Who's In It?

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn, Ewan McGregor as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, and Samuel L. Jackson

Who Made It?

George Lucas

Where's The Web site?
http://www.starwars.com

What's It About?

George Lucas takes us back to the beginning of the Star Wars saga in this film.  Most everyone will be familiar with the Star Wars Trilogy by the time this film comes to theaters, but if you're not...go to your local video stores and rent Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.  This film shows us the beginnings of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his relationship with young Anakin Skywalker (who we already know from the first set of movies becomes Darth Vader).  This film is the start of yet another trilogy that will tie six movies together when the next two are complete.

Common Guy's Thoughts

I liked The Phantom Menace.  I know that as I write this review the vogue, "in" thing to do among critics and regular viewers is to bash the new film, but come on did you "really" think that this would be THE BEST film ever???  Does anyone really know when they've seen that best film???  Let me repeat, I liked this film.  It is NOT however the best film that I have ever seen.

In these days of massive hype and living up to it, I think this did a hundred times better than last summer's hype champion, Godzilla.  I think that the expectations that some people put on this film made it impossible for The Phantom Menace to measure up to the bar that was set in the minds of many individuals.  Something to ponder as we think about the review of this film.  Remember, this is the first chapter of a long novel.  In the first chapter there is always a good deal of exposition as it needs to lay the groundwork for all that is to come later.  The first chapter, even in the best of books, can be very boring when it is laying out all of the background.  That in mind lets talk about the movie.

I found it very interesting the way that this film was able to give us nuggets of information that we can look to the currently released trilogy and say..."ahhhh....that fits".  And at the same time the movie is able to provide us morsels of what is to come in the two movies that will fill in the gap that exists.  To many people this is a very boring part of the movie, but it makes you think a little bit and draw some connections in your head.  I really like this part of the film.

Many will find the action sequences lacking in this film.  There is a fun light saber duel, a chase that takes you underwater in the futuristic community, and a pod race among the biggest of the action sequences.  I want to talk for a second about the pod race, if I may.  The pod race that takes place in this movie was one of the most exhilarating scenes that I can remember in recent memory in the movies.  The way it just kind of sucks you into the action, you get on the edge of your seat and get lost in what is going on before you.  This to me is the kind of feeling I had in the scene at the end of Star Wars when they go to blow up the Deathstar.  Not the same type of scene mind you, but the same type of exhilarating rush that accompanies a scene like this.

The acting in this film is adequate, but may be one of the few things that drag this back just a tad.  Young Anakin, played by Jake Lloyd is a little stiff and almost too standoffish at times.  However part of it may be intentional as we are seeing the person that we know from the original trilogy is to become Darth Vader.  Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are both very competent in their roles and I think that Ewan will become even better in the films to come.  I really was taken by Natalie Portman myself, as she was able to change her persona on a dime to encompass the character of the Queen.  I did feel, however, that the Samuel L. Jackson character just didn't quite fit with the rest of the Jedi Masters such as Yoda, but that was probably just me.

The special effects, the benchmark of the original trilogy, were very good as usual.  There were a very small number of scenes that you looked at and they tried to do too much to a scene with effects, but I don't know why one would really care.  The rest of the effects are more than enough eye candy for one individual to handle in this film.  The new and improved fighting force is mechanical, and very interesting.  I also liked the introduction of the character of Jar Jar Binks.  This character featured a combination of effects, real movements, animation, and the like to bring a new character to the screen.  Jar Jar's personality was fun and once you started to understand the way he talked, his one-liners had the majority of the folks present laughing, myself included.

No Star Wars Episode I:  The Phantom Menace is not the best film ever.  If you find yourself very disappointed after spending the money on this film it's probably because you went to the film to see the hype and with high expectations.  Instead, I would recommend to let this movie be just another piece of the Star Wars puzzle, and you shouldn't be disappointed.  There are plenty of films that I have seen recently that I liked better than it.  But it is good family fun, and remember it is the first chapter of what is to come.  I think the next Star Wars installment will be even better.

Grade

B+

Parents Guide

Parents, as with most Star Wars films, this carries a PG rating and will be fine for most children.  There are some violent fight confrontations, light saber battles, and the like, but that is about the extent of what to worry about in this film.  There is also what could be a disturbing reference to Christians when it comes to how the Anakin Skywalker character comes into existence.  I think this hole will be filled in later episodes, but if you want more information on this actual scene (I don't want to give away the whole plot structure) please e-mail me and I will tell you the details.
 

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