Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Years after the original trilogy for Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI, George Lucas came out with the prequel trilogy for Star Wars starting with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I can still remember all of the excitement that was around for the first prequel and I remember for myself how excited I was to be able to see my first Star Wars movie in the movie theater. Being in high school, my high school did a midnight movie night the night Star Wars: The Phantom Menace opened. Going to the theater we got there about ninety minutes before the movie was supposed to start and the line at the Watergardens Cinemas went three quarters of the way around the building (for those of you youngsters that read my blog reviews, this was back in the day when movie theaters did not have assigned seating, but your seat was decided on a first come first serve basis). While there were extremely harsh reviews about The Phantom Menace by various critics, I still do not see why they were so hard on the movie, while it was far from the best movie ever made, it was still a fun movie that one can truly enjoy and like most of what people want is an entertaining movie that gives the audience a conflict between good and evil is precisely what we get in The Phantom Menace.

An interesting aspect that was present in The Phantom Menace and it happens in all of the Star Wars movies is that of while there is one main story arc we get multiple characters own stories and how they all intertwine within the main story arc. Liam Neeson in the role of Qui-Gon, a Jedi master who ends up being placed right in the middle of the conflict between the Trade Federation and the People of Naboo. Neeson in my opinion was perfect for the role, he plays a Jedi master with an amazing stoic ability, in a way that he is precisely how I have always viewed a Jedi master to be. Yet we learn throughout the movie that he will sometimes do unnecessary things and has also even defied the Jedi Council from time to time when he felt it was the right thing to do. While the character of Qui-Gon was an interesting one to follow, when word of a Star Wars prequel came about the part everyone had an interest in was who would be cast in the role of Obi-Wan. Ewan McGregor ended up in the role and it made for an interesting story path to see him as a Jedi apprentice, while knowing how his path as a Jedi will end up. McGregor gives a good performance as we get to see how Obi-Wan was when younger and get to see him as he is still in the learning stage of trying to understand the force and how to discern his feelings, just like he ends up teaching Luke in episode IV. While she may have been in some roles before this, this was the first role I had ever seen Natalie Portman in as Queen Amidala/Padme, the young Queen of Naboo. She plays the role perfectly as the audience feels her plight that her and her people face because of the Trade Federation. She played the role with such courage especially since Since Queen Amidala is in her teens, and the fact she is going against older foes. Along with the role of Obi-Wan, where Anakin would fall was another character people were immediately interested in seeing. Jake Lloyd in the role of our young Anakin does an admirable job. While the role did not require too much of him, in the moments when he had to show the emotions any boys might feel he gave those moments his all. Particularly, the fear he is feeling as he is leaving his mom behind to possibly go on and become a Jedi had to be a scary and frightening moment for a young boy have to face.

The rest of the supporting cast all do such a good job (excluding Jar Jar Binks). The role of the Sith Lord is not officially listed in the credits, so in case some of you have never seen the prequel trilogy I will not reveal who the actor is playing the role. However, he plays the role perfectly, as his role is one that relies on a lot of mysteriousness. His role is done well and his voice has a strong edge to it that when he speaks you can feel the power of the dark side of the force coming out in every word he says. Along with the Sith Lord we have his apprentice Darth Maul played by Ray Park. Darth Maul in the end only has two or three lines throughout the movie so this only adds to our questions of who these Siths really are. His intimidation factor is a huge aspect of his character from the protruding horns off his skull, to his black and red skin and even his menacing teeth. Park was cast for this role I think simply for his acrobatic abilities and these abilities shine through strongly. The fact that we truly never learn much about Darth Maul adds greatly to his character that we wish we could have learned more about him throughout the movie. The evil sneer he has really makes us feel how evil he is from the start when going against the Jedi. Of course, it would not have been a Star Wars movie if we did not get to see some of the staple Star Wars characters such as Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO and even a couple of scenes showing Jabba the Hutt. the character of Yoda was precisely the same Yoda that we received in the original trilogy. I do not know if any movie will ever give us a character that speaks in such a unique way like Yoda does.

The story for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was not nearly as strong as the stories within the original trilogy. The story part that is part of the main story arc for the Phantom Menace was really subtle in understanding the true reason behind why the Sith Lord is commanding the Trade Federation to invade Naboo. For me it really does not click with someone unless they have seen episodes IV, V and VI that you will understand the true meaning of this story arc. The biggest problem with the storytelling from Lucas is that there is no depth in that we are given plot points and we have to go on just the characters words. We know that the people of Naboo have been invaded and Queen Amidala talks of the injustices that are occurring to her people and everyone seems to understand yet the audience is never shown what is being done to the people of Naboo. Another example of this is that of Anakin being special because his Midichlorians are so high, yet we never get a glimpse into what would have made him more advanced then others. With Lucas the special effects are once again right on par with what is needed and expected with a Star Wars film. The special effects with the light sabers are perfect and it was awesome in The Phantom Menace to see a double edge light saber. The imagination for a weapon that was like a sword, but with futuristic technology is definitely an awesome weapon. The light saber is the weapon that I have always wanted to have since the first time I saw Star Wars. Along with the visual effects the action sequences are very fun and enjoyable to watch. The pod racing is really a great action sequence. With racing scenes a lot of times there is so much to capture that you have to move around cameras so much in such a way that you lose everything. Lucas is able to be so perfect with filming it that things do not get lost, but it is easy to comprehend the action that is taking place in the pod race. The light saber action that takes place in the fighting between Darth Maul versus Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is perfect. The acrobatics that take place with Darth Maul are so finely choreographed within the action that it is seamless in what is going on. The double sided light saber helps to make the fighting even more intense and grasping simply because Darth Maul is able to duel with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan at the same time.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace being the first in the Star Wars prequel trilogy does a fairly strong job. This was a movie that any Star Wars fan was excited to see and it ended up being one that most anyone found enjoyable. The character development in The Phantom Menace was very strong and I loved getting the start of the back story to the original Star Wars trilogy. The special effects and action sequences were exactly what is expected from George Lucas and the Star Wars franchise. The story was truly the biggest downfall for The Phantom Menace, simply because Lucas had us assuming or forcing a lot of the story points to help fit into the future story. I am giving Star Wars: The Phantom Menace three buckets of popcorn out of five. The Star Wars trilogies are now out on Blu-Ray, it is great to see the light sabers in such sharp imagery.

-The Movie Man

Office Space

Office Space is one of those movies that struggled initially at the box office. It was after being in theaters that it has gained a cult following in the years since its release, simply for one reason, everyone who has worked in cubicle's can relate to this movie and the vast array of characters that work at Initech. I have never met anyone that has seen Office Space, that the minute you mention the movie they can immediately either spout off their favorite quote from the movie or even their favorite scene. This is truly one of those movies that makes me wonder how it was even humanly possible for it to struggle as it did at the box office. Office Space is truly one of those great comedies that does not try to do too much, but instead it is simple in so may was that you can simply sit back relax as the jokes come that will make you laugh because they all flow seamlessly throughout the movie. After seeing Office Space it is truly no surprise to me as to one of the main reasons behind Office Space garnering this cult like movie status following is that of the character of Milton.

Ron Livingston stars as peter, a cubicle worker for Initech who really struggles most days with everything going on in his job and the complete lack of wanting to be at his job everyday. Only after a hypno-therapist dies in the middle of Peter being in a deep relaxation trance to help him handle the monotony of his job, does Peter find a relaxation and happiness in his life that had been missing. Livingston plays the role with such ease that he truly comes across as an everyday guy that the audience can relate to, because he ends up talking about his job in such a straightforward way in which many have felt about our own jobs from time to time. Livingston's interactions with everyone works so well together, especially his chemistry with Jennifer Aniston in her role of Joanna. Like Livingston, Aniston comes off in her role of the waitress as being just an average everyday person that is just doing what she has to in order to survive financially in today's world. The way she comes across in the role is that of being so simple that it is almost as if she is not even having to try to be an everyday person, and that is meant in the good way.

I love the supporting cast and they work so well together with everyone on screen. Gary Cole in the role of Bill Lumbergh the boss is one of those characters that is so easy to quote, because Cole plays the role with such a dryness that it is such a believable role for what many of our bosses can end up behaving just like. Milton played by Stephen Root is a role where he plays the character with such a social awkwardness and with these amazing set in stone quirky attributes. That while he could come across as annoying, instead he comes off as this funny character who in a way you root for in the end. The rest of the supporting cast were not only cast perfectly and fit in sow well together, but these characters are so perfectly thought out in that they all serve a purpose to what is going on throughout the story. There are times in other movies where you feel that characters have been added just to have another character and Office Space was able to avoid this pitfall.

The story for Office Space is one that does not throw much at the audience, but it is simply the simplicity that allows it to work so well. With a comedy movie it is always hard to strike that perfect balance of a story to keep the audience engaged and at the same time gives the right amount of comedic funniness without over saturating us with the comedy. Personally, I really enjoyed the story because it is not exactly an everyday I hate my job story one would expect. To go along with the story that comedy has to work and it does on so many points. Whether it is Milton's mumbling or Lumbergh's dull monotone voice each character has such a great real attribute to themselves that they could truly be someone you could come across in an office. I enjoyed the comedy they were able to pull out of everyday occurrences. One such example of this is that of the fax machine that never works so we end up getting a scene where we have gangster rap music playing while they put the fax machine through a beating from their kicking to even using a bat on it. One of my favorite lines that happens in the movie deals with Peter talking about flair that Joanna wears at Chotchkie's and how the Nazi's too had flair that they made the Jews wear.

Office Space is one of those cult movie comedy classics that no matter what kind of day you are having this movie has a strong ability to release those bad feeling and make them simply melt away. The casting was perfect in my mind, the normal guy feeling we get from Livingston is precisely what this character needed to have for the audience to like him. I am giving Office Space three and a half buckets of popcorn out of five. This movie is currently available through Netflix instant streaming or I do own an edited version if anyone so desires., but this is one that i would recommend highly if you are in the mood to have a relaxed night of watching a funny movie.

-The Movie Man

V For Vendetta

V For Vendetta is one of those movies that always intrigued me, but I never got around to seeing it until just recently. V For Vendetta is based off a graphic novel, the story is based in Britain in the near future as the people are controlled by fear from the government as a Supreme Chancellor limits everything the society can do and even uses the news to spin stories any way that benefits the agenda of the government and helps to keep the masses in line due to the fear that they can bring up. Yet, the government has to deal with a terrorist only known as V and his plans to create a change in the government on November 5th (Guy Fawkes Day) and because he only wears a Guy Fawkes mask the advances in technology do not the government the ability to use facial or retina scans to determine his real identity. Another movie about the way society can become a distopic one if we allow it plays a strong message to me.

Hugo Weaving in the role of V is not just a good one, but he gives an amazing performance. It is rare for a non-animated movie to have the stars performance to truly rely on solely his voice to exude all the necessary emotion, but this is exactly what Weaving must do. Being in a Guy Fawkes mask for the entire movie we never see his face so he cannot use his facial muscles to help convey meaning and emotions he is feeling. Weaving does a great job as I felt the intensity of his convictions come through in just his voice and the inflictions he produces that while he is out for revenge for what was done to someone he knew in a government controlled prison ans is killing those who were responsible the audience sees him as the protagonist and wants his plan to succeed even though the audience does not know exactly what his end game is, but has a sense that he wants a Revolution to happen on November the fifth. Natalie Portman in the role of Evey works well with Weaving onscreen. Portman gets pulled into the story after being saved by V. Being onscreen with V so much makes it not easy to interact and connect since she has no face with emotion to react to, yet she does a great job making her emotions and reactions coincide with the intensity that Weaving brought to his role. Also, I give any actress a lot of respect when a role requires her to shave her long hair completely.

The supporting cast all serve great purposes and give performances to match what Weaving and Portman bring to their roles. The role of the Chief Inspector Finch played by Stephen Rea is one that we are not sure if we should despise or root for as he is investigating into who the terrorist truly is. As he investigates we see what made V who he is and you want to actually root for the moral side of Finch to take control. As every part of the onion of his investigation peel off his eyes become more and more open to what the role the government is truly playing in keeping the society fearful. In complete contrast we have John Hurt in the role of Supreme Chancellor Sutler the audience instantly gravitates against him. As the Supreme Chancellor he has an air of untouchability as we are shown him through a video screen over and over again even in meetings with his heads of the different divisions. This only gives the control of the government an additional Big Brother feel to it. It is only when we see him in person that his power and untouchability is merely a facade and we end up seeing how weak he is when exposed. Hurt plays this strength and opposite weakness perfectly.

The story for V For Vendetta is not simply about a distopic society and one man's attempt to make changes to the society. As everything unfolds we learn that V's reasons far more then scratch the surface of revenge and in the end the recurring theme ends up being that while a man can be killed an idea cannot. It is for this reason that we end up getting a very minimal back story on V and even that it ends up being even more about the person who has give him the motivation for the idea. Also, for this reason that is why we never see V without the Guy Fawkes mask on because that is what keeps his revolution as an idea that no matter what it cannot die and because of this we do not get to truly see the human side of V. Being based off a graphic novel worked well for this movie, they used the feeling of a graphic novel throughout the movie especially in the color usage of how the film was shot. Most of the scenes throughout the movie has a dark and even hopeless fell to it, yet when in V's home it seemed to have more of a vibrancy to it.

V For Vendetta is a movie that will definitely have you thinking throughout the movie. I was astounded at how strong the performances were throughout the movie, especially Weaving's portrayal of V. The intricacies of the for the story worked so well and I greatly enjoyed trying to figure out the end game plan for V as well as everything else as it started to unfold.  I am giving V For Vendetta three buckets of popcorn out of five. This is a movie definitely worth watching if you happen to come across it on TV or on Netflix or even in a Redbox kiosk.

-The Movie Man