SO STARWARS: TPM HAS BEEN

so starwars: TPM has been released to reviewers and film world elite, and the commentary is out. i’ve heard everything from “absolutely mind boggling” to “too kiddy, too lengthy.” i think what’s interesting about the whole situation is that starwars: the phantom menace will be an inherent let down for most people. first of all, it’s not going to be a revolutionary, mind-blowing special effects extravaganza like a new hope was. sure there’s going to be some amazing computer rendered characters and effects, but the computer stuff will just represent another step forward in the field of cg special effects, not a completely new method of making movies. second, the phantom menace simply isn’t going to be like the old trilogy. there’s new characters, there’s no rebellion, and there’s no whiny moron saying “but i was going to go to tasha station to pick up some power converters!” and third, i think tpm is likely to be a good deal more preachy, because i think lucas has more to say on the subject of morals an ethic now that he has a family than he did back in 1977.

i think the main draw for most people will simply be the fact that it’s another star wars movie, another chance to see light sabers and the force and a wild array of weird looking aliens that are much too novel to ever see on star trek.