The Phantom Menace: A Movie To Watch Twice With A Snack   

By JediTeen

 

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is full of visuals. It is also full of mistakes. It lacks action and comedy. George Lucas made The Phantom Menace in 1999, as the first film in a three film trilogy to tell the backstory to the original Star Wars trilogy. It has  many technological and visusal advances, but there are some inconsistent spots that I will discuss later. 

 

In the story, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), Luke Skywalker's father, is not the center of attention, because he is only nine years old.  Instead, the story focuses on two Jedi knights named Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor). Obi-Wan is Qui-Gon's apprentice. Another central character is Queen Amidala of Naboo, who is trying to solve the trade crisis on her planet. Thew trade federation has formed a blockade around the planet. On Naboo, the two Jedi rescue a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks, and get Amidala past the blockade, but their ship is damaged. 

 

They arrive on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs, and Amidala sends her handmaiden Padme (PAD-may) [Natalie Portman], and an astromech droid named R2-D2 with Qui-Gon and Jar Jar. They meet Anakin, a slave and an excellent podracer, and his mother. The Qui-Gon gets the ship repaired, and frees Anakin when he wins a bet with Anakin's master, Watoo. Anakin has created his own podracer as well as a protocol droid named C-3PO. Anakin wins the podrace, and goes with Qui-Gon to the republic's capital of Coruscant, where the Jedi master Yoda refuses to train him. Yoda thinks that Anakin will turn to the Dark Side of the Force, but Qui-Gon believes that he is the chosen one who will bring balance to it. 

 

Senator Palpatine becomes the new Supreme Chancellor, and Padme reveals herself as the true Queen to the Gungans, and persuades them to help her fight against the federation's droid army, while Padme and the Jedi search for the federation viceroy. The Jedi are cornered by the Sith apprentice Darth Maul, who kills Qui-Gon before Obi-Wan kills him. Upon his death, Qui-Gon asks Obi-Wan to train Anakin. Meanwhile, Anakin is left in the cockpit of a fighter,where he triggers the autopilot and deactivates the droid army. Obi-Wan is given permission to train Anakin, and Padme gives a gift to the Gungans. 

 

After the long explanation of a complicated plot, I present you with the pros and cons. I enjoyed the visual effects, the diversity of the planets, and Ewan McGregor's performance as Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon is a good character, and I admire Amidala's strength as a leader. The podrace and the lightsaber battles are well done. As always, John Williams delivers a good soundtrack. I like the use of familiar worlds and characters, such as Tatooine, Jabba the Hutt, Tuscan Raiders, the droids, and Obi-Wan and Anakin. I appreciate thew subtle use of females, such as the droid at the beginning, Amidala's handmaidens, and female pilots. 

 

Cons: I think that Anakin should have been older and already shown hits of the Dark Side, and Obi-Wan should have been ten years older than he was. I am also wondering why Qui-Gon didn't disappear when  he died. The aspect of balancing the Force doesn't work with the good-overpowers-evil element of Episode 6. Jar Jar Binks made me laugh three times, but that's all that he should have been used. Some scenes lack action, and with Qui-Gon and Darth Maul both dead, they seem to be rather unnecessary characters, especially because Yoda should have trained Obi-Wan directly. 

 

One last thought is that the first time I saw The Phantom Menace I was bored, and I had hardly any emotional reaction to it. This time, however, I understood the plot, and I liked it much better! So unless you hate this movie, it may be necessary to watch it twice within a few months, (and make sure you have a snack) then wait 30 years to show your kids.