The Phantom Menace - A review

[Simon Brown]

The Good:

 

Well the film, in my opinion, is NOT as bad as the critics have made out.  That said, it's certainly NOT as good as it could have been.

 

The story moves along reasonably quickly, and the final lightsabre battle manages to capture some of the excitement of those in parts 4,5 & 6.

 

There's the political intrigue as Senator Palpatine (a.k.a. Darth Sidious, a.k.a. the Emperor) manoeuvres behind the scenes in order to ensure his election to Chancellor of the Republic.

 

The Bad:

 

Some of the dialogue is truly poor, especially Jake Lloyd's which is pretty much "gee whiz" stuff.  Even worse though, are the lines uttered by Jar Jar Binks, whose catch phrase seems to be "How wuud".  For a comic relief he's unfunny, and unconvincing.  Unlike the banter between R2 and C3PO, and Han and the human characters in the original films, there's a desperate lack of comic timing, and the clumsy antics of the character feel out of place in Star Wars.

 

The way the droid control ship is destroyed is sloppy story telling.

 

The Gungans in general are completely unbelievable.  I couldn't understand half of what Jar Jar was supposed to be saying, and Brian Blessed must have mumbled his Boss Nass dialogue so much that they gave up recording any more as it wasn't going to get better (and what species was Boss Nass SUPPOSED to be?  He certainly looked nothing like any of the Gungans).  All I can say is roll on the DVD so I can use the subtitle option an find out what he is supposed to be saying.

 

The Trade Federation aliens seem to be speaking with some sort of Italian accent.  I assume the actors got carried away with it while filming the palace parts in Italy.  You half expect them to call for Mario and Luigi to deal with the Jedi.

 

The way the ability of a person to use the force is explained takes away some of the power and mysticism out of the Jedi.

 

Darth Maul.  I think the film reviews got it spot on there.  Too little screen time to generate any sense of power for the character, and he only has two lines.  That said, there is a good contrast between his tigerish prowling and Qui-Gonn's patience during the lull in the sabre fight.  His death is a bit feeble however.

 

Did Lucas get his monies-worth from Samuel L Jackson?  A chronic waste of an actor.

 

The Federation robots.  Quite laughable really.  They give off no menace, unlike the storm troopers.  And they're stopped a bit easily/conveniently too.

 

How did Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi Wan, and whoever else from the Jedi council, fail to "feel" the presence of Darth Sidious at Qui-Gonn's funeral?  He's in the same room for crying out loud!

 

Padme was Queen Amidalia.  Like, duh!  Didn't see THAT one coming...

 

The ugly:

 

Yes, this is the attack on the CGI.  Lucas is supposed to have waited so long before making the new films as the technology wasn't convincing enough.  After Episode One, I'd say he started filming now in case he snuffed it without being able to finish (or even start) the prequels.

 

Now there is some good use of CGI in there.  From the documentaries I've seen of the production, there is some good blending in of scenery.  But all that good work is blown away by all the effects that don't work, namely the Gungan's, Whatto (the flying thing), and Coruscent all of which look too obviously CGI.

 

There is of course the problem of continuity.  In Empire Strikes Back Luke is told to go to Dagobah :

 

 "There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me." Obi Wan Kenobi - ESB

 

So who the fuck is Qui-Gonn?  From what we learn in TPM Obi Wan is ready to take the Jedi tests, and he's even made a Jedi Knight at the end for killing Darth Maul.  Now I know he's supposed to be a bit past it by the time he's seen in ANH, but it seems dying didn't improve his memory...

 

The only way what we see in TPM could tally with the original's is if Yoda takes over tutoring Obi Wan, but Kenobi's already taken charge of Anakin. 

 

To be honest, the problem is that from what we're told in the original films, I'd sort of assumed that Anakin was older, more like Luke's age in A New Hope, when he met Anakin.
"When I first met him, your father was already a great pilot, but I was amazed by how strongly the force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought I could instruct him as well as Yoda. I was wrong." Obi Wan Kenobi - ROTJ

 

When he says pilot, I don't imagine an 8 year old boy, I imagine a young adult.  Again, an older actor would have been better, especially as I don't buy this Wesley Crusher bit of Anakin building his own pod racer and droid.  He's an 8 year old slave for crying out loud!  If slavery meant having the time and resources to build a jet engined racing vehicle and the Star Wars equivalent of the universal translator, I can't really see why Anakin would want to leave Tattoine.

 

Also, the quote suggests that Obi Wan taught Anakin for reasons of his own ego, whereas in TPM he takes it on for Qui-Gonn's dying request, and with the eventual blessing of the Jedi council.

 

Also, Queen Amidalia's basically a bit of a cradle-snatcher by the looks of it...

 

So, in the coming films we've got Anakin and Amidalia falling in love and her having twins which he somehow knows nothing about.  For some reason he's tempted down the dark path.  The following are my current theories:

 

1    Jedi are forbidden to have children and the council kill Amidalia in the hope of             preventing the birth of any children.

 

2    Someone on Tattoine kills Schmi Skywalker, and the Jedi council will not permit         revenge.

 

We've also got to fit in the clone wars, and explain exactly where Luke acquired an uncle (we're not told of any brothers or sisters of Anakin's in the film.  In fact, it sounds like Anakin was born as a result of immaculate conception if I remember the film correctly). 

 

"That’s what your Uncle told you. He didn’t hold with your father’s ideals. He thought he should have stayed here, not gotten involved." OWK - ANH

 

Again, this sort of points towards Anakin being a young man, rather than a boy, who left home to fight in the clone wars.  He certainly has no brother or sisters in TPM, and neither does Amidalia from what we've seen.  So that just leaves some-one brought in to adopt Luke and raise him (why on Tattooine?  Considering everyone knows it's a world in the grip of the gangster Hutt's, it's not exactly the safest place to send a possible saviour of the galaxy to grow up.) with Obi Wan also moving to Tattoine to keep a discreet eye on the boy.

 

You also have to ask yourself why Obi Wan doesn't recognise R2-D2 in ANH...

 

Any comments anyone....

[The Jazz Singer]

Simon Brown <Simon...@cerebros.demon.co.uk> wrote

 

Any comments anyone....

Well, you seem to have identified the same weaknesses and issues that I did.

 

The only defence that can successfully be deployed for these weaknesses is that there are 2 more episodes in which GL can straighten things out.  But how many films can you recall seeing where you were expected to come out disappointed, with the justification that the next one would make it "better".

 

If GL had started the Star Wars saga with this story, Episodes 4, 5 and 6 would never have been made because Episode 1 would have bombed.  People can reel out all the excuses they like for TPM, but as a film or a story it just does not hold it's own.

--
The Jazz Singer

 

Purveryor of fine movie and DVD reviews since 1999
http://www.jazzsinger.co.uk

[Wandering Rogue]

The Jazz Singer <jazzs...@jazzsinger.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7o6nii$mj1$1...@news1.news.iol.ie...

<SNIP>

If GL had started the Star Wars saga with this story, Episodes 4, 5 and 6
would never have been made because Episode 1 would have bombed. People can
reel out all the excuses they like for TPM, but as a film or a story it just
does not hold it's own.

<SNIP>

Depends how many times you see it. For me it answered many questions that
had puzzled me since I was 14. George found the strain of Eps 5 and 6 too
much, so he passed the directing baton to someone else and I guess he will
do the same again with 2 and 3.
...Rogue
--
Check out my Home Page www.btinternet.com/~wandering.rogue/
E-mail me Wanderi...@btinternet.com
ICQ#44152749

[Wandering Rogue]

Simon Brown <Simon...@cerebros.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7o4s6e$g2o$1...@news4.svr.pol.co.uk...

Before I begin, I agree with a lot you said but didn't let most of it bother
me. Here's the bits I feel strongly about ... no malice intended before
anyone decides they want to flame me

<SNIP>

Even worse though, are the lines uttered by Jar Jar Binks, whose catch
phrase seems to be "How wuud". For a comic relief he's unfunny, and
unconvincing. Unlike the banter between R2 and C3PO, and Han and the human
characters in the original films, there's a desperate lack of comic timing,
and the clumsy antics of the character feel out of place in Star Wars.

<SNIP>

Expectations too high

<SNIP>

The way the droid control ship is destroyed is sloppy story telling.

<SNIP>

Yeah just like Luke's fluke shot down the exhaust portal in Ep4

<SNIP>

what species was Boss Nass SUPPOSED to be?

<SNIP>

Fat lazy Gungan. Probably administration caste

<SNIP

The Trade Federation aliens seem to be speaking with some sort of Italian
accent

<SNIP>

Japanese - that's why there has been so much fuss about racial stereotypes
in the US

<SNIP>

The way the ability of a person to use the force is explained takes away
some of the power and mysticism out of the Jedi.

<SNIP>

Disagree- answers why some are strong and others are not (in the Force)

<SNIP>

Did Lucas get his monies-worth from Samuel L Jackson? A chronic waste of an
actor.

<SNIP>

Has a major role in Ep2

<SNIP>

How did Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi Wan, and whoever else from the Jedi council,
fail to "feel" the presence of Darth Sidious at Qui-Gonn's funeral? He's in
the same room for crying out loud!

<SNIP>

Use of Dark Force powers

<SNIP>

"There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me." Obi
Wan Kenobi - ESB

So who the f**k is Qui-Gon? From what we learn in TPM Obi Wan is ready to

take the Jedi tests, and he's even made a Jedi Knight at the end for killing
Darth Maul. Now I know he's supposed to be a bit past it by the time he's
seen in ANH, but it seems dying didn't improve his memory...

The only way what we see in TPM could tally with the original's is if Yoda
takes over tutoring Obi Wan, but Kenobi's already taken charge of Anakin.

<SNIP>

Yep! Even the Jedi Knight needs to train to reach the level of Jedi Master

<SNIP>When he says pilot, I don't imagine an 8 year old boy, I imagine a

young adult. Again, an older actor would have been better, especially as I
don't buy this Wesley Crusher bit of Anakin building his own pod racer and
droid. He's an 8 year old slave for crying out loud! If slavery meant
having the time and resources to build a jet engined racing vehicle and the
Star Wars equivalent of the universal translator, I can't really see why
Anakin would want to leave Tattoine.

<SNIP>

Expectations too high again. The boy was special. As you yourself later note
**Immaculate Conception**

<SNIP>

Also, Queen Amidalia's basically a bit of a cradle-snatcher by the looks of
it...

<SNIP>

Only 5 years

<SNIP>

1 Jedi are forbidden to have children and the council kill Amidalia in
the hope of preventing the birth of any children.

2 Someone on Tattoine kills Schmi Skywalker, and the Jedi council will
not permit revenge.

<SNIP>

More likely during his training Anakin becomes aware of the deficiencies of
his training by Obi-Wan and strikes out alone. Comes across the teachings of
the Sith left on Yavin 4 by Exar Kun following the Sith Wars 4000 years
previously. Being impatient, dabbles in the Dark Side and Darth Sidious
(Palpatine) rides in to "complete" his training

<SNIP>

You also have to ask yourself why Obi Wan doesn't recognise R2-D2 in ANH...

<SNIP>

Who says he doesn't? may have forgotten in his old age

<SNIP>
Any comments anyone....
<SNIP>

You've got them.

I enjoyed the film second time around. First time I spent all my time
looking for mistakes and inconsistencies. Like you, I found some. Most of
which could be explained away, some which need answers in Eps 2 and 3

[R. Barry Jones]

On Fri, 6 Aug 1999 22:19:49 +0100, "Wandering Rogue"
<Wanderi...@btinternet.com> wrote:

>
>The Jazz Singer <jazzs...@jazzsinger.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:7o6nii$mj1$1...@news1.news.iol.ie...
>
><SNIP>
>If GL had started the Star Wars saga with this story, Episodes 4, 5 and 6
>would never have been made because Episode 1 would have bombed. People can
>reel out all the excuses they like for TPM, but as a film or a story it just
>does not hold it's own.
><SNIP>
>
>Depends how many times you see it. For me it answered many questions that
>had puzzled me since I was 14. George found the strain of Eps 5 and 6 too
>much, so he passed the directing baton to someone else and I guess he will
>do the same again with 2 and 3.

George Lucas has said he is planning on filming all 3 of the prequels
and I think its almost certain he will direct Episode 2. I hope he
gets some help (Lawrence Kasdan) with the writing though like he did
with Episode 5 and 6 - not changing plots or anything, just the
dialog.

At first viewing, I didnt think TPM was that special but I enjoyed it
a lot more the second time and even went to see it a third. I noticed
a lot more the second and third time round, and am really looking
forward for the next 2 episodes - especially episode 3 which should
get darker (must do).

As a film of its own, TPM isnt brilliant - just good. Then again, it
does know that it's the first part of a 6 episode saga and I thought
it was a nice introduction. I think when when the 3 prequels are
complete we will look at the original trilogy in a different way as we
find more on how Darth Vader came to be.

Return of the Jedi, to me, seem's to be less about the Return of Luke
Skywalker and more about the return of Anakin.

I really did wish George Lucas could have found a better actor than
Jake Lloyd to play Anakin though - I thought he was awful and Jar Jar
Binks seems much more bearable in comparison.

Barry Jones
------------------------
The Random Groucho Marx Quotes Page :
http://www.therightside.demon.co.uk/quotes/groucho/

[Dan Owen]

In article <37ab5c6d...@news.demon.co.uk>, n...@therightside.demon.co.uk (R.
Barry Jones) writes:

>George Lucas has said he is planning on filming all 3 of the prequels
>and I think its almost certain he will direct Episode 2. I hope he
>gets some help (Lawrence Kasdan) with the writing though like he did
>with Episode 5 and 6 - not changing plots or anything, just the
>dialog.

The thing I realize about George Lucas is that he can't take criticism. In a
few interviews he's been asked about Jar-Jar Binks, the plot and the dialog in
TPM, and each time he's just shrugging and saying stuff like "I make these
movies for me. They're kids movies, people forget that. Jar-Jar isn't racist.
Jake Lloyd was great.", etc, etc.

The man is a danger to the franchise. I fear he'll repeat the mistakes of TPM
throughout this new trilogy. Why should he make the effort, he probably thinks
- each one will probably end up in the Top 10 biggest grossing movies ever - no
matter what the quality is.

I sincerely hope that idiot Rick Callum isn't such a brown-nose and actually
starts turning GL's mind around on a few points.

-- Dan Owen Visit "Millennium 2000"
http://m2000.cjb.net/

"The end of all things is at hand."
- Peter 4:7

ICQ #: 26360276

[Simon Brown]

> <SNIP>

> Even worse though, are the lines uttered by Jar Jar Binks, whose catch
> phrase seems to be "How wuud". For a comic relief he's unfunny, and
> unconvincing. Unlike the banter between R2 and C3PO, and Han and the
human
> characters in the original films, there's a desperate lack of comic
timing,
> and the clumsy antics of the character feel out of place in Star Wars.

> <SNIP>
>
> Expectations too high

But high because of the ORIGINAL trilogy... If the original trilogy had
utterly
stank we wouldn't be seeing an Episode 1 in the first place, but because
ANH, ESB, and ROTJ were a very good trilogy of films by modern film-making
standards (come on, I know people criticise ROTJ, but it's better than 95%
of third films / final film in trilogies...), people were right to expect
something of the same high standard. Perhaps if Lucas had stuck to writing
the story and passed the screenplay part to someone else as he did on ESB
(or co-written it as in ROTJ), people would have been more satisfied with
the results. I think, to use the old saying, Lucas is trying to be jack of
all trades and ending up being master of none.

> <SNIP>

> The way the droid control ship is destroyed is sloppy story telling.

> <SNIP>
>
> Yeah just like Luke's fluke shot down the exhaust portal in Ep4

Luke used the Force to help his aim. Anakin was just sitting there punching
buttons... "Whoops! I've just destroyed the power generators!" Hardly the
same thing is it...

> <SNIP>

> what species was Boss Nass SUPPOSED to be?

> <SNIP>
>
> Fat lazy Gungan. Probably administration caste

But he's green! And he doesn't have that bit that comes down from where his
ears should be like Jar Jar and the rest of the Gungans...

> <SNIP

> The Trade Federation aliens seem to be speaking with some sort of Italian

> accent
> <SNIP>
>
> Japanese - that's why there has been so much fuss about racial stereotypes
> in the US

Well it sounded like bad Italian to me, and everyone else I know who's seen

it agrees...

> <SNIP>

> The way the ability of a person to use the force is explained takes away
> some of the power and mysticism out of the Jedi.

> <SNIP>
>
> Disagree- answers why some are strong and others are not (in the Force)

But I could accept that some people may be stronger/better at using the
force than others. Just like I can accept that some people can drive a
racing car a lot better than others. Saying it's down to a group of
microscopic life-forms in the blood just de-mystifies it, and makes you
wonder why people aren't injecting themselves with them to gain force
abilities...

> <SNIP>

> Did Lucas get his monies-worth from Samuel L Jackson? A chronic waste of
an
> actor.

> <SNIP>
>
> Has a major role in Ep2

And this applies to Episode 1 how? His fee will probably be about the same
in both films, but he was hardly in TPM.

>
> <SNIP>

> How did Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi Wan, and whoever else from the Jedi council,
> fail to "feel" the presence of Darth Sidious at Qui-Gonn's funeral? He's
in
> the same room for crying out loud!

> <SNIP>
>
> Use of Dark Force powers

Vader could sense the presence of Obi Wan on the Death Star in ANH... If
someone was "blocking" Yoda, Mace, and Kenobi's senses, I'm sure they'd have
noticed.

> <SNIP>

> "There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me." Obi
> Wan Kenobi - ESB

> So who the f**k is Qui-Gon? From what we learn in TPM Obi Wan is ready to

> take the Jedi tests, and he's even made a Jedi Knight at the end for
killing
> Darth Maul. Now I know he's supposed to be a bit past it by the time he's
> seen in ANH, but it seems dying didn't improve his memory...
>
> The only way what we see in TPM could tally with the original's is if Yoda
> takes over tutoring Obi Wan, but Kenobi's already taken charge of Anakin.

> <SNIP>
>
> Yep! Even the Jedi Knight needs to train to reach the level of Jedi Master
>

> <SNIP>When he says pilot, I don't imagine an 8 year old boy, I imagine a

> young adult. Again, an older actor would have been better, especially as
I
> don't buy this Wesley Crusher bit of Anakin building his own pod racer and
> droid. He's an 8 year old slave for crying out loud! If slavery meant
> having the time and resources to build a jet engined racing vehicle and
the
> Star Wars equivalent of the universal translator, I can't really see why
> Anakin would want to leave Tattoine.

> <SNIP>
>
> Expectations too high again. The boy was special. As you yourself later
note
> **Immaculate Conception**

But it STILL doesn't seem as convincing. Also, by ROTJ Luke has learnt most
of the Jedi skills, despite having comparatively little training compared to
what Anakin must have had. Yet we learn in TPM that children who are strong
in the force must go through years of training to get to the stage of being
a Jedi knight (Anakin's judged too old at about 8, and Obi Wan's just got to
the ready stage at about 30... (or whatever age he's supposed to be in
TPM)).

> <SNIP>

> 1 Jedi are forbidden to have children and the council kill Amidalia in
> the hope of preventing the birth of any children.
>
> 2 Someone on Tattoine kills Schmi Skywalker, and the Jedi council will
> not permit revenge.

> <SNIP>
>
> More likely during his training Anakin becomes aware of the deficiencies
of
> his training by Obi-Wan and strikes out alone. Comes across the teachings
of
> the Sith left on Yavin 4 by Exar Kun following the Sith Wars 4000 years
> previously. Being impatient, dabbles in the Dark Side and Darth Sidious
> (Palpatine) rides in to "complete" his training
>

I think it's more likely that Anakin is 'seduced' by the dark side as a
result of obi Wan's inadequacies as a teacher...

According to Obi Wan

"A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine before he turned to
evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. "

I think something has to happen to cause Anakin to hunt down the Jedi, who
must have been his friends and allies to a greater or lesser extent.

To be honest, I'd always felt from the original trilogy, that there had been
more Sith, and that during the clone wars, both Sith and Jedi were killing
each other off. Then Anakin became Vader and tipped the balance in favour
of the dark side. Yoda goes into hiding on Dagobah, and Kenobi goes to live
on Tatooine to keep a discreet eye on Luke as he grows up.

> <SNIP>

> You also have to ask yourself why Obi Wan doesn't recognise R2-D2 in
ANH...

> <SNIP>
>
> Who says he doesn't? may have forgotten in his old age

Goes back to my point about him being a bit past it...

[Sangraal]

In article <7oi0b7$8vb$1...@news4.svr.pol.co.uk>, Simon Brown <Simon.Brown@
cerebros.demon.co.uk> writes

>> Yeah just like Luke's fluke shot down the exhaust portal in Ep4
>
>Luke used the Force to help his aim. Anakin was just sitting there punching
>buttons... "Whoops! I've just destroyed the power generators!" Hardly the
>same thing is it...

More specifically, Luke's 'lucky shot' is the consummation of all the
film's plot lines: here is the practical application of the 'tapes'
we've spent the whole film seeing rescued, here to is Luke's use of the
Force and rejection of technological assistance, foreshadowed by his
earlier training on the Millennium Falcon, Han's comments about 'hokey
religions and ancient weapons' and Ben's ghostly 'Run, Luke, Run' on the
Death Star. It all fits together perfectly.

Anakin, however, is just buggering about. The auto-pilot is a clumsy
plot device to get him to the space battle, once there we get no
intimation that's he's using the Force or 'reaching out with his
feelings' or 'trusting his instincts' or anything like that: he just
seems to be a lucky putz. The torpedoes he fires seem to hit something
pretty important in the droid ship, but we're given no idea what or how:
it's as much a surprise to us as it is to him when the ship proceeds to
blow itself up. Some elementary plotting or foreshadowing would have
bridged these difficulties, but while Lucas accomplishes the cutting-
edge with ease, it's the elementary film-making skills that challenge
him.

--
Sangraal
-"Gorillas don't read philosophy!"
-"Yes, they do, Otto! They just don't understand it!"
Jamie-Lee Curtis to Kevin Kline, in 'A Fish Called Wanda'