When the story's weak, special effects step in to save the day—that's the Hollywood blockbuster mantra a decade from now.
But right now, effects are just taking off, and everyone's still figuring it out.
Dunn, though? He's got that foresight thing going for him, and it's paying off big time.
As the movie unfolds, the audience is on edge. Sure, most know Queen Amidala and the Jedi will beat the bad guys in the end, but watching it play out, there's this gripping, almost subconscious "aha" moment that hooks you.
The heroes return to Naboo, now overrun by the Trade Federation's robot army, slaughtering everything in sight. It doesn't take long for the Federation to spot them.
And that's when the film fully shifts into "Dunn mode." He's clearly got Natalie's back, giving her storyline some serious love.
"We fight, and we might die. Surrender, and we'll live—maybe even for a hundred years. But I ask you this: would you trade every day from now on for just one chance—just *one*—to fight for Naboo, for our people? They can take our lives, but they'll never take Naboo's faith and freedom!"
Surrounded by a swarm of robots, Natalie's Queen Amidala rips off her headdress, slams it to the ground, and faces her servants, subjects, and Jedi with a steely glare—like she's daring the universe to try her. That's queen energy right there!
Then, Darth Maul strides out from the robot ranks, his dark red face oozing menace. He locks eyes with the young queen, his voice like a ghost straight out of hell. "Your Majesty, drop your weapons, sign the treaty, and you'll be queen forever—land, titles, gold, subjects… oh, and peace!"
The camera zooms in tight on Amidala's eyes—sharp, mocking, unbothered. "Peace?" she scoffs. "That's how you get peace—and slaves, too!" The two Jedi snap to attention, shielding her. "We'll hold him off—go!"
Here's where the plot veers hard from the original. Natalie's lines shine so bright, critics in the audience are scribbling them down—prime material for their reviews.
"I get it now," Cameron whispers, glancing at Dunn. "This is where it becomes *your* movie." Dunn grins, then sighs. "Too bad it's only 40 minutes." Cameron squints. "That's plenty!"
Onscreen, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan clash with Darth Maul, covering Amidala's retreat. In the original, Maul's double-bladed lightsaber was kinda goofy—like he was twirling a stick.
Dunn? He went bold, swapping it for *two* lightsabers. Dual blades, dual guns—think Hong Kong action flair. John Woo made bank with *Face/Off*'s slick double pistols, and now Dunn's got Maul wielding two sabers, standing there dripping with effortless cool and menace.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan charge from both sides, their moves choreographed by Hong Kong stunt pros. Twisting bodies, slashing sabers—blue, red, and green lights flare across the screen in a dazzling, heart-pounding brawl.
"Cool! Cool! *So freaking cool!*" a fan in the back leaps up, losing it. The rest of the crowd's just as stunned. Americans have never seen action this slick! 🇺🇸
John Woo brought double guns to Hollywood; Dunn's double sabers? They're about to shake the whole industry. *The Matrix* isn't out yet, so Dunn shamelessly borrows its vibe, unleashing the flashiest fight scene yet. The theater erupts! Cameron's jaw drops.
He got into directing because of *Star Wars*, but he never imagined it could look *this* good. The lightsaber duel's a blur of power and grace, pushing past human limits. Who cares, though? This is *Star Wars*, not Earth! Jedi aren't human!
Cameron's trembling with excitement, muttering, "*Star* Wars… yeah, this is what an interstellar war should be…"
Dunn nudges him, smirking. "James, chill! The best part's just getting started!" After a solid three-minute action high, the scene shifts to Amidala's crew dodging robots, racing for the armory. Danger's closing in fast.
"To stop these droids, we've got to take out their control ship! The fighters are in the armory—we need to get there!" one of her team shouts.
Amidala snaps, "We have to draw them off!" Young Anakin steps up. "I'll do it!" "No!" she shuts him down, firm as steel. "They're after *me*, so I'll be the bait. Anakin, you won that pod race on the desert planet—you're a ace pilot. Get to the armory, take a fighter. I trust you to get it done!"
"Your Majesty, they'll kill you!" She waves it off, calm and resolute. "Everyone dies someday, but not everyone truly lives.
I'm Naboo's queen—I'll give my life for its freedom and faith!" Dunn's writing team cooked up killer lines for Natalie, though Lucas axed most of them earlier. Now, at the climax, she's finally the queen she was meant to be.
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*Time Magazine* critic Richard Chris glances toward the front row.
That kid Dunn really went all out for his girlfriend! Amidala's lines are gold, but they stand out *too* much—almost clashing with the rest of the film.
The first hour-plus was all gags and cute moments; now it's jumped to heavy stuff—freedom, life, death, faith.
Critics eat that up, sure, but doesn't it kinda overshadow the real stars, the Jedi? Liam Neeson and Ben Affleck's stone-cold faces barely register next to her.
Natalie's killing it—those years honing her craft on Broadway instead of chasing films paid off. Still… Dunn might've overdone it. The finale's the movie's heart, and he's turned the Jedi into props to prop up Natalie. The media's gonna roast Neeson and Affleck for weeks—upstaged by a teenage girl!
"Turning a quiet 'save the homeland' tale into a deep dive on human struggle—freedom versus survival. Dunn, you've worked hard to save this one," Cameron says, patting his shoulder.