The time has finally arrived. The first all-new Star Wars movie in sixteen years has hit theaters with a media and merchandising blitz the likes of which has never been seen before. Is it possible for ANY movie, much less an entry in the highly-acclaimed Star Wars series, to live up to such hype? The answer is a flat-out and resounding, “No!” Does Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace come close? The answer is an equally resounding, “Yes!”
Being that this is the movie that sets the entire series in motion, there’s a lot that it has to set up. It takes place thirty years before Episode IV, also known as Star Wars: A New Hope. Episode I introduces the audience to new characters and worlds, as well as rolling out some younger versions of characters from the original three Star Wars films.
The plot — without spoiling anything — centers around a ruthless Trade Federation who have been placing heavy tax demands on shipments of cargo. A blockade of battle droid-controlled Federation ships has been placed around a peaceful planet called Naboo. Naboo’s ruler, Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), has resisted the taxation and raised the ire of the Federation. Two ambassadors, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), have been sent to negotiate with the Trade Federation to end the blockade. Things go a little differently than planned, and the adventure begins.
Along the way, the action moves on to the familiar planet of Tatooine. There, we are introduced to Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who, as all Star Wars fans know by now, is the young Darth Vader. We also meet, for the first time, C3PO (Anthony Daniels), and we learn his origin. Unfortunately, we also meet Jar Jar Binks, a computer generated character who seems to have been added solely for the merchandising possibilities he provides.
Some critics have been fairly savage in their dismemberment of the movie’s shortcomings. Admittedly, there are a few of them. (Namely, Jar Jar Binks and some other minor flaws which are usually the result of failed attempts at humor.) However, the plot, special effects and the acting (yes, the acting) elevate the movie from being a special effects-driven, hype-fueled bomb (like last year’s Godzilla) and make it an enjoyable and entertaining summer movie, which is what all the Star Wars movies have been: great summer entertainment. Luck, nostalgia and a wee bit of marketing savvy on the part of George Lucas vaulted them into the icons they’ve since become.
Liam Neeson makes for a great Jedi Knight. His Qui-Gon Jinn possesses charm and a sense of confident inner peace that are perfect for such a role. He is the center of the movie’s human side. Ewan McGregor, in his most mainstream role to date, is also excellent as Obi-Wan Kenobi. He definitely made me recall the older version, played by Alec Guinness, in the original movie. Natalie Portman’s performance is solid. Even Jake Lloyd, who has been singled out in some reviews as being “wooden,” is good. I believe that the many critics who’ve cited the human side of the movie as being “weak” saw a different movie than I did.
Most of the new characters may seem a bit disappointing compared to those from the original movies to some, but I think that’s mainly because they’re all new to us. We haven’t had 16 years to let their images be burned into our brains. We haven’t had time to assimilate them into our culture as we’ve been able to do with Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. However, I think this will come in time. This movie surely belongs alongside the original three movies. It may not seem as fresh as the original movie did in 1977, but it still packs a lot of punch.
The best testament to the success of The Phantom Menace will be the reaction of general audiences. One youngster I talked to after the movie was over said, “It was great! And, guess what? The second one will be even better!” If nothing else, George Lucas has succeeded in whetting the appetite of a new generation, just as he did twenty years ago.
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
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