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-- Craig E. Engler, Editor
George Lucas Has Done It Again
eorge Lucas, you've done it again. The Phantom Menace is very good; it was everything we were all hoping it would be, and the idiots who call themselves critics should take extended leaves-of-absence. (By the way, for a good review, by an excellent critic, read Roger Ebert's newspaper review--he hit the nail on the head).
This movie was for kids, for adults, for women and for men. It had
everything we expected from it and more. I laughed at Jar Jar Binks, cried
with Qui-Gon Jinn, was sad for Queen Amidala and her people, and it left me
with enough questions about the future to say: George, I can't wait three years!
Michael Papagermanos
mihail@bacardi.gunters.org
Episode I Is Only So-So
truly did like Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, but it paled in comparison to the first two in the series. My dislike for Episode VI not withstanding. As far as the story line went, I was not disappointed in it, but the actual transition to film needed work.
It seems as though the creators decided to swap witty humor (in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back) for juvenile humor (i.e. belch and fart humor). And characters like Jar Jar and the podrace announcers just grate on the nerves. The first two episodes were completely devoid of annoying characters. They had some seriousness that all ages could enjoy. Now that I'm older, I long for the team that made those two movies instead of the ones who thought that Star Wars should smack of Disney, with its lame and heavy-handed attempts at humor...it just tried too hard.
The special effects and acting were superb, but George Lucas seems to have made another sell-out toy movie like Return of the Jedi was (remember the Ewoks?). I long for the seriousness that the first two had. If you have to resort to a belch to get humor, then you need to return to the drawing board.
I certainly do not wish for any more cutesy roles in the next two movies...between the Ewoks, the crappy Return of the Jedi: Special Edition band in Jabba's palace, Jar Jar, and the podrace announcers (How lame can you get in an attempt for humor? How about using subtleness?), I've had my fill of "kid" characters. Characters that cheapen a movie and make adults cringe because they had just watched the old episodes and know that this new edition falls far short.
Jason Hill
stonecold@simplecom.net
The Phantom Menace Rules
just wrote a really long letter about the new Star Wars movie and how it will be panned by critics and fans alike. Then I analyzed why this will be so. This was all in an effort to debunk their reasoning. Then I kicked the cord out of the power socket and my computer went down, losing an hours
worth of work.
So, to sum up: The Phantom Menace rules. Go see it. Anyone who says different is an idiot.
Tony Feliciti
Afeliciti@aol.com
The Phantom Menace Was Boring
or everyone urging us to see The Phantom Menace "through the eyes of a
child" (didn't that cliche die of exhaustion years ago?), here's a data
point. My 11 year-old daughter, a bonafide child, and I both love the
original trilogy, movies that had appeal for both children and adults.
However, when we saw the premiere of Phantom Menace, we were both bored
to tears.
What's the moral? First, we shouldn't assume what children will like.
They're not stupid, but they can quickly identify stupidity. Second, you
can make movies like the original Star Wars trilogy that both adults and
children can enjoy, so 20 years of planning for this prequel should
have been enough time to figure out how to make another such film. Maybe
it was long enough to forget.
Tom Grant
tgrant@us.oracle.com
Star Wars Is About New Things
oger Ebert was right when he said, "I wish the Star Wars
characters spoke with more elegance and wit... but dialogue
isn't the point, anyway: These movies are about new things
to look at."
So what if kids like it? The last time you saw an original
Star Wars movie, you were probably a kid. I remember my
14-year-old friend running around with a fistful of
action figures.
Lighten up.
Chris Africa
cafrica@umich.edu
Episode I Is A Menace In Stores
have to admit it, I am totally disgusted by the sheer amount of
shameless marketing that is going on around The Phantom Menace.
Before I get too far let me make two points: 1) I understand that
extra marketing for movies is a fact, and that Star Wars as a franchise
has been doing this for decades, and 2) I am a fan! I downloaded the
first trailer off the Internet (loved it!), and I have been eagerly awaiting
the release of this movie for years. But something has gone sour for
me.
I like Star Wars. I have collected numerous comic books, collector
cards and other paraphernalia over the 20 odd years since the
original came out. But the phenomenon surrounding Phantom Menace has
passed ridiculous and gone into the insanely greedy category. I walked
into a local store at a mall yesterday and found two full-length
aisles of just figurines. Not to mention posters everywhere, signs,
placards, and graphics on every conceivable wall and window. I left and
went to another store because I felt uncomfortable about the sheer
volume of material. Guess what? Every other store I visited was the
same. Coloring books, cereal boxes, Kentucky Fried Chicken advertisements (What do Colonel Sanders and Obi-Wan Kenobi have in common anyway?), lunch kits, posters, stationery, candy bars, pencils, video games, etc., ad
infinitum, ad nauseum.
I should think that I am the kind of fan that George Lucas wants to keep--middle aged, family guy (Convert the kids! Buy a pop-up book!),
reasonable disposable income, already "committed" to the cause, as it
were, and already a collector.
Some might say that this is exactly the same as what was done with the
original three movies, but I would disagree. I think that the
commercialization has become considerably more pervasive than back in
the '70s and '80s. I can remember walking and shopping, and having to
search for the Star Wars memorabilia--now it is in my face everywhere.
Am I the only one feeling this way? I know that marketing is a fact of
life in the entertainment world, and hey, I even collect some of it.
But this is too much--and truthfully it has soured me to a certain
extent on going to the movie. I know I'll still see it, but I won't be
lining up immediately to check it out. I think I'll put on my Phantom
Menace slippers, grab a Phantom Menace soda pop, order some Phantom
Menace fried chicken, grab a copy of my Terry Brooks Phantom Menace
novel adaptation, put my head on my Phantom Menace pillow, and dream
about when I have a spare $4.95 (Canadian) to purchase the Phantom Menace first comic adaption issue from Dark Horse comics. (After I turn off my Phantom Menace lamp...)
Sheesh, now I have a headache...
Ted Wood
ellegon@agt.net
Feel The Force Of Phantom Menace
kay. I saw it. I braved the crowds, I stood in line, I shared the joys and the memories of the first films when I braved the crowds and stood in line. To paraphrase Hardware Wars, "I laughed, I cried, I kissed 10 bucks good-bye". Was it worth it?
Ten bucks? Definitely. Worth seeing again? Most assuredly.
What do we expect from a movie? If you devote your time to focusing on the whole movie-going experience--sights, sounds, envelopment--is it possible that people would act more like people and less like highly paid actors? Do we go to see acting? Or to see realistic portrayals? Frankly, I like realism.
Lucas doesn't waste any of his canvass--every scene, every moment, there are a hundred things going on. The first time you see it, follow the plot and dialog. The second time, look in the corners of the screen--away from the focus--and follow the action in the background. The third time you see it, piece together the background, foreground and the soundtrack. It is a movie you must see again and again. Any critic who has seen it only once is not to be trusted. Any critic who likes crap put out by Quentin Tarantino should not be trusted.
I have read what the critics have said. My only suggestion is: Don't moan unless you can make something better. We all feel like it could be better if this or if that, but George did it. We are the ones who are watching.
The movie answered a lot of questions, asked others and created new and even broader mysteries. As the trailer for Austin Powers II says, "If you see only one movie this summer, see Star Wars."
Indeed. See it. Forget where you are, who you are, your life on Earth and touch the Force of Lucas' imagination.
Evan Moore
evanmoore@aol.com
Episode I Is A Superb Introduction
was one of the lucky few people in America to see the first East Coast midnight show of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. After weeks of hearing about these awful reviews, I was glad to see Science Fiction Weekly's review. After seeing the movie for myself, I agree with the review--Phantom Menace is not to be missed.
Are there flaws? Sure, from my perspective at least. That doesn't mean you'll find them to be flaws. For example, I for one thought (sorry for the spoiler, folks) it was a little over the top when it is revealed that Anakin was born, er, rather "divinely." Knowing that George Lucas is a big fan of ancient mythology, I have to assume that he mean it as a nod to the myth of Hercules--Zeus mystically impregnates a mortal woman who bears his half-God son. But it came across (to me, mind you), like Anakin's birth was analogous to Jesus'. An interesting idea, but I don't know that it had to be presented that way.
In the meantime, yes, I (as a 34 year old adult) did find Jar Jar Binks and his Gungans to be a bit annoying, as were the Trade Federation aliens (who were more weak-willed than any set of villains I've ever seen). However, neither the biblical overtones of Anakin's origins, nor Jar Jar and company, detracted from the film's overall effect.
The visuals--and I'm not just talking the whiz-bang effects--were outstanding. The city scapes (Coruscant, especially) were breathtaking. The use of digital characters (including Jar Jar) was seamless. And the acting, contrary to what the critics had said, was not stilted at all. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were quite the noble knights. Amidala is indeed as spunky as her future daughter. Darth Sidious and Senator Palpatine are evil and manipulative, while Darth Maul is virtually silent-evil incarnate.
And Jake Lloyd as Anakin is remarkable. I have never seen such a young male actor (I'm reminded of Anna Panquin in The Piano, for different reasons, of course) have such poise. His portrayal of the highly gifted, incredibly polite, yet still-a-child "chosen one" is right on the money. Not stiff or stilted at all, when you realize exactly why he would act that way in the first place. I almost wish there was a way for him to play the teenaged (we assume) Anakin the next film.
The movie works on many levels. It is a superb introduction to the saga, laying a generous groundwork for what is to come. Even the future romance between Anakin and Amidala is hinted at in a quiet, loving, yet completely non-sexual way (as it should be, since Anakin's only 10). Those looking for the "lacking romance," as one critic put it, will have to wait for Episode II, which Lucas himself has said will be a very romantic film (by which I hope he also means the romanticism of the Jedi Knights as well).
See this film. Not just because it is Star Wars. Certainly not because of the hype. See it because it is a wonderfully crafted film that helps us to understand what this saga is really all about. See it because George Lucas does know what he's doing--if you love movies, you'll love this one.
And if after seeing it, you're dissapointed, well...that is your opinion, you're entitled to it, and I wish you luck. And, of course, that the Force be with you. See? Even when we disagree, we can still wish each other well.
Martin Cahn
m2cahn@yahoo.com
Star Wars Is For The Kid In All Of Us
have not seen the new Star Wars film, so I cannot really comment on its quality. But I am rather amused at the critical response to date.
It seems that a recurring theme in the criticism is that the film lacks the wide-eyed innocence of the original, or seems something less than fresh. Perhaps the critics should consider just why people go to sequels. The first time one experiences a series (pick any series of films, e.g., Star Trek, Star Wars, etc.) the characters and situations are new. For the second and subsequent installments, viewers are seeking something comfortable and familiar. Maybe Han Solo and Princess Leia are not present, but lightsabers, Jedi Knights and The Force are old and dear friends.
Critics also seem to be chorusing: "This movie seems like it was intended for children." In this respect they are correct. Star Wars is aimed at the kid in all of us. I, for one, am not at all put off by a film that appeals to my inner child. I relish it.
I will be seeing The Phantom Menace in a few days, and I am certain that I will be delighted. I am just as certain that I will be seeing it again and again.
Bill Sullivan
therocketscientist@rocketmail.com
Star Wars Is Just A Western
tar Wars is simply a Western put into outer space. There is no scientific principal being explored. There is no "what-if" that the plot or theme are based on. It is a simple good vs. evil flick. And, by the way, if I hear "great special effects" one more time I will be ill.
Lowell Berman
jgalt2@webtv.net
The Phantom Novel Is Just Adequate
suppose we should all just be grateful that they didn't give the job of writing The Phantom Menace novelization to that hack of hack writers, Kevin J. Anderson. Terry Brooks is and always has been an extremely derivative writer, whether he's cribbing shamelessly from J.R.R. Tolkien or Charles DeLint (as in his most recent books), and most recently, George Lucas.
Don't get me wrong, just as he is an adequate writer, he does an adequate job on the novelization of The Phantom Menace, but in the end it comes across as rather dull and doesn't even come close to capturing the pure visual splendor of the film. Maybe no one could have duplicated Lucas' visual masterpiece on paper, but one does have to wonder what the novel could have been in the hands of the only truly great Star Wars novelist, Timothy Zahn.
Matthew Webber
helot@hotmail.com
No More Hugos For Babylon 5
o more Hugo's for Babylon 5. This last season was virtually
a waste of celluloid. TNT didn't know what to do with the
show and the story arcs were lame. J. Michael Straczynski went the way
of NYPD Blue by having Garibaldi fall off the wagon. That
was a lame plot device, no matter what he says about it
being in the plan. The long story arc with the Teeps bit. It
was overlong and dull. Byron had no personality and only
irritated all around him. This years Hugo should go to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, if not for the continued fine writing then for the way the
characters have grown. As for Crusade, we know the Earth is
going to get saved, so what's the point of the whole show?
The problem is, "Sleeping in Light" (which again shows that
B5's creator has been heavily influenced by The Lord of the
Rings) was a dull episode. Did anyone really think Sheridan,
who goes to "Avalon" much like Arthur, was going to die? As
for Crusade not getting a full run, why doesn't Warner,
which owns the show, put it on their own network? Too busy
with teen angst shows and sitcoms?
Rob Morganbesser
Elrond1960@aol.com
Tune In To Crusade
was pleasantly surprised to receive a personal e-mail from the senior vice president of programming at TNT, responding to my criticism last week of their handling of Crusade.
In a nutshell, she explained the difficulty of fitting shows like Babylon 5 and Crusade (which are unlike anything else TNT broadcasts) into their line-up. She also defended the level of attention, marketing-wise, being given Crusade, explaining that TNT hopes to appeal to a broader audience than Babylon 5 commands.
While I may still disagree with TNT's rationale behind their decision-making, I applaud them vigorously for taking the time to respond intelligently to one fan's criticism.
TNT said one thing to me that I can whole-heartedly agree with: Networks respond to ratings, and if Crusade is successful in that regard, it is almost guaranteed a future. I encourage everyone to tune in for the premiere and let TNT hear from you.
Chris Snider
chris.snider@sciatl.com
Don't Miss Tenchi On DVD
was very pleased to read the review of the first three releases in the Tenchi in Tokyo series. I was, however, disappointed that you failed to mention that the series has also been released in DVD format at the same price as the subtitled version.
DVD gives the advantage of both versions at a higher video quality. (In fact, I basically only buy anime on DVD these days.) Also, as an aside, Pioneer is releasing a special box set of the entire original animated video series (all 13 episodes) and the latest Tenchi Encyclopedia on DVD in June.
Alasdair Russell
alasdair@cybscape.demon.co.uk
