Episode 1 and can't wait for 2...

This is a most unique movie, being the prequel to Part II and also the beginning story of the whole Star Wars saga. Every saga has it's beginning and this is the start of the greatest epic in movie history. In this movie we see a young Anakin Skywalker as an innocent boy, and knowing how the story ends makes his character more special and fascinating. Jake Lloyd is wonderful as Anakin and he is the cutest little boy I've seen in a long time.

The story begins with a conflict between the evil Trade Federation and the planet Naboo. Naboo's queen is Queen Amidala and she has come to plead her case with the Trade Federation. Also present is the two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his Padawan (apprentice) Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). They do not know that the evil Darth Sidious has taken control of the Trade Federation. Eventually Queen Amidala's planet is attacked and the Jedi Knights help her escape to Tatooine where they meet young Anakin Skywalker and his mother.

His mother is Shmi Skywalker and Anakin was a virgin birth. He and his mother are slaves owned by Watto, a greedy little creature with wings and an elephantine nose. Qui-Gon Jinn recognizes that "The Force" is very strong in the boy, and manages to acquire a blood sample and what he finds is that he has the highest level of midichlorians in his blood than he has ever seen or heard of. Qui-Gon wants to teach Anakin the ways of the Jedi, but he is owned by Watto and he has to find a way to get him free of him. The opportunity shows itself when Anakin reveals that he has been building his own pod racer and convinces them that he is a great driver.

This movie is the first of the final trilogy. Each one to be better than the last. George Lucas has outdone himself with the special effects in this movie. The whole feel of the movie is amazing. I think this is the first of all the Star Wars movies to feel incomplete, though. You feel that the story isn't over when it is through. I don't know how that could have been avoided, though, when we know where the story ends and this is just how it got there.

The music is written and performed by John Williams and is awesome, as usual. The final score is my favorite and with the chorus singing on it reminds me a lot of "Carmina Burana". The very end of the piece has a few notes of "Darth Vader's Theme" in it and then you heard three large breaths that sound like Darth Vader.

In the credits, Jabba the Hut plays himself! There is no credit for the character Darth Sidious. Qui-Gon Jinn's communicator is a redecorated Sensor Excel Razor For Women.

Queen Amidala's throne room dress took eight weeks to design. Natalie Portman played a duel role, she was both Queen Amidala and her handmaiden Padme and her voice was digitally enhanced as the Queen to distinguish her between the two.

This movie had Oscar nominations for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing; Best Effects, Visual Effects; and Best Sound. It was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actor (Liam Neeson), Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Make-up and Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress (Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman). Jake Lloyd won the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actor Age Ten or Under.

I felt this was a great film and I really enjoyed it. I can hardly wait for the next episode. It made me feel like a kid again.