Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action/Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 16 Minutes

Cast:

Liam Neeson-Qui-Gon Jinn

Ewan McGregor-Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman-Queen Padmé Naberrie Amidala

Jake Lloyd-Anakin Skywalker

Ahmed Best (voice)-Jar Jar Binks

Ian McDiarmid-Senator Palpatine

Anthony Daniels-C-3PO

Kenny Baker-R2-D2

Frank Oz (voice)-Yoda

Samuel L. Jackson-Mace Windu

Ray Park-Darth Maul

Hugh Quarshie-Captain Panaka

Pernilla August-Shmi Skywalker

Terence Stamp-Chancellor Finis Valorum

Silas Carson-Viceroy Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi

Oliver Ford Davies-Governor Sio Bibble

Directed by George Lucas

Come at me, bro.

Every time I watch a “Star Wars” film, it’s like seeing it for the first time. Even though I know how the story will end, every line of dialogue, how all the Jedi and Sith parry with their lightsabers, I am still in awe when I view these films. If it is not apparent from that sentence, I am a huge “Star Wars” nerd, and that’s an understatement. Though “Star Wars” has made legions of fans, I still encounter a few people who treat the saga with disdain but what George Lucas has created will always stay a part of me even when I reach old age. It has become one of the most defining attributes of my personality and if I get married, my wife had better damn like “Star Wars” as well! If you don’t know (then shame on you!), Lucas made the original “Star Wars” in 1977 and it was unlike anything anybody had seen before thanks to its groundbreaking special effects. In fact, 20th Century Fox had so little confidence in the film that they let Lucas keep all the rights to future sequels and merchandising because they thought they were ripping him off! Ah, studio executives, your stupidity never ceases to amaze me. After the first film’s unprecedented success, Lucas made two more sequels, released in 1980 and 1983 and that was the end of it…or so we thought.

Lucas wasn’t finished with the story yet, as he was keen to go back to the beginning and tell the story of how Darth Vader was born (notice I’m avoiding major spoilers for those who STILL haven’t seen the films and believe me, they’re out there!). Plus, the original films were renamed Episodes IV, V and VI which supported the prequel argument. It wasn’t until 1994 that Lucas started working on the script for Episode I, as he believed that the recent advances in special effects, as shown in 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” had advanced to the level that he deemed adequate. Finally, sixteen years after the release of “Return of the Jedi,” the first film of the prequel trilogy, “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” finally arrived into theaters on May 19, 1999. The hype for the film was indescribable as hardcore fans lined up to see the film weeks in advance, something that’ll probably never happen again with the crap Hollywood continues to churn out year after year. Don’t get me wrong, there are still good films being made, but nothing will ever come as close to what “Star Wars” has achieved. I’ve probably said too much already and so it begins, one of my most anticipated reviews, starting from the beginning of the tale with Episode I. I will admit, I prefer the original trilogy but I never understood all the hate for “The Phantom Menace.” It definitely didn’t turn out to be the life-changer people expected (that’s what happens when the hype gets so big, it’s impossible to meet them) but overall the film is a joy to watch and the lightsaber duel at the end is one of the saga’s best and was worth the price of admission alone at the time. Most of my major complaints about the film are obvious, the often cringe-worthy antics of that creature called Jar Jar Binks and the fact that some of plot elements seem to rely heavily on coincidence with the whole ‘Force works in mysterious ways’ shtick.

Thirty-two years before the events of “Episode IV - A New Hope,” the Old Republic is faced with squabbling delegates who can’t get even the simplest matters decided. Meanwhile, a trade dispute with the powerful Trade Federation—led by Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson)—and the Outer Rim planets of the Galactic Republic leads to the blockade of the peaceful planet of Naboo, ruled by fourteen-year-old Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terrance Stamp), leader of the Galactic Senate, secretly sends two Jedi Knights, Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), to try and resolve the situation. Unfortunately, they are attacked by a group of battle droids on orders of the mysterious Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. On his orders, the Trade Federation sends a massive droid invasion fleet and begins conquering the surface of Naboo. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan manage to stow aboard a ship and make it to the surface, and with the help of a local Gungan named Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) they manage to rescue the Queen from a small group of battle droids. They try to make a break for the blockade in the Queen’s personal cruiser, which has no weapons, and thanks to the timely intervention of R2-D2, they succeed. However, their hyperdrive was damaged in the attack and they are forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs. Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar, Padmé, and R2-D2 set out to the Mos Eisley spaceport to look for parts and while perusing a junk dealer’s shop, they come upon a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). As Republic credits can’t be used, Anakin, despite some hesitance from his mother, agrees to help Qui-Gon win enough money to buy the parts they need by entering into the Boonta Eve Pod Race. Sensing the boy is unusually strong in the Force, Qui-Gon arranges for his freedom if Anakin wins. Through skill (and luck), Anakin wins the race and is free to go with Qui-Gon to be trained as a Jedi. As the Galactic Senate is mired in petty politics, Amidala takes it upon herself to retake the planet but a shadowy Sith apprentice, Darth Maul (Ray Park) soon enters the picture, hinting that someone may be orchestrating a grander scheme.

Unless you picked and analyze every scene in the film, most of you will probably be at a loss after reading that summary as it just seems like I’m just throwing a bunch of funny sounding names at you. It’s surprising how Lucas touches upon the same themes and motifs as in Episode IV. The subtitle of “The Phantom Menace” references the rising presence of the Sith and the dark side while “A New Hope” would signify Luke Skywalker’s pivotal role in bringing down the Galactic Empire. While the story does a great job of setting up the plot threads that would eventually be resolved in Episode VI, the biggest problem I have is that the film seems to be missing the charm of the original trilogy. The last three films had likable characters and you were emotionally invested in what was happening to them but with Episode I (and the prequels), the visual effects tend to overwhelm the story. The only time where the film comes close to being dramatic is when Anakin bids farewell to his mother, Shmi (Pernilla August). Lucas gives Anakin a Christ-like, savior aspect (Qui-Gon suspects him to the Chosen One) as he was conceived with no father and that it was the will of the Force that allowed him to be born. Anakin shares a growing romantic bond with Padmé but the dialogue between them tends to feel lifeless. An inordinate amount of time is spent on Jar Jar’s clumsy antics to appeal to children and this is Episode I’s greatest failing. Racial stereotype or not, this guy is just really annoying and any sane Jedi would probably slash him in half with his/her lightsaber, dark side be damned! The final battle has four parts happening concurrently and one of them involves the Gungans going up against the droid army of the Trade Federation. It is entirely composed of Jar Jar running around like an idiot and he seems to survive just on his inane clumsiness. Some of the comedy will produce a chuckle but for the most part, you’ll just be shaking your fists and asking Lucas why.

The film’s structure follows a similar formula of the other films where, after a rousing opening that sets up the main threat, things slow down a little until the grand finale appears. However, the plot seems to rely on too many lucky coincidences, especially when Anakin manages to destroy the droid control battleship just by blind dumb luck. I know it’s supposed to recall Luke destroying the Death Star but at least he used the Force, here it’s just implied! Finally, another point of contention is the scientific explanation of the Force by introducing midi-chlorians. It took away the spiritual aspect of the Force and was a detail that felt unnecessary. At the end of the day, “The Phantom Menace” is just a movie and an entertaining one at that, but older fans were disappointed that it wasn’t the life-changer they expected and non-fans were just confused at the sheer amount of aliens on-screen, reinforcing their belief that “Star Wars” is just for nerds living in their mom’s basement. Whatever your feelings, it still reaffirmed the franchise as a pivotal part of American popular culture.

The acting is rather mixed but then again, “Star Wars” was never known for great acting. Still, part of what made the original trilogy fun to watch was that the actors themselves also seemed to be having fun as well. Liam Neeson brings a quiet nobility to Qui-Gon and though Ewan McGregor ends up doing little, you can sense Obi-Wan’s headstrong nature that will eventually lead him to become a wise Jedi Knight. Natalie Portman was probably one of the first, if not THE first, female celebrity crushes I had and is a great actress. However, in this film, she tends to be too passive and delivers all her lines in monotone, switching from a forced British accent to an American one inconsistently. As for one of the most important characters in “Star Wars” canon, Jake Lloyd is not the Anakin Skywalker I had envisioned. He’s a little too happy-go-lucky and it’s hard to see him as one of the most feared Sith Lords in the galaxy. There are some hints that Anakin has a temper, as he glares at Yoda and Mace Windu when they decide that he shouldn’t be trained as a Jedi due to a ‘clouded future.’ There’s also the fact that he only leaves his mother reluctantly and that he is unable to let go, a trait that would eventually become exploited and lead to his fall. Ian McDiarmid is Naboo’s senator, Palpatine, a character that exudes charm but is at heart, power hungry and manipulative. I already know who he will become but for now, I will say that despite his limited screen-time, he is a pivotal character in future events. Finally, there’s martial arts expert Ray Park as Darth Maul, one of the most memorable Sith characters in the saga with his fearsome visage. As for Jar Jar, the less said about him, the better.

The special effects and music were beyond amazing but unfortunately, it was beaten by “The Matrix” at the 2000 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, Sound and Sound Effects and received several Golden Raspberry nominations. Every scene is crammed with all manner of alien species and there are several nice nods to Expanded Universe characters such as Aurra Sing during the pod race sequence. Speaking of the pod race, it’s heavily inspired by the chariot race from “Ben-Hur” and is a thrill to watch, though it tends to go on for a little too long. If there was one good thing everybody agreed upon, it was the duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul. Much of it could be attributed to the excellent choreography and the fact that it was the first time anyone had seen a double-bladed lightsaber. As their blades clash, John Williams’ epic Duel of the Fates plays in the background and there are subtle cues to Darth Vader’s theme, The Imperial March. Whatever its flaws, Lucas has time and again set the bar high when it comes to special effects.

“Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” was released into theaters on May 19, 1999 and broke all manner of box records at the time with an opening weekend of $65 million. The film eventually grossed $431 million domestic and $924 million worldwide, becoming the most successful “Star Wars” movie ever. It was a different story when it came to critical reception as it was mixed at best, with 62% on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics felt that Lucas had let the effects overwhelm the characters and the story but the film was still a wonder to behold. Fan backlash was incredibly intense owing much to the fact that it was overhyped beyond belief, to the point where it was simply impossible for “The Phantom Menace” to meet them. Some disgruntled fans even re-edited the film and released it as “The Phantom Edit.” The prequels are still viewed as inferior and yes, Jar Jar may be annoying but as a beginning to one of the greatest tales ever told, “The Phantom Menace” gets the job done perfectly and we couldn’t have asked for more.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5

"He is the Chosen One. He will bring balance. Train him!"