It is 25 years since The Phantom Menace hit theaters, some distance from the hope of the Prequels, and seeing it over the years. So there is some perspective seeing Episode I as a film entertainment and not capturing the fun of the Original Trilogy. The film grossed $64.8M opening day, in comparison, Return of the Jedi (1981) opened to $23M, and the second highest film at that year for the box office was The Sixth Sense with a $26.6M opening. The latest issue of Star Wars Insider, #225, covers the fan reaction of the movie. I do recall attending the first Star Wars: Celebration in Denver on April 30th before the May 19th release. Buying the figures at the store there. I remember the trailer, “Every saga has a beginning…”, the images of new worlds, creatures, and Jar Jar. So let’s go back to the beginning.
It is a return for George Lucas back to writing and the director's chair, very brilliant with his early groundbreaking films, here to put a bow on his story finishing what he began with the rough draft. The opening titles drove the Star Warriors into applause, it was the first time since 18 years seeing new Star Wars on screen. Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition was in theaters 1997. So Star Wars had changed over the years. No DEATH STAR threatened the galaxy instead there was a blockade of a planet and taxation. The main title crawl needs a better set up, tension, plus “Congress of the Republic”? I do like the Supreme Chancellor as the galactic authority. In the rough draft, Valoum was the name of a Knight of the Sith and commander of the Imperial Space Force. I love the Consular-class cruiser flying from left to right, instead of the overhead domination of an Imperial ship.
The blue-green planet of Naboo is beautiful. Then, the voice of Qui-Gon (Liam Neeson) addressing the Captain Madakor (Bronagh Gallagher), credited as Republic Cruiser Captain. A talented actress, she was in The Commitments (1991). The donut-shaped Trade Federation battleship has a distinctive profile with a nod to the flying saucer ships of 50’s sci fi. The captain’s co-pilot is played by Silas Carson who also was Nute Gunray, so he is basically looking at himself. The lip synch for the Neimoidians is a bit off, the mechanics for the alien heads were used from the flappy lips of the Mangalores in The Fifth Element (1997). I tried to ignore the awkward accents of the aliens in the movie. Inside the hangar, we get our first look at the spindly battle droids, a strange design and not threatening design. Definitely not Cylons. Then, the silver protocol droid, TC-14, was shocking with the female voice. She was voiced by Lindsay Duncan whom I recognize playing Captain Adelaide Brooke in “The Waters of Mars” (2009) Doctor Who special.
Then, the hooded Jedi are revealed with the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). This was a mainstream role for McGregor since he broke out in the drama, Trainspotting (1996). Neeson was in the lead role of the horror themed pre-superhero movie, Darkman (1990). It is interesting to see Neeson's eyes focusing on a particular person. I do like Obi-Wan’s line that sets us back in Star Wars, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Also, he brings up Master Yoda. Then, we shift to the Neimoidians and the cowardly Rune Haako. The hologram of Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) was familiar since he was also in hologram form in the Original Trilogy. He also wore the same black hooded robe. Since Return of the Jedi, McDiarmid was also in the “Paris, October 1916” (1991) episode of Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. We find about the younger Palpatine in the Legends novel, Darth Plagueis (2012) by James Luceno. Plagueis died around the time of the end of the Battle of Naboo.
I kinda don’t get destroying a ship inside a hangar, but then we get the activation of the lightsabers. Qui-Gon’s Jedi Consular green lightsaber and Obi-Wan’s blue lightsaber as a Jedi Guardian, both colors used by Luke. Then, we get the goofy voices of the battle droids by Matthew Wood, the point was to have light hearted dangers. We get the Star Wars theme kicking in as we get our first action with the Jedi taking apart the battle droids! I love Obi-Wan taking on the droids by himself with his spinning back handed strike! The Jedi dropping down the hangar is a spotty effect, there are effects that don’t hold up, others are beautiful visuals. I do like Obi-Wan’s smile at the short negotiations. The appearance of Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) has an almost Asian design with her make-up and costume. An early role for Portman since she was in the action movie, The Professional (1994). She does have the Mid-Atlantic accent of 40’s cinema.
Then, we get the fantastic design of Theed Palace at the edge of a cliff with waterfalls spilling around it. Senator Palpatine, also as a hologram if we didn’t get the hint, speaks to the council of Queen Amidala. One of my favorite costumes is the handmaiden’s orange robes, mysterious, and formal. Sabé (meaning “to know”) is not at he side. Governor Sio Bibble (Oliver Ford Davies) is the voice of dissession to the queen. Davies was in the first episode, “My First Adventure” (1992), of Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. This is what Palpatine may have expected of Naboo rulers. Captain Panaka (Hugh Quarshie) brings up the security volunteers that cannot defeat the battle droids. Quarshie was in the horror film, Nightbreed (1990). As a military advisor, his rank is low, I would think it should be Major or Colonel based on other SW characters. The Trade Federation landing craft with the double wings like biplane fighters is interesting. The Naboo wildlife running and smashing of trees show the destruction of this army to the world.
The animation of Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) is a little crisp compared to the film stock. Best was previously in the musical performance of Stomp. I think an understanding of Jar Jar would be found in Clone Wars especially Season Four’s “Water War” (2011), GL-CW4/1. It may not change what you think of the character, but give you an understanding of him outside of comic relief. Qui-Gon pulling him out of the way of the Multi-Troop Transport does give a little more of the life debt than what was mentioned with Chewbacca. The underwater Gunga City is something we haven’t seen before in Star Wars. Boss Nass is just weird, but he is voiced by Brian Blessed who was Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon (1980). I like Obi-Wan helping to set the situation with the “symbiot circle.” It is fascinating that the Gungans have a pantheon of gods. The watery core doesn’t make sense for a planet. The occupation of Theed City is right out of the Star Wars rough draft.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan freeing Queen Amidala shows the purpose of Jar Jar which is to keep the movie light hearted from the action and war. At the hangar, we see Padme acting as handmaiden to Sabé (Keira Knightley) filling in as Queen Amidala. This was three years before Knightley was in the sports movie, Bend It Like Beckham (2001). Sabé was also important in the novels that began with Queen’s Shadow (2019). She says “great danger” and then turns to Padme. The other handmaiden of note is Rabé (Karol Cristina da Silva) who announced Anakin to Padme’s room and was at the queen’s side when she addresses the Senate. The pilot, Ric Olié (Ralph Brown), seems to be too much of a side character. I think Quarshie should have been merged with the character and also act as a counter to the Jedi like Han Solo. A droid crew fixing the shield generator is confusing, rolling outside of its hull, but it does introduce Artoo Detoo. I like Obi-Wan pointing out Tatooine. His first encounter with the planet.
Then, we get the appearance of Darth Maul (Ray Park), who just has the best design as a horned Zabrak. Park’s first movie was in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). I like R2 presented to the queen. The droid duo were the keepers of the story of Luke Skywalker. Padme cleans up Artoo like Luke. On Tatooine, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sense disturbances in the Force, Anakin? Qui-Gon thinks the spaceport of Mos Espa is dangerous and takes Jar Jar? Interesting that Qui-Gon choses Watto’s shop, “one of the smaller dealers.” Watto (Andy Secombe) looks like a grizzled merchant. We find more about Toydarians with King Katuunko in Clone Wars, “Ambush” (2008), GL-CW1/1. The size of Watto and some of the CGi characters varies. Then, we get the introduction of lil’ Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). The previous film for Lloyd was the comedy, Jingle All The Way (1996). I noticed with the “Yipee!” youthful enthusiasm that Lloyd can handle the techno-babble.
The builder and inventor parts of Anakin seems like Lucas to me. Anakin’s defense of Jar Jar from the bully, Sebulba shows his good heart. This of course sets up their rivalry at the Podrace. Next, Anakin takes the group to his house to get shelter from the storm. We get the introduction of Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August), Anakin’s mother and the best actor of Star Wars. Everything you need to know about her character and Anakin is in her short scenes. Anakin takes Padme to show him See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels). The tv movie, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen (1995) starred Daniels as the scientist, Francois. The debut of the droid duo is welcome with the Original Trilogy’s POV and humorous characters. This also shows the resourcefulness of Anakin building a protocol droid and recovering his Podracer. His covering with his silver leg in Star Wars shows his arc as a character.
Three Lightsabers out of Five!
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