Celebrity Measurements

It’s a bit hard to believe now, but once upon a time… a new Star Wars movie coming out was a huge deal. Star Wars is everywhere today, thanks to a number of movies and TV shows. It’s not going anywhere any time soon. After the 1983 release of Return of the Jedi there was a Death Star sized void within the Star War galaxy that seemed to never be filled. In the mid-90s, when it became clear that George Lucas was going to release his long-rumored prequel series, movie fans of all ages felt the Force with them, perhaps more than ever before. The Phantom Menace

, the first of three films, was released in 1999 and was perhaps the most anticipated movie ever. This movie was a huge hit, and it came with high expectations. Some of them were impossible to meet. Most people wanted to return to that faraway galaxy and familiar characters, while also getting acquainted with new ones. Could you believe it? A new Star War film! It was exciting to think that we would be seeing the iconic crawl of John Williams on a large screen, accompanied with that loud boom of his theme. The word prequel was a novelty at the time, and not as common as it is today. If we were to go back in time we would at least get to see the origin story of a memorable villain. We had heard of Anakin Skywalker before, and we knew he’d been Luke’s dad, Obi-wans apprentice, and Obi’s friend, before being transformed into the monstrous Darth Vader. But what would that transformation be like? It was fascinating to see Anakin’s transformation from hero into evil henchman, and to see Obi-wan before we ever met him. I won’t bore you with details about my first viewing of

Phantom Manace

, other than to say that I saw it three in the morning on opening day at Manhattan’s legendary Ziegfeld theatre – or opening morning. This should give you a sense of the excitement coursing through our veins. It was a real treat to be in a packed theater with fully awake fanboys and girl at that ridiculous time. I didn’t like it either the second or third time. We won’t dwell on the past. Just consider it as some additional context. Because I recently revisited Episode One

for this “Star Wars Revisited series”, and what better reason could there be? It’s almost impossible to watch this film with “quote unquote fresh eyes” while putting aside all prejudices and complaints, as it was with the original trilogy. But it deserves a fair chance at reevaluation, especially since it’s the most divisive film in the franchise. Okay, so it’s tied with The Last Jedi in that regard… Does “The Phantom Menace”, now that all those pesky expectations are out of the discussion, look a bit different? Here’s the deal. PhantomMenace still is a hard pill to swallow. Scene after scene, the hope is that George Lucas will bring the movie back on track, get his juvenile humor and caricatures off his system early, and deliver a narrative with more than boring bureaucracy, and standard getting to know you character introductions. But he doesn’t. There’s no doubt that the movie is a table-setter. Lucas sets the stage for future events such as the unraveling and extermination the Jedis, not to mention Anakin embracing the dark side.

But almost at every turn, Phantom Meace, is a stiff and uninspiring affair, with actors who seem to be trying hard to find inspiration when they are in uncomfortable situations. The movie is brought to life by elaborate visual effects and not because we are interested in the characters. The original Star Wars movies were so unique because they combined eye-popping spectacle, humor, heart and wonderful personal moments. The Phantom Menace

is a film that lacks a heart. When it tries to achieve the big emotional beats to grab the audience’s attention, it fails, often due to poor acting, uninspired directing, and inane dialogue. This was George Lucas’s first directorial attempt since 1977, when the original Star War was released. We know that he has always been very involved in most of his Lucasfilm Productions. But returning to the director’s chair after a 20-year break clearly has its own challenges. Lucas’s opening sequences look like they are designed to showcase CG production design rather than engage us in the story. It’s hard to blame Lucas’ over-reliance on green-screen stages, but his compositions are often boring and formal. Lucas is going to let the wizards at ILM do all the heavy lifting, and his few stimulating sequences feel like they were handled by a second unit. He’s going let the wizards of ILM do the heavy lifting and the movie’s few stimulating sequences feel like they were handled by the 2nd unit. The performances in

Phantom Meace were at best adequate, and at worst, completely unimpressive. This is true for both humans and aliens. Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson are both naturally charismatic actors. This natural screen presence is a big help here, although Neeson looks like he’s not invested in the story, while McGregor attempts to play up a role that has been underwritten. Natalie Portman is no match for Lucas’ humdrum dialogue or indifferent direction. Even Sam Jackson is slightly off, frequently looking perplexed by his assignment even though we know he genuinely coveted the opportunity to play a Jedi.The most human

performance probably comes from Ian McDiarmid, who appears pleased as punch to be back in action as Palpatine – here depicted as an amiable politician who effectively hides a very dark side. McDiarmid is having a lot of fun in the role, and he always brightens the screen when he appears. This isn’t enough. Pernilla Aught is also effective as Anakin’s somber mom; Lucas’ ability to create drama from the sad situation Anakin, Shmi and their son are in is due to August’s heartfelt performances. Jake Lloyd… Well, we are not here to slam him. Lloyd’s performance is not to be blamed. It was a difficult role for any young actor to play, and it was clear from the start that Lloyd wasn’t up to it. Lucas must take the blame for casting Lloyd instead of someone who could have brought some spirit to the role. Even though we see him as a young child, there should be at least a hint of edge about him, especially given the Jedi council’s caution surrounding his apprenticeship. When we see him, our first thought is

“This guy will be Darth Vader?” He’s had twenty-plus years worth of relentless bashing, and that’s enough. For the purposes of this Revision, let’s be blunt: Jar Jar is an unwelcome and ridiculously ill advised element in Episode 1. Jar Jar is not a solution. This movie often needs some comic relief, but Jar Jar does not provide it. Ahmed Best, the actor who plays Jar Jar, brings all the energy to the forefront. If we can give Jar Jar any kind of compliment, it is that he makes C3PO’s silliness look positively dignified. Lucas always insisted that Jar Jar’s antics were aimed at younger audiences. Maybe they do work, but I can’t be convinced that this is the best we could have done. The less said about Boss Nasse, the better. The main issue is the Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo and its conspiracy with Darth Sidius who uses them as pawns to control the galaxy. The Trade Federation storyline, even though it is necessary in the grand scheme, is a non starter. It bogs down the movie whenever it is the focus. The Trade Federation characters – the Neimoidians – are also utterly dismal – they’re no more serious than Jar Jar and they were supposed to be the main villains of the story. But this brings us to a looming problem for Phantom Menace. There are no villains worth rooting against. The Trade Federation isn’t a villain, and Darth Sidius seems to be more of a vague threat rather than a tangible one. Darth Maul is the only remaining bad guy, despite all the hype surrounding him before the release of this film. Darth Maul was billed as a new, flashy baddie for the

Star War

universe. However, the movie barely uses him. He has a fairly unexceptional fight with Qui-Gon at the beginning of the movie, and then gets his big moment with a rousing light-saber duel with the Jedis in the third act. It’s the best scene in the movie, and it gives Phantom Manace a vital boost at a crucial time. Of course, it’s frustratingly intercutted with the Gungans’ and Anakin’s bumblings. Darth Maul leaves the premises in ruins just as we are getting used to him as a formidable foe. We bid farewell to the most captivating character of the film. It’s telling that his death is more devastating than Qui-Gon.

The third part has another saving grace: John Williams’ “Duel of the Fates”, a great track with immense power. Williams’ score for Phantom Menace is not his best but “Duel of the Fates”, which he composed for the film, makes up for that. Williams would go on to do more memorable work in both the prequels and the sequels, becoming once again one of the main MVPs of the “Star Wars’ series. In terms of visuals, Phantom Meace offers some superficial pleasures. Naboo, above and below ground, is a beautiful place to behold, and ILM artists often create frightful underwater creatures that Qui-gon and Obiwan encounter. The pod race is a fun set piece, though it feels like it’s there to fill time and give us a much-needed action scene in a film that hasn’t really been thrilling up until that point. After the droids are temporarily defeated and Boss Nass shows the glowing orb, those of us who were disappointed feel a surreal sense. This is the beginning of the prequel trilogy, for better or worse: it’s established the core of the main characters moving forward, introduced many excitable cartoons, and revealed more otherworldly politics than expected. There’s no doubt we can only move upward from here… right? It’s fair to say that some of our viewers may disagree with the tone of this review. That is understandable. Over the years, I’ve met many

Star War enthusiasts who enjoy or at least accept The Phantom Menace

. No one wished it was great twenty years ago as much as this writer. I also wish it had a few pleasant surprises and pleasures when revisiting it. It doesn’t, not for me.

But the fact that it has ardent fans is not a bad thing. A generation of geeks have grown up with the prequel series as their main focus in all things

Star War; people who can’t imagine a life without Phantom Menace, and will continue to support the film. Phantom Menace, whether you love it or hate it is an important part of this special corner of the galaxy. It’s part of our identity, and you cannot take it away.

Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch