STAR WARS
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
First Edition - Tune in Two Years Later for the Next Exciting Chapter
Queen Amydolly has a big problem. Her planet Nobboo is enclosed in a blockade because she won't sign a trade agreement - she's getting strong-armed by some traders who want control of her planet. The traders are being manipulated by Darth Serious, who plans to use the situation to gain power over the Planetary Federation.
Two Jedi Knights - Qui Guy and Obi Kanobi - are sent to investigate the situation. Fearing the Jedis will rat on them to the Imperial Senate, the traders invade. Getting away from the robot troops, the Jedi's fall in with one of the planet's indigenous fish-dog people, Ju Ju Bees. They help each other get away with the queen, and they all hide out on the planet Tattooine. There, they adopt an obnoxious little kid who shows great promise to the Jedi, but also great danger.
Though played as more dignified than the future/previous episodes, the long-awaited Episode One of this space opera really gets moving once it returns to its roots as the most expensive (and profitable) Saturday afternoon serial ever made. I really wasn't prepared to be impressed after all the hype this flick had attached to it, but I came away liking it very very much. Though George Lucas, returning to direct after 20 years of only second unit and TV work, still doesn't know how to direct actors and still relies heavily on recycling shots, sequences and dialogue from old movies. But he also still knows how to pick and motivate talent. Everything that's good in the picture is there because the people he hired were good, and they got inspired to be better by his vision.
The weak stuff: number one here is Jake Lloyd as Anakin. I found him hard to accept, even harder to believe a kid as young as he is with no education could build and fly a spaceship. Plus, how can he fly one? Is threw a phone book on the seat? He's obviously there to keep little kids in the movie - it's just as obvious his amateurish delivery (almost as bad as Harrison Ford in Episode 4) and snotty attitude will alienate even the wee ones, who'll be more interested in the 'comic relief' CGI-critter sidekick anyway. Which brings us to flaw #2 - this big-eared alien is a bit amusing here and there, but there's way too much of him. He looks real, but he's animated and voiced like a cartoon, which gives the game away. By the time he starts stealing from Keaton in the third act I was ready to start shootin' my 9 off at the screen. Hope there's a Lucasarts PC game where you get to kick his ass.
Most everything else about the film is terrific. There's a full course of eye candy in every frame. The chases and fight scenes are genuinely thrilling. Ewan McGregor, R2D2 and Natalie Portman stand out in the acting category. Nice music from John Williams, who's started using more rhythm the past few films.
Now, can't wait to see this again - and see the next one.
Since this is such a big event movie, I thought it might be fun to ask for a few guest mini-reviews from colleagues to run along with mine. If you want to skip down to the P-Factor, click here. Here they are, in all their un-edited glory:
Episode 1. Those are the only two words that need to be muttered. This should automatically trigger a response in that brain of yours. Galaxies far away George Lucas is counting the piles of dough he has. I don't have any dough just my thoughts. I am a retail manager who has encountered every level of Star Wars hype a person can handle ( I just so happen to manage the toys and music movie and book sections among others. You can imange what kind of questions and preparation I've gone through for this movie.) I try to explain how this is episode 1 and how the original was episode 4 to no avail. I come to work at 4:30 in the morning for 3 days straight to prep for star wars merchandise and still we haven't sold out. Sold out is the perfect way to sum this movie up. I've just returned from viewing episode 1 and I think it was sold out. Definitely not in the literal sense of the word. What is sold out is the plot. You almost have to read the manuals on the characters and the companion novels on their weapons and crafts to understand this movie. Do not go to this movie expecting a deep movie that makes you think for hours or even days afterward. Just go to it knowing full well these are going to be the best damn special effects you've ever seen in your life. Go to this movie because it's worth the $300 you spent on action figures. Go because you always win a debate between your friend on who is the toughest bounty hunter in the universe. Go for the effects with no other expectations on your mind and you'll walk out of the theatre a happy movie goer.
Adam King
As I sit at my desk this morning, still tired from the early morning showing of Star Wars: Episode I, I have to ask myself why I’m even here. According to reports, over 2.2 million of us Star Wars crazed Americans are playing "Wookie Hooky", and will not make the trek into work today. Supposedly costing our economy over 300 million dollars. Maybe a better question is, why I would watch a movie at 12:05 am on a weeknight?
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Star Wars, but I’m not the guy who’s been counting down the days and hours until the movie opened. It just happened that my buddy got a block of tickets, so I thought "Why not?". I didn’t have real high expectations for the movie, but thought I would enjoy it. It seems to me that the bigger the hype these days, the worse the movie ends up being. I was hoping that would not be the fate of Star Wars: Episode I.
Did I like the movie? Yes. It was a barrage of slick special effects and interesting creatures for strange planets. Lucas ties the new movie in well with the previous Trilogy, and you get to see some old friends such as Yoda, C3PO, R2-D2, and Jaba the Hut. The acting was fine and the light saber duels and fight scenes were very cool to watch.
But was that why I liked the flick? No, not really. The reason I had a great time was for the atmosphere of it all. I’m the kinda person who likes to make memories and turn anything I can into a memorable event. When was the last time you got to stand in line with hundreds and hundreds of other movie fans and see people walking around with light sabers and costumes? The theater last night was electric. The crowd would look for the slightest reason to cheer. I thought I was at a Bulls playoff game or something. This is the atmosphere that makes movies truly fun and enjoyable.
Did George Lucas succeed in his new film? Some film critics would say no. But if his goal was to create excitement and fun for those who watch his film, I’d say this movie is all it promises to be.
-Benjamin Nelson
Check out his reviews of yo-yos at www.webspun.org.
O
k fellow Psychotronics I want to tell you what I thought of the new STAR WARS movie. First though, I should address the psychotronic anal retentives out there who don't even think we should talk about this film, get mad at Prime Minister of the Sinister Brian Thomas for reviewing new movies, etcetera. Listen friends, WE WON! The subject matter of countless drive in and grind house films are now the subject matter for HBO, SHOWTIME and multi, multi million dollar movies. WE WON. There are plenty of publications and sites out here covering films like ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN, over and over again. Friends, the subject matter we loved growing up has become the establishment in Hollywood and that is that.You can always go to our archives section of the It's Only A Movie part to read about Boris Karloff and Vincent Price and lot's more. So leave Brian alone, hell, I even think he was right to review SAVING PRIVATE RYAN because of the unbelievable amount of gore it opens with. That film rivals DAWN OF THE DEAD!
ADMIT IT!
Look, you and I loved those Ray Harryhausen movies like THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, etc., and that is the tradition this movie belongs to. Could Caroline Munro act? Patrick Wayne? Kerwin Mathews? Hell no and we didn't care. We went for the special effects and I am telling you this is one dazzling film. I couldn't tell you what the hell the film was about, the Darth as a kid actor SUCKS, but so what? The effects are unbelievable. And they don't end.
Mistake Lucas made? There is no sex in this film, no sex appeal at all. The audience I saw this with was almost all male, with only four women in attendance. I still believe I am going to win the bar bets I have for free beer around town if the film drops by half at the box office the third week end. Caroline Munro was in those Harryhausen films for a reason, Mr. Lucas. Don't leave out sex again.
Still, I don't feel cheated. I really do believe I experienced this movie. I went to Chicago's VILLAGE NORTH THEATER which had installed new sound equipment and a giant screen and I was instantly sucked in. I would pay to see this film again.
Cheers,
Michael Flores
My hopes were not up for this movie and I wasn't disappointed. The special effects were good, but nothing really stands out in the film. The effects weren't beyond what has come before, as it was in the first film. If I was 10 years old I would have loved it. The audience I saw it with didn't really react to the film. I heard no laughs, no cheers, it was very quiet.
Mike Brown
Sci-fi gadgets; space aliens; monsters; light saber fu; zap guns; explosions;
robots; superheroes & villains; robot heads roll; sith cut in half; etc.
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