A lush, Over-due return to a more Heroic Universe

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 1999)

"SW:TPM" rivals the first flick as my fav- (though the OVER-abundance of whimsical characters makes me almost yetch). And Jar-Jar gets tired. One sequence that has NOT been ballyhooed is tremendous (and...wet). The young Anakin is a bit too young- the kid is barely in the "kid" age. Young Anakin (Jake Lloyd) is fun to see, but he's too young for a lot of this. There's Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala- she's too weak at times. I had noticed this in the trailers. She simply does not engage my allegiance to fight for her to the death. She does pull off much of the flic though.
Samuel Jackson as Mace Winddu is always great. And can Liam Neeson ever go wrong? You know he announced this week he is quitting acting? Probably a good place to do it at- a high point (and besides- his character, "Qui-Gon Jinn" ain't coming back [Oops! Plot point unveiled!!]). The look of this film is lush compared to ANY of the first 3. Lucas and ILM gang have don't a GREAT job. I predict this could be the first Sci-Fi best pic at the Oscars. Music was up-to-par (been listening to it off and on for 3 weeks). William's best is still the Original theme (heard here at the opening as usual- sequing to new themes particualr to Episode 1) and CE3K, hands-down. I am glad George L. directed and said he'd do the next 2. He's not a great director but he's a good story-telling director and I feel like I am in an easy chair with a loved-one in my lap watching his films (or at the Samuel Goldwyn, the AMPAS theatre in B.H.- cooooozy!). I am also glad we are returned to Tatooine- not enough Jawas for my taste (or Tuskin raiders!), this time around. Remember the Teaser Poster for Star Trek 5 (the Shatner-directed one)- a theatre seat with a seat belt- well that film didn't live up to the suggestion, but perhaps the poster for this should have had restraints keeping one at the edge of their seat. This is a great time. "Pay no attention to that reviewer behind the newspaper......go see it!"