Years after the original trilogy for Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI, George Lucas came out with the prequel trilogy for Star Wars starting with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I can still remember all of the excitement that was around for the first prequel and I remember for myself how excited I was to be able to see my first Star Wars movie in the movie theater. Being in high school, my high school did a midnight movie night the night Star Wars: The Phantom Menace opened. Going to the theater we got there about ninety minutes before the movie was supposed to start and the line at the Watergardens Cinemas went three quarters of the way around the building (for those of you youngsters that read my blog reviews, this was back in the day when movie theaters did not have assigned seating, but your seat was decided on a first come first serve basis). While there were extremely harsh reviews about The Phantom Menace by various critics, I still do not see why they were so hard on the movie, while it was far from the best movie ever made, it was still a fun movie that one can truly enjoy and like most of what people want is an entertaining movie that gives the audience a conflict between good and evil is precisely what we get in The Phantom Menace.
An interesting aspect that was present in The Phantom Menace and it happens in all of the Star Wars movies is that of while there is one main story arc we get multiple characters own stories and how they all intertwine within the main story arc. Liam Neeson in the role of Qui-Gon, a Jedi master who ends up being placed right in the middle of the conflict between the Trade Federation and the People of Naboo. Neeson in my opinion was perfect for the role, he plays a Jedi master with an amazing stoic ability, in a way that he is precisely how I have always viewed a Jedi master to be. Yet we learn throughout the movie that he will sometimes do unnecessary things and has also even defied the Jedi Council from time to time when he felt it was the right thing to do. While the character of Qui-Gon was an interesting one to follow, when word of a Star Wars prequel came about the part everyone had an interest in was who would be cast in the role of Obi-Wan. Ewan McGregor ended up in the role and it made for an interesting story path to see him as a Jedi apprentice, while knowing how his path as a Jedi will end up. McGregor gives a good performance as we get to see how Obi-Wan was when younger and get to see him as he is still in the learning stage of trying to understand the force and how to discern his feelings, just like he ends up teaching Luke in episode IV. While she may have been in some roles before this, this was the first role I had ever seen Natalie Portman in as Queen Amidala/Padme, the young Queen of Naboo. She plays the role perfectly as the audience feels her plight that her and her people face because of the Trade Federation. She played the role with such courage especially since Since Queen Amidala is in her teens, and the fact she is going against older foes. Along with the role of Obi-Wan, where Anakin would fall was another character people were immediately interested in seeing. Jake Lloyd in the role of our young Anakin does an admirable job. While the role did not require too much of him, in the moments when he had to show the emotions any boys might feel he gave those moments his all. Particularly, the fear he is feeling as he is leaving his mom behind to possibly go on and become a Jedi had to be a scary and frightening moment for a young boy have to face.
The rest of the supporting cast all do such a good job (excluding Jar Jar Binks). The role of the Sith Lord is not officially listed in the credits, so in case some of you have never seen the prequel trilogy I will not reveal who the actor is playing the role. However, he plays the role perfectly, as his role is one that relies on a lot of mysteriousness. His role is done well and his voice has a strong edge to it that when he speaks you can feel the power of the dark side of the force coming out in every word he says. Along with the Sith Lord we have his apprentice Darth Maul played by Ray Park. Darth Maul in the end only has two or three lines throughout the movie so this only adds to our questions of who these Siths really are. His intimidation factor is a huge aspect of his character from the protruding horns off his skull, to his black and red skin and even his menacing teeth. Park was cast for this role I think simply for his acrobatic abilities and these abilities shine through strongly. The fact that we truly never learn much about Darth Maul adds greatly to his character that we wish we could have learned more about him throughout the movie. The evil sneer he has really makes us feel how evil he is from the start when going against the Jedi. Of course, it would not have been a Star Wars movie if we did not get to see some of the staple Star Wars characters such as Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO and even a couple of scenes showing Jabba the Hutt. the character of Yoda was precisely the same Yoda that we received in the original trilogy. I do not know if any movie will ever give us a character that speaks in such a unique way like Yoda does.
The story for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was not nearly as strong as the stories within the original trilogy. The story part that is part of the main story arc for the Phantom Menace was really subtle in understanding the true reason behind why the Sith Lord is commanding the Trade Federation to invade Naboo. For me it really does not click with someone unless they have seen episodes IV, V and VI that you will understand the true meaning of this story arc. The biggest problem with the storytelling from Lucas is that there is no depth in that we are given plot points and we have to go on just the characters words. We know that the people of Naboo have been invaded and Queen Amidala talks of the injustices that are occurring to her people and everyone seems to understand yet the audience is never shown what is being done to the people of Naboo. Another example of this is that of Anakin being special because his Midichlorians are so high, yet we never get a glimpse into what would have made him more advanced then others. With Lucas the special effects are once again right on par with what is needed and expected with a Star Wars film. The special effects with the light sabers are perfect and it was awesome in The Phantom Menace to see a double edge light saber. The imagination for a weapon that was like a sword, but with futuristic technology is definitely an awesome weapon. The light saber is the weapon that I have always wanted to have since the first time I saw Star Wars. Along with the visual effects the action sequences are very fun and enjoyable to watch. The pod racing is really a great action sequence. With racing scenes a lot of times there is so much to capture that you have to move around cameras so much in such a way that you lose everything. Lucas is able to be so perfect with filming it that things do not get lost, but it is easy to comprehend the action that is taking place in the pod race. The light saber action that takes place in the fighting between Darth Maul versus Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is perfect. The acrobatics that take place with Darth Maul are so finely choreographed within the action that it is seamless in what is going on. The double sided light saber helps to make the fighting even more intense and grasping simply because Darth Maul is able to duel with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan at the same time.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace being the first in the Star Wars prequel trilogy does a fairly strong job. This was a movie that any Star Wars fan was excited to see and it ended up being one that most anyone found enjoyable. The character development in The Phantom Menace was very strong and I loved getting the start of the back story to the original Star Wars trilogy. The special effects and action sequences were exactly what is expected from George Lucas and the Star Wars franchise. The story was truly the biggest downfall for The Phantom Menace, simply because Lucas had us assuming or forcing a lot of the story points to help fit into the future story. I am giving Star Wars: The Phantom Menace three buckets of popcorn out of five. The Star Wars trilogies are now out on Blu-Ray, it is great to see the light sabers in such sharp imagery.
-The Movie Man
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