The Force IS strong in this one!

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 1999)

Joy came to the movie-going world when on May 19, 1999, Star Wars Episode I became a reality. It labored under intense scrutiny in following the most popular and successful movie franchise, and then trying to preface the entire story. It endured 16 years of anticipation and expectation, and it has to carry the weight of the most intense hype blitz in the history of popular entertainment. Could it stack up? Would people feel disappointed after taking off work for six weeks to wait in line? Will all of its die-hard (or demented) fans, who show up to the premiere dressed in full Imperial or Rebellion regalia declare a revolution on George Lucas after his first fully directorial effort in 22 years? Well, coming from someone who is more than a casual Star Wars observer (no, I don't go to conventions; I don't even have a single poster from the trilogy) I can say I wasn't but the slightest bit disappointed, and it exceeded some of my wildest imaginations.
The movie begins with a cabal called the Trade Federation blockading a peaceful planet called Naboo. The (Old) Republic sends in two ambassadors, Jedi Knight Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and Jedi Knight in Training Obi-wan Kenobi (McGregor) to the orbiting Command Craft to negotiate. Qui-Gon suspects that this act is not the work of the Trade Federation, but rather an unseen manipulator, hence "the Phantom Menace". The commander of the fleet in fear sends droid warriors to attack the pair, but the well-trained knights escape into the landing bay of the craft and realize they are preparing an attack. The pair escape onto the planet to warn of the pending invasion but they are too late. They run into (literally) a creature named Jar-Jar Binks. His race lives under the water on Naboo, and he explains that the only way into the capital city is underneath the water. They eventually find Queen Amidala, ruler of the planet and flee in a transport. It is put under attack by the blockade, but thanks to some help by a familiar blue droid, they escape. They send their damaged craft to a little out-of-the-way desert planet named Tatooine, where they meet a young slave boy named Anakin Skywalker.....
The beginning act now becomes set. To start off with my critical review, the CG effects are absolutely mind-blowing. It is apparent with technology now, any vision in a director's mind can be captured on film. From the threatening urban canyons of Coruscant, to the lush grasslands of Naboo, to the underwater caves of the Gungins (possibly the first race of Rastafarian aliens ever), to the familiar desert planet of Tatooine, the scenery is stunning. The action sequences cannot be described with words, but rather experienced like a rollercoaster that never slows to a stop. The best sequence is the homage to the chariot race from Ben-Hur (minus the bronze fish), where the audience dipped, turned, oohed and ahhed during the whole scene. The end sequence jumps between four battles: a massive battleground between armies of the Gungins and the attack droids, a lightning-fast dogfight on the command ship above the planet, a break-in at the Queen's former castle to insurrect the Trade Federation, and a swashbuckling lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon versus the demonic-looking Darth Maul, an enemy so bad@$$ that his lightsaber has two blades. The John Williams score is excellent as always (no Imperial March, though). Even Jar Jar, while at times annoying, made a good, albeit naive, comic relief, but admittedly not as good as two bickering droids.
Unfortunately, the movie does have noticeable flaws. The acting of the good guys is solid if not spectacular. Neeson plays an excellent teacher and part Jedi Maverick, one that defies the Jedi Council regularly and has a penchant for trickery and gambling. McGregor works the wide-eyed, sometimes brash but clean-hearted student. However, save the plotting Senator Palpatine (a very capable Ian McDiarmid), the more nefarious ones have little depth. Darth Maul, although definitely evil in appearance, had only a few lines and not even the slightest history. Samuel L. Jackson is only a fleeting character as Jedi Councilor Mace Windu, but maybe his part was simply an introduction. The writing of the lines however, was neither dramatic enough to quote nor hammy enough to enjoy. Also, maybe since Episodes IV, V, and VI dealt with a more imminent sense of dread, namely the Death Star, the tension never really reached an absolute fever pitch like the Death Star battles in IV and VI, or the asteroid field in V. A final criticism is the movie lacked a little bit of charm, like fuzzy dice hanging from the cockpit or restarting the Millennium Falcon's motor Fonzie-style or the abject stupidity of Lando ("That shot came from the Death Star! That must mean it's operational!").
To sum it up, though, it's unfair to try and judge this with the other three, only because the first three revolutionized the movie industry and completely created a new world, while this one thrived in the familiarity of it. It would be like if the Chicago Bulls became NBA champions again in 15 years, but then trying to compare them to Michael Jordan and Company. Granted, it had its flaws, but it's a wild ride, the best "popcorn movie" since Jurassic Park. I looked at this more as an appetizer to Episodes II and III, even though we all know what will happen. The little kid fathers A New Hope for freedom and then becomes the most threatening force in the galaxy, Obi-Wan becomes a hermit and is later killed by the Jedi Formerly Known as Anakin, Palpatine gets older, wrinkled, and shoots lightning bolts from his fingers, Yoda ages some more and still talks backwards, and R2D2 and C-3PO become the most famous nitpicking couple in movie history. Who cares, though, it's an enjoyable ride, one that turns even the most jaded of movie-goers into a cheering 7 year old. As a blockbuster, this would rate as a 10, as a movie this would be about a 7.5, which for me means flawed, but very good and definitely recommended. (I rated the first three as 10, 10, and 7). Being a betting man, I give this an even money chance to break Titanic's domestic box office record, and a 5-3 favorite to break the worldwide mark. In closing, sit down, strap in, grab a tub of the most buttery popcorn around and hang on.