Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Synopsis

A trade blockade has been placed over a peaceful planet and two Jedi are sent to help resolve the issue, but end up rescuing a Queen from capture. All the while, a more sinister force is lurking in the background making that task harder on a physical and political front.

Review

I can't tell you how many times I have seen this movie. Especially as a kid. I used to watch it on a small TV that my parents placed in the car between the front two seats that had a VHS player at the bottom. It was revolutionary for our car trips. However, because of that, I used to be able to quote this movie word-for-word. As it has been 25 years since this movie has come out, and I was watching it, there were times when my mind would say the next line still from memory and that was just awesome.

Ok let us get into the review. This isn't a great movie. It is highly entertaining and because I saw it in theaters as a kid I need to remember to temper my review a bit.

Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are solid in this movie. They play their characters so well, and you can see there love of the characters as time goes on. Their chemistry is right in line with the master-apprentice relationship. Natalie Portman also does so good. But we have to give a shoutout to Kira Knightly as well since she plays the double and they worked so hard to keep their voices slightly inline with each other. Finally, we need to talk about the kid, Jake Lloyd. I know he got ridiculed for doing this movie, but he isn't as terrible. He is a kid.

So this was the beginning of the blue CGI world where everything was CGI, and it just doesn't survive the time. You can tell more now that you could back then what was CGI. This is really the biggest issue with the movie. Just the lack of practical settings that hampers the cast. You can occasionally see the cast looking where the CGI characters are not or when they are supposed to be making eye contact, they are looking at the eyes of the puppeteer not the character.

The introduction to the Sith was so cool story wise for this movie. Darth Maul flashing in on the display and then his double lightsaber reveal is iconic. I think it is still a meme. Speaking of Darth Maul, it is crazy that he is the same actor as the guy who played Toad in X-Men, Ray Park. He is a Wushu master, so his flips are his own and it's awesome.

Something that I want to mention that has changed since I watched it obsessively as a kid is much more highlighted in The Acolyte. In that show and if you watch for it here, is the arrogance of the Jedi. There is so much "We know best," "Don't doubt or question me" and "We know all" that is persistent in the movie. It is crazy to see it know that it is a common commentary about the Jedi during this time and why they failed to see what is coming. I am not sure if it was intentional at the time, but you can see it throughout the movie (I am currently watching Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones and you can see it there as well) and it is so prevalent in The Acolyte.

I have a theory from this movie that I will mention in more detail in a new podcast Epic Screen Time that I will be a part of for our Skywalker Saga podcast which will be Episode 2 (It is currently August 31, 2024, and we record that in 4 days). However, put simply is that I think Shmi knew that the force made Anakin and who helped her do it. She is really cagey and protective, but that is explained as there being no information. Her eyes tell me she knows more than she is telling.

My Rating

This isn't a movie that the critics love, and audiences didn't either. However, I did. It is so entertaining and Jar Jar Binks is to make kids laugh. It is the beginning of a story that has survived almost 50 years between 9 different movies. Furthermore, it is an origin story so it is world building. That is what makes it slow. However, for an origin story, for world building and everything that is needed it is a great movie that has aged well. It is an 8 without thinking.

Parental Rating

There is no language, violence that is non-graphic, and no sex. There isn't a lot of diversity to this movie at all. I don't think my mom would ever watch this on her own, but she has watched it with me. I know my dad doesn't enjoy this movie, but isn't apposed to it if it is on. Based on the rules, approved by both.

Want to get a hold of me?
Email | [email protected]