Dazzling

Rating: Null/10 (25 June 1999)

"No one can kill a Jedi!" Anakin Skywalker boasts. Qui Gon Jinn regards the young boy with a rueful gaze. "I only wish that were so," he replies quietly. What better example of foreshadowing could be found in "Star Wars: Episode 1?" The film is literally teeming with clever instances of foreshadowing, irony and theme. Consider the time when Anakin meets Obi-Wan Kenobi. I know that in my mind, the final lightsaber battle between the two flashed through at that moment. There is the point when Anakin singlehandedly destroys the Trade Federation's flagship, a vessel that resembles the Death Star in more ways than one. Yet my favorite moment in the film is when Yoda and Mace Windu discuss the existence of the Dark Jedi. They wonder which was killed, the master, or the apprentice. As their conversation ends, the camera slowly pans across the room to focus on the "master," Senator Palpatine. Very well done, I must say. Also delightful to watch were the moments of irony on the part of Senator, such as when he told Amidala that he hoped to bring peace and prosperity to the galaxy. Especially with an Empire up his sleeve. But it will be fascinating to watch his transformation throughout the trilogy.
My only complaints about the film center around Queen Amidala. I enjoyed her performance during the first portion of the film, but towards the end, she seemed to develop a severe coldness. This was especially evident when she bade Anakin farewell right before her speech before the Senate. I understand that she may have been overcome with grief, but she was extremely harsh. Yet I did enjoy her performance in the Senate. The pain over the loss of her people and the ravaging of Naboo was evident as tears shone in her soft, brown eyes. Her costumes were extraordinary. I predict that an Academy Award nomination may find its way to the Costume Department over at Lucasfilm, Ltd, as will a nomination for Special Effects. I must applaud the men and women at Industrial Light and Magic for their genius on the pod race and space battles. The sound scheme was phenomenal as well. I could actually feel the floor rumble beneath my feet in the theatre as I watched the film. The lightsaber battles were flawless in their execution, and the choreography excellent. I hated to watch Qui Gon die. The first time I watched the film, I literally gasped as he fell to the floor. There was such a tortured expression on his face. I doubt I will ever forget it.
On a lighter note,I enjoyed watching young Jake Lloyd do a fantastic job as Anakin. I refuse to buy the critics advice on this young actor. They termed his performance "wooden. If I nearly cried when Anakin left his mother, I would not call his performance "wooden." He was absolutely adorable,especially when he asked Padme if she was "an angel." A friend of mine called his pickup line "smooth." I think that this was a powerful attempt at the "Star Wars" story. Although it had its flaws, it still followed the classic mythological framework laid out by Joseph Campbell in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES. With "Star Wars," it isn't about the special effects. It is about the story of the hero, and the timeless truths that have been passed down for centuries. I salute George Lucas in his fine attempt to continue this essential tradition.