Predicting
The Future:
Five Different Outlooks On What
"The Phantom Menace" Has In Store
And The Resulting Impressions Of The
Film
Jody Reeves: Political Junkie
Expectations Prior To Seeing The Film
5/17/99
Those of you who have read my ramblings before are probably aware that I am a hopeless
political junkie. So much so that I even have a job in the business, slaving away in the
American version of the Imperial Senate. It goes beyond watching the Sunday morning talk
shows and catching CNN when I can. No, my work-a-day life entails having my office
television tuned to the Senate floor and anticipating the next press release from my boss
that I get to post to her website.
Even though my time is rarely my own and I am at the beck and call of an evil press office, I am particularly excited over the opening of Episode I. Why?
- It's the first "Star Wars" movie in sixteen years, but that's not it;
- Sure, the special effects are going to rock, but that's not it, either;
- It's the economy, fanboy!
That's right - I've got high hopes for this film because it deals with <drumroll> a POLITICAL CRISIS!
Somewhere, in that galaxy far, far away, there's a planet in the throes of an economic blockade by a corrupt federation that controls galactic trade. The elected representative of the world in question must appeal for help from the galactic central government. The representational galactic central government is at a loss on how to handle the situation. And to think I actually studied such scenarios when I was taking all those classes in international relations and participating in Model United Nations!
The Holy Trilogy of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi only hint at the political struggles that preceded the fall of the Old Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire's New Order. We're only given tantalizing clues about the Clone Wars and the coup d'état of Senator Palpatine. Now, starting with Episode I, we get to see all of this. Finally, I'll get my wish, first posted to Echo Station years ago, to see the machinations of the Galactic Senate. I'll get to see the beginning of the end of the Old Republic and the rise of imperialism. If I were still a political science major in college, I would even consider using Episode I as a model for how a representative government could fall.
Needless to say, while I'm interested in Queen Amidala's look (thanks to my preoccupation with all things Japanese), I'm especially intrigued by how she plans to handle the situation involving her world. As the Queen notes in the second trailer, she is an elected official. This is interesting since Amidala is at an age when most people in our society can't even vote!
So, on May 19th, while everyone around me is
debating over the "realness" of Jar-Jar, I'm going to be mulling political
theory and wondering what Machiavelli would say about a teenage queen and a trade
federation…
Reactions After Seeing The Film - Contains very minor spoilers
The Phantom Menace - DC Uptown Line and Film Review
It's rare that something can create a frenzy in Washington DC. Usually, such craziness is reserved for presidential inaugurations - not even the big NATO Conference last month could faze this town. But take a young slave boy, a queen, a couple of Jedi and one badass villain, and you find this capital city lose its collective brain.
Fans began lining up at the Uptown Theater in Washington on Sunday afternoon. Mind you, we all had our tickets, this was simply a social gathering in order to jockey for good seats! So below is what I hope is a spoiler-free review, and a quick synopsis of my three days in line.
Review:
I already had a point of view I wanted to use when approaching "Episode I," and that was from the perspective of a political junkie who works for a senator. From that aspect, this film did not disappoint at all. In fact, from any aspect, this film not only met, but also exceeded, the expectations I have been building up ever since I heard that the prequels would be done.
Many of the critics said --
• the film is geared towards children;
• the film has too many special effects;
• the characters are not fully developed.
Point One -- Never in the course of watching this film did I come to believe that it was pandered towards children. From the onset, there is the indication of an enormous political plot. Kids are not going to get the concept of economic blockades and manipulation of an elected assembly. That was the heart of the story, and I for one am glad of it. I've always wondered what issues and actions led to the fall of the Old Republic, and "Episode I" neatly sets that up for us. Granted, the plot has to be explored more deeply in Episodes Two and Three, but as an opening act, "Episode I" fulfilled its mission and creates an appeal for adults.
Of course, people will say that Jar Jar was thrown in for the kids, and they may be right. However, I was slightly surprised to determine that Jar Jar didn't annoy me as much as I feared he would. Yes, he was hard to understand at times, but I found that didn't bother me. So, let the kiddies have this bone, and let me gleefully analyze the political chicanery used by Palpatine.
Point Two -- I admit that I was skeptical about the CGI from having viewed the trailers. I was worried that the amount of "cyber" characters would distract from the live action ones. That was not the case at all. I simply forgot all about computer animation about two minutes into the film. The integration was seamless, the vividness of the scenery was amazing. Coruscant was beyond anything seen before - I was highly impressed.
The pod race was insane. Even though the outcome is obvious, my heart still pounded. You really get the feeling that you're moving at the equivalent of 500 miles per hour - this blows the speeder bike chase in "Jedi" away.
Point Three -- I believe that the critics, professionals and not-so-professional, forget the fact that "Episode I" is the first act of a six-part saga. Of course the characters will not be fully developed - there's two more films coming that will develop Obi-Wan into a wise sage and Anakin into the Sith Lord Vader. I thought that all the actors did a fine job:
Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon): A little dry, perhaps, but I feel that lent to his character. He came across as someone who just wanted to find a nice beach home somewhere and retire, but whose conscious wouldn't let him. Maybe he wasn't passionate, but then, I get the idea that the Jedi weren't supposed to be in the first place.
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan): Frankly, there wasn't enough of McGregor, but I think he's being saved up for Parts Two and Three. Obi-Wan was a strong character, in my humble opinion, and I can't wait to see more of him.
Natalie Portman (Amidala): People may think she was very standoffish, but hey, she's a queen! And a very determined one at that. Not to mention that she has a gift for planning a battle...
Jake Lloyd (Anakin): Critics have been not so kind, but I think Lloyd was great. Let's face it, we're not going to get Anthony Hopkins out of a nine-year-old! Besides, he gave us certain looks and mannerisms that lent to the foreshadowing that was the underlying current in this film.
Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine): Since it's no surprise that this is the future Emperor, it was simply delicious to see how he manages to get his way. Trent Lott can take a lesson or two from this guy.
Ray Park (Maul): All I can say is, "Boba, pick up your rocket pack and go home."
Overall, and I may be going on a limb here, "The Phantom Menace" is an outstanding film. Personally, I'm willing to rank it right up with "Empire" in the pantheon of Star Wars movies. Of course, I now have to wait three years for Episode Two, but if the first one is the foundation, we've got a marvelous treat in store.
Thank you, George Lucas!
Line Journal:
Day One - Sunday, May 16:
I arrived at the line at about 6:30 pm, which was the time given to us by the DCPD as an appropriate time to start. The DC Countingdown group already had a campout going - complete with a computer and cellular modem. We had a webcam, which naturally showed us off at our best in the late hours at night or wee hours of the morning. By the end of that first day, the line was one block long and in fine form - some enterprising fans even brought along a TV to watch the season closer of "The X Files."
One of our illustrious campers was Al (didn't quite catch his last name!) who was reporting live from the line to Fox 5 News. We all loved Al, even if only because he encouraged us to act silly when the camera was on.
I got my official "I Lined Up at the Uptown" t-shirt, but decided to put off wearing it until Tuesday night, when I would camp for the duration. Since I had to work on Monday, I left the line at 12:30 am.
Day Two - Monday, May 17:
Spirits were high, but that might have been due in part to the coffee we kept getting from the Starbucks that was right next to the line. Most of us were there for the first show at 10:00 am on Wednesday, so we were starting to get pretty stoked. One fan broke out the Star Wars Trivial Pursuit, and I promptly proceeded to kick butt, thus preserving the reputation I had on CompuServe as the Trivia Queen. Again, I sadly had to work the next day, so I left the line soon after midnight.
Day Three - Tuesday, May 18:
Just twenty-four hours to go! More and more media were showing up to talk to us. For the most part, we came across as literate adults. However, the illusion was fractured when the Uptown staff came out at around 9:00 pm to take down the posters for "The Matrix" and put up those for "Episode I."
Since I was in for the night, I wore my t-shirt, stocked up on munchies, and appropriated someone's deck chair. It was hard getting any sleep because people driving by would honk.
Day Four - Wednesday, May 19 - Opening Day:
Today dawned at 5:30 am, only because my fitful sleep was interrupted by a garbage truck lumbering by. But no matter!
The theater staff started letting us in at 9:00 am, and we took the opportunity to mug for the cameras as we bounced in, proudly holding our tickets aloft.
And this is where I thank...
Erik, Cindy and Ona for doing such a fantastic job organizing the line
Josh for having us on the webcam
Karen and Becky for sharing their pizza and Pringles with me
Jon for letting me sleep in his chair
Starbucks for the yummy Frappacinos!
(When not slaving away in America's own version of the Imperial Senate, Jody Reeves can be found avidly hunting down enticing photos of Harrison Ford on the Internet. Authenticity matters not.)