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Rated: PG
This movie contains some violence.
Characters
Jedi Master
Qui-Gon's apprentice
Ruler of the Naboo people
Anakin Skywalker
The force is strong with this young boy
Jar Jar BinksA member of the Gungan race
Naboo's Senator in the Republic
A Sith Lord and master of the Dark Side of the Force
WattoAnakin Skywalker's master
Shmi SkywalkerAnakin's mother, also a slave
Queen Amidala's chief advisor
A member of the Jedi Council
A droid built by Anakin Skywalker
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Type: Science Fiction/Space Fantasy
Rating: ***1/2 (out of five stars)
Many critics have given "The Phantom Menace" a bad review. However, the reason that most people are so disappointed by this film is because they're expecting WAY too much from it. Even George Lucas says that it's only a movie. If you push your ridiculous expectations aside, it's a pretty good film; otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for a huge disappointment.
After hearing so many bad reviews from critics, I walked into "The Phantom Menace" expecting an enormous letdown. In the first few minutes, my expectations were supported, as the opening scene reminded me more of a "Star Trek" movie than a "Star Wars". However, my opinion soon changed during an early scene when jedis Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson, aka Oskar Schindler from "Schindler's List") and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) get into a lightsaber battle with gun-toting battle droids from the hostile Trade Federation. The Trade Federation, which seems to be under the influence of the mysterious Darth Sidious, is an organization that has blockaded the small planet of Naboo in protest of taxation of trade routes. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were sent as mediators in the conflict, but the negotiations turned sour.
After defeating the battle droids, the two Jedis escape the Federation ship and land on Naboo, which is now under attack by the Federation. They enlist the help of Jar Jar Binks, a Gungan (a kind of amphibious creature). Jar Jar helps the two Jedis reach Naboo's main city, where they rescue Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) and escape from the planet. When Sidious learns of this, he sends his best warrior, Darth Maul, to stop the Jedis.
The ship soon begins to have a problem with its hyperdrive, so the group lands on the desert planet of Tattoine, where they meet Anakin Skywalker, a 9-year old slave boy who is an expert mechanic. Qui-Gon senses that the force is strong in the boy, so he makes a bet with Anakin's master for the hyperdrive parts and Anakin's freedom. After winning the bet through a very cool pod race, the group leaves the planet for Coruscant, the capital of the Republic. They meet Naboo's Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and speak with the Senate about the Naboo issue. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan also introduce Anakin to the Jedi Council. When the Senate starts taking too long to resolve the Naboo issue, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Queen Amidala return to Naboo to take matters into their own hands. I'll stop there, because I don't want to ruin the ending for you.
Anyway, here is my opinion: The movie has great action scenes that can rival just about any that appear in the original Star Wars movies. The special effects -especially the backgrounds- will never cease to amaze you (although the computer-animated creatures look a little rubbery at times). Virtually all of the actors speak in monotone, but that's not what you go to see Star Wars for -- the original movie had some pretty bad acting as well. Also, the presence of some characters, such as Jar Jar Binks and young Anakin (although he wasn't as bad as I was expecting) gives the movie a childish feel at times and gets very annoying after awhile (but no worse than the Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi"). There are also some other minor annoying characters, such as Boss Nass, the leader of the Gungans. Lucas also seemed to include Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, C-3P0 and R2-D2 just to give people something familiar to see from the first movie. The original movies, altogether, had cooler characters than the ones in "The Phantom Menace" as well.
In conclusion, I think "The Phantom Menace" is a solid Sci-Fi action movie with a good story that's packed with excitement and cool special effects. It also generates interest in the next movie in the series. The characters and acting could use some work, but, altogether, the film is pretty good (not nearly as good as the original "Star Wars" trilogy, though).
Locations
Capital of the Republic
Queen Amidala's palace on Naboo
Anakin's home city on Tattoine
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