Queen Amidala the Clotheshorse

Rating: Null/10 (29 May 1999)

I think the aspect of the film that I like second best would have to be Queen Amidala and the setting of Naboo. Her capital city is beautiful: a futuristic seaside community built of antique Byzantine architecture done in weathered shades of cream, copper, and aqua, it reminded me of those fabulous "Dinotopia" paintings that used to be so popular. There was even a hangar for the queen's spaceship (which looked too much like an SR-71 for my tastes) that was built of stone. What a nice touch that was; Disney couldn't have done it better. Natalie Portman plays the queen and is well suited to the elaborate surroundings, dressed up in gear that is often quite imaginative, and its use is integral to the story, rather than gratuitous. (Later, we find out that there is a reason for all the care Amidala takes with her appearance, other than trying to compensate for being fourteen years old and a world's only ruler.) With her glossy dark tresses, regal monotone voice, and elaborate costumes, the adolescent queen seems to be an otherworldly blend of a Japanese geisha and Elizabeth I, and I found it to be a pleasing mixture. However, at times, Amidala's costumes were at cross- purposes with her character. The slight actress looked a little unsteady under the heavy headdresses, and my biggest fault with Ms. Portman was her posture. Queens, even if they are popularly elected, lack credibility if they slouch. Some of the costumes lacked originality, also. I saw some coiffeurs that must have come straight from "Babylon 5" and at times, the young queen looked a little too much like "Beetle Juice's" Lydia, with her penchant for feather trimmed black dresses and pallid cosmetics. The worst outfit, and the most distracting, had to be the ensemble Amidala wore when she addressed the Senate. With her sad expression, and her lovely face painted white with red dots on the cheeks, the young queen wore a harlequin shaped hat that made her look like entirely too much like a French clown doll. I couldn't decide if this was done on purpose or not, but I think a more suitable choice of wardrobe could have been made.