Now, just in case you've lived in a bubble until now, Episode 1 takes us back a generation from the original Star Wars movie. There's an inter stellar spat underway, on the surface about taxes and trade wars, but really about blatant evil and power. You know, usual stuff.

Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are Jedi Knights, replete with those fluorescent sword things, sent into the fray as Ambassadors to sooth and solve. McGregor is Obe One Kenobe, and we know he will grow up to be Alec Guiness. Neeson is Obe 1's master, and wise and good he is, as a teacher and a talent scout. When he comes into contact with a young lad called Skywalker, he recognizes the kid's potential, calling him "the one who will restore balance."

The kid Skywalker is the focus of the movie. He looks all the world like a tiny Luke, but in fact he's Luke's dad, Anakin, and we all know he's gonna grow up bad. Here, however, he's the bees knees and the ants pants. Issue of a virgin birth, he out Jedi's the Jedi's and he's probably only about 7.

It will be interesting for future generations to see the whole series in numerical order. Our pleasure, of course, is nodding sagely at the embryonic characters we know as full-blown heroes or villains, and wondering what thrills Lucas has in store for us in Episodes 2 and 3.

As for Episode 1, the story is not the strongest link. The day belongs to the special effects, and how. If there are too many chases, races, and fights for me, it's jsut a personal thing. Certainly there's a plethora of cute gadgets and gobble and giggle, and many an explosion to make sure you stay alert. Then there's Queen Amidala with some wacky taste in clothes and an obvious problem with lipstick application. She plays an interesting double roll: as the showpiece queen she doesn't say too much because she's obviously exhausted from trying to stand up in her costumes. But as the handmaiden, she holds her own.

There are other new characters, too, but especially impressive are the new settings Lucas creates for his characters to inhabit. In fact, there's so much to enjoy in this 2 hour and 20 minute fantasy western romp that I think it's a movie you cannot afford to miss.