2.5 star Science Fiction
Appropriate for: All but the youngest, somebody does get cut in half
Appeal - 7
Almost 16 years had past since The Return of the Jedi had cemented George Lucas’s space opera as one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. Every so often a crumb would fall from the Star Wars table, but they were so often strangely inferior and polorizing versions of the originals. (We all know Han shot first.) So when The Phantom menace dropped in 1999, Skywalker fans were kinda losing their minds! The origins of Darth Vader?! We collectively said, “Yes Please.” Reality never quite lives up to expectations though, and they did Jar Jar to us. Nobody liked that. Nobody.
Production - 8
George Lucas has always been at the forefront of technological movie making, and for better or worse he unleashed all the computers on the practical effects his first 3 outings had been known for. At the time of its release, Phantom Menace probably had more CGI than 95% of all movies made before it put together. Yet a glut of CGI does not a classic make. I do love the pod race scene though, and it may be the most enjoyable scene of the movie. Except of course for that last light saber battle. One of phantom menaces’s best contributions to the Star Wars universe was its new attention to light saber battles. Ray Parks, a legend of stunt work and fight choreography, was brought in to improve what was actually becoming a pretty lame part of the originals, and the decision to cast him as the dark and dangerous antagonist of the movie, Darth Maul, was one of the best decisions made in the entire production. John Williams returns to pen the score, and that literally is never a bad thing. He especially delivers with Duel of the Fates, a brand new theme that takes the aformentioned light saber battle and turns it up to 11.
Storytelling - 4
This is were the prequels begin to fall behind their predecessors. No Star Wars fan was longing for more political proceedings or economic trade embargoes in their space traveling techno western. They got it though. The most genuine thread of storytelling occurs between the films 2 main Jedi, a wise conciler and seasoned warrior in Qui-Gon Jinn, played “masterfully” by a committed Liam Neeson, and a talented, all be it youthfully brash, apprentice, played with equal effectiveness by Ewan McGregor. The dynamics between the two, as they discover a young Anakin Skywalker teaming with the force, and then must make decisions concerning his future, play out in a believable, sometimes paternal way. However, the digital noise can be deafening, and some of the movies more subtle moments are smothered by it.
Performance - 6
The great performances here belong almost solely to Neeson and McGregor. The supporting cast is a seesaw of effectiveness. The kid who plays Anakin struggles in the spotlight the most, but manages a few endearing moments despite our knowing his dark future. Natalie Portman begins a three movie long brawl with some of the worst dialogue an actress has ever had to contend with. She does not come out on top. Other proven actors struggle here as well. Samuel L. Jackson manages to deliver one of the least Samuel L. Jackson performances maybe ever. I do not believe that George Lucas’s abilities as a director are his most shining attributes, and I wonder if him being at the helm stifled some of the more natural performances other directors would have been capable of eliciting. Again Ray Parks is exceptional as Darth Maul but is highly underutilized, the script giving him 2 or 3 lines at best. Jar Jar has plenty though. Meesa not enjoyin’ dat.
Sentence Synopsis: If George Lucas had made this movie perfectly, he would probably be the president of the world by now.
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