Title: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Ray Park, Pernilla August

George Lucas you greedy old-man; the 3D conversion did absolutely zilch here. But I’ll give you this franchise tarnish-er…Star Wars was meant to be seen solely on the big screen.

The nostalgic goose bumps came up numerous times during this 136 minute extended cut. While they did show up, the feeling that came after these moments led yours truly to this conclusion: the overall execution, from directing to acting (Liam Neeson and Natalie Portman seemed to be sleep-walking here-n-there) and everything between, was simply inconsistent. Even though watching this many times over the years, this was the first time I was able to turn-off the blind-nostalgia/excitement component within the mind and fully understand why so many people had issues with the prequels. And yes, Jar-Jar Binks was the dumbest addition ever.

Let’s start with the lightsaber battles. This is a prime example where the acting and directing take a dip. Knowing that these sequences were always the most anticipated, one would think Lucas would make sure these are all tight every step of the way. Aside from the stellar choreographed battle at the end between Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Darth Maul (Ray Park); the other “laser-sword” – as described by a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) – moments look like a practice walkthrough. And a lot of this falls on the director for not sharpening how quickly the characters react in the respective scene. Even after the first encounter between Qui-Gon and Darth Maul, the way Lucas chose to end that intense sequence suggests laziness in the editing room.

Now keep in mind that the original trilogy (Episode IV-VI) was filmed in the late 70s & early 80s. The Phantom Menace didn’t arrive until 1999. So many were expecting an upgrade with all the technological advances made in film special-effects. And this is an area where Lucasfilm shines the brightest. The set pieces and CGI world created here is vintage Star Wars. Vast cities depicting the glory days of the Republic flow right into epic space battles that can only conjure up that escapism feeling from watching a Star Wars product. The cinematography for the latter is always a pleasure to take-in as well.

This saga has such a rich story to tell yet you get the feeling Lucas didn’t trust it was engrossing enough to keep an audience interested. Hence, why he chose to make Episodes IV-VI first, because he believed those would be more attractive. Apparently he still had some doubts about how strong the story was here, for he goes out of his way to force in comedic moments. Jar-Jar Binks, Lucas’ main conduit for laughs, loses his appeal about a third of the way through (and sitting in the theater with an audience today, the CGI character is not timeless by any means). There’s also a focus on showing an array of characters, which is a welcome trait for the franchise, but it was always done in a casual way. This go-around Lucas spotlights so many of them that it can interrupt the flow of the moment and/or overall story angle. At certain turns, the guy seems to overcook this installment, but in other segments, doesn’t get the best out of his cast and screenplay – which he wrote.

Still, with all these flaws, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a wonder to behold. Only Lord of the Rings has been able to create a working drama/action saga that firmly pulls you into another world and never loses its exploratory luster. No matter how mediocre the acting, the presence of the story will always keep one emotionally invested in what is occurring via the iconic characters. This space opera is fast-paced and quick-hitting, and at times, spinning out of control with all the random cutting to the multifaceted storylines. But as that musical score crescendos, one is somehow able to find an entertainment balance within an uneven product.

By the way, why is Anakin always looking off to his left when driving in the pod-races? That has always royally irked me for some reason.

Technical: B+

Overall: C+

By Joe Belcastro – Member of the Florida Film Critics Circle