Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace.
I went - Sunday 18th July 1999 (3rd day of general release in the UK).
So there I sat, near the back of the cinema (which just happens to have the THX sound recommended by LucasArts), and after 20 minutes of commercials and trailers the film started - by this time I'd already eaten half my popcorn.First hte music, then the title "Star Wars" in that famous of logos - then the prologue "Episode 1 The Phantom Menace" and , Yes, I thought, I'm here now watching it.
Its a good film, it carries a U Certificate, and it is mainly aimed at the kids. I think a lot of people are forgetting that fact when they go to see this movie. George Lucas didn't make this movie for the late20-30somethings (like myself) who saw the first (last?) trilogy 20 odd years ago - he made it for the kids.
That's why he put Jar Jar Binks in it.
Mind you there are some "throwaways" - like cameos from Jabba the Hutt, the first meetings of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and also R2D2 meets C3PO, and (for obvious reasons) "May the Force be with You!".
I don't want to give away spoilers (unlike like last Sunday's "People" newspaper which promised pictures from the film and told the entire story to go with it) but, for my part, and like I said, bearing in mind that the film is U certified - it was great. Liam Neeson carried the film, Ewan McGregor wasn't in it as much as I'd thought (but then he's booked for the next 2, so I can live with that) - Jake Lloyd as the young Anakin Skywalker is a fine young actor, as is Natalie Portman who plays Queen Amidala
Ian McDiamid as Senator Palpatine was fine - but the best of the bunch was Ray Parks as Darth Maul. I think he only said one sentence in the whole thing, but his skills as a martial artist, and the fight scenes were the best parts of the film. I wish there had been more.
A lot has been said about the Pod Race which Anakin takes part in, for me the whole CGI experience, and I'm not just talking Star Wars here, if it looks real, it *is* real - its supposed to be realistic, and therefor I don't watch a film and play spot the CGI. The only niggle with this film is that there is perhaps too much of it. My example is Boss Nass, voiced superbly by Brian Blessed - I would rather have seen him dressed up as the character, than watched the CGI version, but that is my own opinion.
The music by John Williams is again wonderful, with hints of what is to come.
All in all the film is great. Treat yourself, take the kids (we didn't cause ours are too young) and remember who its for.
I look forward to Episode 2..... I wonder if there are any female Jedi Knights???
Thanks for reading!
Joanne Laing
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