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Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace (1999)



Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace (1999)




6/10



Starring
Liam Neeson
Ewan McGregor
Natalie Portman
Jake Lloyd


Directed by George Lucas

To be honest, The Phantom Menace didn’t bring about the introduction I had hoped for in the Star Wars saga, but it was a nice movie in its own right. The problem, I believe, lies in the fact that George Lucas had full control over the movie, with no one questioning him. This, I think, is the reason I had to deal with two hours or less of Jar Jar Binks, who wasn’t funny but annoying. His clan was so bothersome that I wished the droids had wiped them out before young Anakin Skywalker could save them.

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) were the highlights of this movie. I was extremely impressed by the portrayal of Qui-Gon Jinn to the point that I just wanted to see Liam Neeson at all times. He was magnificent and made the movie worth seeing. His presence made it easier to deal with the annoying character of Jar Jar Binks and his clan.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is the fourth film in the Star Wars saga. It came about from Lucas planning a backstory that would connect and give depth between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. In the first Star Wars trilogy, Vader is said to be Luke’s father, so this second trilogy is meant to show how Anakin (Darth Vader) was trained and swayed to the dark side. The movie’s main protagonist is Anakin Skywalker, and this first movie of the sequel serves as his introduction.

The name Phantom Menace refers to Palpatine hiding his true identity as the evil Sith Lord. The movie follows the adventure of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi as they are tasked with escorting and protecting Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) of planet Naboo as she travels to Coruscant in hopes of ending the trade dispute between her people and the Viceroy. Their journey wasn’t peaceful, as the Viceroy invaded Naboo and they had to flee. During their flight, a breakdown of their spacecraft caused them to land on the planet Tatooine, where they met young Anakin Skywalker and also witnessed the return of the Sith, with Qui-Gon Jinn having to defend himself from one.

The CGI in the movie isn’t as impressive as I would expect, but the screenplay is one that will keep the interest of many. This massive box-office hit received many mixed reviews, and I myself have mixed feelings about the movie. It’s a lot easier to enjoy if you’ve seen the first trilogy—don’t try to watch the movie from here onward hoping to get the full experience.

In conclusion, Star Wars is a wonderful franchise with a plot that can go on and on. I did enjoy this movie, but not because of the script or plot (which I’d rate 5/10) but because of the performances of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor.

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