The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This is the movie review, in short: It's a Star Wars movie. It is not Shakespeare, or Kurosawa, or Spielberg, or Miyazaki, or Kubrick. If that's what you thought you'd get, stop reading right now and do your best to win next year's Darwin Award. The rest of the human race will thank you, posthumously, for your efforts.

On Jar Jar: Yes, he's annoying. Yes, he's funny. Yes, he's there for the children of the world. He is the Everyman and the Divine Fool in one character. I didn't mind him, but I prefer C3PO for my comic relief. I hope that his next appearance--he will be in Episode II as of this date--will make him into a much more likeable character.

On Darth Maul: He is what Boba Fett wishes to become, and he did it with less than half of the screen time and dialogue. Ray Park has a bright future in film, on and off-screen. Team him with Jet Li, NOW! I loved him.

On the rest of the cast: They did just fine, gang. Yes, the dialogue was weak and the plot was thin. Neither are Lucas' strong points, but that's just fine considering where he gets his inspiration: pulp serials, samurai movies, old-school comic books, and world mythology.

If you haven't seen it, go see it ASAP. See it plenty of times; this one, like the others, has "repeat viewing" written all over it.

And now, the *real* reason this article is here.

This is gamer material, gang. For all of you pulp junkies, you'll see that style in the settings, the plot, the dialogue, the characters, the action, the morality, and the fantastic epic feel of the whole film. For you action addicts, you may feel a bit let down- but only if you're used to hyper-fast anime or HK film. The rest of you will get plenty of action, gunplay and swordplay alike, that's nothing like you'll see elsewhere in Hollywood. The old-style romantics aren't to get their fix until Ep2, but you see the origins of the Anakin-Amidala affair here. There is something for everyone in this movie, as with the existing trilogy.

Need to see an Old Master outside of HK film? See this one, and take your pick. FS fans can easily see the Jedi as a Dragon-flavored take on the Guiding Hand. The Naboo attack on Threed Palace feels a lot like a fight over a Very Important feng shui site. "Space" becomes the Netherworld, and Gungans are just another group of plucky natives struggling to maintain their society admist the Secret War.

For L5R players the interaction between the Naboo, the Gungans, and the Trade Federation translates into the Empire (Naboo) and the Naga vs. the Shadowlands- complete with elite warriors of their own. The Jedi become Imperial bushi, the Naboo are a Clan within the Empire, and the Gungans are a previously ill-known race of fierce warriors. The Federation becomes a Shadowlands faction ruled by a powerful maho-tsukai, and the Droids are undead (or worse).

AD&D players can break it down into a sword-and-sorcery scenario in their sleep; substitute "space" with "sea" and you're good to go. The droids are undead, orcs, goblins, or whatever race of cannon fodder you please. Jedi are fighter-mages, fighter-clerics, or paladins. The Sith are evil versions of the Jedi, so just allow for evil Jedi and you get Sith.

It doesn't matter what game system you use, what genre it is, or how realistic/cinematic you want it to be. The Star Wars films are great for showing a gamer how to get the adventure he wants out of his role-playing, and this one is no exception. That, from a gamer's perspective, is why you should go see it. Do so right now. See it many times. You will not regret it.

Of course, Star Wars RPG players must see this on principle alone.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Author: George Lucas Category: Movie Company/Publisher: Lucasfilm, Ltd. Line: Star Wars Cost: $7.50 (US average primetime ticket) Page count: n/a ISBN: n/a SKU: n/a Capsule Review by Bradford C. Walker on 07/22/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Science_fiction Space	This is the movie review, in short: It's a Star Wars movie. It is not Shakespeare, or Kurosawa, or Spielberg, or Miyazaki, or Kubrick. If that's what you thought you'd get, stop reading right now and do your best to win next year's Darwin Award. The rest of the human race will thank you, posthumously, for your efforts. On Jar Jar: Yes, he's annoying. Yes, he's funny. Yes, he's there for the children of the world. He is the Everyman and the Divine Fool in one character. I didn't mind him, but I prefer C3PO for my comic relief. I hope that his next appearance--he will be in Episode II as of this date--will make him into a much more likeable character. On Darth Maul: He is what Boba Fett wishes to become, and he did it with less than half of the screen time and dialogue. Ray Park has a bright future in film, on and off-screen. Team him with Jet Li, NOW! I loved him. On the rest of the cast: They did just fine, gang. Yes, the dialogue was weak and the plot was thin. Neither are Lucas' strong points, but that's just fine considering where he gets his inspiration: pulp serials, samurai movies, old-school comic books, and world mythology. If you haven't seen it, go see it ASAP. See it plenty of times; this one, like the others, has "repeat viewing" written all over it. And now, the real reason this article is here. This is gamer material, gang. For all of you pulp junkies, you'll see that style in the settings, the plot, the dialogue, the characters, the action, the morality, and the fantastic epic feel of the whole film. For you action addicts, you may feel a bit let down- but only if you're used to hyper-fast anime or HK film. The rest of you will get plenty of action, gunplay and swordplay alike, that's nothing like you'll see elsewhere in Hollywood. The old-style romantics aren't to get their fix until Ep2, but you see the origins of the Anakin-Amidala affair here. There is something for everyone in this movie, as with the existing trilogy. Need to see an Old Master outside of HK film? See this one, and take your pick. FS fans can easily see the Jedi as a Dragon-flavored take on the Guiding Hand. The Naboo attack on Threed Palace feels a lot like a fight over a Very Important feng shui site. "Space" becomes the Netherworld, and Gungans are just another group of plucky natives struggling to maintain their society admist the Secret War. For L5R players the interaction between the Naboo, the Gungans, and the Trade Federation translates into the Empire (Naboo) and the Naga vs. the Shadowlands- complete with elite warriors of their own. The Jedi become Imperial bushi, the Naboo are a Clan within the Empire, and the Gungans are a previously ill-known race of fierce warriors. The Federation becomes a Shadowlands faction ruled by a powerful maho-tsukai, and the Droids are undead (or worse). AD&D players can break it down into a sword-and-sorcery scenario in their sleep; substitute "space" with "sea" and you're good to go. The droids are undead, orcs, goblins, or whatever race of cannon fodder you please. Jedi are fighter-mages, fighter-clerics, or paladins. The Sith are evil versions of the Jedi, so just allow for evil Jedi and you get Sith. It doesn't matter what game system you use, what genre it is, or how realistic/cinematic you want it to be. The Star Wars films are great for showing a gamer how to get the adventure he wants out of his role-playing, and this one is no exception. That, from a gamer's perspective, is why you should go see it. Do so right now. See it many times. You will not regret it. Of course, Star Wars RPG players must see this on principle alone. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace