The embodiment of entertainment

Rating: 9/10 (12 August 1999)

Here we are nearing the end of the summer and by now people have already formed their own opinions of the film so what I have to say really may be inconsequential in deciding whether or not you like the film. I happened to love it for all that it is, and all that people hated about this artform, I also loved. I loved the CGI in this film, Jar Jar made me howl, the pod race was breathtaking, Darth Maul was perfect and the lightsabre battle at the end was right up there with the battle in Empire and Return. Natalie Portman was a beautiful queen and Jake Lloyd played young Anakin wonderfully. George Lucas directed with a frenzied energy and John Williams score was heartstopping. It filled you with emotion and I could listen to that soundtrack with the lights off in my room any day or night. The script was funny and it also had it's share of lessons and Jedi folklore. The Jedi council was a great introduction into what Jedi's were like before " A New Hope." Ewan McGregor was perfect as a young Obi Wan Kenobi, even nailing down his accent and dialect perfectly. Liam Neeson was perfectly subdued as the veteran Jedi Master and teacher. And the editting was sensational as it managed to paste together five simultaneous situations at then end and this is what kept you breathless. The Emperor story was also fun and it gave you a history as to where he came from. I loved everything about this film. There are not many films that come out that make you feel like you are back in the 80's when pure entertainment like Raiders and Rambo and Back To The Future graced our screens. But The Phantom Menace does and it concentrates on entertaining the crowd for the full 120 minutes that it is on screen. And this is one of the best movies to come out this summer ( I still hold Blair Witch as the pinnacle of all films this summer, TPM is a close second). I think when people cut this film up it's because people want to hate it. It is cool to be able to go to work and say " I just didn't like it. " After all, it sounds much more intellectual if you can go there and say that you enjoyed A Midnight Summer's Dream more than Star Wars. And you know what? It also makes you a liar. Star Wars is pure entertainment. It captures the child in every one of us and brings back to a time when we were kids again. It is a movie that for two hours takes our minds off of deranged killers going into brokerage firms and shooting everyone, it takes us away from Columbine and away from headlines of animal beatings and mass genocide in Europe. These are things that we have to deal with in the real world, but in the theater when the lights go down and those words appear before us " A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... " we just sit back and let our minds go and enjoy what is on screen. Star Wars The Phantom Menace is a great film and it is a treasure to finally be able to watch this film after 16 years of purgatory. And I am not disappointed in the film. It makes you yearn for the next one. 2002 seems like it is eons away. But pre-production has already begun. It will be here soon, just not soon enough.
You know, there are films that I don't like that make tons of money ( The Whole Batman Series ) so maybe I speak with a forked tongue when I mention this, but folks, movies like Titanic and TPM don't make 600 and 400 million domestically because of hype and curiosity. They do so because of strong word of mouth. People actually enjoy it. And isn't that what we ultimately want when we see a film? Entertainment? The Phantom Menace does that and it has you leaving the theater feeling that the 20 bucks you spent on a ticket and M&M's is worth it. And that's all I ask for.