Star Wars I - The Phantom Menace

A movie by George Lucas

With Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and others

Reviewed by Renate

I have to admit, I am a Star Wars fan, and not going to see The Phantom Menace was not an option, regardless of what the critiques said. I had to see for myself. Twenty-two years after the first movie, sixteen after The Return of the Jedi, George Lucas presented episode one. The race for tickets was on. Some people were in line for weeks to get tickets for the first showing in their town. With the Internet at hand, and moviefone at the end of the telephone line it was only a matter of luck to get those tickets. To my defense I have to say, I didn't even think I'd get tickets for the first week. Friends who went on Friday night, and got tickets half an hour before the show started proved me wrong. I tackled the task on Sunday morning, boldly going to the theater with the largest screen in the vicinity and the latest sound system, thinking I might have a chance for tickets at some point during the day. And the force was with me. I got tickets for the first showing that day, half price! got in line, and even got a decent seat. The theater wasn't even sold out.

I expected answers and found few, I wanted action and got some, I wanted a great story line and got, well how should I put it, a mediocre plot. For those of you who want to see for yourselves, and not have the story spoiled for them stop reading now, go to http://www.hollywood.com/starwars/video/video.html and watch the trailer.

George Lucas doesn't tell us how many year prior to episode VI the Phantom Menace takes place, I'm guesstimating about 40 some years, give or take a few. We learn that the Trade Federation, under guidance from Darth Sidious, has put up a blockade around the planet of Naboo, and that the Republic is trying to intervene by sending two ambassadors for negotiations. Here our heroes enter, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) as his Jedi master. They're supposed to negotiate a treaty, but before it comes to that, attempts on their lives are made and the two Jedis have to fight android soldiers. They escape to the planet surface where they meet Jar Jar Binx (a computer animated character). Jar Jar pledges his life to the Jedi master when his life is saved and aids the two Jedis in their task in saving Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman). The clumsiness of this character adds comic and liveliness to the movie.

Considering that all the androids are computer animated, the aim of those fighting droids is questionable and they're easily hacked in half by laser swords. Conveniently our heroes manage to leave the planet Naboo with Queen Amidala, her handmaidens, and approximately 30 fighter pilots. They even make it through the blockade, because only the main ship, which controls all the other vessels surrounding the planet in space, attacks. R2D2 gets its first moment of glory by repairing the shield generator so our heroes can escape, but the hyperdrive is damaged, and the vessel has to be repaired first before the trip to the capitol can be completed.

The planet of choice is Tatooine. Same spaceport where we first met Luke Skywalker, except this time, we meet Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). Anakin's a nine-year-old wunderkind who assists our heroes to obtain the parts to repair their ship by winning a pod race. The same pod race also frees Anakin from slavery, his mother; however, has to remain behind. Darth Maul shows up, just when the group is ready to leave for the capitol to bring the accusations against the Trade Federation before the Senate. A brief fight, the ship takes off, and Qui-Gon barely makes it back on board. Contact with the dark side has been made and the Jedi Council is informed. Anakin is brought before the Council for testing. In the meantime Queen Amidala speaks before the Senate, but to no avail. While the Senate is left to vote for a new supreme chancellor, the Queen and her people, including the Jedi and Anakin, return to Naboo. Jar Jar Binks again is the link between his race and the Naboo. After some brief negotiations both races join in their fight against the Trade Federation. Needlessly to say who wins, and the show is over.

Some of the highlights in this movie are the pod race and the fight between the Jedi and Darth Maul. The computer-animated characters have more life to them, than some of the actors, and provide comic relief. Overall, if you're a Star Wars fan, it's a must see, but if you're not, than you've lost nothing if you decide to read a good book in stead or see a different movie.

Please send any comments to Renate