A brazen politician whose name is pronounced 'Newt' has an ally called 'Lott' in the Senate, which is described as a place "full of squabbling delegates who are looking out for themselves and their own systems" - if you thought this might be Capitol Hill, you are at least a few light years off. This is the world of "Star Wars." 

After a brief intermission (galactically speaking) of 16 years, George Lucas is back with a sequel to the "Star Wars" trilogy. The sequel is actually a prequel: It is now 30 years before the customary "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." Darth Vader is not yet threatening the universe, and C-3PO is naked since his outer shell still awaits assembly. 

But some things never change. Like 16 years ago (or 30 years later), audiences will marvel at the action-packed battle scenes, the special effects, and the usual assemblage of characters: the mystic guide, the gifted misfit, the imposing villain, the comic sidekick, and the unyielding young woman.

The story, needless to say, is again that of Good vs. Evil. Only this time it is a trade dispute turned ugly. As the intergalactic bureaucracy is hiding behind red tape (more cheap shots there) and the Galactic Senate (in the true spirit of federalism: one Senator from each stellar system) refuses to act, Queen Amidala takes charge to save planet Naboo and its art nouveau underwater city.

If this seems like a thin story line - it is. And calling the characters two-dimensional would probably be an overly friendly characterization. Make no mistake about it: This movie is all about special effects. Most of the $115 million budget was spent on almost 2000 computer graphics, used in all but 10 percent of the movie's frames. But the special effects are indeed stupendous, and the display of galactic technology is impressive.

Which leads to my raison d'être in these pages: I was asked to review "Star Wars" because I am physicist. I am afraid, however, that my scientific background does not provide me with particular expertise on extraterrestrial activities. What I learned in grad school about the laws of physics bears no resemblance to the forces that apparently govern the "Star Wars" universe. 

But this is really beside the point. I was glad to see the laws of physics suspended for a couple of hours when the first "Star Wars" movie came out in 1977. I greatly enjoyed the original picture and its immediate sequels for their wonderful allegorical quality and actors that transcended the limitations of the script. This is what I had hoped for again, and on this count the film is a big disappointment.

Some scenes struck a cord with me, however. The bumper-to-bumper traffic, figuratively speaking, over the planet of the Jedi was eerily reminiscent of the congestion in which commuters all over our planet find themselves every morning and every night. I can clearly see a role for our livability initiative out there. The Vice President should consider taking it to the planet of the Jedi.

Here on earth, the movie will succeed regardless of what the critics say. "Star Wars" has become part of our cultural fabric in a way that George Lucas never imagined when he conceived "Star Wars." It became the nickname of the Strategic Defense Initiative (and now the National Missile Defense system); Ronald Reagan adopted the "Evil Empire" as a term for the Soviet Union; and R2D2 was a friendly circuituous presence before computers became a staple in our homes.

"Star Wars" is a cultural phenomenon. It would be easy to complain that this newspaper invited me to write 750 words about pop culture, not about congressional issues. And it would be easy to poke fun at the die-hard "Star Wars" fans who were camping out in front of the Uptown Theater to be among the first to see the movie when it officially opens on May 19. 

But, in a way, all the hype that has surrounded "Star Wars" is oddly reassuring. At a time when our popular culture has become more and more fragmented, when customized internet sites cater to the most individualistic needs and 20 percent is considered an excellent market share for a television show, it is comforting to know that there are still a few things that the whole country can get excited about: home runs and "Star Wars."

May the force be with you.