Review of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) by Keith H — 05 Jan 2018

Say what you want to say about the prequel trilogy. However with George Lucas exercising complete creative control over the project its success or failure rested solely with him. Unlike the company that now produces films based on characters he created.

Set 30+ years before the events of the original trilogy this film sees a young Obi Wan Kenobi and his Jedi mentor Qui-Gon Ginn attempt to mediate a trade dispute between the greedy trade federation and the small planet of Naboo. However the dispute is a ruse set up by Darth Sidious. And the Jedi must protect the young Queen Amadala as they attempt to make it to the capital world.

When their hyperdrive is destroyed they find themselves on the desert planet of Tatooine. While they encounter a young Anakin Skywalker, a slave child with uncanny piloting and mechanical skills. And Qui-Gon believes that Anakin is especially adept at the force. The centerpiece of the movie revolves around Anakin entering a dangerous pod race as Qui-Gon Ginn manipulates Anakin's greedy master into wagering his freedom and a new hyperdrive on the race.

The pod race truly is a spectacle to behold. Each pod has a distinctive look and feel to it. Each has a unique driver and pit crew. This is a throwback to Lucas' love drag racing and cars. And there is a lot of tension going into the race knowing what's at stake. In the DVD and Blu Ray editions of the film the race is extended to show all three laps. The theatrical version only shows about two laps. It's also an opportunity to show Anakin's piloting skills. And showing how resourceful he is when in the face of danger. If only Lucas had transferred Anakin's demeanor in this sequence to the final space battle. That could have created a more realistic sense of urgency for the young Jedi.

No longer bound by the technology of the 70s and 80s this film gave Lucas the chance to create a universe that was unique and different. He was able to expand beyond the limited resources he had during the making of the original trilogy. We got to the Senate at work and the Jedi at their prime. The showdown between Kenobi and Ginn fighting Darth Maul is another high point of the movie. We got to see fully trained and capable Jedis and Sith battle it out over multiple locations and see how powerful they actually were.

Liam Neeson's presence as the elder Jedi brought a touch of class to the movie that is lacking in the Disney movies. I don't want to get into the Jar Jar Binks controversy. The concept of an all digital character is interesting. However the execution and comic timing is out of place in a film that should be a bit more serious. However his antics are still funnier than the forced humor in the Disney movies. One thing that should have been added to the film was Count Dooku. He just appeared out of nowhere in the second film. It would have cool to see Christopher Lee on the council and seeing Anakin as the danger he is. It could have been an interesting subplot with Dooku being one of the Jedis who denied Anakin a chance at becoming one. It would have added more substance to their subsequent encounters over the next two movies.

Love him or hate him Lucas set out to make the movies he wanted to make. And the Phantom Menace is pure Lucas, for better or worse.