Episode I - The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace must stand alone as one of the most anticipated movies of all time. After a gap of almost 20 years George Lucas was about to unleash Episode I of Star Wars upon us. Rumours ran wild and people queued for hours and days to catch their first glimpse of this latest masterpiece. So how did it rate against the sacred trilogy of Star Wars, Empire and Jedi?

This movie takes you back in time to before Luke Skywalker was a gleam in his fathers eye. It introduces you to an age when Jedi were many and openly guarded the peace and welfare of the galaxy. This alone is a treat. You get to see fully trained Jedi possessing all their combat skills.

With the opening scene you are introduced to the Jedi as ambassadors and peace keepers and also to the treacherous members of the Trade Federation. The trade blockade of the planet Naboo sets the perfect scene for early glimpses of advanced Jedi combat, the introduction of Princess Amidalas character, a youthful Ben Kenobi and the Gungans. It also sets the tone for the rest of the movie as one of a struggle for freedom against insidious oppression and treachery.

The character of the young Obi Wan Kenbo is expertly handled by actor Ewan McGregor.

The ensuing scenes on Tatooine (named after a Tunisian battleground fyi) with the discovery of Anakin Skywalker by Qui Gon Jinn and the spectacular special effects extravaganza that is the pod race you find yourself almost falling out of your chair as Master Qui-Gon and a Dark Jedi briefly battle it out. The Jedi and their Royal entourage beat a hasty retreat from this foe and head for Coruscant to appeal to the senate for its help in lifting the trade blockage of Naboo.

With Princess Amidalas request for help declined by a spineless Chancellor Finis Valorum the ever-helpful Senator Palpatine rises to the occassion, accepts the role of Chancellor and steps in to help Amidalas cause. The stage is now set for Amidala to return to Naboo with Jedi in tow to free her people. Qui-Gon Jinns request to have Anakin trained as a Jedi, due to his belief in Anakin being the fulfillment of a Jedi prophecy, is declined which greatly annoys the Jedi master and causes him to question the councils abilities.

Amidst all the fighting for freedom we see what is a truly excellent few minutes of cinematic history - two trained Jedi battling the Dark Jedi named Darth Maul. Not only are you in for a treat because of the extended duelling that ensues but you also get to see excellent stunt sequences combined with Darth Mauls truly lethal use of the double edged lightsaber. It is at this moment of the movie where the soundtrack (Duel of the Fates) makes the movie glow with intensity.

Meanwhile outside the Gungans are suffering heavily at the hands of the droid army as the Battle for Naboo rages on. You're in for a treat here with some truly dazzling special effects in use. The irksome Jar Jar Binks is ever present but he doesn't totally spoil the show. Eventually forced to surrended the Gungans are despondent. The story doesn't end here however.
Star Wars

Anakin having stolen a Naboo starfighter single handedly destroys the Trade Federation command ship instantly disabling the Trade Ferderation robot army on Naboo. This space battle rates as the worst seen in any Star Wars movie. The special effects are excellent, the tension is high but the I'm-a-scared-kid-flying-a-spaceship routine exhibited by the previously coolheaded pod racing Anakin Skywalker makes no sense and destroyed what could have been a truly spectacular fight scene. You should have been shown an early glimpse of the precision and guile of the young Darth Vader and not some scared child.

With the droid army defeated and Naboo now free you're treated to an end sequence of victory celebrations on Naboo, a glimpse of Anakin as a Padawan and questions from the Jedi council on the origins of the Sith Lord encountered by Master Qui-Gon

So how does it rate against the previous Star Wars movies? The Phantom Menace has many strong points. Excellent story, fantastic Jedi duels and truly excellent special effects. Weak points are Jar Jar Binks and the over simplification of Anakin Skywalkers early years by subpar acting and bad, bad direction. The Phantom Menace grows on you the more you watch it. For its few bad points this still rates as an excellent movie but not the stunning masterpiece that it should have been.

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