Necessary for the epic's architecture,but not as great as the other installments

Rating: 7/10 (13 July 2006)

"The Phantom Menace" does not lack ideas and rapidity,rhythm and sense of composition.The film is quite inspired and light.
The narration is overloaded with episodic elements,only vaguely needed for the story's progress.The movie could use more inventiveness and velocity,although these don't lack entirely.It also could renounce that which is only episodic.
I'm not a great fan of Anakin's adventures as a kid.But the intrigues and political maneuvers from the Senate ,the machinations of the Viceroy,the wanderings of Queen Amidala,etc.,let's say the political and military side,are exciting and well written.
The humor is buffoonish.
Great fun,although not my type of fun.
Stamp has a bit part,as "Valorum".
The fussy Jar Jar is a mistake.
From a Christian point of view,the ersatz of "spirituality" proposed is very objectionable and obsolescent,as often with the "ambitious" SF movies.
"The Phantom Menace" it's not entirely satisfactory,I expected something better.It seems the movie doesn't really take into account the grown-ups,but agrees to resort to childishness.
The narrative frame,already made (in '77,'80,'83) is still grandiose,and Lucas manages to keep it this way.
Of course,all these inconveniences that I've been mentioning here are relative to what we expected this movie to be,by measuring them against our expectations.Lucas had to make some choices,and he could not please entirely all of us.
Why lie to ourselves?The film is interesting,thrilling,well crafted,etc.,but not as good as it should/could have been.(It doesn't need to be Lucas in order to succeed.Marquand made it.Kershner made it. But you need that unequaled crew:Hamill,Ford,Mrs. Fisher,Guinness...)
"The Phantom Menace" it's not a flop,all this doesn't make it an error,no.
Notice that "Star Trek:Insurrection",one of the best SF movies ever, was made almost at the same time.
Neeson looks great as "Qui-Gon",I wish he had a bigger part.
I felt the absence of the first cast (Ford,etc.).But I also sensed some self-complacency about Lucas,who seems quite self-sufficient.
"Attack of the Clones" is much better.
I see "The Phantom ..." was given a weighted average vote of 6.4 / 10. Fair.