Rehashed drivel that has very good parts.

Rating: 6/10 (26 May 1999)

First, let me say that I have at least taken a few days to mull this movie over and make my opinions clear to myself. I am not a deep thinker, and so do not have that many deep thoughts about this movie. "Natural Born Killers," "Star Wars, 4" and anything by Kubrick cause me to have naturally deep thoughts. I liked the fourth episode, simply because of the story. I am 17, and therefore, am jaded to technologies. I thought that this movie had the technologies, but lacked anything else.
I was bored by this movie. It seemed longer than "Titanic." I thought that the whole movie would end with the pod race. The effects were the best thing about this movie, and in my opinion, Lucas indulged himself with them. He is much like Joel Schumacher making "Batman and Robin." They are both fasciated with what they can do with technologies, sets, and effects. Lucas puts everything into the effects and forgets that he is making atwo hour movie until at least 90 minutes into it.
I enjoyed the pod race, simply because I thought that the snipers were hilarious. Uh Oh another problem. The war at the end was visually breathtaking, but essentially mind-numbing. The droids were boring, and they did not kill off the one character that really needed it, Jar Jar. I think that if they killed him off, the kids would have cried, but every ingle guy over the age of 13 would have stood up and cheered. That scene would have gotten a standing ovation. The fight scene was very cool.
The Phantom Menace seems to refer to Ani, much like Luke was A new hope. So, the story remains the same. The only defense is that all wars are essentially the same, and so history is repeating itself. Or, if you want to get technical, repeated itself already. In the next one, I think Ani will find out his father really is Darth sidious, and Obi-Wan will be frozen. He will also find out that the Queen is really his sister. In other words, this movie is exactly the same as the old one, except that a Darth dies in this one. The story, therefore, moved really slowly until it stood still. This movie lacked any real soul, or imagination. The fourth episode was all heart and you actually rooted for the good guy. It was a tale that we all could relate to. We did not nor were not able to relate to this story until Anakin left his mother, and that was about the only point that we could. It was cold, and sterile.
So, in other words, see this movie in the biggest screen that the theater has, and maked sure that it is THXed because the only good part is the sound and big effects. I do not think it would look the same on a small screen. I would really hate the movie then. I think Lucas should have tried a little harder with this one. Don't forget to throw popcorn at Jar Jar, its what the theaters want.---6