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Reviews by our users:Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - Review: 11th June 2003
Its 1983 and one of the most visually appealing Star Wars movies ever, has
been released. The film is Return of the Jedi. We have some of the best
set
pieces ever commited to celluloid and we see the culmination of characters
we have cared about since 1977. We finally see Anakin Skywalker return to
the good side and the galactic war is at an end.many years pass then its
announced that George Lucas, will create a whole new trilogy, chronicling
the life of Anakin Skywalker and explain just why he turned to the `dark
side'. The release of the star wars trilogy: special edition only
increases
the expectation for Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and so it begins. The
year
is 1999 and the movie begins.
Does it start off with General Kenobi and Anakin facing off in the Clone
Wars? Does George Lucas enthuse it with hard core mythologizing from the
start? Do we find out how good Anakin was as a pilot from the very first
frame? Nope.George Lucas goes back to basics.
Return of the Jedi was the last film where we had an intergalactic war,
but
this film is essentially about a small planet being attacked by a Greedy
trade federation. Doesn't sound too star warsy does it? Well not on the
surface. To fully appreciate this movie you have to accept its not going
to
the rip roaring roller coaster ride that the originals were. By their very
nature they were extremely exciting adventures with characters on the run
.
In this film, we have a peaceful galaxy as opposted to galaxy engulfed in
a
intergalactic war spanning hundreds of planets, instead its one planet.
That
of Naboo, which has came under attack from a Trade Federation.
So why start with this planet? Well, Senator Palpatine is the senator
from
there and as we know, Palpatine, just like Lucas for introducing the films
at this unexpected episode is genius for planning ahead.
Upon its release, many movie goers attacked Jar Jar what with his bumbling
nature he was hardly your typical star wars character and unlike the
previous movies, he even had the audacity in acting the fool in the final
space battle. But people who let themselves get distracted by this,
mis-interpret it and thus, take an instant disliking to the
film.
But concentrate on what many perceive it to be its flaws and you see that
it's the films and overall, the trilogys greatest strength. It shows how
even the smallers things can have a bearing on the bigger picture, from a
small time senator of Naboo promoted to the ruler of the galaxy and how
the
Jedi Knights trigger a count down to their own destruction, by taking a
young boy away from his mother.
George Lucas should be given credit for trying to do things differently
and
not hanging off the coat tails of his original films. Had we seen a Han
Solo
character in this movie like many wanted then it would have cheapened the
real Han Solo. Likewise, many other circumstances which fans wanted in
the
movie. Sure, the characters dialogue is more stilted, but this is the
Victorian area of the star wars universe (you will notice the dialogue
loosens up somewhat in Episode 2).
So basically, the galaxy is peaceful but theres a few things rumbling and
its these smaller things which will shape every film following
it.
A great epilogue for the star wars movies and a movie which compliments
the
other films, as opposed to blatantly copying their style and therefore,
robbing them of their originality.
3 Stars out of Five.. Also I recommended Download Free Seraphim Falls Movie
Not a Good Introduction to the Star Wars Universe
After 16 long years, George Lucas continued his Star Wars saga with
this prequel, set roughly 30 years before the original trilogy. When I
first saw this movie, I looked forward to learning about the events
that led up to the original Star Wars trilogy, how the Old Republic
governed itself, how Jedi were selected, trained and initiated, and how
the Empire rose to power. But it turned out I learned very little from
this latest installment. The characters Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master
Qui-Gon Jinn are introduced, but the characters are not developed well.
I didn't feel like I got to know either of these characters. Plot
elements are hinted at rather than thoroughly explained. They mention
the "trials" that a Jedi must go through without explaining what they
are, or why Master Qui-Gon is being kept out of the Jedi Council. There
is a new villain in this movie, Darth Maul, who I learned even less
about. In one of his few lines he mentions a desire for revenge-
revenge for what, exactly? Nothing is explained in this movie. Instead
we are transported from one place to another as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
fight off armies of droids with their lightsabers. Good action scenes
and great digital graphics, but without good dialog the story is empty
of meaning. Good points- the trip through the planet core, the pod
race, introduction to the Jedi Council and the Republic Senate, and
Darth Maul's two-bladed light saber. Bad points- Jar Jar Binks & the
rest of the Gungans, Anakin (sorry, he was way too chipper), plot and
dialog. I recommend skipping this chapter of the saga and starting off
with Attack of the Clones. 4 out of 10.. Also I recommended Download Free Just Friends Movie
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