I had the pleasure of seeing The Phantom Menace for the first time on Friday 16th July. I went into the cinema having read several reviews of the film. Some were bad, others very bad. There were, however, a few that praised Star Wars. I dismissed all the reviews, wanting to form an opinion for myself. And here it is.
Before I begin, let me tell you that there is nothing like the feeling of waiting for Star Wars to begin. When the lights dimmed, and the 20th Century Fox fanfare began, I could not believe I was about to see a film that I have waited half my life to see. Then those ten immortal blue words appeared on the screen, and the film began. It was an amazing feeling, to know that you are watching history, the start of a saga.
All in all, I was extremely pleased with the movie. If you looking for a film that sets up the story for the original trilogy, then The Phantom Menace does not disappoint at all. If, instead, you are looking for a summer blockbuster, then you will be blown away. But if you are a Star Wars fan, and want to know how the Republic falls, how Palpatine comes to power, and how Anakin is found, then you will be truly astonished.
When Jar Jar Binks first came on to the scene, I remembered all the bad press he had received. Ignore this. It is all rubbish. He takes some getting used to, but then you will find him almost as likeable as C-3PO and Artoo. His antics can are funny, and lighten the mood of the film. Without Jar Jar, Star Wars Episode 1 would have lost much of its humour. He was necessary to the film, but whether he will be necessary to the later films, I do not know. Take what he does lightly, and you will find him a loveable character with a big heart. I will admit that there are a couple of points in the film when he is a bit annoying, but the rest of his performance more than makes up for that.
Much has also been said of how little Darth Maul says and does in the film. This is true, he has an extremely small, but critical, part. When looking at his character, though, you realise that there was not much else Lucas could have done with Maul. The Sith apprentice had one objective: find Amidala and kill the Jedi. Do not compare him to Vader. The two had very different roles to play in the films, and Maul’s part is enough to carry the story of Episode 1. I think if he had had more of a part, then the film would have suffered.
The two Jedi, Qui-Gonn Jinn and Ben Kenobi, are excellent. Ben had a relatively small role, but he excelled in his scenes. Liam Neeson was just superb as the venerable Jedi. The lightsabre scenes were stunning, unlike anything you have seen before. Both actors were brilliant, and played off each other very well.
The actors who portrayed Anakin and Amidala showed why they were picked for the roles. They shine throughout the film, and it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops in Episode II.
The set pieces and planet landscapes were out of this world. Imagine the best special effects you have seen, and then multiply that by millions. You will be nowhere close to the effects in Episode 1, but you get the idea. They were absolutely stunning. Naboo was a beautiful, and if it was real would be a great holiday resort. Tatooine was as good as ever, and was a welcome return to the original trilogy. Coruscant was unreal. It is a wonder to behold.
The pod race was breath-taking. You already know the result, but you still feel yourself shaking with excitement as the race unfolds. It was brilliant to see Jabba again, and a young Bib Fortuna. As I said before, the lightsabre duels were stunning. But the final one was all that you could hope for. It showed the Jedi at their best. Nothing can prepare you for what happens. It represents what Star Wars is all about: good against evil. It brings up all the mythology behind the films, and it leaves you in shock.
Once again John Williams pulled out all the stops on the music. The soundtrack is so amazing, it really captures the feel of the film. It reminds you of the original soundtracks, but the new music is so haunting and mythic. It is a wonder to listen to.
The Phantom Menace is a triumph, and is worthy of all the work that has gone into it. There moments that will make you laugh, gasp in awe, and choke back tears. It answers many questions thrown up from the original trilogy, and poses many more that will be addressed in the concluding two episodes of the prequel trilogy.
See the film, see it again, form your own opinion, talk about it with friends. Go into it with an open mind, and have no fears; this is Star Wars, back at last. Be there when cinematic history is once again re-written, just as it was in 1977. It may be just a film, but in many other ways it is so much more.