The first prequel to George Lucas' original ground breaking Star Wars Trilogy has many criticisms, but let's not forget it's many triumphs.
Lucas chose a wonderful cast for this risky project, Liam Neeson is superb as Qui-Gon Jinn. Ewan McGregor, though not remarkable in this performance, does a convincing young Alec Guinness. Natalie Portman shows where Princess Leia inherited her feistiness from, and Jake Lloyd provides an acceptable young Anakin Skywalker despite the unescapable fact that a child lead would be annoying. I do have fond memories as a schoolboy having discussions with my peers about Star Wars prequels with Han, Luke and Chewy as children, so we got what we wanted I suppose?
I say
risky, obviously not concerning box office takings, but attempting to add to what a generation of movie goers consider near perfection is bound to be risky. And The Phantom Menace had it's critics.
I don't think I'm alone in condemning Lucas' decision in writing the part of Jar Jar Binks, one of the worst characters in sci-fi movie history. Lucas has always claimed his prequels took so long to make due to him waiting for technology to advance far enough for him to realise his dreams and vision, but some rather poor CGI effects just detract from the originals magic. The bog-eyed Yoda was a little disappointing, and his dialogue seems to parody himself.
Other critics point out the over complicated story line, Trade Federations, Inter-Galactic Senates, peace treaties......??? Star Wars is a simple tale of good versus evil, was there really a need to get so political? This is a childrens movie after all.
But despite all these faults, the overall result is still magical. The younger generation who were watching Star Wars for the first time really took to Jar Jar, the poor ignorant fools. And the older generation were able to watch what they'd only dreamed about for the previous 16 years. Darth Maul, with his double lightsaber, was simple genius. From the opening fight scene on the Federation cruiser, to the final lightsaber battle on Naboo, millions of twenty and thirty somethings around the world were viewing Jedis in action proper for the first time. Not an old man or a stumbling apprentice, people wanted to see what the
legend of the Jedi was all about and I think this film delivered.
The multi-pronged ground and space battles are classic Star Wars, but cranked up a gear. The backdrop and locations are wonderful, seeing Tatooine again after 16 years was pure nostalgia. Jabba was still an ugly rascal though. And here I think I get to the crux of the prequels. Nostalgia.
I think the success of the prequels has shown that as 'stand alone' films they are good, not great. In the 16 year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace, Lucas has gained plenty of competition. If it wasn't for that damned Jackson fellow maybe the prequels would seem great rather than just good?
But I can't view these films as 'standing alone'. They are part of a bigger picture. The Phantom Menace is a continuation of a franchise which will never be bettered, or sullied. Anything which Lucas adds to the Star Wars Galaxy will always be magnificent, because the foundation it's built on is so strong.
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Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
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