Phantom Menace? Phantom screenplay!

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2017)

It was the dawn of a new Star Wars trilogy, hopes were high, as were excitement levels, then it all collapsed in a pit of anguished cries and undeniable shock, the shock that Star Wars could become so childish.
Nevertheless I found the Phantom Menace to be an enjoyable film for what it was, only the sheer thought that this was meant to be Star Wars made me wince, and keeps me wincing to this very day.
Jar Jar Binks! The most infuriating piece of CGI known to man, and a disgusting racial stereotype that's about as funny as a tumbleweed, enough said.
George Lucas has truly gone bonkers, I think the money he's earned and the revenue he's generated has completely gone to his head; there is no storyboard, a very weak "phantom" screenplay, and the dialogue is a shambles, who on earth told this man he could write?
The pod-race was a positive, shades of Ben-Hur only faster and more futuristic, reminds me of watching a no holds barred formula one race.
Liam Neeson is a quality actor, and so is Ewan McGregor, but they suffered at the hands of no direction, they could only work with what George Lucas gave to them, and he really didn't give them a great deal.
Queen Amidala played by the talented Natalie Portman was cringe inducing, not just because of a lack of direction this time, but because the character was generally appalling, like something taken out of a child's fantasy, and why was a teenager appointed Queen of an entire planet, when the society of Naboo was actually a democracy?
Jake Lloyd really? A talentless child actor who only won the part of Anakin because he'd already appeared in a few different films, giving him an edge over other kids auditioning for the role. Anakin is supposed to grow up into the most dangerous guy in the galaxy, and judging from ten year old Anakin in the Phantom Menace, he's simply an autistic mommy's boy who can do unbelievable things.
On a plus note, the special effects were groundbreaking, keeping with the Star Wars tradition of wowing its audience; the fight and battle scenes were truly breathtaking, like the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, and Darth Maul, first class with a lightening fast pace that doesn't allow you to stop for breath.
The one thing I truly loved about the Phantom Menace was Darth Maul, the guy oozed appeal and looked like the devil himself. What a superb idea it was to limit his appearances in the film and kill him off at the end, the one true thing they did right and they threw it away, I'd have loved to have seen Maul return for a larger role in an alternate Attack of the Clones, rather than a limited Christopher Lee come in as Count Dooku to replace him.
Sadly a very disappointing return to the Star Wars universe, and the only thing that saved it for me were the special effects, the fight scenes, the pod-race and Darth Maul.