Star Wars: Episode 1-The Phantom Menace (1999) Review

 

Star Wars: Episode 1-The Phantom Menace (1999)

The Phantom Menace follows Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, as they are tasked with rescuing the Queen of Naboo amid a dispute with the Trade Federation, where they will ultimately come across a powerful young boy and the first inklings of the Sith’s return. 

Episode 1 will forever hold a special place in my heart because for a young, bright eyed kid, this was my introduction to Star Wars. What they accomplished here is actually pretty impressive, for the time. Lucas brought back a dormant franchise, and breathed exhilarating and top of the line (for 1999) life into the decades leading up to A New Hope. 

Honest to goodness as well, this actually kicks all sorts of ass. Of course, much of what boggs this down is weird dialogue, overdone computer animation, and the endlessly annoying introduction of Jar Jar Binks/the entirety of the Gungan race. You can tell Lucas got ahead of himself and any crazy idea (I’m serious, any and all) that he had, ended up in the movie. It’s something that either works out great at times or falls miserably flat. 

But minus the above qualms, which are big parts of the story, what does work, works so well because unlike most of the sequel trilogy, this still feels like Star Wars. We get flashy and emotionally charged lightsaber battles, a fresh and interesting story, and I’ll be damned if John Williams didn’t give us one of his best Star Wars scores to date in the film.

Episode 1 boasts a pretty solid cast, starring Jake Lloyd (who really wasn’t bad), Ahmed Best, Ian McDiarmid, Natalie Portman, Ray Park, Liam Neeson, and Ewan McGregor. I love the introduction of Neeson’s Qui-Gon, and I really wish we got more of him. His and McGregor’s performances absolutely carry this movie and are bar none why the lightsaber battles with Maul are so exciting. 

The Phantom Menace, directed by George Lucas, is an extremely ambitious way to kickstart the prequel trilogy, but minus a few missteps here and there, it’s nonetheless a fun and intense planet hopping adventure that sets the tone early for what’s to come. 

6.6/10