By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

I'll admit it. The critics had me a little scared as I ventured into the theater to see "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" last week.

I had read it lacked the heart of the first trilogy, that the acting was wooden, that, in general, it was less fun. Those people need to have their heads examined.

From the opening minute of the film, as the background story crawled up the screen, I was hooked. Every scene of the film was like a masterfully executed painting.

Each city and environment transcended the screen and began to live in my mind. All of the advances in special effects and moviemaking technology over the past 20 years, most of which were done by George Lucas's company Industrial, Light and Magic, help place everything in Lucas's imagination on the screen.

It is a fantastic dream, one that would not have been possible to see 20 years ago.

There is a lot of exposition at the beginning, but remember, this film sets the stage for the next five films. Basically, the planet of Naboo is under siege and two Jedi knights must help negotiations along.

When the bad guys decide not to negotiate and attack instead, the Jedi must escort the queen to the capital of the Federation seeking help.

All of your old friends appear in the film, including Yoda, Jabba the Hut, R2D2, and a few other surprises (check the backgrounds). Annakin Skywalker, the young Darth Vader played by Jake Lloyd, is a major part of the story, once the Jedi and the queen land on Tatooine. Lloyd is a little off at first, but once the action heats up he is super.

The action sequences are as good as any in the trilogy, especially the pod race and the duel near the end. This is the type of movie that people have been begging Hollywood to make forever. It truly is a film for the whole family. There is no profanity, no blood, strong moral messages and a great sense of humor.

The comedy comes from one Jar Jar Binks, the floppy eared guy you've seen in the previews. What is truly amazing about Jar Jar is that he is completely digital and yet the action involving him and his people is seamless. One of the reasons you will have to see this movie again is so you can understand more of what he is saying. His speech pattern can be kind of confusing.

See this film. Do not listen to any critics (though you can trust me). Judge this film for yourself. It is a lot of fun, beautiful, inspiring and exciting. Any problems this film has are so small that everything else in the movie glazes over them.

Have fun and may the Force be with you.

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