so. I will see it again just to see if there were in changes made. I am also hoping that when I do finally go again that it will affect me in a different way. Who knows? Okay so there I sat, realizing I wanted it to be everything the hype made it out to be, but, it just left an unfulfilled feeling. After the screening the same comments were made by many of the people there. I have seen excited and awestruck crowds at these advance screenings but it was not there after this film. The film went dark and everyone ran out after a smattering of applause. George Lucas may have advanced the art of computer graphics to an all time high buthe did little for the story. The graphics and effects were too much of the story; characterization was poor and unsatisfying. I did not really feel anything for the characters. An example was when young Anakin Skywalker left his mother there was no feeling of sadness. When one of the lead characters is killed there is nothing, no feeling of sadness whatsoever. Oh, if only Han Solo had been there. In comparison, THE MATRIX used the effects to advance the story and the characterization. You want and need to go and see THE MATRIX again because there is so much to see and learn about the story. In THE PHANTOM MENACE, after one viewing, you have seen it all. There is no urgency to see it again. Don't think that this film will not make a fortune at the boxoffice because it will, but I don't believe it will make the kind of money they are expecting. Don't, I repeat, don't let this in any way keep you from seeing this film because it is really worth seeing at least once. What you will see, shows you where the future of film is going. Now you will want to know what was up there on that large screen. The story doesn't take long to get to the fighting. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson plays the Jedi Master) and his student, a young Obi Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) begin the story with a masterful light saber battle. After they escape we get to see the incredible creatures of Naboo as well as meet Jar Jar Binks. You are going to see some incredible underwater creatures as well as the Gungan. Eventually they escape and take Queen Amidala off Naboo. After their ship is damaged they end up on Tatooine where they meet Young Anakin and his mother who are slaves of one of the more silly creatures that infests this planet. There are too many silly looking creatures which seem to have been put in central roles just to sell toys. Even though they seem to be out of place, they were beautifully done and the young children will love them. Here an incredible race is held. It is very suspenseful and amazing to see but once again it just didn't feel right. Once they fix their starship they are about to leave with the young Anakin in tow only to have a first encounter with Darth Maul. It is obvious that young Anakin is meant to be a future Jedi Knight. We learn here why some are capable of becoming Jedi Knights. From here they head to the Senate Planet of the republic where they look for help. This planet is one huge city; an incredible sequence even though it was done in THE FIFTH ELEMENT. Lucas' sky vehicles moved in a more organized and controlled manner where in THE FIFTH ELEMENT it was more chaotic and claustrophic. Here we meet the council of Jedi Knights which includes a slightly younger but still ancient Yoda. Along the way we see the EVIL EMPEROR and his pupil DARTH MAUL begin the plots and conspiracies that will eventually lead to those episodes we have alredy seen . We learn that they are the two Sith Lords that threaten the force and as we are told Sith Lords always come in twos . Eventually an exasperated Queen Amidala leaves to return to Naboo to form an alliance with the Gungan and take on the Federation herself and of course everyone goes with her. A plan is put into motion and battles begin. The unexpected battle between the thousands of robots and the thousands of Gungan will amaze you just because you know what it took to portray this battle. Darth Maul eventually shows us the new double bladed light sabre in a fantastic battle with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan. Of course we know that Obi Wan is the only survivor of this battle. Eventually the battle is won by young Anakin and R2D2. Here it made clear where Luke Skywalker got his skills. The ending is similar to the scene at the end of the first Star Wars. Of course as I've said too much was like the other episodes mostly because this episode is a set up film for those to come. I hope Lucas has someone else write and direct the next two as this film suffered in both these categories. TITANIC had heart ( I saw it 4 times), THE MATRIX ( I've seen it 3 times and I'm going for at least a 5th) has questions and STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE has just pretty graphics and a poor story, a shame because it deserves better. GODZILLA showed us that special effects and CGI graphics do not make the movie unless they are accompanied by a good plot and a well crafted story. Will I be wrong and will it become the all time boxoffice champ? Only time will tell. I hope that the sound is better when it is released to the public because it sure was not worth all the hyperbole LUCASFILM made about why they wanted it to play in only the best theatres with the best sound. Oh yeah, if you buy a jumbo coke during this movie, then, don't start drinking it until at least 30 minutes into the movie because you do not wnat to have to rush out to the pottie near the end, okay? By the way my wife thought it was just fine and said she will eventually want to see it again. Except for THE MATRIX she never goes to see a movie a second time. Maybe she knows something I don't. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU and THE PHANTOM MENACE. |
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Llyod, Ian McDiarmid, Terence Stamp, Frank Oz, Samuel L. Jackson and thousands of robots and Gungan
Directed by...George Lucas
Written by..George Lucas
Produced by...George Lucas
Distributed by Fox 2000
PG scenes of violence
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