Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
★★★½ — Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
George Lucas had spent the sixteen years since Return of the Jedi (1983) largely stepping back from directing, focussing instead on producing and building the Industrial Light & Magic empire, which made his return to the Star Wars universe a genuine cultural event. The Phantom Menace arrived in May 1999 to a level of anticipation that was, by any measure, extraordinary, with audiences queuing for days outside cinemas and the film eventually crossing a billion dollars at the global box office. Produced by Lucasfilm on a reported budget of $115 million, it served as the first instalment of a prequel trilogy, tracing the early life of Anakin Skywalker well before the events of the original films. A then nine-year-old Jake Lloyd played the young Anakin, while Ewan McGregor stepped into the role of a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, filling shoes previously occupied by Sir Alec Guinness.
I'd JUST finished watching the OG trilogy when this was announced. Imagine my excitement. There’s no denying that The Phantom Menace has some incredible moments. The genuinely thrilling podrace. The Duel of the Fates, One of the most electrifying lightsaber battles in the entire franchise made even better by John Williams delivering one of the greatest musical scores of all time. But then there’s everything else. The political trade disputes are dry. The introduction of midichlorians feels totally unnecessary. The CGI, while groundbreaking at the time, has aged in places, especially when it comes to certain Gungan-related characters. It’s not awful, it’s just frustrating. There’s a great Star Wars movie in here somewhere… but it’s buried under exposition, wooden dialogue, and an over-reliance on effects. At least we got Darth Maul, though.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 1999 | Watched: 1999-12-23
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
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Physical: Amazon UK
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