It’s no secret that many high brow cinephiles have their knives out when it comes to STAR WARS, but in particular the prequels. To be fair, my film snobbery overflows onto big blockbuster franchises, but STAR WARS, all aspects of it; the films, the novels, the video games, collectibles are so ingrained in my life since childhood that it’s fair to say I will never have as much passion for anything as I do for STAR WARS.
THE PHANTOM MENACE is a stark contrast from the original trilogy, and that’s exactly what it is supposed to be. Yes, there are many missteps, including the casting of some actors, and the dialogue at times is lackluster and unintentionally laughable but there is so much more at stake when you look at the big picture.
Set decades before A NEW HOPE, Episode I shows us the beginning. We see a vibrant and fertile galaxy before the desolate dilapidation that the Empire brings to not only the aesthetics but also thematically in the original trilogy. This is a time of prosperity, a time when the Jedi oversaw peace in the galaxy.
But. This is also the beginning of the galaxy being divided in a full-out war. Planets pitted against each other by fear and economics. All the workings of seminal STAR WARS villain, Emperor Palpatine, who in Episode I is nothing more than the affable senator from the peaceful planet of Naboo. His Sith alter ego, Darth Sidious, does all the dirty work.
I know. Jar Jar Binks is the go to hangup. Yes, Jar Jar is annoying until you get over it and embrace him. Liam Neeson as the Jedi Master who is the hierarchy of the Skywalker lineage more than makes up for Jar Jar. As does John Williams’ AMAZING score, particularly DUEL OF THE FATES which loudly surrounds the greatest lightsaber battle in the STAR WARS saga: Qui Gon Ginn AND Obi Wan Kenobi versus fan favorite, Darth Maul.
Yes, THE PHANTOM MENACE is the weakest of the STAR WARS saga, but it is also a solid foundation of what’s to come after. The chaos that engulfs the galaxy. The tangible rise of Palpatine’s dark powers. For all of Lucas’ faults, he does an excellent job guiding the camera through the birth of galactic turmoil. His casting of Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson, and Terence Stamp are wonderfully perfect additions to the series, and his vibrant aesthetic is a pleasant contrast from the darkness of the original trilogy.
Podcasting Them Softly 