movies

The Phantom Menace (5th May): went to see it in the cinema yesterday because it was Revenge of the Fifth. It's many faults have been picked over endlessly (the repeated racism, the clunky dialogue, the flat acting, the endless politics, the weird grooming subplot, etc) but there's plenty to like: Liam Neeson is rock solid throughout carries the film (even if QGJ makes some questionable calls), the widespread use of physical effects (I believe it's the Star Wars movie with the largest amount of it) backed by CGI makes it look great, Brian Blessed is clearly having a blast (which is never not entertaining), the pod-racing segment is real edge-of-your-seat 'cinema (although I wss in a reclining chair, so not literally) and the Duel of the Fates is top notch. So, despite it's faults, I was entertained (as I was when I first saw it, just this time without thr rollercoaster of high expectations before and the taste of disappointment after) and I always forget how the Star Wars theme hits me when blasted out of cinema speakers (I started welling up).