Review of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) by Clinton H — 27 Feb 2016

Ok so the excitement for this movie in 1999 was insane, and while yes it's not the STAR WARS movie we all expected. It's actually not a bad movie at all, and not a bad way to introduce all these characters. Besides JAR JAR Binks there was very little I hated in this movie. I liked how it sets up the following movies with Anakin now being left to train with Obi Wan, and how our heroes are left not knowing who the Sith are, and how they survived. Senator Palpatine really steals this movie, and ultimately this trilogy is his trilogy as he's the mastermind behind the entire uprise of the Empire.

Overall George Lucas wrote a great storyline which was rich with elements which felt like STAR WARS.. Sadly enough his directing was so rusty that he forgot to make sure his story didn't include things which were down right insulting to STAR WARS fans.

Jar Jar is insulting in many ways... Since Lucas liked to edit his OT why can't he edit Jar Jar in the Prequels? First I'd remove the scene where he steps on poo, and says "ohh icky icky poo." I mean seriously!? But I remember watching this movie on opening night twice, and loving it. It was only after I fully digested what I had seen that I was able to point out what I didn't like. But with that said there was a lot more that I liked in the movie that I didn't.

The cast was fantastic (except Ahmed Best as Jar Jar) I even liked Jake Lloyd as young Anakin... I never understood why that kid was bullied so much that it ruined his life. All in all the movie sets up the prequel trilogy in a very satisfactory way.

Yes this movie is nowhere near as good as any of the originals! Not close by a mile!! But it serves well as a catalyst for the rest of the saga.