I really don't think this film is as bad as everyone makes out. I get that it was disappointing but I wouldn't say it's significantly worse than Attack of the Clones. At least this Anakin can act. It does seem more aimed at younger audiences but what's wrong with that? I feel like it appealed to the kid in all of us and let us have a little fun in the Star Wars universe.
After all this time, Episode I still holds up in production value and especially the score from John Williams. Just parts of the dialogue remain cringe-worthy. Duel of the Fates rocks as always.
We Should Not Have Made This Bargain
They probably shouldn't have made the kid that would become Darth Vader; so friggen cheerful. Which makes it hard to believe that he has such a chip on his shoulders in part 2 and 3. Plus Padme is a cradle robber for even eventually getting with him.
I received the VHS of this one when I was about 9 or 10, I watched at the time but I didn't recalled much of anything so it's almost like I never watched it before. I was totally not into the Star Wars universe (actually I wasn't until I finally start watching the films a couple of days ago) so at the time for me it was just another action film that entertained me for a while. Now after all this years I see that it doesn't surprise me, once again it entertained me for sure but it lacks the charm and the brilliance of Episode IV, V and VI.
It's interesting and strange that sometimes I felt like I wasn't watching a Star Wars film but one inspired in the Star Wars saga. There's a lot of holes in the story, things that I would like to have seen explained. The new characters that are introduced don't glow at all, it's almost like they came from nowhere and from the beginning until the end I didn't feel any simpathy for them. The special effects are sometimes very poor and I would like to have seen real creatures like in the other films, not computer generated animals that looked odd.
Unfortunately Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is not very engaging and it turns out to be just a piece of entertainment.
Now THIS is pod racing! A 25th anniversary reflection.
Watching this again in the cinema a quarter century after the original release was a joy and I did not expect to think that. To be clear it is no where near redeemed, all the thoroughly discussed issues are still there and yet amongst them are brilliant moments.
Yes of course Anakin is a little weirdo that asks if a stranger is an angel, but his mom believes there was no father involved in his conception so can your really blame him? I certainly don't blame Jake Lloyd, on review he did not deserve the hate. Ah but isn't Jar Jar still a pain? Not this time, he's now the comedic foil (or loveable moron) that I suppose he was always meant to be.
I'll grant that the pod racing scene is still unnecessary at best and dumb at worst. However the sound team need to take a bow, as child I did not fully appreciate their work in the way I can now. I love the contrast of Sebulba's stock car versus Anakin's sports bike, and all the other pods in between.
Plenty of people will still see this a low point, and as the gateway for the significantly worse trilogy that came long after it but it's not that for me anymore. As I sat there with a beer in one hand and popcorn in the other I couldn't help but have that moment of wonder all over again when Darth Maul ignited his second lightsaber. Goosebumps. After all isn't that what cinema is all about?
Every time I rewatch this movie, Jar Jar gets more and more unironically funny
I decided to rewatch all the Star Wars films, and give my thoughts on each. I've seen them all so many times, and wanted to write my reflections <:darthjarjar:1101996937592451072> Star Wars means so much to me, and is one of my passions. Hope this is enjoyable! Of course: Spoiler Warning!
While this was the 4th Star Wars film made, The Phantom Menace is the beginning of the Skywalker story, and the beginning of the Prequel Trilogy.
This was a film almost destined to fail. The hype was way too big. Return of the Jedi was released back in 1983, while Phantom Menace hit the big screen in 1999. That's 16 years with nothing new theatrically! (not counting spin offs comics, books, TV shows). Now we get mainstream Star Wars content every few months.
Fans sold out theaters just to see the trailer of the movie, and not stay for the actual movie they paid for. No Internet trailers back then. Hype was indeed real. Many felt this was going to be the best Star Wars movie they ever saw. Did fans leave feeling the same way?
It depends. Are you an Original Trilogy purist? Then you probably denied this film's existence. Jar Jar Binks is the worst thing to ever happen to you, and ruined your life. Anakin Skywalker as a child is cringe, and you asked when does he turn to Darth Vader? What's with the poop jokes? No Way Anakin blew up a Trade Federation ship!! Trade Disputes? Politics?! THIS ISN'T STAR WARS!
What if you were a child? I bet you walked out loving what you saw. Battles, Light Saber Duels, an Epic Pod Race, and Jar Jar Binks is just the perfect comedic relief!
This film just wasn't going to please everyone. If you're looking for something similar to the Original Trilogy, this film just isn't it. This is a different part of the story, and this was made in a much different time of filmmaking.
George Lucas had many intentions while making The Phantom Menace. Firstly, breaking the technology barrier. Having CGI characters like Jar Jar, the Battle Droids, Watto, and Boss Nass. The pod racing scene. Designing beautiful cities/landscapes. Secondly, appealing to the younger audience. They are the next generation of Star Wars fans. George Lucas even said it himself, "Star Wars is for 12 year olds." While it attempts to appeal to all, no question the main target is the younglings. Thirdly, Toy/Merchandise Sales. I was 8 years old when this film came out, and I remember it all. Pepsi Products, action figures, school supplies, video games, fast food kids meal toys. Phantom Menace merch was everywhere, and ready to reincarnate into Georges's Wallet.
Phantom Menace was hated by so many, careers/lives were severely damaged. Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker) was bullied out of school. Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) suffered severely mental health wise, but has recently made a comeback!
Ray Park (Darth Maul) was by far the most unscathed as he's been attending cons for years. If you liked the Phantom Menace, you weren't considered a real Star Wars fan.
Almost 25 years later, is this film hated? Truthfully, no. Politics are even most welcomed. Whether you like it or not, Star Wars is political...in every film. What do I think?
Over the years, The Phantom Menace has grown on me to be one of my favorites of the series. I enjoyed this one as a kid, I didn't like it throughout my teen years, but purely now as a Star Wars fan, it's one of the films I flat out quote the most.
"There's always a bigger fish"
"A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one."
"Wipe them out...all of them."
"What are you, some kind of Jedi waving your hand around like that?!"
What makes this film for me, like many, is the Duel of the Fates. I feel that's what the film should have been called. It's one of the best Star Wars scores, and fights. The battle of Qui Gon Jin & Obi Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul is the Duel of Anakin Skywalker's fate. The battle ends with two casualties, but the victor earns the responsibility of training, "The Chosen One". The one that is to bring Balance to the Force. Is that truly a victory?
Much like the hype of this movie, the aftermath fell onto creator George Lucas. He got to make this film, but faced the trials of appealing to multiple audiences. Obi Wan Kenobi faces a similar road. Obi Wan must keep his promise to his former Master, and appeal to a boy who has been told from Day 1, "You are the one", while following the Strict Jedi code. Obi Wan defeated Darth Maul, but inherited what would soon become the universe's biggest problem.
While the film's title is referring to Senator Palpatine, perhaps the case can be made that it's truly Anakin Skywalker.
If you liked this review, leave a react :heart:, and stay tuned for my thoughts on Attack of the Clones!
The Phantom Menace, released sixteen years after Return of the Jedi, was a highly anticipated film for Star Wars fans. Set 32 years before A New Hope, it serves as the first chapter in the saga and sets the stage for the fall of the Republic, the rise of the Empire, and the transformation of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader. However, the film falls short of expectations, with a disappointing script and wooden performances from the actors. Despite this, there are some positive aspects to the film. McGregor does a good job as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Neeson brings intensity and brooding to his role as Qui-Gon Jinn. The visual effects and new planets and environments are also a plus, and the political machinations add depth to the story. The final lightsaber battle is also a highlight, set to John Williams' incredible score. However, the battle droids are underwhelming as adversaries and the midichlorians concept is a sacrilege to the previous films. Jake Lloyd's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker is also criticized for his overuse of "woos" and "yee-haas". Overall, while The Phantom Menace has its moments, it fails to live up to the high expectations set by the previous films in the series
The Phantom Menace, estrenada dieciséis años después de Return of the Jedi, fue una película muy esperada por los fanáticos de Star Wars. Ambientada 32 años antes de A New Hope, sirve como el primer capítulo de la saga y prepara el escenario para la caída de la República, el ascenso del Imperio y la transformación de Anakin Skywalker en Darth Vader. Sin embargo, la película no cumple con las expectativas, con un guión decepcionante y actuaciones de madera de los actores. A pesar de esto, hay algunos aspectos positivos en la película. McGregor hace un buen trabajo como el joven Obi-Wan Kenobi, y Neeson aporta intensidad y melancolía a su papel de Qui-Gon Jinn. Los efectos visuales y los nuevos planetas y entornos también son una ventaja, y las maquinaciones políticas añaden profundidad a la historia. La batalla final con sables de luz también es un punto culminante, con la increíble partitura de John Williams. Sin embargo, los droides de batalla son decepcionantes como adversarios y el concepto de midiclorianos es un sacrilegio para las películas anteriores. La interpretación de Jake Lloyd de Anakin Skywalker también es criticada por su uso excesivo de "woos" y "yee-haas". En general, aunque The Phantom Menace tiene sus momentos, no está a la altura de las altas expectativas establecidas por las películas anteriores de la serie.
Watching this often on a VHS tape as a kid gave me great joy, mainly because I never took any of its flaws seriously. Now as an adult, I look at Phantom with more critical eyes. I can now see why some people find this a chore to watch. If possible, use your Jedi mind powers to erase Jar Jar from each scene. I tried and saw a potentially greater and more enjoyable film in front of me. The Gungans too created the wrong tones and I wonder if they could have been replaced by another army of sorts. They rely on CGI that is okay for its time but these effects don’t hold up as well today.
Ewan Mcregor and Liam Neeson are the strongest characters of this story and reward us with one of the best lightsaber duels in the series.
I was the right age when this movie came out, 11 years old...
I was hooked, it was the best thing I had ever seen.
I'm now much older, there have been better films, more interesting stories, fancier CGI and greater acting.
But you know what, this film IS Star Wars.
It's Lucas' messy vision come to light, it's not perfect but it's a damn good watch, the universe feels real, there is a plot that reaches over 3 films and there is some fantastic sequences like the pod racing, naboo fighter space battle, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escaping an infiltrated starship, the setup for Darth Sidious and a damn near perfect execution of Jedi vs Sith.
This is exactly what a Star Wars film should be and it takes me back to watch it again today.
Will always bung this on and the rest of the saga up to episode 6. Everything beyond leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Original trilogy, episodes IV–VI
A New Hope (1977) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-1977
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) https://trakt.tv/movies/the-empire-strikes-back-1980
Return of the Jedi (1983) https://trakt.tv/movies/return-of-the-jedi-1983
Prequel trilogy, episodes I–III
The Phantom Menace (1999) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-1999
Attack of the Clones (2002) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones-2002
Revenge of the Sith (2005) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith-2005
Sequel trilogy, episodes VII–IX
The Force Awakens (2015) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-the-force-awakens-2015
The Last Jedi (2017) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-the-last-jedi-2017
The Rise of Skywalker (2019) https://trakt.tv/movies/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-2019
Anthology films
Rogue One (2016) https://trakt.tv/movies/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story-2016
Solo (2018) https://trakt.tv/movies/solo-a-star-wars-story-2018
Rogue Squadron (2023) https://trakt.tv/movies/rogue-squadron-2023
I can't believe that I'm not recommending a Star Wars movie. The acting is really stiff. Natalie Portman and Liam Neeson seem to mail it in. It's only saved by Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Darth Maul character, and some very imaginative worlds and beasts.
The pod race (incredible in surround sound) and the three-way light saber battle between Kenobi Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul are the highpoints. Low points are many, including silly drone dialogue and Jar Jar Binks. Why would drones be programmed to say things like "roger-roger" and yell out emotional responses to situations where they were in peril? And I really don't believe that a tearing down of Jar Jar Binks is even necessary except to say that the character is one of the dumbest attempts at comic relief that I've ever seen. Jar Jar Binks could have easily been written out of the story and seems to be a weak attempt at yet another unnecessarily cute Star Wars character.
Recently, the prequels have been receiving some form of reappraisal, mostly because some people argue that they feel like one cohesive vision compared to the sequel trilogy.
I guess you have to come up with some excuse to not admit your nostalgia, because there are literally so many franchises that have had different creative teams over the years, and don’t plan out their stories in advance, and they still work.
The first few Harry Potter films feel different from the latter ones, but all of them are still good.
The Nolan Batman movies were famously not planned in advance, and it’s still a great trilogy.
The Bourne Identity has a different filmmaking style from the two sequels, but it still works.
A franchise really doesn’t need a planned out roadmap or a cohesive vision in order to be good, that’s nonsense.
This thing sucks because it makes all the wrong artistic choices: boring story, uninteresting characters, poor and wooden acting, it looks ugly and overly digitized, horrendous dialogue which is overly reliant on exposition, etc.
It’s actually not too dissimilar to The Rise of Skywalker, which also makes the wrong story and character choices.
But I guess I’m supposed to like this more simply because its bolder and doesn’t play it as safe?
I’ll take the safe film in this case, simply because it at least gets the technicalities right.
2.5/10 (mostly for that one good scene).
I like it more than the average Joe, but yeah it isn't that great. The pod racing scene was cool though
A huge drop off the original trilogy. I still like it, mind.
I do have split feelings about 'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace' though. One positive is the casting, which is well done.
Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are strong choices to enter the franchise, I enjoyed both of them. Jake Lloyd does a fine job in his role, while the likes of Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson and Keira Knightley also feature. Natalie Portman appears too, but I honestly never really cared for her lot's side of the story. Ahmed Best, meanwhile, is very hit-and-miss as Jar Jar Binks.
Speaking of Binks, the CGI is rather iffy in this fourth installment of 'Star Wars'. Of course it did come out in 1999, but other films from that era and beyond have aged better in these terms. The score is, at least, more than up to scratch.
Overall, I'm OK with this but it most definitely should've been far greater. Some scenes do go on for too long, while I did find a lack of a serious threat for the first chunk of the film. Darth Maul looks the part, but ends up being rather forgettable.
I can see how diehard fans of the series could be disappointed by this.
I think film intended to introduce Star Wars to a new audience and for that reason it tries to explain everything and maybe make everythin reasonable. It a science fiction movie, of course not everything has to make sense. Very political and the battles are not very passionate. I gave it a 5 six years ago and now that I watched it again i think I'll keep the rate.
So I decided to start the Saga once more, this time in chronological order. For sure it isn't the best of them all but at the same time it's not completely awful and/or unwatchable. When I saw it initially at the movies I wasn't negativ about it at all. I was more thrilled about getting a new trilogy going. Yes, Jar Jar is annoying and little Anni is a smartass brat. I remember back in 1999 I had trouble believing that from this would come Darth Vader. To which I also attribute the fact that Jake Lloyd just couldn't pull it off. Most of the acting was rather pale and only Liam Neeson did stand out a bit. Would have liked to see more Qui-Gon.
Back to the movie. The story as a whole is not bad but the story telling is. There are important parts here that will impact the story moving forward but you don't feel they are important. In fact if you don't know what to look for you might miss it. There seems to be no urgency in all of this. In hindsight I'd say you could start with Ep.II and still get the meaning of it all. It get's a little better once they reach Coruscant and later go back to Naboo. And of course we get the epic battle between Maul, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan which is the reason it still get's a "7" from me.
A few words about the production side. In 1999 this was state of the art. It was actually ahead of it's time which is why some scenes still look great. When it comes to the Gungans f.e. you see the steps that have been made since then. And some of the green-screen work looks just like that. And it becomes more apparent in 4k. Overall the movie looks great in UHD, I saw many details I had missed before, and I am sure they smoothed some things out. And you would be surprised how many things aren't CG but actually model building.
It's not the best introduction to Star Wars if you've never have seen it. That would still be A New Hope. And it will always be. But as I said earlier, it's not unwatchable.
"There's always a bigger fish."
May the 4th be with you folks.
Remember, even through this movie is extremely boring and disappointing, at least it's not your son.
Let me start this off by saying, I haven't seen Episode 1 since I was a kid and I remember I didn't like it very much then. But I have now rewatched it and I have to say that it is The Good, The Bad and the darn right Confusing with this film.
The good being that both Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor were perfect in the film and also the film has an awesome villain who deserved to be in a better film for sure, also the pod race looks amazing and is a very intense watch even as an adult.
The bad being that some of the acting in the film comes off very stilted and I don't think this is down to the actors and even Jake Lloyd, I don't think anyone was playing their parts badly. I think that this film has some of the worst dialogue I have ever seen in a film and the actors are trying their best with the material they have been given, watching the film it almost feels as if the script was either rushed or never had more than one draft.
Now for the confusing, I will take into consideration that this film was made in 1999, but it felt like some of the CGI was miles better than others in the film. Also, why is Jar Jar Binks a thing, literally might be the most annoying character I have ever seen and one more point which is why have some of the actors been unnecessarily dubbed, as actor Hugh Quarshie and a few others who have British accents matching the other characters have been dubbed with American voices and its just weird.
Overall the film is OK, not bad and not good but I can see how it is a stepping stone for them with the franchise. If you are a Star Wars fan you will find something to like about this film and it is a must-watch for anyone into this franchise, but as a stand-alone film, it has a few too many issues for me to recommend it.
I am biased toward this movie because it is the first Star Wars movie I have watched when I was young. I know many things are bad but what saved the movie for me are the fights and especially the last one, Darth Maul (even if he is not used properly), the music and the podracing scene.
Yeah yeah, I know I'm supposed to hate this movie, but I don't. The hyperbolic hate for Jar Jar is not enough to make me turn on it. It nicely develops the Star Wars universe and deepens the mythology. Sure, it's a little overlong, and the mundane politics suck some of the life out of it, but then you get some Darth Maul action. And what a fantastic score!
This movie has a lot of good and bad. I saw this when I was a kid and I had the vhs so I watched this countless times.
Good: Qui-Gon Jinn, I would of loved to see Liam Neeson play him again and try and become a grey jedi. The last lightsaber battle, still one of the best in the series. Darth Maul, he may not have much of a back story but he still is a bad ass villain. Pod racing, its fun and I enjoyed the scene.
Bad: Obviously Jar Jar and all the gungans, man I forgot how annoying he is. Bad CGI, it is a little forgivable for the time but it doesn't hold up well. Pacing, it can be a boring at times and the editing can take away from the better scenes.
Overall a decent intro to the series, I wouldn't show this first to someone who has never seen Star Wars, start with A New Hope.
I'm really sorry but this time like 15y after first time I seen it I just barely got though the end...I'm huge SW fan and because I'm 44 now I was lucky enough to watch original trilogy in movie theater (except New Hope). Idk but Phantom Menace is so poorly made on each levels.. I just noticed how bad Portman performed in Padme role..... seriously she seems like she is reading scripts directly from teleprompter! Zero emotion! Zero acting. The same young Anakin but he was a child back then with no acting experience. This is not his fault but crew fault and Lucas fault because they hiring him. CGI... no comment... too much....way too much and also I think it was too early for that kind of CGI level.On the other hand LOTR showed up bit later with much better CGI. And story.... characters.... Jar Jar which was supposed to be another ewok but was disaster.... I'm watching now Attack Of The Clones and it's bad as well as first episode..
Rewatching it again was pretty rough lol
Jar Jar is enough to turn anyone to the dark side
I personally enjoy this film. I
It definitely has problems, but as a guy who isn't big on Star Wars, this was an entertaining film.
Early December I decided that when the worst Christmas stress was over, I'd sit down and watch all the Star Wars movies again. This got even more important to me when I heard about the death of Carrie Fisher. Rest in piece "Princess". Maybe someday I'll meet you in a galaxy far, far away...
Even though I wanted to do this very much, I dreaded the first film. It's some of the absolute worst the Star Wars universe has to offer. Though, the fact that it is the worst doesn't mean it's totally awful. There are some good scenes, and the action sequences (when they lack those damn Gungans) are actually quite exciting.
The acting is...well...sub par. Especially for such a high-cost project. Most of the actors either doesn't know how to act, or they were just plain uninterested and was there only to pick up their paycheck.
The whole feel of the movie is cartoonish, and the CGI effects subtract from the overall feel. It just doesn't feel like a proper Star Wars movie...
To be honest...I only rewatched this because I am a completionist. No other reason to pick this one up...
boring as hell, i struggled to get through it, it took me hours to finish and after an hour and an half i just started skipping scenes out of boredom. there are some parts that weren't so terrible and young anakin is cute, but overrall a very very poor movie. i hope the other two of this trilogy are better.
I watched this for the first time in years last night, and oh my good it is so poor, I am only giving any credit at all for Darth Maul who could have been a great villain. The story is just terrible and I have no interest in any of the charachters. I remember being so disappointed with it at time of release, however it seems to be getting worse over the years.......I don't think I will ever give it a chance again!
It's sad when JJ Abrhams seems to know more about what made the original trilogy good over George Lucas. I'm just saying that too from seeing the Force Awakens trailers alone.
The dialogue is laughably bad and Darth Maul who could have been a great villain is wasted. While despite waiting years to be able to use CGI for the prequels; Lucas seemed to forget story is more important over effects.
For people who are looking for a real spoiler which covers the whole Star Wars trilogy. Listen to the song:
The Saga Begins - Weird Al Yankovic
(Album Running with Scissors)
he's a genius and the video clip is incredibly good.
jar jar is a bit annoying but this is still very good. you know what heres a list of scenes that i remembered when i watched this-Pod Racing, Droid Battle, and duel of the fates (the duel against Darth Maul/Qui Gon Jinns death)
This is one of those films that you can watch ten times and find new things—details in production design, subtleties of performances—that you gain a new appreciation for, or notice seemingly for the first time, and watching films over an over again is not something I do, even for most films that I really like, but this film is a damned classic, as proven by its staying power, creativity, charm, and yes, intrigue, 25 years later.
For instance, on this re-watch I thought that I wasn't keen on the pod race at all, or had grown not to be, as I have no idea what I felt in the theater in 1999, but I was on the edge of my seat watching it as much as I was during the space battle and lightsaber two-on-one.
I often don't try to watch the whole thing, and I think that's the part of the issue, because this film has some great dialogue resting within its script, no matter how much people want to dog on the intentionally campy lines (which is one reason it's a classic, pratfalls and all), or the truly awkward and careless lines that Lucas found unimportant enough to his intention of storytelling, he still does manage some scenes—especially with the amazing performance of Shmee's actress, as well as Neeson and Portman—that feel as celluloid gold as ANH or Empire. They aren't as often, because this is a different kind of film, and yeah, it has some janky special effects execution that didn't age well, but it also has the most spectacular space scenes, underwater scenes, and the best lightsaber duel ever filmed.
But importantly, for a savvy, jaded viewer, its plot actually makes sense and isn't rife with holes and contrivance, has adult themes of wide space opera nesting nearly beside genuine character moments, and all but one of them are fully earned. You hear that, J.J., et al! Imagine actually legitimately earning an emotional character moment. It's crazy. It requires actual narrative forethought and screenwriting ability.
Is it at times overly goofy and disjointed, with uneven acting and some bad casting choices (that were totally George's (and Sam Jackson's for wanting to be a Jedi)? Yes, no one denies that. But films are more than the sum of their parts, and some parts can be truly exceptional on their own, and this film was revolutionary. For that I'm rating it up again, because I truly think it desrves an 8 for what all it does that most other films could not, would not, and wouldn't even try (including every single one of the Disney-era films and television shows) and that was to actually get Star Wars, and iterate on it in a new way, something sorely lacking in cinema overall now, since oh, I don't know Nineteen-Fucking-Ninety-Nine!
I'm serious, if you didn't watch many films back then, or you were born after, just look back at the sheer variety and diversity of films in that single year. It hasn't happened since, thanks to Hollywood greed and executive cowardice and lack of imagination.
Watched it in theaters for the 25th anniversary, was awesome seeing the podrace on the big screen
Got to see this in theaters for it's 25th anniversary. A much better experience compared to at home but still not as good as the other prequel movies.
I just had to rewatch this on star wars day today in my local cinema :hearts: maybe shed a tear at the end. Darth Maul will always be my fav sith
I'm certainly not a big fan of the "Star Wars" prequels, and Episode I has perhaps the biggest low points in the entire saga, especially the character Jar Jar Binks and the acting of Jake Lloyd, who obviously didn't get any guidance from director George Lucas. But "The Phantom Menace" also has one of my favorite sequences in the entire saga with the Darth Maul fight on, which is choreographed beautifully and accompanied by perfectly fitting music. I also like Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and the podrace. That's why I still enjoy watching the movie, despite its numerous shortcomings.
I've been extremely critical of this movie for 20+ years, and for good reason, but rewatching it this time has made me really sad. Not because it's a terrible Star Wars movie -- it's not -- but because of poor Jake Lloyd. He was barely 10-years-old when the movie was released, and he received such an inordinate amount of hate for giving the exact performance Lucas wanted. Hayden Christensen would go on to get the exact same amounts of hate for the exact same reasons; Lucas was not a great actor's director, and would demand line readings that resulted in the ham-fisted performances the prequels became infamous for.
Point being, poor Jake did not deserve the world of shit that was gonna befall him because he played a young Anakin exactly how Lucas wanted; nor did Ahmed Best. Sure, it's unlikely that Lloyd's schizophrenia is only because of the backlash and hate he received over this, but it's just so damn sad that such a sweet little kid who'd landed the role of a lifetime quickly quit acting after this because of that hate.
I remember taking my youngest, then around 10 and Star Wars obsessed, to watch this when it came out. It was something of a disappointment then and remains so. George Lucas should never have been allowed the creative control he was, although I understand why it happened. After the success of the first 3 films, no-one was going to gainsay him. Still, he can't direct for toffee.
And that's just one problem. The script; the dialogue is clunky at best and that's to put it mildly. The plot-line starts off weakly (a trade dispute, really?) and doesn't improve. The introduction of Jar-Jar Binks, too obviously intended as slapstick / comic relief, is just, well, jarring. Sorry. Next, we have the child prodigy; expected to carry large chunks of the movie. Some of the scene settings are far too terribly conceived and executed; take for example, Anakin's mum's house. They are slaves, but it looks just like Luke's home on Tatooine with a fruit bowl on the table. The queen of Naboo is one-dimensional, despite her alter-ego, not helped by the flat delivery of most of her dialogue. Then there's their relationship............
The pod-race features some great effects; I bet George would have loved that level of CGI to have been available in 1977.
There are just too many issues to recommend this film, even if you are a completist.
Though I love The Phantom Menace, it's my least favourite Star Wars movie. I never understood why people are so obsessed with Darth Maul. And as a result he's been brought back time and time again. I just don't like him. But the more I watch this movie, the more I start enjoying Jake Lloyd's portrayal of Annakin. Luckily it'll pick up after this.
It's decent. Not the best nor the worst. Just decent.
It lives up to its Star Wars title in scope and action, but not in its writing. However, I am nostalgic for this movie, so it gets some extra points from me. 6.5/10 :star:
Now this is pod racing!
6/10
Fair
So with Daisy Ridley
(Rey) confirmed to be
getting another
Star Wars (Trilogy)
set of movies (2025-2027)
thought I'd do yet
another rewatch of them
all to get me back up
and ready in this universe.
Jesus you can sure tell
episode 1 is 24 nearly
25 years old the cgi is
rank and I mean really bad
and there's way way to
much of it.
I will always prefer
practical effects
In any genre of film.
Jar Jar was annoying af,
and through the movie
especially in the 3rd act
it all just became rather
silly, to much silly,
out of place silly.
Daftness aside
Darth-Maul is definitely
my favourite character
He's frickin awesome
and his parts are amazing
and he still has the most
Epic entrance in the hole
Franchise. Maul is definitely
under used and could have
been such a massive part
of the franchise going
forward.
His duel is definitely
the highlight of the movie
for me and my favourite
part.
they do a good enough
job matching everything up
to tie in but one thing that
always bugs the Hella out
of me is The Queen
and Anakin's casting
and age difference they
look so mismatched
especially when you
throw the blooms of
Romance in there.
(Ewe).
Verdict:
this particular part
of the Saga has not
aged well at all
and it's only going
to get worse over more
time passed.
But 4,5,6 are timeless
classics.
Nuff Said:
Not one of the best Star Wars films but it was much needed and was good enough as it goes back to the beginning of Anakin Skywalker from when he was discovered at 8 years old and brought back to republic to begin training. Although this is not the first official Star Wars film, it is first in the timeline, and therefore, the feeling of kind of jumping into the middle of a plot was a bit unsettling. The action is good and plot and character development were also good, but it was just an average movie, aside from the plot twisting and important ending.
The Phantom Menace is widely regarded as the weakest entry in the Star Wars saga, and for good reason. The movie suffers from a lackluster plot that fails to live up to the high expectations set by its predecessors. The early years of Anakin Skywalker could have been told with much more depth and complexity, and the movie falls short of delivering on this front. While there are enjoyable elements to the film, it ultimately fails to capture the magic and excitement of the original trilogy. Overall, The Phantom Menace is a disappointing chapter in the saga, and one that could have been much better had it been given a stronger and more engaging plot.
"Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts."
I don't want to hate Jar Jar Binks but for a comic relief character he is just so not funny. I takes so much energy not to be annoyed by him. Could've been better in smaller doses.
Anyway we still have that fun podrace, my nostalgia for Darth Maul still lives and I must have rewinded his death so many times when I was just a 12 year old boy. Still love the way he falls down today. R2D2 is always great, the CGI hasn't aged well but is okay, Samuel l. Jackson is still the greatest jedi ever, Yoda always entertains and I loved the design of all the aliens.
But in the end I never am bored rewatching Episode 1 and it is all a setup for the rest and still excited to rewatch the next 8 episodes.
To this day, I can't stand the kid they picked for Anakin.
A pussy, Anakin is
Was planning on skipping this one in my Star Wars rewatch, but I had to watch for Qui-Gon and Jar Jar. :v_tone2:
The movie isn't as bad as some makes it out to be but isn't as good as it should have been.
It was okay, I guess. Not bad but not good either. But Duell of the Fates was a banger. And the fight between Maul and Obi-Wan was pretty cool too. And that's all. Right now I'm wondering if I like Jar Jar even more now or if I want to tie him up and grill him. Probably both.
I can't say anything new about this movie. I do regret being as dismissive of it as I was. cept Jar Jar. F that dude.
before it seemed to me the weakest of Star wars, with 2 salvageable things, the pod race and the duel with Darth Maul, after seeing it after episodes 8 and 9, I appreciate it more
Could be better. But it's not all bad.
Holy cow, I'm trying to get into the Star Wars universe for the first time and I've decided to start from here... And oh boy, it wasn't a good idea. I mean, sure the CGI sucks most of the time and the scene cuts feels lame, but the worst thing is the acting, is just incredible bad, it almost seems like a parody from a real movie, most of the actors look totally expressionless, specially Anakin (I know he is a kid but c'mon), but even Natalie Portman and Liam didn't do a good job in my opinion.
Will try to see the other ones, but this one definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
despite the hate this first episode received I consider it better than all the disney trashy star wars stuff that followed
Darth Maul is an absolutely epic character and no one can convince me otherwise
The Phantom Menace is far from a great movie. Absolutely none of the characters have any depth except Palpatine and Padame. Palpatine's machinations are fun to watch, and the Princess twist is surprisingly decent. But Obi-Wan stands around for most of the movie until it decides he's important, we're told Qui-Gon is a maverick while he still acts like every other Jedi besides believing in a prophecy, Maul is just a cool design, and Anakin... well, Anakin's fine. I have a tolerance for child actors, I find them hard to hate. And Anakin's a nice kid, and Jake Llyod's having fun. He's just not great set up for Vader.
Then there's the stereotypes, from Watto to Jar Jar to the Viceroy. Or the horrible CGI which has aged terribly. Where the practical effects in the OT made the world feel grounded and lied in, the CGI makes things feel artificial and unreal, Qui-Gon and Jar Jar for example operating on clearly different planes where Yoda blended in seamlessly with Luke. The story is nothing, and no performances really stand out. It's slavish to the original trilogy, relying on cameos to get pops and too afraid to step on the toes of the ideal people have built up of the Jedi to do anything new.
But the podracing sequence is fun, the final Maul fight is fun, and if you put a kid in front of this movie, they'd probably have fun. So I can't hate it too much. It's not fun for me. But it's not the worst this franchise'll get. Plus it has Duel of the Fates, so.
This movie reminds me of being 13 years old, caring only about Star Wars. Nostalgic favorite of mine and a film that is aging wonderfully!
Since I am not a fan of science fiction or comic book movies I try not to look at them with too much scrutiny. I know that George Lucas has taken some lumps over the years for certain decisions that he has made as a filmmaker but at the end of the day he is still responsible for a franchise that has brought so many people so much joy.
That said... to call this movie a pile of steaming dung would be an offense to dung. I don't know what is worse - the dialog, the characters designed to sell toys or the acting (ok, I do know - it's the dialog). At some point if you watch closely you can see Liam Neeson give up. How did Natalie Portman's career survive this? She was comicly bad. And let me get this straight - this film is clearly aimed at kids but the central conflict is... a taxing dispute? And finally, yet another movie about taking out the shields. Ugh. And if you didn't know better there is a music bed playing throughout the movie - this is always a sure indicator that the director does not have confidence in the material.
to avoid bad movies (like this one) follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or facebook IHATEBadMovies
Love Qui-Gon, hate Jar Jar.
THE WACPINE OF ‘STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE’
WRITING: 5
ATMOSPHERE: 7
CHARACTERS: 4
PRODUCTION: 6
INTRIGUE: 6
NOVELTY: 7
ENJOYMENT: 7
The Good:
The Phantom Menace initially shows a familiar world in a new light - droids everywhere, new characters and faster action sequences as well as politics, politics and politics left and right.
The action sequences are better, the lightsaber duels are fast-paced and appear more frequently and the space flight sequences are gorgeous. That much should be noted about the strengths of this film and the entire prequel trilogy.
The entire pod racing sequence is just filler, but it's one the better parts of the film.
The climactic battle with Darth Maul is one of the coolest battles I've seen in anything ever. Additionally, Duel of the Fates is one of John Williams' better works in later years.
While the film has its problems, I still find it better than what people usually give it credit for, and it beats the soap opera that is Attack of the Clones by a longshot. It hasn't aged well, it lacks all of the magic from the first three films and it's a first (huge) step in the wrong direction, but it's watchable.
The Bad:
Jar Jar Binks.
Midi-chlorians.
You pretty soon realize that most of the magic, mythology and might of the original trilogy is missing here. The story feels rushed, throwing our heroes from danger to danger, while halfheartedly developing a political conflict in the background. It's as if George Lucas forgot what his film universe is about between the trilogies.
After the initial rush to pull all the pieces together, the plot slows down to a halt as the heroes enter Tatooine and doesn't pick up speed again before the final battle. Then it slows down even more before the final act during Palpatine's rise to power, as the space opera turns to space politics.
It's a pity that the first 30 minutes of excitement and adventure slowly but surely starts crumbling. The film turns less and less exciting, magical and interesting as we near the end.
Some of the dialogue and almost every attempt at humour sucks. It all comes down to wooden acting and forced attempts at lightheartedness.
Lucas' obsession with diversity turns on its head with the Gungans, the viceroys and Watto speaking in weird dialects and being goofy, suspicious and untrustworthy.
The acting is sometimes terrible, most prominently from Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman.
Some of the CGI here has aged worse than the effects in the original films.
The Ugly:
Obi-Wan did the “NOOO!!!” better than Anakin if ya know what I mean!
WACPINE RATING: 6.00 / 10 = 3 stars
It wasn't bad but not perfect, the visual effects were a bit rare, but the last fight was good, but with the story it wasn't to be, it's bad for the first episode of the Star Wars saga, it doesn't make sense, and we don't even know who Quin is. Gon or Obi Wan, I can't give him more than seven marks.
It's tempting to look at The Phantom Menace as a result of hubris: after the extraordinary success of the original trilogy and the growth of the Star Wars fandom in the years since their release, George Lucas' stock was at an all-time high. He was, and to some extent still is (insofar as every director since has felt the need to bring him on-board for a set visit to signal some sort of implicit approval even as they keep him at arms' length), considered the master of everything in the franchise.
The indulgence that he was afforded as a result of this is clear to see from the beginning of this bloated film. In contrast to many, I actually like the angle that the film takes regarding a galactic crisis arising from something as banal as a tax dispute—it seems, to me, to ground the scenario in something a little more reality-based, but I will concede that it can seem out-of-place in a franchise that focuses far more on spectacle than on the nitty gritty details. One of the good things about the film is how beautiful it frequently is to look at, even more than twenty years after its release—great care went into everything we see on screen and particularly Tatooine has a gritty, lived-in feel that's satisfying to look at.
Unfortunately, the negatives far outweigh the positives. The tonal dissonance between more adult aspects such as characters debating taxation blockades and the concessions that Lucas felt necessary to make to the film's younger audiences—primarily in the shape of the rightly-loathed Jar Jar Binks, but extending to many other areas of the film too—sit uncomfortably together. Darth Maul is a fantastic villain, one of the best the series has had, and it's disappointing that the film's best scenes have to sit alongside so much dross. (It's encouraging, although I haven't yet seen how it's handled, that the writers of future instalments chose to bring him back.)
The film's various caricatures border and sometimes stray into the outright racist; this makes the film an often difficult and uncomfortable watch. This goes far beyond what could be argued as coincidence; Watto's status as an anti-Semitic trope machine seems written into the plot as well as his characterisation and mannerisms. This is hard to overlook upon viewing and is easily the most regrettable aspect of the film now.
Other much-maligned aspects such as the midichlorians didn't upset me as much; elements like this are clearly de-emphasised and so it's far easier to dismiss them here. Ultimately, I don't have the kind of investment in the lore that would warrant getting irritated about the exact origins of any given character's force sensitivity.
There is great inconsistency, too, between the fight choreography on show here and that shown in the original films; this doesn't bother me as these are often the most exciting parts. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's encounters with Maul are, along with the podracing sequence, what Lucas got very right and credit is due for that.
Looking back at this now, it's clear that this is a flawed film, perhaps not worthy of the hysterical reactions it provoked at release, but certainly not a strong example of a film in this particular franchise or generally. What it does have, thankfully, are the seeds of elements that will be taken up and developed further along—Maul, Obi-Wan, more exciting fight choreography, interesting and varied set design and so on.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is complete and utter garbage that is actually painful to watch. The story is beyond stupid; the Saga begins…with a taxing dispute?! And, the acting (if it can even be called that) is cringe worthy; which is surprising given the talent on hand (Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Ewan McGregor, and Samuel L. Jackson), but somehow Lucas found a way to make their performances unbearable. Another cardinal sin of the film is the CGI effects, which are distracting and do nothing to enhance the film. Horrendously awful, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is ruinous to the Star Wars brand.
Execution is key in every movie and this movie failed hard on it. The first movie was as simple as this one but the difference is enormous.
Besides the incredible CGI for 1999, there's not much else here that can be considered good.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace’:
I’m really curious why Lucas wanted an akin to be so young in this movie. It would of been a lot more convincing if he was a teenager.
Thanks Disney+ for bringing out all the Star Wars movies in ultra 4K on Disney+, started watching from episode one...
"Do kids really want to follow a plot about intergalactic trade embargoes?"
Me and this movie have an interesting history. When it came out in theaters, I had friends who were chomping at the bit to see it, but I didn't want to because I thought it was graphically violent due to some Star Wars video games having a "T" rating. (Ironically, when I became a big fan of the franchise, those guys didn't care for it anymore; they said they "grew out" of it.) I did actually see it around Easter of 2000 at a family members house, and I had fun with it. My mom bought me a shirt that had to do with the movie, but didn't want me to have one with Darth Maul on it, because she felt he looked too much like the devil. (Looking back, I can see how such an image would have been perceived by some of my friends and family, especially those who were elderly.) This film was my introduction to the Star Wars franchise; though I had played games and read books about it prior to seeing this, I didn't really understand them.
So, maybe I'm biased, but I enjoyed this movie. Even though the acting wasn't the best, the scope is appropriately epic, and it sets the stage for later events that are even more tumultuous, such as Anakin's turn to the Dark Side. Like a lot of media, I can see why some people don't care for this or the prequels in general...but I still liked it, even this time around. It may not be perfect, but it's light years ahead of the shark jump that was The Last Jedi.
Watched it first when I was a little child, now I watched it again, because I still love the SW universe..
Jar Jar is still annoying af, ugh honestly, I can't stand him. Also this movie was a little bit boring and the CGI is so bad. For me, this is my least favorite SW movie.
In my opinion it is a great prequel. very good
That race was awesome.
Their CGI has also improved in this movie
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
0 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
0 / 1 misc
6 out of 10
The original Star Wars came out when I was five years old, it has basically been the religious story / mythology I am most familiar with. I have great respect for George Lucas' vision, but when he gets his hands on good actors, suddenly they're talking to stupid droids with dumb catch phrases, and stereotypical Rastafarian aliens, and dealing with a small child who will soon become a Sith lord, unfortunately that child has no chemistry with the other actors and no screen presence. All of your imagination is done for you with the CGI, there's just no magic to these three prequels. I wanted to like these, but they're dirty secrets I refuse to upgrade from DVD to BluRay because I never watch them. They're insulting to people who can think.
I am glad that as a child I was introduced to these set of films from the original trilogy. Becuase this attempt to bring audiences back and introduce newcomers to a beloved saga that was sadly ruined by bad storytelling, horrific CGI, and a bad cast.
For most of this movie, it is incredibly boring and not motivating at all to keep watching. The only thing really good about this movie is the pod racing scenes which even then aren't directed well. Young Anakin is not interesting and even with the hype over the set of prequels of the unfolding of the dark lord. It really doesn't need to be made, especially this early in the timeline.
Liam Neeson's performance is really the only good one fo them all besides Anakin's mother (Pernilla August) who I think also did a good job. But Ewan McGregor and even Natalie Portman are underused and just plain bland. Showing no colour or emotion in almost any scene. However, this isn't the fault of the cast as George Lucas' decisions made this hopeful film become one of the worst in the series (second worse for me). Even as Lucas watched the final cut for the first time he disliked how he had made certain CGI elements a critical part of the plot. Such as Jar Jar Binks which as everyone knows, was not the Chewbacca of the prequels as George hoped for.
Overall this movie isn't terrible, it just needed a lot to be removed and refined in the script. Adding more emotion to the characters and some more practical effects as it is littered with early 2000s CG that just doesn't hold up at all. Watchable if you decide to binge the series. But I highly recommend you start at the original 'Star Wars' movie first or as Lucas would like you to call it 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope'.
Jar jar binks, I've always thought he was alright and brought some comedy XD
I love this movie. It was my first introduction to the Star Wars Universe as a child and therefore I always get nostalgic watching it. I think they did a great job with the first installment of the prequel trilogy.
phantom menace, do you accept constructive criticism?
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Prequel Menace
A solid but flawed addition to the Star Wars Saga.
This is better when you view it as what it is - a kids movie.
the episode is THX DVD AND AUDIO SYSTEM. #ShiftvW8
Hopefully Abrams will do better with Star Wars then Star Trek
Retail Solutions
Weird mix of a real story and amazing effects in contrast with cute aliens that speak baby talk (so annoying) and of course, kids that outperform anyone. Also in a totally cute way.
Love the real first three but I couldn't even finish it. Yes, after one hour or so I left. 5 year old or whatever Skywalker doing the race did it for me.
Superb SFX, fast pacing action and hilarious Jar Jar Bings make this movie really enjoyable (yes, I really think that Jar Jar is funny despite what everybody else seems to think about George Lucas' addition of the Gungans).
Hey, it's Star Wars!
Shout by Simon MasseyVIP 11BlockedParent2014-07-31T04:09:45Z
As a film intended to introduce the Star Wars world, the design and special effects that went into this are beautiful and add scope and detail to the original trilogy. The score is also a wonderful addition to the already iconic music. As an introduction to a new set of characters, the story of the discovery of Anakin Skywalker is poorly paced and lacks urgency, despite characters consistently reminding the audience that time is short. Too many cameos and bit parts for extraneous characters and dialogue telling us what is already being shown slow the film down considerably. Better editing would have resulted in a better film. Liam Neeson however carries the film with a great performance as Qui Gon Jinn and the villains are equally compelling, culminating in a stunning duel between the Jedi and Sith which is still one of the high points of the whole series.