Just yesterday (6/4/99) I saw the newest LucasFilm product. That is most certainly what it is. Sir George's weakest link as a director is on blatent display, his reticence with actors . The man is a known techno-geek (some of my best friends are) and doesn't offer much assistence to his cast. Check interviews with Carrie Fisher or Harrison Ford, they both mention this directly.
The saddest part of the movie is its heartless recapitulation of old favorite themes. The tank gun muzzle ride of Indiana Jones, the Pod Race track comes directly out of video games (out of race car tracks...blah blah blah). My list could go on and on, but that's not useful. I found that the script was anchored, maybe mired, in galactic politics and character introductions. Can you hear the SW character sales ringing? Only for a short while , most of the "named" characters aren't enough to hold my interest, much less $12.
Did I enjoy the movie? Yes, I did.
Was it worth the effort? (I drove out to a suburban screen, with THX and a matinee price) Yes, since I am confident that I saw the film under the best possible circumstances, as George had intended, I feel that I got the full effect.
Was it worth the hoopla? No, but that was the point. I snicker quietly to myself, watching the media try to outguess the results of a filmmaker's efforts. Titanic they got wrong, dead wrong. Heaven's Gate they got right. Waterworld I think will prove with time to be a faint BladeRunner, both in its quality and that it shouldn't have been villified nearly as much as it was. I believe George is a very bright guy, knew what he could and would be willing to produce, and created an environment, through media control, that would foster the results he wanted. You have to admire his moxie, this is his film, financed by him, and it is to finance the next 2 films. If only the US Government ran that way, although the Post Office sorta does.
Will I go see it again? Probably.
Will I see the next two films? You bet. I hope that he lets someone else direct, and gets away from carbon-copying his formula just enough to make it fun again.
What would have made it better? Hindsight and my personal opinion, fun, more joy in the wonders of this place a long time ago, far far away. This was serious, no wiz-bang, no banter, no chemistry between actors. The cast is a fairly adept group, but it didn't have the sting and zing that Carrie, Harrison and Mark generated. Not enough interpersonal conflict to spark excitement or to truly raise the stakes. Its just my opinion, and its just a movie.
Did the film suceed? As entertainment? Somewhat, I found The Matrix much more original, engaging and stimulating, but I sure didn't want to miss out on whatever Mr. Lucas had percolated in that brain of his for all of these years.