Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sport the Jedi Code
© Lucasfilm, 1999

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STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 - THE PHANTOM MENACE

One wonders what might have been the reaction if Lucas had filmed the series in order, and this little spectacular was released in 1977? I feel certain it still would have changed the entire film industry anyway. However, I doubt whether the same warmth of feeling would have been attached to it. The young hero is no Luke Skywalker, and in fact is a clear deficit to the film. The other heroes don't get to smart off to each other in endearing ways. And the plot is much too complicated - too long a stretch for audiences even now. Definitely not the so easily digested sci-fi fairy tale of A NEW HOPE.

Which is why it disappoints so many. THE PHANTOM MENACE is like getting a great big slice of pizza when you were expecting an ice cream sundae.

The Plot: Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) has a big problem. Her planet Naboo is enclosed in a blockade because she won't sign a trade agreement - she's getting strong-armed by some traders who want control of her planet. The traders are being manipulated by Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), who plans to use the situation to gain power over the Planetary Federation.

Two Jedi Knights - Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor doing a fantastic take on a young Alec Guinness) - are sent to investigate the situation. Fearing the Jedi will rat on them to the Imperial Senate, the traders invade. Getting away from the robot troops, the Jedi fall in with one of the planet's indigenous fish-dog people. They help each other get away with the queen, and they all hide out on the planet Tatooine. There, they adopt an obnoxious little kid (Jake Lloyd) who shows great promise to the Jedi, but also great danger.

The Good Stuff: Though played as more dignified than the future/previous episodes, the long-awaited Episode One of this space opera really gets moving once it returns to its roots as the most expensive (and profitable) Saturday afternoon serial ever made. I really wasn't prepared to be impressed after all the hype this flick had attached to it, but I came away liking it very much. True, George Lucas, returning to direct after 20 years of only second unit and TV work, still doesn't know how to direct actors and still relies heavily on recycling shots, sequences and dialogue from old movies. But he also still knows how to pick and motivate talent. Everything that's good in the picture is there because the people he hired were good, and they got inspired to be better by his vision.

The Weak Stuff: Number one here is Jake Lloyd as Anakin. I found him hard to accept, and even harder to believe a kid as young as he is with no education could build and fly a spaceship. Plus, how can he fly one? Is there a phone book on the seat? He's obviously there to keep little kids in the movie - it's just as obvious his amateurish delivery (almost as bad as Harrison Ford in Episode Four) and snotty attitude will alienate even the wee ones, who'll be more interested in the "comic relief" CGI-critter sidekick anyway. Which brings us to flaw #2 - this big-eared alien Jar Jar Binks is a bit amusing here and there, but there's way, way too much of him. He looks real, but he's animated and voiced like a cartoon, which ruins the illusion. By the time he starts stealing from Keaton in the third act I was ready to start shootin' my 9 off at the screen. Still waiting for a Lucasarts PC game where you get to kick his ass.

The Weird Stuff: Turns out Jedi Knights are some kind of x-factor mu-tants due to the presence of an element called "minti-chlorides" (or somethin') in their blood. Makes 'em Force-tastic. Gee, does that mean their talents can be transferred via blood transfusion?

Most everything else about the film is terrific. There's a full course of eye candy in every frame. The chases and fight scenes are genuinely thrilling. Ewan McGregor, R2-D2 and Natalie Portman stand out in the acting category. Nice music from John Williams, who's started using more rhythm the past few films.

Most of all, re-watching THE PHANTOM MENACE reminds us of how eager we are to see the next one. Which isn't so far away now.