An introduction to the greatest fairy tale in cinema history

Rating: Null/10 (11 October 2001)

I went to see this film on the first night that it came out (travelling half way across the country to do so!) and I felt thoroughly entertained when I went to see it and came out wanting more from the rest of the prequel instalments. I was very happy with the performances in the movie particularly Ian McDiarmid and my only gripe is the under utilisation of Terence Stamp as Supreme Chancellor (remember General Zod in Superman II?).
George Lucas has given an excellent base for the rest of the trilogy with this film providing the foundation for the tragedy, which will unfold in the galaxy and the love of Padme and Anakin. I watch the original trilogy regularly and it is very much my belief that the first audience George Lucas has aimed at are children with each of the films being a "U" certificate. Many of us who have grown up with the Star Wars franchise as part of popular culture are now mature adults. Those of us who were young when this film was released are now more cynical about the world and about cinema. We've moved on from the late seventies when the first film was released to universal acclaim and unfortunately it is difficult to see how anyone could produce a film with the overall appeal of Star Wars in the new millennium. This is a sad thought but I believe George Lucas will build on the platform of this movie with Episodes II & III.