Well Done!!

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 1999)

I just got to see this film yesterday in re-release. Overall I thought it was very well done and extremely well cast. Stand out performances by Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman in particular. Portman is an excellent actress and has a great deal of presence which makes her delightful to watch. Ewan McGregor was very good in his portrayal of the young Obi Wan, and did an extraordinary job of emulating Sir Alec Guinness' style in previous performances.
I can see why reviews for the film were mixed. If you are not a fan of the Star Wars saga, I imagine that you might not see much to this film. The special effects were excellent although they were slightly much at times. The storyline is confusing at times, and it is hard to identify with some of the characters. The Jar Jar Binks character is definitely annoying but not as bad as I thought he would be.
I think Episode One's big failure lies in its comparison to the previous three films. No matter how good the writing and directing is, it is impossible to stack up to the Star Wars mystique that is attached to the saga. The feeling is similar to the feeling one would get if a studio today remade a Casablanca or a Gone With the Wind. No matter how talented the director, cast or crew would be, nothing compares to the original. Ultimately, I believe that a lot of the flack this film took was somewhat unwarranted.
I concur with many others who say that Episode One's biggest achievement is that it sets up the next two films. The viewer can see what is developing here and can understand the direction the story will take.
Overall, a very well made, good looking, well acted film that is more for true fans than the general public. There is a decent amount of well choreographed action sequences (the final light saber duel is nothing short of fantastic), and the plot keeps you interested throughout the film. I am very interested to see what Mr. Lucas has in store for us in his next two installments.
SSB - December 10, 1999 - NYC