Poorly Directed

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 1999)

I hesitate to say anything bad at all about the latest Star Wars flick. But ...Star Wars Episode 1 is a disappointment. And I'm a fan of Sci Fi movies and of the original three films, even if they do look dated these days.
George Lucas the writer/director of the Star Wars series describes them as a "Saturday afternoon serial for children" and this description is particularly apt for this episode. If you're over 10 years old don't expect too much.
After all it wasn't the special effects but the characters who made the original three films entertaining. They had larrikins we cared about, and there was a good dollop of sexual tension. Would Hans Solo and Princess Leila get it together? And where did Skywalker fit in.
Hans Solo and the Wookie were rascals with good hearts. R2D2 and C3PO were funny. There was an epic feel to the story, and then there was that mysterious business with The Force.
Darth Vader was awesome and we were surprised when we found out who he was. All of these elements made the first three films fun, majestic and mysterious. That rush into The Death Star was tension filled and when Skywalker closed his eyes and "Trusted The Force" we had to believe in The Force as well. It worked.
So what have we got in The Phantom Menace. No larrikins at all. No Harrison Ford character. It's never funny but remains serious or even worse, seriously unfunny throughout. The robot sidekicks have basically been replaced with and annoying, non understandable no brainer called Jar Jar Binks. Who cares if he's completely digital. He's not entertaining.
Darth Vader has been replaced by Darth Maul (Ray Park who's apparently a martial arts star) but there's no sign at all of the majesty and terror that pervaded Darth Vader. Where was that swishing black cape and breathy, sinister voice!
And who knows whether Ray Park can act. Darth Maul like the rest of the cast give performances that have the look of second grade amateur theatrics.
This is the film's greatest problem. Perhaps the wooden performances that are universal in this film are due to the actors having to perform so often to blue screens to which were later added digital characters. But we would have to suspect that George Lucas really wasn't interested in his actors.
He hasn't directed a film for 22 years since Star Wars 3. He has instead done lots of wonderful work on digital effects with his company ILM, exhibiting state of the art wonders in films like Jurassic Park, but his preoccupation hasn't been with flesh and blood actors. Lead Liam Neeson, undoubtedly a first class actor, has been quoted as saying that he won't do another film and will retreat to the stage after his experience on Lucas's film.
The Phantom Menace is an outstanding special effects film but it lacks human interest. There has been a phenomenal amount of marketing hype associated with the movie but I wonder how successful the box office figures will be, especially for the next two in the series, if they are as stiff, dry and humourless as this one.
George, hire a director for the next two!