[=Intervention=]

Wrong. The original Star Wars worked because it had all the hallmarks of an Epic -- kid from loser planet meets strange dude in the desert with mystic weapons. Shadowy past. Parents are killed. Bad-thief-guy becomes good guy who saves the day. Plus the dialogue was awesome...I know people who can quote lines from Star Wars years later. Plus, the music...in Star Wars so many elements combined for spectacular effect. Talk about the emotional impact!! Phantom Menace had NONE of that. It was obviously rushed, and we all know that Lucas is not at his best when writing solo. Willow proved that.

[Spiff]

But when are we going to be able to buy Episodes IV, V, and VI on DVD!!!?

[Wm Bach]

we all know that Lucas is not at his best when writing solo.

"I've been from one side of this galaxy to the other..."

[steve-b]

Bad-thief-guy becomes good guy who saves the day.

This is what made the "Greedo shoots first" Soviet historical revisionism so obnoxious (in addition to the fact that Greedo missing with a surprise shot at that range just looks stupid).