`The Force' Is With 'Us
Two "Star Wars" addicts give a thumbs up
to "The Phantom Menace."
LONNY GOLDSMITH
& JOSHUA PAUL CANE
T
Staff Writer Web Producer
tales of the Empire or the Rebellion,
but of the greedy Trade Federation
establishing a blockade and threatening
the safety of the nearby planet Naboo.
But fear not, two Jedi knights, keepers
of the peace in the galaxy, are on their
way to negotiate a treaty.
hey admit the obvious: "We
are Star Wars junkies."
Staff writer Lonny
Goldsmith was only 3 when
LONNY GOLDSMITH: Similar to
Star Wars was first released in 1977,
Episode IV, the original Star Wars, it
but he saw The Empire Strikes Back
doesn't take long for the action to begin.
and Return of the Jedi the day they
A couple of minutes are allowed to set
premiered in theaters: May 21, 1980,
the stage, but not much more
and May 25, 1983, respective-
than that. "The Force" is used in
ly. He's been watching all three
more creative ways than in the
ever since.
previous
trilogy. The lightsaber —
Web producer Joshua Paul
thanks
CO
Ray Park, the actor who
Cane regularly watches his
plays the sinister Darth Maul, this
"Special Edition" Star Wars tril-
episode's answer to Darth Vader
ogy videos and is inspired by
— is used in a far more aggressive
their soundtracks as he puts JN
manner than in other episodes:
Online together each day.
more like a samurai would use his
For these two, Star Wars:
Goldsmith
katana. Park helps bring athleti-
Episode I — The Phantom
cism not previously seen in fight-
Menace is an event finally here
ing scenes, especially in his duels
after 16 years of breathless
with the young Obi-Wan Kenobi
anticipation. Being at last week's
(Ewan McGregor).
press screening at the Star
Southfield was an overwhelming
JPC: Darth Maul has what I call
honor that drew expressions of
the Boba Fett Effect -- he's
disbelief and jealousy from their
instantly a classic cult figure
friends and colleagues.
despite
what little onscreen time
On May 11 at 7:30 p.m.,
Cane
the Jewish News staffers were wel-
comed among the first anywhere in the
world to see George Lucas' first pre-
quel to some of the best-loved films of
MARA REINSTEIN
all time.
Special
to the Jewish News
The theater grew dark. The 20th
Century Fox fanfare began and the
20-something, blonde-
Lucasfilm Ltd. logo appeared. It ,was
haired woman on the 18th
time.
floor of a fancy Park Avenue
From two fans, a take on the
hotel
looks perplexed. Her
movie's highlights:
eyes nervously patrol the elevators as
she acknowledges the important people
JOSHUA PAUL CANE: The familiar
around her with a half-hearted smile.
"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far
Everyone else is ignored, for all that
away ..." quickly turns unfamiliar as
matters is the task at hand. Soon, she
the scrolling gold text reveals to us not
brings a walkie-talkie to her mouth
and delivers the urgent message:
Joshua Paul Cane, Jewish News Web
"Liam Neeson has too much tea.
Jedi Master Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), left, tells young Anakin Skywalker (Jake
Lloyd) and Jedi Apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) about a near
deadly encounter as droid R2D2 looks on.
he has. His presence is dramatic and
striking (and is further enhanced by
John Williams' fantastic score). The cli-
matic battle between the two Jedis, Obi
Wan and Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson),
and Darth Maul will have viewers
enraptured and enthralled.
LG: Definitely edge-of-your-seat stuff
And the music is fantastic. This could
be the legendary Williams at his best.
The lightsaber duel, scored with the
powerful "Duel of the Fates," has me
willing to pay again and again, just to
see that scene on a continuous loop. A
unique twist is the vocal sounds in the
background; although words aren't
used, the concept is new.
JPC: Jar Jar Binks, the clumsy, but lov-
able alien, will definitely become a
favorite for the children. Initially I felt he
was an awkward character, but quickly I
appreciated the innocence and humor he
evinces throughout the movie.
LG: Jar Jar takes on the "comic relief"
role played by the Ewoks in Return of
May the Hype be with you: A day in the life of a "Star Wars" junket.
A
producer, still cherishes his original "Star
Wars" action figures.
Staff writer Lonny Goldsmith saw
"The Phantom Menace" for the second
time at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, May
19, when it first opened to the public.
5/21
1999
96 Detroit Jewish News
Mara Reinstein, a former resident of
Farmington Hills and Jewish News
intern, works in New York as an editor-
ial assistant at "Broadcasting and
Cable" magazine.
Please remove a pot immediately!"
Welcome to the Star Wars: Episode I
— The Phantom Menace press junket.
Most major movies hold weekend
promotional jaunts for national film
critics. The actors, producer(s) and
director grant dozens of interviews,
expressing how much one and all loved
working on the soon-to-open film.
Meanwhile, the media dutifully soak
up a free screening, a free hotel room
and a lovely continental breakfast.
Of course, that's the standard pro-
cedure for a film. But Star Wars isn't a
film. Haven't you been paying atten-
tion? It's a quasi-religious experience.
It's the theatrical equivalent of the
Mona Lisa. Be there or be damned.
So when 20th Century Fox held a
press junket from May 7-9 at the
Regency Hotel in New York, people
cared — including me. I'm not a film
critic (a professional one, that is), so I
jumped at the chance to attend the
event as a critic's guest. I guess you
can say I used "the Force." Literally.
My journey begins on a Saturday
morning. Walking into the hotel, I
notice a handful of people hovering
around with their lightsabers and Star
Wars magazines in tow, salivating at
the possibility of seeing George Lucas
get into his limo. Inside the hotel
that 18th floor breakfast suite to be
exact — television critics who had
screened the movie Friday night buzz
about the film's plot.
The words "Jar Jar Binks" and
annoying" are oft-mentioned. One by
one, the critics are summoned by the
walkie-talkie police into private rooms
HYPE on page 99
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