So if you're interested in Star Wars but haven't seen any, I must begin by saying, don't bother starting with Episode 1, you'll not see what all the fuss was about, please start with number 4 (the first film made) and you'll be much happier for it.
This was the 3D conversion for the Phantom Menace; presumably he's starting with Episode 1 because he knows that if he started with Episode 4 no-one would bother with the prequels when they came out. I went to see this in the full knowledge that the film isn't very good, and not really being a fan of 3D cinema, so like many other things I end up disliking, I do wonder why I do it to myself. First of all, this is a 2 and a half hour kids film about taxation. You know it's a kids film because you've got stupid characters like Jar Jar (should be shot) Binks, with annoying catchphrases and slapstick comedy for the younguns. You've also got silly droids who say stupid things, seem to be ineffective and only there because if the Jedi were fighting Stormtroopers or indeed just plain humans, the amount that they slaughter would make this film an 18, as it is, chopping up machinery is fine.
Acting wise you've got a great cast, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, That guy from Casualty... Warwick Davis even makes a fairly unnecessary cameo. However, their acting talent doesn't really seem to be utilised all that well; much in the same way that Woody Allen somehow got Ewan McGregors worst performance ever in Cassandras Dream, George Lucas seems to find wooden stagey acting from some pretty damn fine talent. Indeed, me and my friend began counting the number of times that Liam Neeson would stand and look into middle distance meaningfully whilst striking a pose, such as hands on hips. It's quite amusing, but you simply expect better from this cast.
Next the story, it's a mess, you've got loads of information being thrown at you about metachlorians and other things you didn't know about before, yet didn't need to know. You know what? you still don't need to know them, it's confusing. Also confusing is the fact that this film is so obviously aimed at children, yet has a main story that involves complicated economic sanctions that even I, having studied Economics and Politics at various times don't fully comprehend, what was George Lucas thinking? The film has some highlights, action pieces are quite nicely done, and there are some great moments, but ultimately this is a stinker.
But I suppose the main reason I went back was to see if finally someone had done something useful with 3D cinema.. The short answer? They haven't. You see, when films are filmed in 3D you either get things flying at the screen the entire time (or as I like to call it; shit 3D) or you get nicely rounded figures and shots through tunnels and the like (or as I like to call it... not quite so shit 3D). This was filmed in 2D and converted into 3D, so what you get is... well not a lot really. You only really notice the 3D on a couple of ocassions, and only one of them impressed me (when the doors open to reveal Darth Maul... that was quite cool), However I remain entirely unconvinced by 3D cinema, and think that the conversion process is a waste of time and money.
The only reason why this 3D conversion is in any way redeeming is that it brings Star Wars back to the big screen, and in 3 years we'll get the Originals back, for the first time in nearly 20 years; so that is something to be thankful for, unfortunately we'll have to put up with 3D for it.
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