Don’T Discount ‘Phantom Menace’

Mon., May 24, 1999

Daniel Bigler Christian Heritage

Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars.

Everybody knows that George Lucas’ new movie was released in theaters last week. You either drove by the lines outside the theater, watched the news, or were in the lines yourself. I fall under the “in the lines” category.

I entered the theater not knowing what was going to happen (OK, so I already read the book and the screenplay and collected more Star Wars pictures than the public library. That’s OK, isn’t it?).

As soon as John William’s music score started, I knew it was going to be good.

And, it was.

I’m not going to give a bit of the plot away, but I will say that you do not want to pay attention to what the other critics have said.

The way I see it, “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” is the most anticipated film of all time, with all sorts of expectations that it will sink the box office record of “Titanic” (which it will), that the digital film would rock, and a million other things would make it the movie of all time.

So, when a critic goes and sees it, he’s looking for the impossible. And when it doesn’t happen, he right away gives it a big 2 stars.

If you can, walk into the theater with no expectations whatever. Just pretend you’re seeing any movie and not the greatest movie ever.

You won’t be disappointed. And think of it this way: many people, including some of those critics who gave it poor ratings, will probably pay to see it at least one more time.

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