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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Rating

Director

George Lucas

Screenplay

George Lucas

Length

2h 16m

Starring

Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Oliver Ford Davies, Hugh Quarshie, Ahmed Best, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Terence Stamp, Brian Blessed, Andrew Secombe, Ray Park, Lewis Macleod, Warwick Davis, Steve Speirs

MPAA Rating

PG

Review

Good vs. Evil. That’s what Star Wars has always been about. The Light Side vs. the Dark Side. A never-ending circle that seems to present more problems and solutions than your average national history.

Episode I of the “Star Wars” saga, “The Phantom Menace” opened Wednesday with several special previews at one minute after midnight in many theaters across the nation. George Lucas returns to the screen more than 20 years after his last directorial effort on the Episode IV: A New Hope, the first film in the series to be released in 1977. Although the fifth and sixth parts to the film came out in 1980 and 1983, Lucas did not direct either. His absence from the screen is quite evident in this film and it honestly does the series a great disservice.

What “Star Wars” is, so too is this film, except there are quite a few nagging elements that prevent this episode from being nearly as good as the others. While the story is familiar to some, it still remains that the film lacks to truly deliver the goods like the original did. The original took a rather traditional story and set it in space. Some would call it a space opera and the moniker does fit, however it would be better to call Star Wars a science fantasy, action adventure, popcorn, escapist movie.

Escapism isn’t always bad, but when the effort that goes into the visual effects and leaves the story and characters injured, that’s when it becomes your standard numb Summer blockbuster.

This episode begins in the same manner that the others did with the original theme blaring over the emblem followed by a yellow dialogue that disappears into the distance. It makes you expect something that the other films delivered. We then meet the two Jedi warriors, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). They have arrived at a Federation blockade of the planet Naboo in order to negotiate the dissolve of the trade embargo against the planet. They are greeted with a female protocol droid (they all look like C-3PO with a few minor differences) who shows them into a waiting room.

Next, we are shown the bridge of the vessel where the people behind the embargo stand watching a subspace transmission from their ring leader, a black-cloaked figure who in later films we will come to know as the Emperor. He is Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), a man whose larger goals aren’t completely apparent, but his desire for control of the Senate is. He commands that they proceed with a landing invasion of Naboo and kill the Jedi.

They flood the waiting room with a supposedly deadly gas while several mechanical soldiers wait outside to destroy their remains. They open the door, the protocol droid exits, then they see two energy weapons light up inside. They know what’s about to happen and begin blasting. The Jedi bounce beams back with their light sabers and repel their attackers. They attempt to reach the main chamber, but meet with resistance from a security wall and from two shielded, rolling attackers. They escape into the landing area and get aboard some of the ships flying into the invasion and get on the planet.

What “The Phantom Menace” has on its side is a bevy of great visual effects, luscious settings and strange costumes. It also has some great action moments including the last 30-45 minutes and an intriguing pod race.

What “TPM” also has is a major lack of interesting story, less-than-stellar performances from large parts of the cast and a predictable nature that can get really annoying when you figure out what’s in store for each character. I’ve always disliked predictability and this time they are everywhere: from the young girl who goes down to Tatooine to find a part for their injured vessel to the climactic scenes where the end seems so certain that you can see it coming long before you really want to.

The problems with “TPM” are almost as prevalent as its pleasing elements. The best performances came from the rarely speaking Darth Maul (Ray Park, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz), Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and Chancellor Valorum (Terrence Stamp) all leave a lot to be desired. Especially Lloyd who can’t seem to get any facial expression down and never gives an acceptable performance.

However, the most annoying elements are the aliens. First, there is the race behind the Galactic Federation who have hard-to-understand accents that heavily resemble those from the Orient. Then there is the underwater race, the Gungan, that have immense Jamaican accents and, not surprisingly, are also hard to understand. They almost seem to be based on those nationalities and for one I find that highly deplorable.

Add to that the insult that Jar Jar Binks, the Gungan who follows the Jedi around and tries to provide comic relief is woefully out of place. There are many other undesirable elements of the film that I could also point out, but those are reserved for discussions with fans, which will undoubtedly discuss the events that unfold, rather than the film as a technical achievement.

“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” is both highly enjoyable and menacing. There really is no box office that won’t be sold out for many of its shows and it’s likely that it will go on to gross more than $200 million. What stands in the way is repeat business that, for anyone other than hard-core Star Wars fans won’t be very evident. Ideal from young men, “TPM” has plenty of action and adventure to keep its audience enthralled, but lacks so much in the story and acting departments that one can’t help but wonder if there is any hope for this slowly disintegrating franchise.

Awards Prospects

The music and most of the technical aspects are all great bets for nominations. As for the others like Adapted Screenplay, directing, acting and Picture are not evident and also highly unlikely. This could go on to be the most honored film in history without winning Best Picture.

Review Written

May 19, 1999