Mariette, Auguste Movie Reviews

Following a 16-year hiatus from the original "Star Wars" trilogy, writer/director/producer George Lucas returned with the beginning of a new "Star Wars" trilogy set years before the events that take place in the first trilogy. This set of "prequels" (as the term was coined) begins with the 1999 film "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace". In this film, the Empire does not yet exist. Instead, the galaxy is governed by the Republic, whose main political body is a large, elected assembly of representatives known as the Senate. The chief executive, known as the Chancellor, has very limited powers and is elected by the Senate. Unfortunately, due in part to its size and countless political interests, the Senate operates extremely slowly and is incapable of making quick decisions when necessary.

Such is the case with the planet of Naboo, which is headed by an elected queen, Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Naboo is under threat of invasion by a group calling itself the Trade Federation, which is headed by Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson), because Queen Amidala has refused to sign a peace treaty with it that would ultimately deprive Naboo of its sovereignty. Naboo's senatorial representative, Senator Palpatine (the returning Ian McDiarmid), is able to have Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terence Stamp, who played "Bernadette" in the 1994 Australian film "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert") send two Jedi to Naboo to broker a peace agreement. Upon the advice of a cloaked individual known as Darth Sidious (also Ian McDiarmid), the Viceroy orders that the two Jedi, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his teacher Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), be ambushed upon their arrival to the Federation starship. However, they barely escape to Naboo's surface along with the Federation's invading droid army. On Naboo's surface, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon meet an irritating, non-human Naboo native named Jar Jar Binks (voice done by Ahmed Best) who helps them obtain transportation to Queen Amidala's palace without being noticed by the invading droid army. Once there, they help the resistant Queen escape the planet's surface (along with Jar Jar), but damage to their ship forces them to travel to the desert planet of Tattooine instead of the Republic's primary planet known as Coruscant. On Tattooine, their search for replacement parts leads them to a winged individual known as Watto (voice done by Andrew Secombe), his very young slave, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) and Anakin's mother who is also enslaved, Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August).

As with any previous "Star Wars" film, the cinematography and special effects used in "The Phantom Menace" are excellent; but sadly, the writing and dialog are pallid. The film's two biggest problems are the character Jar Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd's portrayal of Anakin. When George Lucas released the previous "Star Wars" film in 1983 ("Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi"), he introduced a bunch of furry little creatures known as Ewoks. Many people found them endearing, but some found them annoying. In similar fashion, Lucas created an underwater species on Naboo known as the Gungan, of which Jar Jar Binks is part. Unfortuneately, the Gungan's Jamaican accents and immature vocabulary made them (especially Jar Jar) far more annoying than endearing. As for Jake Lloyd, it is very strange that with so many fine, young talented actors, that Lucas would select a highly animated and unconvincing actor to portray one of the film's most important characters.

There are, however, many memorable scenes in the film that partially make up for the film's inadequacies including Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon on the Federation starship, views of Naboo, the pod race, Qui-Gon's first encounter with Darth Maul (played by Ray Park, voice by Peter Serafinowicz), Queen Amidala's address to the Senate, Anakin standing before the Jedi Council that is headed by Yoda (voice done by Frank Oz), the Gungan/droid battle, the Naboo castle invasion, and the final battle between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon with Obi-Wan. Other memorable characters include C-3PO (the returning Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (the returning Kenny Baker), Sebulba (voice done by Lewis Macleod), Captain Panaka (Hugh Quarshie), Jabba the Hut and Boss Nass (Brian Blessed).

Overall, I rate the double-DVD version of "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace" with 4 out of 5 stars. The additional DVD includes many fascinating clips of how the film was made, including the creation of Darth Maul and the choreography of his fights.

A good movie about the struggle of the Queen of Naboo (Natalie Portman) to maintain the freedom and way of life of her people, against the scheming Trade Federation.
Reminds me of the struggle of the State of Israel, and it's courageous people, to survive against the machinations of the United Nations, European Union, Non aligned Movement, International Media, World academia etc.
Portman is lovely and vivacious, with an unforgettable smile.
Queen Anakin refuses to abandon her people in their hour of need and stands against the powerful forces rather than yield. The two Jedi knights battle the forces of evil played by Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, and of then the over the top Jar Jar Binks.
But aside from Portman 's Queen Amadala, the other unforgettable character is the small boy Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) , apparently the future Luke Skywalker.

I wass soooooo excited to hear that they were making 3 prequels. I went and bought the 1st 3 just to remeber. I had a blast watching the 1st second and 3rd. Then, I went in to the theater wioth my piopcorn and they turned down the lights and it wasn't half bad. If your comparing it to the other Stars Wars, Well, that's like comparing Wayne's World to National Lampoon's Vacation.

Oh yeah, dumb and dumber was supoosed to be funny. I'm a huge huge fan of Star Wars. But why I bought this after having already seen and hated it is quite beyond me. Probably for references, but boy oh, this movie sucked. No Jar Jar, no Luke, no effects (just love scene crap), so what is this movie good for?

The special effects and story line are so incredible. They're heading in the right direction for Episode III.

A lot of people, including myself feel that Episode I and II just didn't have that same flare or magic that Episode 4, 5 and 6 had. I couldn't place my finger on it until now. I realize there are two things wrong with the new movies. 1) Digital effect overkill. Example, in Episode II, when they were on the sand dunes or in the arena, you didn't get that "sandy, gritty" feel. It looked to "Perfect". In the original Star Wars episode, you got that sense that it was a desolate wasteland. At least they made you feel that. 2) Dialogue and acting. I don't believe in Hayden's performance. I'm sure he is a great actor, but in this movie I don't believe him as a jedi struggling within himself. And Ewan McGregor's portrayl of Obi Wan, doesn't really fit either. And there is the dialogue. With lines like "I have a bad feeling about this", or "She seems to be on top of things", and other one liners that seem to comedic. And of course there's Jar Jar Binks. Which, to be quite honest with you, I didn't mind him as a character it was his voice, or the talent. I think they sold out in coming up with his voice. If you notice, his voice is similar, if not, exactly like the alien in Lilo & Stitch. That voice is so easy to do and I've heard it on so many cartoons. Heck, I can even do the voice. So, they could've worked a little harder on him. Then he wouldn't been so annoying and everyone wouldn't want him to just die!!

So, with those 2 things said, I now understand how these two have fallen short of expectations. But, the main thing is the story. It's a great story. The story of how a young boy became one of the most powerful jedi/siths in the universe. That's why I gave it 4 stars. To be quite honest, though, I think what saved these two movies were the original 4, 5 and 6 episodes. Because withouth those, you wouldn't really care about Anakin Skywalker.

Oh yeah, dumb and dumber was supoosed to be funny. I'm a huge huge fan of Star Wars. But why I bought this after having already seen and hated it is quite beyond me. Probably for references, but boy oh, this movie sucked. No Jar Jar, no Luke, no effects (just love scene crap), so what is this movie good for?

The special effects and story line are so incredible. They're heading in the right direction for Episode III.

A lot of people, including myself feel that Episode I and II just didn't have that same flare or magic that Episode 4, 5 and 6 had. I couldn't place my finger on it until now. I realize there are two things wrong with the new movies. 1) Digital effect overkill. Example, in Episode II, when they were on the sand dunes or in the arena, you didn't get that "sandy, gritty" feel. It looked to "Perfect". In the original Star Wars episode, you got that sense that it was a desolate wasteland. At least they made you feel that. 2) Dialogue and acting. I don't believe in Hayden's performance. I'm sure he is a great actor, but in this movie I don't believe him as a jedi struggling within himself. And Ewan McGregor's portrayl of Obi Wan, doesn't really fit either. And there is the dialogue. With lines like "I have a bad feeling about this", or "She seems to be on top of things", and other one liners that seem to comedic. And of course there's Jar Jar Binks. Which, to be quite honest with you, I didn't mind him as a character it was his voice, or the talent. I think they sold out in coming up with his voice. If you notice, his voice is similar, if not, exactly like the alien in Lilo & Stitch. That voice is so easy to do and I've heard it on so many cartoons. Heck, I can even do the voice. So, they could've worked a little harder on him. Then he wouldn't been so annoying and everyone wouldn't want him to just die!!

So, with those 2 things said, I now understand how these two have fallen short of expectations. But, the main thing is the story. It's a great story. The story of how a young boy became one of the most powerful jedi/siths in the universe. That's why I gave it 4 stars. To be quite honest, though, I think what saved these two movies were the original 4, 5 and 6 episodes. Because withouth those, you wouldn't really care about Anakin Skywalker.