I was out and about and bored so I actually went to movies and saw this. Yes, I paid good money to watch a crappy movie in 3D. I thought I would share a few notes, so here goes.
Turnout: There were about 3 or 4 screens at my local mall multiplex showing it. I was at the third showing according to start times and the place was absolutely packed, which I did not expect. I would expect Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D to do great numbers and most likely hit #1 for the weekend. The place seemed to filled with mostly teens and young 20-somethings, but that could be because it was a 7:20 pm showing on a Friday night.
3D: I was actually surprised at how well the 3D worked seeing as this is 13-14 year old movie. The depth perception and whatnot was pulled off quite nicely for the most part, but there were a few scenes that looked the actors/computer generated characters were standing in front of a blue screen that the background was projected on because the characters were 3D and the background was not. These were few and far between. I did have to take my glasses off and rub my eyes maybe twice but no major migraines or anything, which is good because migraine sufferers like myself are prone to get them looking at 3D movies and the like.
The Movie
It still sucks whether on VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray or on the screen in 2D or 3D. I have a couple of things to say about the movie in particular while it is still somewhat fresh in my mind. After all, when comes down to it I am a lifelong Star Wars geek. Empire and the original are two of my favorite movies of all time, I had Empire bedsheets as a kid and Jedi was the first movie I remember going to the theater to see.
The Kid: He's not quite as annoying as I would have thought, probably because Jar Jar hogs all of the annoying spotlight. I did think the ending where he pilots the fighter and blows up the Trade Federation's ship was silly. I understand he is supposed to be the "chosen one" but he's 6-8 for fuck's sake.
Jar Jar: Like I said, he's annoying as fuck. I remember he caught flack from PC groups labeling him as a "black caricature", but I didn't see it. All I saw was this utterly annoying character with way too much screen time stumbling and bumbling around the movie. A Harold Lloyd type is not the best fit for the Star Wars universe.
Darth Maul: So much wasted potential here. Yes, he looks badass...but we aren't really given a reason to care about him. All we know about him is that he is Sidious' Sith apprentice. In the original not only was Vader given more lines and more to do but other characters like Obi-Wan would talk about his past to help give him depth. Depth is sorely missing from just about all of the new characters.
Midichlorians and Anakin as Jesus: We did not need an unnecessary explanation about the Force that tried to blend pseudo-science and religion. It was also completely unnecessary to have Anakin the product of a "virgin birth" and be the "chosen one". What a way to blatantly rip off Christianity and the other religions with similar characters before it. The whole bit about Midichlorians could and should have been scrapped.
Overall if I were to rank Phantom Menace amongst the Star Wars movies it would either be 5 or 6. I'm having a hard time deciding which is worse: this or Attack of the Clones which was so boring. At least Menace was not boring.
One last note: parents if your child is unable to sit down for 2 hours or so then please leave them at home and don't take them to the movies where other people are trying to watch in peace. Like I said earlier the place was filled with mostly teens and young 20-somethings, but there was a couple with a young child right behind me. It seems as though they have not taught the child to whisper as he never did and about halfway though the movie he started saying "it's over, Mommy it's over" in a normal level voice. He also stated his "needed" candy at one point and even told his parents to "stop it" when they tried to correct him. He was taken out by a parent twice during the movie but with about 10 mins left started in with that "it's over" crap again. I paid way too much money to sit there and watch this movie, I nor anyone else should be subject to intolerable little brats whining because they get no discipline at home. In the old days someone would have gotten an usher and eventually they would have been tossed.
