Episode 1 is my first taste of Star Wars; and I'd say I was 'peckish' for more rather than hungry.

Rating: 5/10 (4 March 2007)

Well, here it is then; my first 'Star Wars' film. I thought it might be better to watch them chronologically rather than in the initial order as I had heard of all the hatred towards this episode so I thought I'd dislike it equally if I'd seen the original trilogy first; hence, I gave it the chance it deserved. On the whole, I'm glad I did.
I found the opening half an hour or so rather confusing. I don't know if this was due to the fact this was my first ever taste of Star Wars or if it was just shoddy writing but I'll admit that it was lucky to have a bit of a Star Wars fan watching it with me otherwise I would have been completely lost. What I didn't like was the virtually vacant introduction to Jedi's and what they were (although it's assumed you've seen the other films before this one so I can't hold that against it too much) and the inaudibility of the character of Jar-Jar Binks. What also didn't help was the fact that whenever someone said something, there seemed to be an annoying little 'bleep' noise or an animal/alien moan in the background, rendering what it was they were saying equally inaudible. I thought this was rather laughable so early on as what I found to be a complicated plot set up involving a trade dispute between two planets was made even harder to follow given the fact I couldn't hear what it was that was being said.
When these things were ironed out after about twenty five minutes, the film got going and although rather ashamed saying it, I was impressed. I liked how each of the characters interacted with one another, I liked the whole 'double team of Jedi's travelling around helping out' scenario and although the subplot involving Anakin Skywalker and his space racer/eventual fish out of water story was primitive; it was light hearted and enjoyable at the same time. The way the film flicked between the two situations going on and eventually culminating in a feel good finale where they all integrate was good; the trade situation was as compelling as the Anakin storyline and we're never forced to 'side' with the 'better' story as each is given enough screen time.
The character of Darth Maul was another interesting thing I noticed during the film. Although he's one of those enemies that hardly ever speaks and is one of those bad guys that 'remains in the background, looming and threatening at all times' (similar to the Terminator in the first Terminator film); I couldn't quite feel the build up nor could I the menacing persona he was meant to carry. The cloaked bad guy who appeared via holograms was more of a menace and this is where the film lacked a little in the end because you knew he was never a threat and all good films/stories like this one have a decent bad guy who is always there trying to thwart the hero(s); in Episode one, there wasn't stone wall evidence of one of these.
Even if the way the editing jumps between each story toward the climax is a little predictable in the way it shows the tank battle, the palace surge and the light-saber duel at the same moments in their progression (initial fighting, bad guy(s) get the upper hand, twist of fate, hero(s) winning) it was satisfying and never took itself too seriously. This way of telling the finale, I believe, was Lucas' way of saying 'don't expect an epic; just a satisfying journey coming to an end'. Hardcore Star Wars fans might not like this too much but for the others (namely me) it was a nice introduction to the franchise.