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Star Wars: Episode 1,
The Phantom Menace
Official Lucasfilm Site
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan MacGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd
Category: Science Fiction
Rating: PG-13
This movie unapologeticly reeked of EPIC. From the opening set-the-scene story rolling up the screen to the poor broadcast-quality of holographic images, this "first" of the Star Wars films echoed the "fourth, fifth, and sixth" episodes faithfully. Marketing played a large part of the viewing experience; it was almost like another character. But expect to see the Colonel and the chihuahua in the battle scene on Naboo, and you will be disappointed. Star Wars is part of our national consciousness as much as mom, baseball, and apple pie, so shameless marketing can be forgiven, right?
Liam Neeson plays Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master, a man of understated control if ever there was one. His young apprentice is Obi-Wan Kenobi (MacGregor). Remember him? You'll get chills when he meets cherub-faced Anakin Skywalker (Lloyd), the future Darth Vader. Great casting with Lloyd, who was the perfect combination of innocence and future temptation. Portman plays jewel-bedecked Queen Amidala (Luke and Leia's destined mom), in costume-change after costume-change. Where did they fit her luggage on that transport, anyway?
Other noteworthy characters include Jar-Jar Binks, comic tag-along who eventually becomes understandable; Watto, a flying, ten-o'clock-shadowed trader; Sebulba - camel-faced competition to Anakin's pod racer; and a special appearance is made by an almost-svelte Jabba the Hut. Lest we not forget, the half-completed C-3PO and ever-dependable, at-your-rescue R2-D2 are also present.
This film is fine for older children - try to keep them out! There is minimal "real" violence (most of the casualties are droids.) And it can't hurt to expose children to the heroic Jedi. Think Halloween costumes. But younger kids might be bothered by the graphic nature of one particular scene, and Darth Maul can be nightmare-inducing. Go see it before you take the kids!
This latest from Lucas and his superb ILM crew has already broken records at the box-office after the first week, yet controversy over the quality abounds. People, let's face it. This is STAR WARS. And only George Lucas could make a tale about an economic blockade worth it.
Thumbs up!