Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

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Release Date: July 16th 1999

Two Jedi Knights escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to reclaim their old glory.

Director: George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Indiana Jones Trilogy)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Keira Knightley, Jake Lloyd, Ray Park

I was only 11 when I first watched The Phantom Menace. The kid inside me will still loves watching it, because, first and foremost, it's a film that's highly entertaining for the whole family. This is what got me (and many other younglings of that time) into the franchise. It has everything a child wants in a film; great action, likeable, heroic characters and sense of good vs. evil.

Since then (now that I'm much older), and for anyone over a certain age, it's easy to notice the flaws in episode I. TPM is the weakest of the Star Wars films by far. A lot of explanation is needed to set up what we already know (from IV, V and VI), and plenty of introductions are made that could be cut out.

It's easy to question George Lucas' motives, none more so than his script-writing abilities. It's been 22 years since his last effort, and let's just say it hasn't improved. Certain parts of the dialogue feels clunky and disconnected. As the Trade Federation invades Naboo, Governor Sio Bibble says 'a communications disruption could mean only one thing, invasion'. I suppose the warships surrounding Naboo weren't a giveaway.

Even the incredible cast look out of place and struggle to pull off their lines. What dialogue cannot accomplish, the action makes up for. The Jedi (Neeson and McGregor), realising danger is coming to Naboo, save Queen Amidala but end up stranded on Tatooine after their ship takes damage. In the next half hour to 45 minutes that follow, we meet bratty, game changing, cocky little Anakin Skywalker (Lloyd). The galaxy may be in turmoil, but for now, Qui-Gon Jinn leaves everything in the hands of a boy. At least the 12 minute pod race is a delight to watch.

Not all is unwell though. Jar-Jar Binks, the (supposed) friendly, lovable character isn't as annoying as die-hard fans make out (although he takes away the focus of the Ewoks from Return), a trio of fights are neatly edited (Gungans vs. the Droids, Anakin vs. the Trade Federation and Jedi vs. Sith) and we finaly have some Jedi worthy of a decent lightsabre battle. Ray Park's Sith apprentice Darth Maul lives up to the title of menace. His expertise in martial arts goes well with the choreography during the lightsabre battles.

Overview: The weakest one of the three prequels, The Phantom Menace has many plot-holes but still remains to this day an enjoyable film. Maybe Lucas should hire some experienced writers next time.