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Star Wars The Phantom Menace Releasing May 19, 1991

© Jason O'Brien

Well, how can one ignore the biggest movie event of recent times, about to finally unleash itself in theatres on May 19, 1991 just a few short days away? 

It's impossible to ignore, so the focus this week will be on this highly anticipated film, and to remain on topic, a discussion in context to the next Academy Awards, the 72nd Oscars which will be presented sometime in March of 2000 to honor this year's films.

During 1999, there will be discussions on films that will have an impact on the 72nd Annual Academy Awards, and Star Wars will clearly be represented at the next Oscars ceremony,  even before seeing the film.  After past chart holders like Armageddon and Independence Day, it will be nice to see a film of real skill and artistry top the boxoffice chart. It's hard to find a comparison for this film.

Films have been anticipated before, and even generated hype, but nothing in recent memory can compare to the groundswell of excitement for the first new Star Wars film since 1983.  Return of the Jedi was equally popular.  For this new film, people were lining up a whole MONTH in advance for the May 19 opening, clearing showing the effect that George Lucas's incredible trilogy has had on our culture.

Star Wars and its sequels are very special. Sure the dialogue is corny, the acting not always at its best (it's definitely not Oscar worthy), but the films contain a story that is so universal, so full of myth and wonder, and so intriguing in its tale of the universal battle in us all, between good and evil, that it's touched almost everyone.

Even before seeing the film, there are predictions that Phantom Menace will be represented at the Academy Awards which will honor 1999's film achievements. The original Star Wars film was nominated for Best Picture in 1977, and even though it did not win, it was the recipient of six Academy Awards, all in technical categories.

The technical achievement in Phantom Menace is already being hailed as landmark, as we're even seeing the first real digital characters. Digital characters created on the computer have usually been just background in other films, but now an entire major character, Jar Jar, will co-exist with human actors. So it's a foregone conclusion that the Best Visual Effects Oscar will go to Phantom Menace.