Movie review by Russell Pinkston

JedI Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) escort Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) while she deals with a trade dispute and a rebellion against her.  Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker is just a boy and a slave.   Qui-Gon Jinn takes young Anakin under his wing as he feels Anakin is destined for greatness.  In the meantime Darth Sidious sends his apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park) to hunt down the Queen and the Jedi’s.

The movie is loaded with top notched actors and actresses,  unlike the cast of the original trilogy which was filled with relatively unknowns.  Liam Neeson (Taken, The A-Team), Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, The Island)  , Natalie Portman (The Professional, V For Vendetta), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers) and even Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl, King Arthur) all star.

It has been along time (ago) since I seen this movie.  Like so many other die hard Star Wars fans I rushed to the theater to see the first in George Lucas’s new trilogy!  I was so excited to see this movie but sometimes with great anticipation comes big disappointment.  It wasn’t bad it’s just I expected so much more.   Episode 2 and 3, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith were much better and I am looking forward to seeing them again.   I don’t know what I expected with this 3D rerelease….did I expect Jar Jar Binks to be less annoying in 3D?  I for one liked Jar Jar as well as Darth Maul….he’s just an evil bad ass dude!

It was nice to see it again but more than likely it will be another 10 years until I see it again.  I do own a pre-owned copy of the dvd (despite the multiple owers…it’s still like new).   And I will be sitting in the theater for each other the other 5 Episodes, I am  most excited to see The Empire Strikes Back (one of my top 10 all time favorite movies) and Return of the Jedi (Slave Leia in a metal bikini).  I say SKIP THIS MOVIE.  I expected alot more from George Lucas and from the 3D which I thought was unimpressive.