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Update: The "Episode I" Pilgrimage

Update: The PowerPage compiled and posted a page of back Star Wars coverage and general notes of interest. Also check out yesterday’s news for the PowerPage team’s commentary of the movie.

Dreary weather and deadlines aside, the PowerPage and NoBeige.com crew attended the 13:00 EDT “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” showing at a secluded movie theater location near the offices. A small early patrol of editors and artists were sent forty-five minutes ahead of time to secure two rows of seats in the optimum viewing area (numerous diagrams and blueprints of the theater were referenced during the debriefing in the “War Room”). After securing and holding down the area for ten minutes or so, the bulk of the invading force landed on Omaha Beach (code name that was given for the two rows of seats to be secured by the early patrol group) and fully secured our prescence in the movie theater. Jason O’Grady, donning an Obi Wan Kenobi costume complete with a glowing light-saber, arrived shortly afterwards to a standing ovation. We’re no joke when it comes to the Force.

Anyway, without giving away anything about the movie, the general consensus among the crew was generally favorable. The special effects and intense light-saber duel(s) were worth admission alone. None of us can figure out how little innocent Anakin Skywalker will become the evil Darth Vader in the future, but we’re interested to see how Lucas pulls it off in Episode II and III.

Speaking of Episode II, we’ll fire off a little of what we know or heard (without turning this into a full-fledged Star Wars fan web site). Episode II will begin shooting this time next year and is expected to be released sometime in 2001, hopefully. The known cast brings back Ewan McGregor as young Obi Wan Kenobi and Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala. Samuel L. Jackson should, in theory, return back as “some Jedi Knight guy.” Episode II’s plot-line is expected to revolve around the romance between Queen Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. The coolest rumor is that Jet Li, also known to American audiences as the really really bad ass villain in Lethal Weapon 4, will play the part of Boba Fett the bounty hunter.

What’s next for the PowerPage/NoBeige.com crew until Episode II? Austin Powers. Yeah, baby, yeah!

By Jason O'Grady

Founded the PowerPage in 1995.