A brilliant prequel to Star Wars!

Rating: 7/10 (10 December 1999)

One would believe it to be impossible for anybody who created a film success like Star Wars, Empire & Jedi to write a successful prequel, with almost no surprises for those who have seen the said episodes IV through VI ... or...? Not so! Lucas does it again! There are only a few minor complaints like the messianic parts, and the robot soldiers (allegedly veteran or battle hardened warriors?) who have weapons, which its enemies can take and use against these same veteran soldier robots. Also would anybody please explain to me what in the Galaxy 'The Balance' is - Good has dominated for 1000 years ... must Evil dominate for 1000 years as well?? Nevertheless it is a VERY seeable film - super effects as can be expected (also the soldier robots), and a nice intorductionary plot to the entire series, presenting the Old Republic, its virtues and the political problems that will bring it down, just as it presents the problems within the Jedi Council. It manages to link extremely well to the main series, and is actually presenting some rather real problems and weaknesses in, and dangers, to most democracies (doubt very much that Lucas intends to do this - however, he does ..)! If you have heard anybody criticise SW-I for being superficial with no depth to the characters, don't believe it! What you must do is to go and watch this movie remembering that this is nothing more than the first part of a science fiction series aiming to do little more than entertain, i.e. that it is not a stand alone film with a major message, and that no film can truely live totally up to 22 years of media/cult hype! Moreover SW-I actually manages to both entertain and rather strictly remain within the bounds of the story, as outlined 22 years ago - no mean feat! Therefore it is absolutely brilliant and a worthy prequel! ... and I love the Gungans and the fact that Anakin becomes the real main character of the series!