The Phantom Menace

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor
Director: George Lucas
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 1999
Rating: 5 / 5

How can any movie possibly live up to the advance hype generated for The Phantom Menace, the first in director George Lucas’s trilogy of prequels? This film, in the works since Lucas was dazzled by Steven Spielberg’s work with Jurassic Park, has been anticipated by fans of the original trilogy for sixteen years. As soon as it was learned that Lucas had originally intended the Star Wars trilogy to be preceded and proceeded by three films each, fans have speculated as to when these might arrive and what events they would center around. As fans across the country found out at 12:01 AM early Wednesday morning, the wait is finally over. The Phantom Menace has arrived, nearly two decades after Return of the Jedi, and it is everything a fan could ask for and more!

Set during a time when the Old Republic ruled the galaxy, thirty-two years prior to Star Wars, The Phantom Menace chronicles the early rise of Anakin Skywalker, the man who will become Darth Vadar. It also offers a peek inside the inner workings of the Republic, as rumblings of a deadly new power, wielding the might of the Dark Side of the Force, threaten to tear apart the tenuous threads keeping systems at peace. The Republic, led by its beleaguered Senate and its wise Jedi Council, has brought order to the galaxy, yet a long-forgotten enemy might be returning to unsettle the peace in the galaxy.

As the film opens, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his learned apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), have been dispatched by the Senate to the planet Naboo. This peaceful world, governed by the young queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), is surrounded by the Trade Federation, an organization which is blockading the planet and hovering ominously over it. The Jedi sense early on that something is amiss, suspecting that something mysterious might be behind the Federation’s strange actions. While seeking to resolve this conflict, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan come across a young slave named Anakin (Jake Lloyd) on the planet Tatooine. Though only nine years old, the boy exhibits a certain grasp over the Force, a grasp which Qui-Gon is aware of as well. While seeking to rectify this mounting strife, the two Jedi must determine what to do about this intriguing young boy, a decision which may have far-reaching implications.

Not wishing to reveal too much detail about the film, I can say that The Phantom Menace lived up to all my hopes. The special effects, touted by Lucas and just about every review printed thus far, are indeed state of the art, though we would expect nothing less from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Considering that half of the “actors” in the film are computer-generated, this is a true technical marvel to behold. From the droids of the Trade Federation to the underwater dwellers on the planet Naboo, Lucas’s team has created the most lifelike creatures to date. In a film with such an effort, it would seem that that real actors would simply be along for the ride. These actors, however, set out to prove otherwise, and all deliver exceptional performances. Liam Neeson is a commanding presence as the wise, maverick Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn. Ewan McGregor, stepping into the role made famous by Alec Guinness, has an eerie vocal resemblance to the screen legend, and his turn as Obi-Wan Kenobi gives fans a whole new look at Darth Vadar’s future teacher. Natalie Portman plays an entire spectrum of emotions as Queen Amidala, conveying cunning, guile, and naivete in various scenes. Veteran actors Ian McDiarmid (as Senator Palpatine) and Terrance Stamp (as Chancellor Valorum) add instant credibility to their roles, both delivering commanding performances.

No movie is without its critics, and even George Lucas is not immune. While favorable reviews have been rampant by loyal fans, a great many critics have seen fit to take issue with certain facets of the film. Jake Lloyd has been criticized early and often for being “stiff” and “wooden.” In fact, the young Anakin is anything but, as I found him to be one of the most enjoyable, compelling characters in the film. Sharing much of his screen time with Neeson, McGregor, and Portman, Lloyd more than holds his own, as the viewer can already begin to sense the confidence and charisma that will later lead Anakin to power. Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), a fully-animated creature who resides on Naboo, has likewise been criticized, as he is seen as merely a marketing ploy and a weak attempt at forced humor. While I cannot entirely defend Binks, the criticism is somewhat excessive. Lucas has always taken great pride in his ability to produce an entertaining film for the entire family, and Jar Jar Binks is a character who can have great appeal to the next generation of fans, even if his character’s message is lost on old fans like myself.

The Phantom Menace is packed with excitement, designed to appeal to the old and new fan alike. As a devout follower of the original trilogy, this film contained special impact for me, as it shed some much-needed light on some of the many mysteries of the earlier films. Those curious about the Empire’s rise to power and the Jedi’s fall will be especially intrigued by the political maneuvering being undertaken by the Trade Federation, the Senate, and the Jedi Council. Likewise, after having only been shown bits and pieces of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the previous films, I was eager to learn more of his origins, and to see him when he was stronger and even more powerful. It is not every year that a movie comes along which transcends the film industry and reaches into the lives of people across the globe. The Phantom Menace is just such a movie, and the tremendous build-up has led us to know two things: (1) the movie is the monumental film fans have hoped for, and (2) this is only the beginning...

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Certification: Rated PG.
Running Time: 131 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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