Star What??? Revenge Of Lucas Arts $$$

Rating: 2/10 (19 May 2005)

Lucas should feel shame for all of his wasted efforts beyond the original trilogy. Since the mid 70's, fans have waited with great anticipation for follow-ups to the first low-budget blockbuster that could have outlived history and possibly still will. Unfortunately none of the newest releases from the 2000's will receive the same regard.
What makes the original Star Wars such a great movie is simply the fact that very little money was available to make the film, and yet it turned out beautifully with a handful of no-name actors including a set-carpenter named Harrison Ford. In contrast, with an amassed king's fortune, Lucas returns to the public with video game graphics and a story line that suffers greatly as he tries to tie the new in with the old.
Granted you will find some cheese in the originals, but nothing like the poor direction, writing and performances offered up in the new series to include this less than satisfying finale. For all those who might believe that this film is a smash hit, Lucas has truly mastered the force and used the Jedi mind-trick on the public to rake in the cash.
Once again, contrasting the two series, Lucas had something to be proud of in the first creations of the 70's and 80's as special effects were costly and difficult to create with stop motion photography, miniature models and so on. With that, each scene required a lot of work and talent to pull off. All of these efforts are clearly obvious and result in a film series appreciated by millions. However, in the new creations, it appears as though a group of overzealous CGI programmers have slopped together a cartoonish video game with lots of bright lights and effects that dazzle the average carnival patron. Although the special effects can be considered interesting and do offer some marvelous characteristics, they are way overdone and are seemingly used to cover for a story that lacks luster and feels short with a lot of fluff in between. Though it is understandable that the new series needed to appeal to the latest generation, the prop graphics such as the ships and such are far more fantastic than those from a series that is supposed to follow.
The screen play and acting fall short too, as each of the actors including those well known with long successful careers, appears to be out on their first run with over dramatics and poorly written lines. Additionally many of the scenes including a hand-to-hand fight just a few feet over a lava river exceed the believability of this story, even in fantasy terms. As for the storyline and screen play, in each film both seem to be lacking any real consistency or the dynamics of a truly creative plot. In fact each story feels like nothing more than a stretch to get something out for a quick buck. Lastly, Lucas's attempt to create a series that joins the previous creations is weak and laden with inconsistencies.
In short, the latest film series including finale appear as a lot of eye candy with little else to offer. Unless you are a die hard fan from the 70's that doesn't mind disappointment and the over inflated cost of theater concessions, I recommend at the very least, to wait for this film on cable. Don't even waste your time and money buying or renting the DVD. It just isn't worth it.