Review

Lucas lets loose his imagination and creates a fully realized universe in the first part of his trilogy prequel. Episode 1 follows Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and his young apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) through many lands and fights for the federation, where they also discover Anakin Skywalker (Lloyd), the future Darth Vader. Planets as diverse as the opulent Naboo and the gridlocked Coruscant are rendered with such detail that multiple viewings, as with all Star Wars films, are mandatory. It's dazzling to the eye and the ear, especially a Ben-Hur style "pod race," the completely computer-generated characters, and a climactic saber showdown with mysterious henchman Darth Maul. However, as the title "Episode One" suggests, it's very much in the style of an old cliffhanger, complete with wooden characterizations, overplotting, and only occasional action sequences to break the monotony. Additionally, the Jamaican Roger Rabbit, Jar Jar Binks, is the most annoying creature since Barney to grace the screen. The simple, mythic elements of the previous films are missing here, replaced by rote superheroism, even as the art direction and effects set new standards for filmmaking. Lucas has said he wanted to make a film for kids to enjoy; instead, he has made a film that's merely juvenile.