Here we go..... This is how you are supposed to watch STAR WARS. Captain Crunch here is right on the money in terms of... How to react to this movie. Star Wars for many of us was the film that made us first notice film. And we were in awe of it. Goofy smiles were planted across our faces and we fell in love. But... Something has happened in the last 15-20 years. We grew up. We watched more movies, began critiquing them. We began to intellectualize about films. We began to take them seriously. However, STAR WARS (for me) has always been about the immature kid in me. The one that gets all excited and shouts with glee. And, I have to admit that when it comes to STAR WARS all my normal sensors will be turned off. I will simply.... be a kid. However, this won't be the case for everyone. There will be those that see THE MATRIX or BLADE RUNNER or 2001 and hold them on a higher plateau and cast stones from that seat on high, but... The fact of the matter is.... I love those films too... but with a different part of me. The part of me that grew up, that became.... Adult. The kid still longs for STAR WARS and aliens and beings from a thousand galaxies. Last night I saw DARK CRYSTAL... I love that film, but in the audience was a fella who had seen STAR WARS up in DALLAS. My only question for him was... "Is it better than Dark Crystal?" He smiled a toothy crooked grin and said, "THE PHANTOM MENACE MAAAAAAAN!!!!" and started giggling. Yeah.... Ok..... THat's what I wanted to hear. A person devoid of human thought because he had seen.... THE PHANTOM MENACE. For an example of this, read Captain Crunch's piece!

There are NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW, just some thoughts & feelings on the experience of FINALLY seeing the movie. By the way, KEEP YOUR SHIELDS UP, there ARE surprises, there are things we do not expect. (Although I must say that I am relieved that I can let my own shields down & not worry about spoilers any longer.)

I just saw Star Wars Episode I.

I JUST SAW STAR WARS EPISODE I!!!!!!

I saw those words on the screen again, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away..."

A dream came true.

I loved this movie.

I LOVED IT!

It WAS Star Wars. As much as any of the others. To me, that is all the review the movie needs.

I cannot WAIT to see it again. And again. And again...

How did all this happen? Well, through an incredible stroke of luck (and shameless begging), I was able to get a ticket for EPISODE I for today (Thursday, May 6). Needless to say, sleep was fleeting last night, I was a jumble of excitement and disbelief. This was a day that felt surreal. Was I actually going to see STAR WARS? We have all been waiting SO LONG for this moment that there is a certain sense of unreality about it. A new STAR WARS movie? The first in a SERIES of new STAR WARS movies? After all these years. My God, it is really happening. Part of me kept expecting someone to say, “sorry it was just a daydream, it’s not happening.” (In truth it WAS a nothing more than a hopeful fantasy until very recently.)

When I sit down to try to write a review, the only thought that comes to mind is “Who am I, that I would dare critique a new chapter in this great work?” I realize that my initial response to STAR WARS is always almost totally emotional, not intellectual, not philosophical, and certainly not completely rational. All those things come later, as I reflect back on the movies and see them again and again. This whole experience, the waiting, the countingdown, the mad rush to see the trailers with hundreds of other screaming fans, lining up to be first inside TOYS R US when it opens at 12:01 am, all of it has been like being eight years old again. STAR WARS was such a defining part of my childhood and EPISODE I has taken me right back there. I was sitting in the dark theater, gazing up at the screen in total wonderment, not questioning, not critiquing, just letting it wash over me & sweep me away. STAR WARS is, for me, about FUN, about WONDER, and about innocence.

STAR WARS has always been accessible to children (don’t forget, most us us “rabid fans” were children when we saw it). It is not a children’s movie in the sense of being EXCLUSIVELY for kids, but it is, always has been, and always SHOULD be an experience that children can treasure. It should be one of the quintessential moments that forever sears the wonderment of the big screen into children’s minds and metamorphoses them into life long movie fans. I would never have it any other way. I do not WANT to experience STAR WARS as an adult, or even an adolescent, I want the eight year old in me to open his mind again and I want to see it through his eyes. I did and I LOVED IT!

As for the worries that people have expressed on this site: JAKE LLOYD was wonderful. (Personally, I never had any doubt.) I was so completely drawn to Anakin Skywalker. He was my favorite character in the movie. To me, the journey from innocent young boy to tyrannical Darth Vader is the most interesting part of this new trilogy. (I imagine there will be folks out there who disagree, I am NOT saying I am right, just stating my opinion.)

JAR JAR worked for me. He will NOT work for everyone. I believed his character. I found his humorous moments charming. (All the kids in the theater cracked up at his antics and frankly, that warmed my heart.) I also thought his depth of courage and conviction was moving.

I loved it.

It was Star Wars.

What more needs to be said?