Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - Review

"Fear is the path to the dark side" – A review of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

The original Star Wars films are some of my favourite films of all time. Great characters, fun plots, cheesy yet heartfelt dialogue and instantly recognisable music made them absolutely outstanding films. In 1999, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was released, marking the beginning of the prequel trilogy. Surely, after the success and adoration for the original films, this new trilogy would be just as beloved?

Well… Perhaps not.

I remember finding all three prequel films in a DVD shop in my hometown when I was a teenager, with a sign attached: "this is not the trilogy you're looking for". To say the prequel trilogy released to backlash would be an understatement; it was truly hated. Wooden dialogue, political subplots that were just a bit dull, tonnes of CGI and characters who were just annoying (yes Jar Jar, I'm looking at you) resulted in criticism from older fans and critics alike. With that said, though, I have come to appreciate the films, as have many others who initially wrote them off. Maybe it's nostalgia, but nowadays I actually quite enjoy these films – and I have a new found appreciation for The Phantom Menace.

Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn have been sent to the planet Naboo to rescue Queen Amidala from the evil Trade Federation. Having escaped to the desert planet Tatooine, they meet a nine-year-old boy named Anakin Skywalker, who has spent his childhood as a slave but is clearly strong in the force. Betrayals, alliances, dangerous battles and political intrigue unfold as the threat of the Sith becomes more and more apparent, and a conflict which would shape the future of the entire galaxy begins…

The Phantom Menace is really not a bad film. It deals with some difficult themes quite well; for example, the necessity of letting go is explored when Anakin has to leave his mother, as is the dangers of isolation leading to the dark side, the duality of institutions and the loss of innocence.

Performances are mixed, but I do think they're better than they were originally given credit for. Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi are both very strong; Neeson comes across as wise, grounded and paternal, with a rebellious edge which makes him the ideal Jedi Master, whilst McGregor feels slightly anxious yet completely determined, bringing a youthful edge to the character – this was a young, inexperienced Obi-Wan as opposed to the wise, intuitive and skilled character we met in the original trilogy.

Darth Maul is, in my opinion, a highly underrated character, who was played by Ray Park, a martial arts expert who brought incredibly agile movement, speed and swordplay to the Sith Lord, whilst Ian McDiarmid was once again unsettling and genuinely scary as Palpatine. Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels returned to their roles as R2D2 and C-3PO, and they once again got the movements, physicality and dialogue (or beeps, in R2D2s case) absolutely spot on.

Natalie Portman had a difficult task as Queen Padme Amidala – she had to portray a stoic yet vulnerable young queen who was determined to protect her people. Sadly, her performance was a tad wooden – but it's worth remembering that she was only sixteen years old at the time, and in some ways her portrayal did suit the theatrical nature of the film. Jake Lloyd played a young Anakin, and he was only 9 years old when filming began; he came across as eager and energetic, if a bit cheesy ("now THIS is pod racing!") but what's truly sad is that this child actor received such a huge backlash, and suffered such bad bullying in response to his portrayal that he left acting altogether. The response to his performance was completely disproportionate – Lloyd was genuinely a decent Anakin Skywalker, and he absolutely did not deserve the reaction he received.

Another actor who received a massively negative reaction to his performance was Ahmed Best, who played the Gungan Jar Jar Binks. Now, listen – I do not like Jar Jar as a character. I found him to be incredibly annoying and didn't think his presence really brought anything to the film. With that said – my issue was with the character, not the performance. Best brough the character to life with a distinctive voice and physical comedy, and what's really impressive was that he was the first actor to portray a completely CGI character in a blockbuster film using motion-capture technology. Whatever my views on the character – and they are not positive – I cannot fault Best and he certainly did not deserve the vitriol or death threats he received at the time, and I'm pleased with his redemption via his role in The Mandalorian.

So, is this a perfect addition to the Star Wars universe? No. There's a bit too much CGI, the performances don't quite live up to those of the original trilogy, and parts of it are just straight up dull. With that said, though, I actually do quite enjoy it. The Phantom Menace is full of tense fights, beautiful scenery and plenty of good performances, and whilst it may not be the best piece of science fiction cinema ever created, it is a fun addition to a beloved franchise.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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