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    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    All right so you've heard all the criticisms about "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" over and over. In my opinion, the movie isn't even so much "bad" as it is unnecessary. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of bad elements to the film, it's just that the movie leaves you feeling more cold than angry or upset (which is the mark of a really awful film.)

    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Jedi knights Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) are sent to settle a trade dispute, only to discover that the Trade Federation has sent an army of droids to take command of the planet Naboo. Fleeing with Queen Amidala (Keira Knightley) and her handmaidens (including Natalie Portman), the Jedi are accompanied by a peculiar creature named Jar-Jar Binks (completely animated, voiced by Ahmed Best.) While searching for a way to return to the galactic senate and informing the rest of the galaxy of the invasion, the group meet familiar faces such as R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), C-3P0 (voiced by Anthony Daniels) and a young Annakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd.)

    The story is often very slow and dull. There are some sprinkles of action throughout, but there is no tension in the story for 2 reasons, firstly this is a prequel. You already know who is going to live and who isn't. Secondly, the opponents that our Jedi protagonists face are laughable. Most of the action features our heroes battling endless ranks of bumbling droids. These robots are often used for comic relief, never manage to actually hit or come close to hitting anything and are easily reduced to smoldering bits with the swing of a lightsaber. The other antagonist and the one people remember is Darth Maul, a mortal enemy of the Jedi. The most surprising thing about “The Phantom Menace” for me was when I realize that he actually has some spoken lines! They offer nothing to develop his personality and the guy becomes memorable only because of his signature weapon and physical appearance but at least he’s more threatening than those robots!

    Most of the characters in the film are quite monotonous. They have little personality or distinguishing traits apart from their physical appearance. The only characters that actually stand out as having a personality are either the droids R2-D2 and C-3P0, who are simply taken from the later films and inserted back into the sequels (in what feels like a really forced tie-in) or the character Jar Jar Binks. While Jar Jar might be hated universally for his constant bumbling and ridiculous speech pattern, at least the character is memorable. Physically he’s unique, he actually displays a wide range of emotions at the events happening around him and while a lot of the character's comedic moments don't really work, he’s the only thing that will prevent you from dozing off between the action scenes.

    The plot is muddled and drifts aimlessly without a real main character for a long time. There are many sequences where politics and nonsensical trade route business is discussed. When it comes down to it, there's not a whole lot that happens in this story. I feel like this entire plot could have been condensed into an opening crawl for a more exciting "Star Wars" film. The 2hr + running time feels padded and forced. It doesn't really provide fans of the series with any cool revelations or interesting insight into the characters they already knew. Annakin Skywalker gets an origin story, but it feels like a first draft and leaves you puzzled. C-3P0 gets a similar introduction and it’s just as groan-worthy. Obi-Wan is absent for so much of the film that you don't feel like you got to know the guy at all. Everyone else? Who cares? There are numerous plot holes and sequences where characters act illogically just so we can insert an action sequence in the film (think of Annakin being dragged into a warzone just so he can hide inside a ship that is blasting off) I’m too young to remember how I felt when I first saw the film. Now I feel like saying “That’s it? ”

    When it comes to the special effects and creature designs, most of the film holds up pretty well. There is a glut of computer-generated effects that often make the movie feel hollow. You know that the space battles, the robots, the backgrounds, the aliens, the racing is all generated in the computer so it doesn't have any real weight. When the movie is moving quickly it all looks impressive but when it the camera stands still there are some shots that look pretty bad (a couple shots during the Gungan/Droid battle look like they were taken out of the video game) Oddly enough the limitations of the original "Star Wars" films feel like they made the world seem credible. Those creatures had to either work as physical puppets or fit as costumes over actors. Some of the designs for aliens in the film look so crazy you don't believe for a second that this could ever be a real creature. Look at Watto for example, a two-foot tall pot-bellied greasy creature with bat wings that is always flying. Every time you're looking at him you think to yourself "How did this species even evolve? "

    I do have some praises. There are a lot of fun things to look at in “The Phantom Menace” and in fact, visually the movie is interesting. The crazy creatures, elaborate ships, grand structures in the backgrounds, the exotic locations and fast-moving scenes are visually interesting and provide some good entertainment. Queen Amidala has an elaborate wardrobe that's quite beautiful and there is some pretty exciting fight choreography between the Jedi and their Sith opponent. This battle is unique so it's nice and fresh. While the constant editing that interrupts the battle is frustrating, that familiar soundtrack is blasting as you see the characters slash at each other, jump and kicking and, it is very memorable.

    With this instalment, the series has actually become less accessible to wide audiences and casual fans of the series. Die-hard fans of "Star Wars" that just eat up anything from the brand and children will find something to enjoy, everyone else not so much. Actually, most kids will have a good time. The action sequences move quickly, there's always something weird and crazy on the screen and some of the comic relief, while juvenile, will hit the mark for the young audience members. You won't sit through the movie and hate it but the movie does not stand on its own feet. It's the kind of movie you watch to prepare yourself for the other superior "Star Wars" films and worth watching/buying if you are curious and want a bit more out of the universe that George Lucas created but not the kind you can see yourself watching every year for a good time unless it's part of a marathon. Despite all of it's fault the movie isn't all bad and comes off as more of a mediocre, mostly forgettable story with some shining moments and a couple of memorable scenes. (On DVD, May 4, 2013)

    5
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    adamwatchesmovies@  28.2.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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