> Contrast with Episode I. There basically
>aren't any lines like that in Episode I. There
>isn't any rivalry or tension between the
>characters. Even Yoda, who was pretty lively in
>The Empire Strikes Back, is Yet Another Mask of
>Solemnity in The Phantom Menace.

The biggest problem with Episode I (besides Jar Jar) is the fact that it's saddled with setting up the plot for the entire damn trilogy. So the characters talk a lot, and infodump like crazy, but don't really accomplish that much. In contrast, A New Hope was made with the idea that IF it did well, there would be two more. Sure, Lucas claims he had the idea for 12 movies in the series spring into his head fully formed one day, but the fact is that ANH was made to stand on its own if it didn't do well enough to warrent the next two. So it didn't have to carry everything to set up the next two. The story of ANH is all about the rebels blowing up the death star and striking a great blow to the Empire. The story of TPM had something vaguely to do with some trade dispute, and was entirely secondary to it's main purpose, which was setting up the rest of the trilogy.

But I agree with you, everyone didn't need to be so damn solemn. SOMEBODY besides Jar Jar should have had some personality. Grr.

-- Dave