Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 15 Minutes

Cast:
Mark Hamill-Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher-Princess Leia Organa
Harrison Ford-Han Solo
Billy Dee Williams-Lando Calrissian
Peter Mayhew-Chewbacca
James Earl Jones (voice)-Darth Vader
Ian McDiarmid-Emperor Palpatine
Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda
Anthony Daniels-C-3PO
Kenny Baker-R2-D2
Warwick Davis-Wicket W. Warrick
Tim Rose-Admiral Ackbar
Kenneth Colley-Admiral Firmus Piett
Alec Guinness-Obi-Wan Kenobi
Denis Lawson-Wedge Antilles/Red Leader
Hayden Christensen-Anakin Skywalker

Directed by Richard Marquand

Father and son confront each other in "Return of the Jedi."

George Lucas completed his epic space opera in 1983 with “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi,” though he wasn’t finished with the story yet as evidenced by the prequels. Like “The Empire Strikes Back,” Lucas decided not to helm the film and since he was unable to hire his good friend Steven Spielberg after leaving the Director’s Guild of America, he settled for Welsh director Richard Marquand. Episode V was a hard act to follow and as expected, Lucas wasn’t up to the task. This is by no means an indication that the film is terrible, in fact it is an excellent and dramatically satisfying conclusion to a franchise that have touched the hearts and minds of many and changed American cinema forever. The main problem of “Return of the Jedi” is the cutesy factor, which is somewhat jarring considering the serious nature of the film. Still, all the plotlines were resolved and Lucas once again ups the ante in special effects, providing one of the most epic space battles to ever grace the silver screen.

One year after the events of “The Empire Strikes Back,” Han Solo (Harrison Ford), still frozen in carbonite, is taken by the fearsome bounty hunter Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt’s palace on Tatooine. Unwilling to let his friend spend the rest of life as a decoration on a wall, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), now a fully trained Jedi Knight, devises a daring rescue plan along with Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Leia, disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh, gains entrance to Jabba’s palace with Chewbacca pretending to be her prisoner. When everyone has fallen asleep that night, Leia frees Han from the carbonite but Jabba wakes up and captures them both. Luke arrives the next day to persuade Jabba to let his friends go or suffer dire consequences. The Hutt refuses to bargain and pressing a button, Luke falls to an underground chamber that is home to a vicious Rancor. Fortunately, Luke lures the beast under the gate of its cage and throws a rock at the button, activating the gate and crushing it. Furious at this turn of events, Jabba decrees that Luke, Han and Chewbacca be tossed into the Great Pit of Carkoon, which is home to a man-eating Sarlacc. Traveling through the Dune Sea on Jabba’s Sail Barge, Luke is forced to walk the plank but not before giving a salute to R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). He suddenly leaps into the air and grabs his newly-constructed lightsaber, throwing everything in chaos. Leia strangles Jabba to death and the rescue attempt is successful. With his friend back, Luke returns to Dagobah to see Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz), while Han and Leia meet up with the rest of the Rebel Alliance fleet on Sullust. On Dagobah, Yoda confirms that Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) is Luke's father. With his dying breath, he reminds Luke to remember what he has learned and pass it on to future Jedi. He also reveals that there is another Skywalker but finally succumbs to old age and becomes one with the Force. Meanwhile, the Galactic Empire has built a new, more powerful Death Star in orbit over the forest moon of Endor. Vader and Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) arrive via Imperial Shuttle to oversee the final stages of its construction so that they can crush the Rebel Alliance once and for all and turn Luke toward the dark side of the Force. However, the Rebels manage to obtain the schematics of this new Death Star thanks to a group of Bothan spies. Since the battle station is protected by a deflector shield on the surface, Han will lead a strike team to disable it while Lando and Admiral Ackbar (Tim Rose) will lead the main fleet and try to destroy the Death Star by blowing up its main reactor. Luke and Leia accompany Han to destroy the shield generator but run into trouble when they are captured by the planet’s furry natives, called Ewoks. They soon manage to gain their trust thanks to C-3PO, whom the Ewoks believe is a god. As Han prepares to destroy the deflector shield and the Rebel fleet arrives to destroy the new Death Star, Luke confronts his father, Darth Vader, one final time in a desperate attempt to save him from the dark side. He must also contend with the powerful Emperor and destroy him in order to free the galaxy from his iron grip.

Most of the time, the third part in a series ends up being the weakest and this holds true here but I feel “Return of the Jedi” is an underrated film. It was not as terrible as some fans made it out to be and certainly not as bad as the crap we get from Hollywood nowadays. For a brief time, the film used the subtitle “Revenge of the Jedi” as co-writer Lawrence Kasdan felt the original was too weak. However, since Jedi do not take revenge, it was reverted back to “Return of the Jedi” a few weeks before its release. With this final film, Lucas neatly wraps up all the plotlines from both the prequel and original trilogies; Darth Vader finally turns from the dark side and fulfills the prophecy of bringing balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Whether you like it or not, the prequels have changed the way we analyze the original trilogy because the entire saga revolves around Anakin Skywalker, not Luke. The moment that Vader becomes Anakin once more is reminiscent of his fall in “Revenge of the Sith.” As he watches his son in agony while Palpatine unleashes a torrent of Sith Lightning, he is again faced with a choice. Anakin fell to the dark side because he was unable to accept the fact that his loved ones will eventually die and Palpatine exploited this. Yet this time, he can save his son and in the end, he made the right choice.

However, some of the emotional depth of that moment is taken away by the inclusion of Ewoks. They are pretty much walking teddy bears wielding Stone Age technology. The problem arises when Palpatine says that he sent his ‘best troops’ to stop Han from destroying the deflector shield. How was it even possible for the Ewoks to defeat the legion of Stormtroopers and AT-STs roaming about using nothing but rocks and spears? You could argue that it was perseverance and that the Ewoks had greater numbers but the ground battle on Endor is a little hard to swallow, even by “Star Wars” standards. Originally, Lucas intended to use the Wookies but since they were already technology adept, he created a less advanced race to defeat the Empire. Looking at it pragmatically, the Ewoks were not as annoying as Jar Jar and they ended up being an endearing lot. Another bone of contention is the revelation that Leia is Luke’s twin sister. Some critics felt that Lucas was ‘making it up as he goes along’ and that Leia was not originally intended to have any familial ties to Luke. Others called it a cheap cop-out of the love triangle between Han, Luke, and Leia. Personally, I don’t have an issue with this but it does make the romantic tension in the previous films look, well, incestuous. Once again Lucas lets his imagination run wild with a huge assortment of aliens on-screen in Jabba’s Palace from the dim-witted Gamorrean guards to Sy Snootles and the Max Rebo Band. Many of them only appeared for a split-second and part of the joy of watching “Star Wars” for me is trying to identify as many as I can. Despite its drawbacks, the issues with “Return of the Jedi” are minor compared to Episodes I and II and it remains an amazing film that succeeds in the uneasy task of providing closure to one of the most celebrated science fiction franchises of the past three decades.

The acting is the strongest yet with Mark Hamill as a more mature, confident Luke Skywalker. The Luke we knew from Episodes IV and V would not have devised the daring rescue plan for Han Solo, showing how far he has grown. Carrie Fisher plays a more serious-minded Leia but what most people remember the most is the skimpy slave girl outfit she wore. She briefly became a sex symbol and was immortalized by many male and female nerds, her costume becoming a popular fixture in comic book conventions. Harrison Ford is still cocky and over-confident as Han Solo but he’s now fully committed to the Rebel cause instead of looking out for himself as he did originally. Emperor Palpatine makes his first appearance, played by Ian McDiarmid. With the appearance of a frail old man, he initially does not seem like much of a threat until he unleashes the full extent of his dark side powers at Luke in the final minutes of the film.

Since this is the last film, Lucas brought out all the stops to create as epic an ending as he could and the space battle over Endor is a visual treat. Rebel cruisers face off with Imperial Star Destroyers while X-Wings trade laser blasts with an endless supply of TIE Fighters. Han’s rescue is also impressive as Luke makes short work of Jabba’s guards but the final duel between father and son isn’t very memorable. Granted, Luke didn’t want to fight and acted in self-defense. As in the other films in the original trilogy, changes were introduced in the 1997 re-release and 2004 DVD edition. Major additions include the dance number in Jabba’s Palace with a CG Sy Snootles and Joh Yowza, and the ending, where scenes of celebration on Cloud City, Mos Eisley and Coruscant are shown following the destruction of the second Death Star. For the DVD version, a scene of celebration on Naboo was inserted and the Galactic Senate and Jedi Temple were added in the background on Coruscant. The final scenes of the film were also changed with Hayden Christensen replacing Sebastian Shaw as Anakin Skywalker. This proved controversial with some fans but Lucas’ explained that after Anakin redeemed himself, he returned to his persona before he turned to the dark side when he became one with the Force. Again, the restoration work had color errors with Vader’s lightsaber, which appears pink in some scenes.

“Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi” was released on May 25, 1983 to positive reviews but critics agreed that it was the weakest film of the trilogy. The film currently holds 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and at the 1984 Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Art Direction, Sound and Sound Editing, and Music but only won Special Achievement in Visual Effects. Counting all releases, “Return of the Jedi” grossed $309 million domestic and $475 million worldwide. There really is nothing more to say about the “Star Wars” saga as everything that needed to be said has already been said but with this film and the prequels, George Lucas has finally completed the story he set out to tell that has taken up the better part of twenty-eight years to finish. There have been ups and downs but “Star Wars” will remain as popular as ever, a crowning achievement in science fiction storytelling that we will never see again. George Lucas, I salute you!

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Never. I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 7 Minutes

Cast:

Mark Hamill-Luke Skywalker

Carrie Fisher-Princess Leia Organa

Harrison Ford-Han Solo

Billy Dee Williams-Lando Calrissian

Peter Mayhew-Chewbacca

James Earl Jones (voice)-Darth Vader

Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Kenneth Colley-Admiral Firmus Piett

Julian Glover-General Maximilian Veers

Alec Guinness-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Temuera Morrison (voice)-Boba Fett

Ian McDiarmid-Emperor Palpatine

Bruce Boa-General Carlist Rieekan

Denis Lawson-Wedge Antilles/Rogue Two

Directed by Irvin Kershner

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

Hollywood loves to make sequels of successful films in the hopes of earning more money. Unfortunately, directors nowadays lose sight of what made the original successful and end up delivering an inferior follow-up. Perfect examples include the recent “Sex and the City 2” and last year’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” but there are exceptions such as “The Dark Knight.” After the unprecedented success of the original “Star Wars” in 1977, a sequel was all but guaranteed and Lucas immediately set to work on writing “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.” Curiously, he decided not to direct the film and instead focused more on overseeing the visual effects through his startup company Industrial Light & Magic but maintained complete creative control. Irvin Kershner was personally asked by Lucas to direct and although he was initially hesitant that he would do as good a job as Lucas, his agent changed his mind. “The Empire Strikes Back” is one of the darkest entries of the saga and does what Hollywood still struggles with today: delivers a sequel that raises the stakes and improves upon the original in every way, which is no small feat considering how well-received its predecessor was. The characters are more developed, the actors are more confident, the action is more intense, and the film ends with an epic lightsaber duel and an ending that has come to define the saga!

Three years after the destruction of the Death Star on Yavin 4, the fledgling Rebel Alliance is forced to relocate to a new base on the ice planet of Hoth. The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones), is obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who delivered the shot that destroyed the Death Star. Using his fleet of Star Destroyers, he deploys thousands of probe droids across the galaxy to search for the rebels and crush their insurrection. Back on Hoth, Luke sees one of the probes crash to the surface and goes to investigate on his tauntaun but a wampa ice creature suddenly attacks him, knocking him unconscious. The creature drags Luke to his cave as his next meal. At Echo Base, Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) becomes concerned when Luke hasn’t returned and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) decides to go look for him despite the temperature dropping to dangerous levels. Luke manages to escape from the wampa by slicing off its arm with his lightsaber but succumbs to the extreme cold. He sees the spirit of his friend and Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), who urges him to go to the Dagobah system and complete his training with Yoda. As the spirit fades away, Han suddenly arrives but since there’s no way to get back to base (his tauntaun froze to death), he sets up shelter for the night. The next morning, Rebel snow speeders rescue them. Han and Leia’s relief that Luke is all right is short-lived, as an Imperial probe droid discovers and transmits Echo Base’s location to Darth Vader. As his fleet comes out of hyperspace, Vader prepares for a ground assault, sending an army of AT-AT’s to attack the base. The rebels try to hold them off with snow speeders as all personnel begin to evacuate but it soon becomes clear that they are fighting a losing battle and are forced to retreat. Han takes Leia aboard the Millennium Falcon and departs from Hoth. With Echo Base lost, Luke and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) set a course for Dagobah in his personal X-Wing to look for Yoda. Meanwhile, the Falcon is unable to escape the Empire’s fleet of Star Destroyers due to a broken hyperdrive, forcing him to take refuge in an asteroid field. Luke successfully arrives on Dagobah and meets Yoda (voice of Frank Oz), and is shocked by the Jedi Master’s diminutive stature. At first, he refuses to train Luke because he lacks patience but Obi-Wan’s spirit convinces him otherwise. Back in the asteroid field, the Falcon finds itself inside the mouth of a space slug but they manage to escape and evade the Imperial fleet thanks to Solo’s quick thinking. He decides to set a course for Bespin, where his old friend, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) is the administrator of Cloud City. Unknown to Han, Vader has hired a group of bounty hunters to capture him, which includes the famous Boba Fett (voice of Temuera Morrison). As Luke continues his training with Yoda, he sees a vision of the future where his friends are in pain. Overcome by this premonition, he decides to abandon his training and rescue them despite the insistence of Yoda that he is not ready to face Darth Vader. At Cloud City, Lando agrees to help fix the Falcon’s hyperdrive but he is forced to turn over Han, Leia and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) to Darth Vader to prevent the Empire from taking over the city. As Luke arrives at Cloud City, he must face the Dark Lord and learn a shocking revelation.

The original “Star Wars” was a masterpiece but “The Empire Strikes Back” is an even better one and exceeds all the expectations you would hope for in a sequel and more. One thing that Lucas does right is in further developing the characters instead of re-hashing their conflicts from the original. Luke has been with the Rebellion for some time and has come a long way since we met him as a simple farm boy. However, he still displays an idealistic sense of adventure, a trait that is a detriment to a Jedi-in-training. Yoda explains that this leads to recklessness and in order to successfully become a Jedi, he has to break away from these thoughts and concentrate on what he is doing right now, not what will happen in the future. Watching the episodes in order, it’s easy to see how similar he and Anakin are as Luke displays the same concern over the ones he cares about and would drop everything to help them even if it meant putting the galaxy in danger. However, he differs from Anakin when he is tempted by the dark side because he refuses its power, thanks to the constant warnings of Obi-Wan and Yoda. He knows that in the long run, it will consume him like Darth Vader. There is foreshadowing of why Vader is obsessed with Luke when he goes into a cave that is corrupted with the dark side. There, Luke encounters an illusion of Vader and he beheads him with his lightsaber. The helmet explodes and reveals Luke’s face underneath. It is a warning to Luke’s future if he turns to the dark side but it is also a clue to his parentage as well. Like “Attack of the Clones,” there is a romance subplot and you can see the sparks fly between Han and Leia. This is why the original trilogy is better because the character interactions often feel more natural and produce some great laughs while the prequel trilogy suffers from stiff dialogue, though this can also be attributed to the actors and actresses’ lifeless delivery of their lines. All the subplots finally come together in the end as the defining moment of the film (and of the saga) comes during the epic lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader. The truth about their relationship was kept very secret and no one knew what would happen until the film’s actual premiere. Only Lucas, Kershner, Hamill, and Jones knew beforehand. Though it came as a stunning shock when audiences originally watched the film in 1980, subsequent re-releases and alterations have lessened its impact but Vader’s famous line still packs an emotional punch whenever I view the film. “The Empire Strikes Back” stands as the saga’s best because there is now a palpable sense of danger and our heroes are facing hardships to which they can’t seem to surmount.

The actors feel more relaxed as they have now settled into their roles. Mark Hamill plays a more mature Luke but is still prone to fits of frustration due to his impatience. Carrie Fisher is still feisty as ever as she bickers with Han and Harrison Ford is still as cocky as ever, pushing the Princess’ buttons for his enjoyment. However, beneath his bad-boy façade, there’s also a romantic side to him. Frank Oz lends his voice to Yoda, who will go on to become one of the most iconic characters in the saga. Billy Dee Williams is the smooth-talking Lando Calrissian, who faces his own personal crisis.

The special effects marks a major improvement from the original “Star Wars” as we are treated to an epic battle between the Empire’s lumbering AT-AT’s and the Rebellion’s nimble snow speeders. The action continues with the Millennium Falcon evading Vader’s fleet of Star Destroyers and TIE fighters. Finally, audiences got to see for the first time what a real lightsaber duel was like as Luke and Vader clash blades in the bowels of Cloud City. Although it lacks the dynamic acrobatics of the prequels, the duel still stands as one of the saga’s best. “The Empire Strikes Back” was re-released in 1997 as a Special Edition but the changes were minor compared to “A New Hope.” The only significant addition is a new arrival shot over Cloud City. When the film was released for DVD in 2004, another change was added and this was a new scene with Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine conversing with Darth Vader. The original scene had Palpatine portrayed by an unknown actress with chimp eyes superimposed and voiced by Clive Revill. Some new dialogue was added as well to connect the original trilogy with the prequels. Boba Fett’s lines were also redubbed by Temuera Morrison since he is a clone of Jango Fett. Once again, the restoration work resulted in some color errors with lightsabers, such as Vader’s looking pinkish or bright orange at times. The music from John Williams is also more memorable thanks to Vader’s leitmotif, The Imperial March.

Released on May 21, 1980, “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back” initially received mixed reviews but over time, it came to be viewed as the best of the saga, with a whopping 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Including its numerous re-releases, the film grossed $290 million domestic and $538 million worldwide. It was nominated for four categories at the 1981 Academy Awards but won only two for Sound and Special Achievement in Visual Effects. Today, many view the film as a perfect example of what a sequel should be but Hollywood is more obsessed with squeezing every penny rather than telling a meaningful story. The original “Star Wars” was a hard act to follow but Lucas had done the impossible, creating ‘one of the finest and most rousing science fiction tales ever committed to the screen’ (James Berardinelli, ReelViews). No other “Star Wars” film has ever come close (“Revenge of the Sith” almost did) and the film stands as a crowning achievement in storytelling and special effects, a perfect sequel that Hollywood has sadly lost sight of in today’s world.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"No, I am your father!"

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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Violence and Brief Mild Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 5 Minutes

Cast:

Mark Hamill-Luke Skywalker

Carrie Fisher-Princess Leia Organa

Harrison Ford-Han Solo

Alec Guinness-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Peter Mayhew-Chewbacca

James Earl Jones (voice)-Darth Vader

Peter Cushing-Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Phil Brown-Owen Lars

Shelagh Fraser-Beru Whitesun Lars

Alex McCrindle-General Jan Dodonna

Denis Lawson-Wedge Antilles/Red Two

Garrick Hagon-Biggs Darklighter/Red Three

Directed by George Lucas

One word: iconic.

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” With this simple tagline, George Lucas created one of the greatest science fiction films ever to be released, a film that has been unmatched even after thirty-three years and numerous re-releases. Yes, I’m talking about 1977's “Star Wars,” as it was originally known but the more complete title nowadays is “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.” The original film was a simple tale of good vs. evil but the specifics of the characters were slowly revealed over the next two films, “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Of course, we all knew that wasn’t the end of the story as Lucas decided to go back to the beginning with the release of the prequel trilogy in 1999 to 2005. The original trilogy has gone through several changes since then, some welcome, others highly controversial. For its twentieth anniversary, all three films were re-released in theaters as “Special Editions.” Even more changes were introduced when they finally debuted on DVD in 2004, along with the original, unaltered theatrical versions that older fans are so fond of. Despite many of the special effects looking archaic, “A New Hope” is a perfect space opera in every way with likable characters and a compelling story. For many, including myself, THIS was the film that forever changed their lives and turned them into lifelong fans.

Nineteen years after the events of “Revenge of the Sith” which saw the birth of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire, a new civil war has engulfed the galaxy in the form of the Rebel Alliance. Aboard the Tantive IV, Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) stores the information regarding the Empire’s super weapon known as the Death Star into R2-D2’s (Kenny Baker) memory. Her ship is soon intercepted by a Star Destroyer and she is captured by Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) and his legion of Stormtroopers. Meanwhile, R2-D2 and his companion, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) board an escape pod and crash-land on the Outer Rim planet Tatooine. After wandering in the desert for some time, they are captured by Jawas and are sold to a moisture farmer named Owen Lars (Phil Brown), whose nephew is Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). While cleaning R2-D2, Luke stumbles upon a message from Leia pleading for help from an Obi-Wan Kenobi. The droid later runs off looking for Kenobi and Luke has to go after him. When he does find him, he is attacked by Tusken Raiders but is rescued by Obi-Wan (Alec Guinness), or as Luke knows him, Ben. One of the last few remaining Jedi, Obi-Wan now lives alone in the Dune Sea. At his home, he listens to Leia’s message and gives Luke his father’s lightsaber. He also tries to persuade him to come along with him and learn the ways of the Force but Luke refuses. When he discovers that Stormtroopers had brutally murdered his aunt and uncle, he changes his mind and asks to be trained as a Jedi to follow in his father’s footsteps. At the Mos Eisley spaceport, Obi-Wan gets passage to Alderaan by promising 17,000 credits to a smuggler named Han Solo (Harrison Ford), whose first mate is a Wookie named Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). After narrowly escaping from two Star Destroyers, Solo’s ship, the Millennium Falcon, makes it to Alderaan but finds nothing but an asteroid field. Under the orders of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin (Peter Cushing), the Death Star was used to destroy the planet to set an example of the power of the Empire. The Falcon is captured by the Death Star and Obi-Wan decides to go alone to deactivate the tractor beam. R2-D2 manages to locate Leia at Detention Block AA-23, prompting Luke and Han (after some prodding) to attempt a rescue. Despite numerous Stormtroopers impeding their progress, they are successful but when they try to escape, Luke sees Obi-Wan locked in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader. To buy him time to escape, Obi-Wan sacrifices himself. The Falcon travels to Yavin 4, where the ragtag Rebel Alliance makes a desperate attempt to destroy the Death Star.

Watching the original “Star Wars” always makes me excited because Lucas’ ‘space epic has colonized our imaginations, and it is hard to stand back and see it simply as a motion picture, because it has so completely become part of our memories’ (Roger Ebert). I remember fondly when I first came upon the film while channel surfing and saw the fearsome visage of Darth Vader, so many years ago. At that instant, a “Star Wars” fan was born. The story of “A New Hope” is classic good vs. evil, heavily inspired by the serial films of “Flash Gordon,” the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa and Joseph Campbell's “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” a book that discusses the archetypal hero found in many world religions and myths. As in the prequels, Lucas manages to cram as many aliens as he can into one frame and this was working with only an $11 million production budget! The Mos Eisley cantina has the Bith playing that familiar tune, the Aqualish that wants to pick a fight with Luke, the Duros conversing in the corner and finally the smirking Devaronian. One of the best scenes which I feel defines the entire film is when Luke looks out to the horizon as the twin suns of Tatooine set while John Williams’ sweeping score plays in the background. Like his father, Luke does not want a meager existence on a distant world, he wants to go out and make something of himself. This opportunity presents itself when the Empire takes away the only family he’s ever had and it is here that he differs from Anakin, who would obsess over the fact that he could not save the ones he love. Although Luke is overcome with grief, he does not dwell on it for long because in the end, there was nothing he could’ve done, but what he CAN do is make their deaths mean something. For me, “A New Hope” is about finding your place in the galaxy and taking that first step toward a larger destiny.

Part of the charm of “Star Wars” is the characters and it wouldn’t matter if Lucas wrote the greatest script ever if he picked terrible actors but thankfully he did not. Although Mark Hamill’s career never took off after “Star Wars,” he makes for an immature yet idealistic protagonist in Luke Skywalker. He’s a guy you can count on to have your back. Carrie Fisher is feisty and displays plenty of spunk as Princess Leia Organa, something that is lacking from Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala. Finally, there’s Harrison Ford as Han Solo, the wise-cracking scoundrel who turns out to have a heart. Together, these three have become one of the most recognizable characters in the world. Of course, Darth Vader was the one that stuck out, with his fearsome armor and distinctive breathing. He has become such a household name that the American Film Institute named him the third greatest movie villain in cinema history.

The special effects at the time were unlike anything anyone had seen before. However, Lucas was never really happy with them and over time, several alterations were made. The first came in 1997 when the film was re-released into theaters for its twentieth anniversary. There’s a new sweeping shot of Mos Eisley, Han meeting Jabba the Hutt at Docking Bay 94 and an added scene showing the Rebel Alliance’s X-Wing and Y-Wings approaching the Death Star. The most controversial change was the cantina scene where Han encounters the Rodian Greedo and shoots him. In the Special Edition, Greedo shoots first but misses and Han fires back with his blaster, killing him. This caused a great uproar with fans but to be honest, the outcome is still the same so I never got what the big deal was. For the 2004 DVD release, more changes were done, including a greatly improved CG version of Jabba (the original looked like he was made out of putty) and the cantina scene redone (again!) so that both Han and Greedo shoot at the same time. While I applaud the restoration work, there are still some annoyances, mostly pertaining to color errors of the lightsabers (Luke’s sometimes show as green and Darth Vader’s look pinkish rather than full red). Sometimes you can see the frame differences when lightsabers ignite and when they turn on, it just pops into thin air rather than extending from the hilt. Despite these changes, many great action scenes remain such as the explosive opening between the Tantive IV and the Star Destroyer Devastator, Luke and his friends blasting away at numerous Stormtroopers, the more refined lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan and finally, the epic space battle at Yavin 4 to destroy the Death Star. All of this is accompanied by John Williams’ now-iconic score.

“Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope” was released on May 25, 1977, thirty-three years ago. As of now, including the grosses from re-releases, the film has earned $461 million domestic and $775 million worldwide. Not bad for a film that was expected to fail at the box office and had almost no support from 20th Century Fox! Reception has remained overwhelmingly positive with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. At the 1978 Academy Awards, “Star Wars” won for Best Visuals, Sound, Music, Film Editing, Costume Design and Art Direction. There were additional nominations such as Best Supporting Actor for Alec Guinness, Best Director and Screenplay for Lucas, and Best Picture. Whether you like the changes or not, there’s no denying the impact that “Star Wars” had on movie-making. Unfortunately, directors today have taken to simply bombarding audiences with visual effects while paying little attention to actually telling a story. With perfect pacing, a simple yet effective story, relatable characters, and excellent action scenes, the original “Star Wars” will always remain as one of my favorite films that I can watch again and again. George Lucas has created a science fiction masterpiece that 'will endure long after its creators are gone' (James Berardinelli, ReelViews) and nothing will ever come close to matching its greatness (with the exception of its sequel).

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"Luke, the Force will be with you...always."

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Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Review

Rated PG-13 (Sci-Fi Violence and Some Intense Images)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 20 Minutes

Cast:

Ewan McGregor-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman-Padmé Naberrie Amidala

Hayden Christensen-Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Ian McDiarmid-Supreme Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine

Christopher Lee-Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus

Matthew Wood (voice)-General Grievous

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda

Samuel L. Jackson-Mace Windu

Jimmy Smits-Senator Bail Organa

Peter Mayhew-Chewbacca

Silas Carson-Viceroy Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi

Joel Edgerton-Owen Lars

Bonnie Maree Piesse-Beru Whitesun

Ahmed Best (voice)-Jar Jar Binks

Keisha Castle-Hughes-Queen Apailana

Wayne Pygram-Governor Wilhuff Tarkin

Directed by George Lucas

The birth of Darth Vader.

The saga is now complete. George Lucas finally completed the epic space opera that he began in 1977 with the release of “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” in 2005, completing the prequel trilogy that told the story of how Darth Vader was corrupted to the dark side of the Force. While Episodes I and II received a mixed reception from both critics and fans, Lucas finally delivered the “Star Wars” film we were waiting for, ending the venerable franchise with one final hurrah. As this is the darkest entry yet, “Revenge of the Sith” packs the emotional punch missing from the previous installments and changes the way we view the original trilogy forever.

Three years after the Battle of Geonosis in “Attack of the Clones,” the Old Republic is engulfed in a civil war with the Separatists known as the Clone Wars. In a daring move, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and Grievous (voice of Matthew Wood), the general of the Separatist Droid Army, attack Coruscant and kidnap Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his former apprentice, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) manage to fight their way through to Grievious’ flagship, Invisible Hand, and are confronted by Count Dooku holding Palpatine hostage. A lightsaber duel ensues where Kenobi is knocked unconscious but Anakin manages to disarm Dooku easily. Goaded by Palpatine, he reluctantly decapitates Dooku. Along with R2-D2, the three attempt to escape the ship but are captured by battle droids and brought before General Grievious. Fortunately, R2-D2 provides a distraction and the Jedi break free of their bonds, battling with two Magna Guards and forcing Grievious to flee to a nearby Trade Federation battleship. As the Invisible Hand suffered major damage trading laser fire with a Star Destroyer, it begins to descend into free-fall toward Coruscant. Anakin and Obi-Wan take the controls, managing to land the craft despite it splitting in two as it entered the atmosphere. While Obi-Wan reports to the Jedi Council, Anakin rushes to see his wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), who reveals to him that she is pregnant. Later that night, Anakin suffers a nightmare where he sees his wife dying during childbirth. Fearing the same fate as his mother, he seeks counsel from Yoda (voice of Frank Oz). Palpatine soon reveals his true identity to Anakin as Darth Sidious, and that by becoming his apprentice he can have the power to save Padmé. Conflicted, Anakin informs Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) of what he has learned but knowing that he cannot live without his beloved wife, confronts Palpatine as he is battling with Windu. As Windu makes the killing blow, he slices off his arm and Palpatine kills him with a torrent of Sith Lightning. Knowing that there is no turning back, Anakin pledges his allegiance to Palpatine, who renames him as Darth Vader and sends him to destroy the Jedi Temple and all its inhabitants with a legion of Clone Troopers. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan is on Utapau, dueling with General Grievous while Clone Troopers battle with the Separatists. After killing the cyborg general, the Clone Troopers turn on Obi-Wan after Palpatine activates Order 66, beginning the Great Jedi Purge and the rise of the Galactic Empire. Obi-Wan manages to escape and meet up with Yoda and Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits), learning the terrible truth about his former apprentice. As Yoda prepares to battle with the newly-christened Emperor Palpatine, Obi-Wan travels to the volcanic planet of Mustafar and confronts Anakin, who is now consumed by the dark side.

“Revenge of the Sith” is a rather straightforward movie and since we know how it all ends, it’s all a matter of filling in the missing pieces. Almost all the problems of the previous installments have now been eliminated and the annoying Jar Jar is left with only one line and a screen-time of mere seconds. Any remaining issues are minor quibbles at best. The romantic dialogue between Anakin and Padmé is still terrible but at least we don’t have to have to listen to it for two hours. You’ll also wonder where General Grievous came from and for that you’ll have to look at the Clone Wars animated series on Cartoon Network. The pacing is a little uneven as after the first thirty minutes, things slow down but once Anakin turns to the dark side, the film picks up speed yet feels rushed. When he is finally corrupted by the dark side, it’s rather abrupt and lacks a natural progression. Granted, Lucas had to resolve every plotline from Episode I and set up everything for the original trilogy in a way that makes sense, which is no easy task but he succeeded. For all the flack he took, he managed to come through at the end and whatever your opinion is of him, there is no denying his influence in American cinema and popular culture.

The biggest success of “Revenge of the Sith” is that it has the emotional depth missing from Episodes I and II, where the visual effects often overwhelmed everything. It reinforces the fact that Anakin is a tragic figure because of a fatal character flaw: his inability to move on when his loved ones pass from this world. His obsession with trying to save everyone, to prove to himself that he is better, led to his turn to the dark side. While his intentions were in the right place, they were twisted by half-truths and lies, until finally Anakin died and Darth Vader was born. I will admit parts of the film almost brought me to tears, especially when Padmé pleads with her husband to leave everything behind to raise their children and you hear Anakin talking about overthrowing Palpatine and ruling the galaxy with his wife. It helps connect to the original trilogy and emphasizes how far Anakin has fallen. When Obi-Wan severs his former apprentice’s arms and legs, you see Anakin helpless, kept alive only by his rage. Finally, once Darth Vader wears the famous black armor, ‘we aren't so much experiencing the emergence of Vader as we are seeing the final death throes of Anakin’ (James Berardinelli, ReelViews).

The acting is much improved this time around as Hayden Christensen is not as petulant as you first saw him and effectively conveys the desperation over losing his wife, the kind of desperation that would drive a man to do almost anything. Ewan McGregor, sporting an Alec Guinness beard, is in fine form as Obi-Wan. Even Natalie Portman gets to convey more emotion as she is heartbroken at what her husband has become. However, the actor that stands out is Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine. When Anakin becomes his apprentice, notice the way his character says that ‘we’ can discover the secret of cheating death. This means he doesn’t know it himself and has no intention of saving Padmé. When he finally becomes the disfigured Emperor that we first saw in “Return of the Jedi,” you can feel twenty-three years of story-telling finally coming together.

Once again Lucas and his visual effects team deliver on some stunning space battles and lightsaber duels, though they are less memorable despite there being more action than the previous installments. The film opens with a massive fleet of Star Destroyers and precursor X-Wings locked in battle with the Separatists. Later, Obi-Wan duels with General Grievous, who wields four lightsabers at once! Mace Windu clashes blades with Palpatine and the film ends with two concurrent lightsaber duels: one with Yoda and Emperor Palpatine in the Senate Chamber and the other with Obi-Wan and Anakin on Mustafar. The fights are as epic as they get, as all the combatants use every trick they know to gain the upper hand. John Williams delivers a moving score that emphasizes the darkness that has engulfed the galaxy.

“Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” was released on May 19, 2005, which was a Thursday and was one of the most highly anticipated films of that year. Reception was very enthusiastic with 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising that ‘this sixth and final installment of George Lucas' epic space opera will please die-hard fanatics and non-believers alike—largely due to awesome digital effects and the sheer power of the mythology.’ The film had a four-day weekend gross of $158 million and went on to make $380 million domestic and $849 million worldwide. Unfortunately, despite the better reception, “Revenge of the Sith” did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects but for Make Up instead, which it lost to "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." After twenty-three years, “Star Wars” was finally over, much to the sadness of fans, while non-fans were probably glad that they didn’t have to deal with such a ‘nerd’ franchise anymore. Still, while there will be no more movies made (with the exception of the CG animated “Clone Wars” film in 2008), “Star Wars” lives on in television, comics, and literature. George Lucas had created one of the most defining epic science fiction franchises of the past two decades, reaping millions and transforming regular folk into overnight nerds. It revolutionized the way special effects were utilized and created characters that people loved (and hated). With “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,” Lucas changed the way we view and analyze the original trilogy as the story, for all intents and purposes, was always about Anakin Skywalker, his corruption and eventual redemption…but that’s another story to be looked into!

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!"

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Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Review

Rated PG (Sustained Sequences of Sci-Fi Action/Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 22 Minutes

Cast:

Ewan McGregor-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman-Senator Padmé Naberrie Amidala

Hayden Christensen-Anakin Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

Christopher Lee-Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus

Temuera Morrison-Jango Fett

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda

Samuel L. Jackson-Mace Windu

Jimmy Smits-Senator Bail Organa

Pernilla August-Shmi Skywalker

Silas Carson-Viceroy Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi

Daniel Logan-Boba Fett

Jack Thompson-Cliegg Lars

Joel Edgerton-Owen Lars

Bonnie Maree Piesse-Beru Whitesun

Ahmed Best (voice)-Jar Jar Binks

Directed by George Lucas

*Sigh* If only you kept it in your pants, Anakin.

“A Jedi shall not know anger, nor hatred, nor love.” This statement is what defines “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,” the second part in the prequel trilogy that chronicles the birth of Darth Vader, one of the greatest villains in American cinema history. After the negative backlash of 1999's Episode I, George Lucas had some help this time around with writing duties but while most people felt that it was improvement over its predecessor, it was only marginal. For me, this is my least favorite “Star Wars” film and much of it is due to the slow pacing that it almost becomes a drag. Lucas once again ups the ante in terms of special effects with the film closing with a massive battle and a kick-ass lightsaber duel involving Yoda but the sweeping epic romance that was promised falls flat due to the terrible dialogue, which resembles badly written Shakespeare. It’s a more serious film that does away with Episode I’s problems but also introduces several new ones.

Ten years after the events of Episode I, the Old Republic is in turmoil when a separatist movement gathers strength due to the machinations of a mysterious former Jedi named Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). This turn of events prompts the Galactic Senate to create an army in the event the separatists decide to spark a war. Formerly the queen of Naboo, Senator Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) returns to the capital world of Coruscant to vote against creating this army as she hopes to find a diplomatic solution. However, when her cruiser lands, a bomb goes off that destroys the ship and takes the life of her decoy. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) requests that the Jedi Council assign Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) to protect her. Another assassination attempt is made on Amidala’s life later that night and the two Jedi give chase. However, the assassin is killed by an armored bounty hunter before they can learn anything useful. The Council decides to send Obi-Wan to find this assailant while Anakin will continue to protect the senator on Naboo. Despite being bound to the code of the Jedi, Anakin finds that he cannot resist Padmé any longer and declares his love for her. Although she initially rejects him, the two slowly begin to fall in love. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan tracks the bounty hunter to the Outer Rim planet Kamino, where he learns that they are creating a clone army for the Republic using the DNA of one Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) at the request of a deceased Jedi Master named Sifo-Dyas. Continuing his investigation, he soon learns that the Trade Federation is working with Dooku and with their massive droid army, wish to spark a war. Anakin begins to suffer nightmares of his mother in pain and against his orders, returns to his home planet of Tatooine. Things take a turn for the worse when the Separatists and the Republic finally battle on Geonosis, sparking the Clone Wars.

While “The Phantom Menace” successfully sets up the plotlines that would be resolved by Episode VI, many found the film too focused on comedic elements to draw in younger audiences, much to the chagrin of older fans. Jar Jar Binks was a very annoying character so rejoice that he has very limited screen-time here! Although Lucas took the criticism of Episode I to heart, he created a new set of problems. “Attack of the Clones” suffers from a languidly slow pace after the first thirty minutes, devoting itself to the growing romance between Anakin and Padmé. I never thought I would say this for a “Star Wars” film but it came dangerously close to being boring. We’re constantly told that they're in love but we don’t feel it and this can be attributed to the terrible dialogue and its stiff delivery, especially the fireplace scene when Anakin professes his feelings. It reads like a poor man’s Shakespeare. Lucas also tends to use the same camera angles during dialogue scenes. Being the middle chapter, Episode II shares some motifs with “The Empire Strikes Back” where events take a dark turn once the Republic decides to implement the Clone Troopers, wearing armor that are precursors to the Stormtroopers in the original trilogy. Palpatine’s rise to power is similar to Adolf Hitler where he is granted emergency powers to deal with the crisis involving the Separatists. The technology is also catching up as we also see pre-Star Destroyers with the familiar triangular shape and finally, there’s a holographic blueprint of the Death Star. Lucas also recreates the Lars homestead and it looks just like it did in “A New Hope.” The story finally picks up speed in the final forty minutes where we’re treated to a massive battle between the outnumbered Jedi and Separatist Droid Army and later, with the Clone Army of the Republic. This battle scene, along with the subsequent duel between Yoda and Dooku is what saves Episode II. “Attack of the Clones” is a darker film but it inherits the same flaw from its predecessor with the visuals once again overwhelm the story, which keeps us from being emotionally invested in what the characters are going through.

There is some slight improvement with the acting but Hayden Christensen makes for a rather petulant Anakin Skywalker. He succeeds in showing that he is a fast learner and wise beyond his years, but he comes off as a whiny child when throwing his temper tantrums, frequently yelling, ‘It’s not fair!’ Still, we can see the darkness building up in him and his inability to let his loved ones go will prove to be his undoing. His heart is in the right place but he cannot accept the fact that all living things will eventually die. He also exhibits a slight arrogance in his behavior as he believes Jedi are above regular people. This time around Natalie Portman doesn’t sport a British accent and is a bit more assertive. She still comes off as a little bland, which doesn’t help in making the romance convincing but at least she gets to wear some exquisite costumes that reveal a little skin. Ewan McGregor now gets to do more as Obi-Wan instead of standing around waving his lightsaber. He acts as both surrogate father and teacher to Anakin, trying to teach his young apprentice more patience and be less reckless. Ian McDiarmid is back as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and there is this scene where he subtly drops hints on events to come involving Anakin’s fall. Christopher Lee is Count Dooku but due to his limited screen-time, he doesn’t make much of an impression beyond his lightsaber duel with Yoda.

Once again the visual effects prove to be the high point of the film and there’s so much CG that it borders on the ridiculous. By the thirty minute mark, we’re treated to a high speed chase through the skies of Coruscant and midway, Obi-Wan and Jango Fett battle in the rain soaked hanger on Kamino. Finally, all hell literally breaks loose when Mace Windu and his team of Jedi Knights battle the massive droid army of the Separatists, buying time for Yoda and the Clone Army to arrive. The lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan, Anakin and Count Dooku is nothing special but that changed once Yoda finally arrived and proved once and for all why he is the most badass Jedi! Although the film received a nomination at the 2003 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, it lost to “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” You’ll also notice that the picture looks a lot sharper since it was filmed with high definition cameras. John Williams once again delivers a masterful score with a sweeping romantic theme called Across the Stars; I just wish the actual romance was as good as the music that accompanied it and he closes the film with Darth Vader’s theme playing full blast as Palpatine looks on at his Clone Army. He also subtly inserts this theme when Anakin is overcome with anger and hatred.

“Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” was released on May 16, 2002 (with a limited, re-edited IMAX run in November due to technical limitations) and made $80 million during opening weekend, which was overshadowed by “Spider-Man,” which made $115 in three days. Critical reception was mixed with 66% on Rotten Tomatoes with much of the dialogue labeled as stiff or lifeless. The film grossed $310 million domestic and $649 million worldwide, much less than “The Phantom Menace.” It was overshadowed by “Spider-Man” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” both of which received better reviews and it wasn’t the highest grossing film in its year of release. “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” helps move the overall plot forward and sets the stage for Episode III but while Lucas worked hard to fix many of the problems in Episode I, new ones are introduced as it is bogged down by a slow pace that threatens to derail the film and cringe-inducing dialogue for the romantic aspects. There are still rousing lightsaber battles and awe-inducing special effects but this is certainly not “Star Wars” at its best.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"Victory? Victory you say? Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the Clone War has."

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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action/Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 16 Minutes

Cast:

Liam Neeson-Qui-Gon Jinn

Ewan McGregor-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman-Queen Padmé Naberrie Amidala

Jake Lloyd-Anakin Skywalker

Ahmed Best (voice)-Jar Jar Binks

Ian McDiarmid-Senator Palpatine

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda

Samuel L. Jackson-Mace Windu

Ray Park-Darth Maul

Hugh Quarshie-Captain Panaka

Pernilla August-Shmi Skywalker

Terence Stamp-Chancellor Finis Valorum

Silas Carson-Viceroy Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi

Oliver Ford Davies-Governor Sio Bibble

Directed by George Lucas

Come at me, bro.

Every time I watch a “Star Wars” film, it’s like seeing it for the first time. Even though I know how the story will end, every line of dialogue, how all the Jedi and Sith parry with their lightsabers, I am still in awe when I view these films. If it is not apparent from that sentence, I am a huge “Star Wars” nerd, and that’s an understatement. Though “Star Wars” has made legions of fans, I still encounter a few people who treat the saga with disdain but what George Lucas has created will always stay a part of me even when I reach old age. It has become one of the most defining attributes of my personality and if I get married, my wife had better damn like “Star Wars” as well! If you don’t know (then shame on you!), Lucas made the original “Star Wars” in 1977 and it was unlike anything anybody had seen before thanks to its groundbreaking special effects. In fact, 20th Century Fox had so little confidence in the film that they let Lucas keep all the rights to future sequels and merchandising because they thought they were ripping him off! Ah, studio executives, your stupidity never ceases to amaze me. After the first film’s unprecedented success, Lucas made two more sequels, released in 1980 and 1983 and that was the end of it…or so we thought.

Lucas wasn’t finished with the story yet, as he was keen to go back to the beginning and tell the story of how Darth Vader was born (notice I’m avoiding major spoilers for those who STILL haven’t seen the films and believe me, they’re out there!). Plus, the original films were renamed Episodes IV, V and VI which supported the prequel argument. It wasn’t until 1994 that Lucas started working on the script for Episode I, as he believed that the recent advances in special effects, as shown in 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” had advanced to the level that he deemed adequate. Finally, sixteen years after the release of “Return of the Jedi,” the first film of the prequel trilogy, “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” finally arrived into theaters on May 19, 1999. The hype for the film was indescribable as hardcore fans lined up to see the film weeks in advance, something that’ll probably never happen again with the crap Hollywood continues to churn out year after year. Don’t get me wrong, there are still good films being made, but nothing will ever come as close to what “Star Wars” has achieved. I’ve probably said too much already and so it begins, one of my most anticipated reviews, starting from the beginning of the tale with Episode I. I will admit, I prefer the original trilogy but I never understood all the hate for “The Phantom Menace.” It definitely didn’t turn out to be the life-changer people expected (that’s what happens when the hype gets so big, it’s impossible to meet them) but overall the film is a joy to watch and the lightsaber duel at the end is one of the saga’s best and was worth the price of admission alone at the time. Most of my major complaints about the film are obvious, the often cringe-worthy antics of that creature called Jar Jar Binks and the fact that some of plot elements seem to rely heavily on coincidence with the whole ‘Force works in mysterious ways’ shtick.

Thirty-two years before the events of “Episode IV - A New Hope,” the Old Republic is faced with squabbling delegates who can’t get even the simplest matters decided. Meanwhile, a trade dispute with the powerful Trade Federation—led by Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson)—and the Outer Rim planets of the Galactic Republic leads to the blockade of the peaceful planet of Naboo, ruled by fourteen-year-old Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terrance Stamp), leader of the Galactic Senate, secretly sends two Jedi Knights, Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), to try and resolve the situation. Unfortunately, they are attacked by a group of battle droids on orders of the mysterious Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. On his orders, the Trade Federation sends a massive droid invasion fleet and begins conquering the surface of Naboo. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan manage to stow aboard a ship and make it to the surface, and with the help of a local Gungan named Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) they manage to rescue the Queen from a small group of battle droids. They try to make a break for the blockade in the Queen’s personal cruiser, which has no weapons, and thanks to the timely intervention of R2-D2, they succeed. However, their hyperdrive was damaged in the attack and they are forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs. Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar, Padmé, and R2-D2 set out to the Mos Eisley spaceport to look for parts and while perusing a junk dealer’s shop, they come upon a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). As Republic credits can’t be used, Anakin, despite some hesitance from his mother, agrees to help Qui-Gon win enough money to buy the parts they need by entering into the Boonta Eve Pod Race. Sensing the boy is unusually strong in the Force, Qui-Gon arranges for his freedom if Anakin wins. Through skill (and luck), Anakin wins the race and is free to go with Qui-Gon to be trained as a Jedi. As the Galactic Senate is mired in petty politics, Amidala takes it upon herself to retake the planet but a shadowy Sith apprentice, Darth Maul (Ray Park) soon enters the picture, hinting that someone may be orchestrating a grander scheme.

Unless you picked and analyze every scene in the film, most of you will probably be at a loss after reading that summary as it just seems like I’m just throwing a bunch of funny sounding names at you. It’s surprising how Lucas touches upon the same themes and motifs as in Episode IV. The subtitle of “The Phantom Menace” references the rising presence of the Sith and the dark side while “A New Hope” would signify Luke Skywalker’s pivotal role in bringing down the Galactic Empire. While the story does a great job of setting up the plot threads that would eventually be resolved in Episode VI, the biggest problem I have is that the film seems to be missing the charm of the original trilogy. The last three films had likable characters and you were emotionally invested in what was happening to them but with Episode I (and the prequels), the visual effects tend to overwhelm the story. The only time where the film comes close to being dramatic is when Anakin bids farewell to his mother, Shmi (Pernilla August). Lucas gives Anakin a Christ-like, savior aspect (Qui-Gon suspects him to the Chosen One) as he was conceived with no father and that it was the will of the Force that allowed him to be born. Anakin shares a growing romantic bond with Padmé but the dialogue between them tends to feel lifeless. An inordinate amount of time is spent on Jar Jar’s clumsy antics to appeal to children and this is Episode I’s greatest failing. Racial stereotype or not, this guy is just really annoying and any sane Jedi would probably slash him in half with his/her lightsaber, dark side be damned! The final battle has four parts happening concurrently and one of them involves the Gungans going up against the droid army of the Trade Federation. It is entirely composed of Jar Jar running around like an idiot and he seems to survive just on his inane clumsiness. Some of the comedy will produce a chuckle but for the most part, you’ll just be shaking your fists and asking Lucas why.

The film’s structure follows a similar formula of the other films where, after a rousing opening that sets up the main threat, things slow down a little until the grand finale appears. However, the plot seems to rely on too many lucky coincidences, especially when Anakin manages to destroy the droid control battleship just by blind dumb luck. I know it’s supposed to recall Luke destroying the Death Star but at least he used the Force, here it’s just implied! Finally, another point of contention is the scientific explanation of the Force by introducing midi-chlorians. It took away the spiritual aspect of the Force and was a detail that felt unnecessary. At the end of the day, “The Phantom Menace” is just a movie and an entertaining one at that, but older fans were disappointed that it wasn’t the life-changer they expected and non-fans were just confused at the sheer amount of aliens on-screen, reinforcing their belief that “Star Wars” is just for nerds living in their mom’s basement. Whatever your feelings, it still reaffirmed the franchise as a pivotal part of American popular culture.

The acting is rather mixed but then again, “Star Wars” was never known for great acting. Still, part of what made the original trilogy fun to watch was that the actors themselves also seemed to be having fun as well. Liam Neeson brings a quiet nobility to Qui-Gon and though Ewan McGregor ends up doing little, you can sense Obi-Wan’s headstrong nature that will eventually lead him to become a wise Jedi Knight. Natalie Portman was probably one of the first, if not THE first, female celebrity crushes I had and is a great actress. However, in this film, she tends to be too passive and delivers all her lines in monotone, switching from a forced British accent to an American one inconsistently. As for one of the most important characters in “Star Wars” canon, Jake Lloyd is not the Anakin Skywalker I had envisioned. He’s a little too happy-go-lucky and it’s hard to see him as one of the most feared Sith Lords in the galaxy. There are some hints that Anakin has a temper, as he glares at Yoda and Mace Windu when they decide that he shouldn’t be trained as a Jedi due to a ‘clouded future.’ There’s also the fact that he only leaves his mother reluctantly and that he is unable to let go, a trait that would eventually become exploited and lead to his fall. Ian McDiarmid is Naboo’s senator, Palpatine, a character that exudes charm but is at heart, power hungry and manipulative. I already know who he will become but for now, I will say that despite his limited screen-time, he is a pivotal character in future events. Finally, there’s martial arts expert Ray Park as Darth Maul, one of the most memorable Sith characters in the saga with his fearsome visage. As for Jar Jar, the less said about him, the better.

The special effects and music were beyond amazing but unfortunately, it was beaten by “The Matrix” at the 2000 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, Sound and Sound Effects and received several Golden Raspberry nominations. Every scene is crammed with all manner of alien species and there are several nice nods to Expanded Universe characters such as Aurra Sing during the pod race sequence. Speaking of the pod race, it’s heavily inspired by the chariot race from “Ben-Hur” and is a thrill to watch, though it tends to go on for a little too long. If there was one good thing everybody agreed upon, it was the duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul. Much of it could be attributed to the excellent choreography and the fact that it was the first time anyone had seen a double-bladed lightsaber. As their blades clash, John Williams’ epic Duel of the Fates plays in the background and there are subtle cues to Darth Vader’s theme, The Imperial March. Whatever its flaws, Lucas has time and again set the bar high when it comes to special effects.

“Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” was released into theaters on May 19, 1999 and broke all manner of box records at the time with an opening weekend of $65 million. The film eventually grossed $431 million domestic and $924 million worldwide, becoming the most successful “Star Wars” movie ever. It was a different story when it came to critical reception as it was mixed at best, with 62% on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics felt that Lucas had let the effects overwhelm the characters and the story but the film was still a wonder to behold. Fan backlash was incredibly intense owing much to the fact that it was overhyped beyond belief, to the point where it was simply impossible for “The Phantom Menace” to meet them. Some disgruntled fans even re-edited the film and released it as “The Phantom Edit.” The prequels are still viewed as inferior and yes, Jar Jar may be annoying but as a beginning to one of the greatest tales ever told, “The Phantom Menace” gets the job done perfectly and we couldn’t have asked for more.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5

"He is the Chosen One. He will bring balance. Train him!"

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