Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Director: George Lucas
Screenplay: George Lucas
Starring:Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Park, Ian McDiarmid, Terence Stamp, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels

John's Review

Well, it's finally here and my verdict, in a word? Fantastic. A universe that I have only visited in three other films comes roaring back in hyperdrive. Yeah, there's a lot of hype, and no movie, or thing, could ever live up the amount of hype this movie has received. That's why I, unlike most of the rest of the closed minded, moronic, idiot critics in this country, went in with low expectations and an open mind. I did not go into this as the end-all-be-all of human existence, which is what Peter Travers of Rolling Stone apparently thought it was going to be. I'm sure it will be chic to bash this film especially in the coming weeks, but, as many of my friends will tell you, I can pick Star Wars: A New Hope apart into many tiny little pieces, but you know what? I still love it!!
Unless you've lived under a rock for the past six months then you don't know the plot. The Trade Federation is upset about the Republic's taxing of the trade routes and imposes a blockade on a small out of the way planet to make their point. The Chancellor of the Republic (Stamp) sends Jedi ambassadors(Neeson and McGregor) to the blockade to negotiate a settlement. But we find out that there is something else behind this blockade, something sinister, something... phantom. (Sorry, I couldn't help it!)
This film, much likes it's first predecessor, has a thin plot and one dimensional characters. Does that mean it's bad? NO! What it does mean is, it's mythic, archetypical, not to put too fine a point on it, simple. Almost every film critic has forgotten that this is what the origianl trilogy is. Also it is for children. As of this writing, my 2 sons have not seen the movie, but they have already seen Jar-Jar and find him fun. I found him incredibly annoying, but then again Jar-Jar was not created for me. He was created for my children. So, I delt with him.
What was meant for me? The absolutely incredible light saber duels. The fantastic space battle. The political intrigue. These are the things that make this film escapist fun. I sat down and was taken away for 2 hours and 10 minutes, to another universe far, far away. I was transported and I lost myself in it.
Ben Burtt, George's academy award winning sound man, has outdone himself. The pod race alone is worth the price of admission. Think Ben Hur on steroids. The visual effects while 80% are stunning, are merely window dressing. Sure this is a visual effects feast, but it shouldn't be the sole reason you go to see this chapter of the first trilogy. Now about 10% of the effects were average, 10% were very obivous. Hopefully in the near future the visual effects guys will notice that skin on animals doesn't mover THAT much.
Next, the light saber battles were incredibly well filmed. Here, think Empire Strikes Back on steroids. Ray Park makes a wonderful acting debut. The former stuntman uses his mastery of martial arts to make a beautifully choregraphed duel between himself, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor. The music was nothing short of inspirational. John Williams score's have become more.. choral, for lack of a better word, in recent years. This one is no less. I described the Duel of the Fates track as Williams' Carmina Burana to a friend of mine.
Will you like this film? I hope so. Go in with an open mind and no expectations and you will be swept away. I watched this film from the same child eyes, that I saw the original movies. And when I did this I was totally engrossed. I will see this move at least two more times, once with my boys and once with my girlfriend. And both times I will say the same thing, "OK, George, take me away!"

Grade: A

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