Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released in 1999 by George Lucas. The answer was... underwhelming. After years of heightened expectation, during which the original trilogy had been elevated to almost mythological status, anything less than the second coming was bound to disappoint spectators. It is logical to conclude that The Phantom Menace falls well below of that goal. I've always had a soft spot for the first instalment of the prequel trilogy. Not enough to call it an excellent picture, but enough to say that the shortcomings are masked by a lot of positive qualities.

First and foremost, I believe there are a few simple targets for criticism that tend to muddy the conversation about the picture. It's also easy to ignore several of Lucas' work's merits in favour of focusing on the elements that don't really fit properly. In general, I believe the prequel trilogy has excellent graphic design. Diehards may complain the use of too much CGI, but I think it's managed well here, allowing Lucas to depict a wide range of landscapes, each appearing quite distinct from the one before. This helps to give the impression that this imaginary universe is real, giving the stories a richness they may otherwise lack.

I'll openly admit that these qualities don't nearly compensate for the film's problems, even though I believe that fans prefer to concentrate their wrath on the wrong focus areas, or perhaps the appropriate touchstones for the wrong reasons. Let's start with the original trilogy. I was never sure how the prequels handled the Palpatine/ Darth Sidious identity crisis. Anyone who has seen the first three Star Wars films knows that the Emperor is a Sith named Palpatine, therefore we have him figured out right away.

One Villain to Rule Them Maul?

Seriously, what is the point of this movie? Because it's the first of a trilogy, it's all about establishing the fictitious environment. The whole storyline, however, is based on the Trade Federation's siege of Naboo. The Trade Federation is discreetly wiped off in the third film, while Naboo loses its queen and... is never discussed anymore. So it feels a bit meaningless right away. Is it then about Anakin? That stands to reason, given that he is the only character who appears in all six films. He does, however, only appear as a secondary role approximately a quarter of the mark through the story. Then, rather than leading the activity, he follows along.

She Won’t Elect to Have this Continue…

Apart from these basic notions, there are performance challenges. To be honest, The Phantom Menace has a bad crew. Jake Lloyd should have shown some passion or enthusiasm. Instead, he appears to be uninteresting. I seem a little cruel considering he's a child, but he's very awful. The issue isn't that he's awful or that he can't control his impulses; it appears that he's not even bothering. So, the other actors struggle as well, albeit I am more sympathetic to those who are suffocated by the writing. Ewan McGregor is a touch sluggish. He develops greatly throughout the prequel trilogy, owing to greater content, yet he feels like he belongs in the shadows.

Obi-Wan Way to Go…

It's a pity, since hidden among the mayhem lies one of the trilogy's finest scenes. Given the negative reception the movie has received, I feel the climax lightsaber fight is one of the show's masterpieces, if only because it brilliantly captures a lot of what is lacking from the majority of the picture. That scene where the panels split and Darth Maul stands alone in front of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon still gives me the creeps. He is unconcerned that one bad man is up against two good people. His discourse is cleverly reduced to a minimum. Instead, Ray Park's eyes speak for themselves. They appear to be saying, "Bring it."

The battle action that ensues is frenzied and staged, with more intensity than the majority of the movie. It's an illustration of the essential "va va voom" that the remainder of the picture lacks. You see the conceptual flaws and contradictions as the three Jedi combat, but you don't bother. Maul's decision to utilize a box to unlock a door with an off-hand back-hand while battling two Jedi is incredible.

In some ways, The Phantom Menace encapsulates both the greatest and terrible aspects of the franchise. That passage is significant because it wonderfully captures the enthusiasm and vigor that is sorely lacking throughout the remainder of the movie. I like the latter two films in the saga a lot more than most people, but I think the battle with Darth Maul is my favorite scene in the prequel trilogy. It's a shame it's locked in the film with the most inherent problems.