After a sixteen year hiatus and some twenty-two years since the original Star Wars (nka Star Wars IV: A New Hope) it was reasonable to expect much from the first of three new episodes. Director George Lucas always planned that his space saga would take on the feel and format of a Saturday afternoon matinee. It's a feeling he effortlessly captured in Ep4 with its daring heroes, rousing battles and romantic interludes. But what of Ep1?

The Phantom Meance is a mamoth creation that goes back to the beginning and sets a stage from which all that come before will occur. In that galaxy far, far away, Anakin Skywalker is a young boy with big ambitions. His force-full skills stir the interest of Jedi Knights and, alarmingly those with plans to create an evil Empire.     

Never a great director of actors, Lucas prefers to carry his films with visual flourish and detail. Yet ifthere was ever a case of machine eats man, this is it. He has become a victim of the digital age to which he helped give birth; smothering this film in detail that endlessly reminds us how clever he and his digital factory is. It comes at a great price as subtlety and characterisation are discarded for fiddly bits. Most alarming is the cavalcade of off-key performances which includes Ewan McGregor chanelling Alec Guinness as an Ealing comedian. 

Disappointing doesn't begin to describe the pain of The Phantom Menace which is, hands down, the most laboured, long winded and dullest of the series to date. Unfortunately, Eps. 2 and 3 are already in production but there is rumour that Mr Lucas still has plans for Eps. 7, 8 and 9! For the love of the force, please, no.

// COLIN FRASER