A longer time ago,a more boring movie

Rating: 6/10 (23 July 2005)

Otherwise known as "Star Wars-Episode One" - the 1st chapter in what is now planned as a 6-part movie series. The 2nd chapter arrived in 2002. So all we have here is basically an introduction to a 12-hour movie. And boy, do we feel it. The plot has something to do with heavy taxes being perpetrated by the nasty 'Trade Federation.' Two Jedi Knights are dispatched to negotiate. It doesn't go well. We are (re-) introduced to R2D2 & C3PO (who is being built by young Annakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader - Eegads!). In the end, we have a huge battle on 3 fronts, highlighted by the light-saber duel between the 2 Jedi knights and Darth Maul - a Sith Lord. Why are they all fighting? And why not send 4 Jedi knights or 6, to simplify matters a bit? All the escalating problems in the next two films could have been avoided if the so-called wise Jedi Council distributed their warriors a bit more efficiently, rather than being stuck in this '2' mode. To me, the most interesting aspects of this flic is making the various connections between this movie and the ones already made which take place in the near future. For example, there is the other Sith Lord (the master - they always come in twos ... say what? - if you know they come in twos, then send four..never mind), who is obviously the evil emperor from "Return of the Jedi"(83), and played by the same actor. Then there's the hint that Annakin did not have a father - what's all that about? And these microscopic beings that live in everyone's blood symbiotically? Hah? Like "Star Trek the Motion Picture"(79), this film is easier to watch a 2nd time around, when one can relax and not worry about missing a line of dialog which explains half the plot. The obvious weakness to the flic is that after writing it, George Lucas doesn't have much directing to do: what's left is for his FX technicians to plan the high-speed action races, create the many creatures, and visualize the city-scapes on several worlds. By Golly. And I didn't even mention Jar-Jar once.