The Prequel "STAR WARS" Trilogy -- My Official Reviews

STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)

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Written and Directed by ? George Lucas
Based on characters created by ? George Lucas

Executive Produced by ? George Lucas
Produced by ? Rick McCallum
Cinematography by ... David Tattersall
Production Design by ? Gavin Bocquet
Art Direction by ? Peter Russell, Phil Harvey, Fred Hole, John King and Rod McLean
Visual Effects by ? Industrial Light & Magic
Costume Design by ? Trisha Biggar
Editing by ? Ben Burtt and Paul Martin Smith
Original Motion Picture Score composed by ... John Williams

Liam Neeson ... Qui-Gon Jinn
Ewan McGregor ... Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman ... Queen Padmé Amidala
Jake Lloyd ... Anakin Skywalker
Pernilla August ... Shmi Skywalker
Frank Oz ... Yoda (voice)
Ian McDiarmid ... Senator Palpatine
Oliver Ford Davies ... Gov. Sio Bibble
Ray Park ... Darth Maul
Peter Serafinowicz ... Darth Maul (voice)
Hugh Quarshie ... Capt. Panaka
Ahmed Best ... Jar Jar Binks (voice)
Anthony Daniels ... C-3PO
Kenny Baker ... R2-D2
Samuel L. Jackson ... Mace Windu
Terence Stamp ... Supreme Chancellor Valorum
Brian Blessed ... Boss Nass (voice)
Andrew Secombe ... Watto (voice)
Lewis Macleod ... Sebulba (voice)
Steve Speirs ... Capt. Tarpals
Silas Carson ... Viceroy Nute Gunray / Ki-Adi-Mundi / Lott Dodd / Radiant VII Pilot
Ralph Brown ... Ric Olié
Karol Cristina da Silva ... Rabé
Dominic West ... Palace guard
Liz Wilson ... Eirtaé
Candice Orwell ... Yané
Sofia Coppola ... Saché
Keira Knightley ... Sabé
Bronagh Gallagher ... Radiant VII captain
John Fensom ... TC-14
Lindsay Duncan ... TC-14 (voice)
Greg Proops ... Beed (voice)
Scott Capurro ... Fode (voice)
Margaret Towner ... Jira
Dhruv Chanchani ... Kitster
Oliver Walpole ... Seek
Katie Lucas ... Amee
Megan Udall ... Melee
Hassani Shapi ... Eeth Koth
Gin Clarke ... Adi Gallia
Khan Bonfils ... Saesee Tiin
Michelle Taylor ... Yarael Poof
Michaela Cottrell ... Even Piell
Dipika O'Neill Joti ... Depa Billaba
Phil Eason ... Yaddle
Mark Coulier ... Aks Moe
James Taylor ... Rune Haako (voice)
Chris Sanders ... Daultay Dofine (voice)
Toby Longworth ... Sen. Lott Dodd / Gragra (voice)
Marc Silk ... Aks Moe (voice)
Amanda Lucas ... Tey How / Diva Funquita (voice)
Warwick Davis ... Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen

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Turmoil has engulfed the
Galactic Republic. The taxation
of trade routes to outlying star
systems is in dispute.

Hoping to resolve the matter
with a blockade of deadly
battleships, the greedy Trade
Federation has stopped all
shipping to the small planet
of Naboo.

While the Congress of the
Republic endlessly debates
this alarming chain of events,
the Supreme Chancellor has
secretly dispatched two Jedi
Knights, the guardians of
peace and justice in the
galaxy, to settle the conflict?

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Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning.

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Sixteen years had passed since the Rebel Alliance triumphed over the Empire in ?Return of the Jedi.? And for all that time the ?Star Wars? trilogy was (and still very much is) revered as a cinematic titan for the ages?worthy of standing aside tales such as ?The Legend of King Arthur? and ?The Iliad.?

The collective futures of Luke Skywalker and his friends, loved ones and comrades in arms were well documented in an expanded universe beyond the films?through video games, comics and novelizations.

But George Lucas?the visionary himself?saw, perhaps through his own sense of the Force, that his opus? time on the silver screen wasn?t complete.

And so the ?Star Wars? saga was resurrected?not as a continuation for what was to come?but a prelude to detail what had come before?with 1999?s ?Episode I: The Phantom Menace.?

Taking place decades upon decades before the events of ?A New Hope,? The galaxy is governed by the Galactic Republic?however they are under threat of a Rebellion run by

 

STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)

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Directed by ? George Lucas
Story by ? George Lucas
Screenplay by ? George Lucas and Jonathan Hales
Based on characters created by ? George Lucas

Executive Produced by ? George Lucas
Produced by ? Rick McCallum
Cinematography by ... David Tattersall
Production Design by ? Gavin Bocquet
Art Direction by ? Peter Russell, Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey, Fred Hole, Jonathan Lee and Michelle McGahey
Visual Effects by ? Industrial Light & Magic
Costume Design by ? Trisha Biggar
Editing by ? Ben Burtt and George Lucas
Original Motion Picture Score composed by ... John Williams

Ewan McGregor ... Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hayden Christensen ... Anakin Skywalker
Natalie Portman ... Senator Padmé Amidala
Christopher Lee ... Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus
Samuel L. Jackson ... Mace Windu
Frank Oz ... Yoda (voice)
Anthony Daniels ... C-3PO
Kenny Baker ... R2-D2
Ian McDiarmid ... Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Pernilla August ... Shmi Skywalker-Lars
Rose Byrne ... Dormé
Temuera Morrison ... Jango Fett
Daniel Logan ... Boba Fett
Jimmy Smits ... Senator Bail Organa
Jack Thompson ... Cliegg Lars
Joel Edgerton ... Owen Lars
Bonnie Maree Piesse ... Beru
Leeanna Walsman ... Zam Wesell
Ahmed Best ... Jar Jar Binks (voice)
Oliver Ford Davies ... Govenor Sio Bibble
Ronald Falk ... Dexter Jettster (voice)
Jay Laga'aia ... Capt. Typho
Andrew Secombe ... Watto (voice)
Silas Carson ... Ki-Adi-Mundi / Viceroy Nute Gunray
Ayesha Dharker ... Queen Jamillia
Anthony Phelan ... Kaminoan Prime Minster Lama Su (voice)
Rena Owen ... Ministerial Assistant Taun We (voice)
Alethea McGrath ... Madame Jocasta Nu, Jedi Library
Susie Porter ... Waitress Hermione Bagwa
Matt Doran ... Elan Sleazebaggano
Alan Ruscoe ... Gilramos Libkath
Matt Sloan ... Plo Koon
Veronica Segura ... Cordé
David Bowers ... Mas Amedda
Steve John Shepherd ? Naboo lieutenant
Bodi ?Tindi? Taylor ... Clone Trooper (s)
Matthew Rowan ... Orn Free Taa
Steven Boyle ... Ask Aak & Passel Argente
Zachariah Jensen ... Jedi Knight Kit Fisto
Alex Knoll ... J.K. Burtola
Phoebe Yiamkiati ... Mari Amithest
Jerome Blake ... Oppo Rancisis
Hassani Shapi ... Eeth Koth
Gin Clarke ... Adi Gallia
Khan Bonfils ... Saesee Tiin
Michaela Cottrell ... Even Piell
Dipika O'Neill Joti ... Depa Billaba

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A Jedi Shall Not Know Anger. Nor Hatred. Nor Love.

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There is unrest in the Galactic
Senate. Several thousand solar
systems have declared their
intentions to leave the Republic.

This separatist movement,
under the leadership of the
mysterious Count Dooku, has
made it difficult for the limited
number of Jedi Knights to
maintain peace and order in
the galaxy.

Senator Amidala, the former
Queen of Naboo, is returning
to the Galactic Senate to vote
on the critical issue of creating
an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
to assist the overwhelmed
Jedi?

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There was a time when the release of the next ?Star Wars? film was an event to look forward to?interestingly enough that statement rings true four out of six times?not counting (in my opinon) the initial ?who-knew-it-was-gonna-work shot in the dark? of ?A New Hope??

And 2002?s ?Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.?

Don?t get me wrong?I was there in line?ready, willing and able to follow with the continuing adventures of the ?Prequel? timeline to see what more tidbits and nods and tips of the hats would be given to where we all eventually knew we were going to end up.

But for most people, the taste of ?Episode I? still hung bitter on our tongues and, despite the best of intentions, ?Episode II? didn?t do much to rid us of it.

However?through enough concepts and tricks, I feel that Lucas managed to pull off an ?Episode? superior to ?The Phantom Menace.? But only ?Phantom Menace? and even that?s not saying too much.

Opening ?Attack of the Clones? we find Amidala (Natalie Portman) now acting as a Na

 

STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)

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Written and Directed by ? George Lucas
Based on characters created by ? George Lucas

Executive Produced by ? George Lucas
Produced by ? Rick McCallum
Cinematography by ... David Tattersall
Production Design by ? Gavin Bocquet
Art Direction by ? Peter Russell, Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey and David Lee
Visual Effects by ? Industrial Light & Magic
Costume Design by ? Trisha Biggar
Editing by ? Ben Burtt and Roger Barton
Original Motion Picture Score composed by ... John Williams

Ewan McGregor ... Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hayden Christensen ... Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
James Earl Jones ? Darth Vader (voice)
Natalie Portman ... Padmé
Ian McDiarmid ... Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Samuel L. Jackson ... Mace Windu
Jimmy Smits ... Senator Bail Organa
Frank Oz ... Yoda (voice)
Anthony Daniels ... C-3PO
Kenny Baker ... R2-D2
Christopher Lee ... Count Dooku
Matthew Wood ... General Grievous (voice)
Peter Mayhew ... Chewbacca
Joel Edgerton ... Owen Lars
Bonnie Piesse ... Beru
Keisha Castle-Hughes ... Queen of Naboo
Silas Carson ... Ki-Adi-Mundi / Nute Gunray
Jay Laga'aia ... Captain Typho
Bruce Spence ... Tion Medon
Wayne Pygram ... Governor Tarkin
Temuera Morrison ... Commander Cody
David Bowers ... Mas Amedda
Oliver Ford Davies ... Sio Bibble
Ahmed Best ... Jar Jar Binks
Rohan Nichol ... Captain Antilles
Jeremy Bulloch ... Captain Colton
Amanda Lucas ... Terr Taneel
Matt Sloan ... Plo Koon
Rebecca Jackson Mendoza ... Queen of Alderaan
Jett Lucas ... Zett Jukassa
Tux Akindoyeni ... Agen Kolar
Matt Rowan ... Senator Orn Free Taa
Kenji Oates ... Saesee Tiin
Amy Allen ... Aayla Secura
Bodie ?Tihoi? Taylor ... Clone Trooper
Graeme Blundell ... Ruwee Naberrie
Trisha Noble ... Jobal Naberrie
Claudia Karvan ... Sola Naberrie
Keira Wingate ... Ryoo Naberrie
Hayley Mooy ... Pooja Naberrie
Sandi Finlay ... Sly Moore
Katie Lucas ... Chi Eekway
Genevieve O'Reilly ... Mon Mothma
Warren Owens ... Fang Zar
Kee Chan ... Malé-Dee
Rena Owen ... Nee Alavar
Christopher Kirby ... Giddean Danu
Kristy Wright ... Moteé
Coinneach Alexander ... Whie
Mousy McCallum ... Bene

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War! The Republic is crumbling
under attacks by the ruthless
Sith Lord, Count Dooku.
There are heroes on both sides.
Evil is everywhere.

In a stunning move, the
fiendish droid leader, General
Grievous, has swept into the
Republic capital and kidnapped
Chancellor Palpatine, leader of
The Galactic Senate.

As the Separatist Droid Army
attempts to flee the besieged
capital with their valuable
hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a
desperate mission to rescue the
captive Chancellor....

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The saga is complete.

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?The Saga?is Complete.?

It?s common knowledge that a ?Star Wars? film is going to make decent box office?but with a tagline like that you KNEW it was going to be something special.

And after six years of anticipation following the first two Episodes, 2005?s ?Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith? made the wait worth it in spades.

Early on, the film opens with a jaw-dropping and massive battle scene hanging over the atmosphere of Coruscant. Lucas makes quick work of exceeding visual expectations and, clearly, this is the most visually bombastic of the three prequels (which is saying?quite a lot actually, given that each film is proverbially double-dipped in visualization with saturated color correction and animated eye candy done on a clever computer?or two dozen).

From there, the film (despite being in the midst of the Clone Wars) refreshingly puts the action in the backseat for the most part as it takes us on a story of deception and intrigue with?dare I say, some authentic character development!

Crazy right?

Given his close proximity to Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) is given a not so subtle assignment by Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor)

 

Good reviews!!

I would like to pick up on a personal bug-bear of mine though. Jar Jar did not grant Palpatine emergency powers. He was just the person that proposed the motion. Palpatine got the powers by a landslide (hence the "this is how democracy ends" comment from Padme). If it wasn't him, someone else would have done it.

 

Very good review. Even though I do disagree about the PT not having the "heart" that the OT had, you brought out your opinions in a very intelligent way.

 

great reviews!
i am glad that i have found someone who believes that Haydens performance in Sith was far better. I dont think that he deserved the razzie...at least for that one.

I mean, he didnt know how Anakin was as a personality, he had to live up to the fans expectations after they had seen Vader. Vader is the ultimate. How could he even compete him! I always read that he didnt portray Anakin/Vader well....how should he portray him for god's sake!


Sith is my fav, the saddest, the most inriguing episode of SW.I cried!

You were right about the "romantic" dialogs in(both 2-3) the Sith....
I believe that if Lucas had just writen it and given the directing and the dialogs to someone else, the result would be far better and the PT wouldnt get so many wrong reviews.

You didnt say anything though about Portman in episode 2. I didnt like her as much there.
great reviews once again

 

I always wonder why people don't get this. JarJar was not solely responsible for palpatine having emergency powers..