The mind that brought us the movie that changed HOLLYWOOD finally shows us the beginning of his world - famous and brilliant brainchild

Rating: 8/10 (11 October 1999)

Every saga has it's beginning and The Phantom Menace is IT. Now this was a highly anticipated movie as most of you will surely know. Maybe even the most anticipated ever. People were going to the Theatre, expecting to see the best movie they've ever seen and of course some were disappointed, others weren't. The disappointed ones then trashed the movie on the Internet and gave it bad reviews, as did the critics, who never ever really loved a Star Wars movie, or did they?
Everybody, noticing anything about this movie, good or bad, compares it to the 2nd (First released) trilogy, which is totally understandable, I think. But you just can't compare it, because you know all 3 movies of the 2nd trilogy and that makes you see that trilogy as a hole and not as three movies, who stand on their own feet. Of the 1st trilogy, you know only the beginning after having seen The Phantom Menace and that is very different. Also when you are going to watch the picture you must make yourself clear that it will be in a total different way than you did the 2nd trilogy. Most of you readers didn't view the original trilogy on the big screen in the 70's and 80's I presume and nor have I. But I can assure you, many of the viewers probably went out of the theatre with the same feelings I did coming out of The Phantom Menace which is a feeling of not being completely satisfied. This is, because the story has to continue and WILL.
Another point of criticism to this movie is that many people say the first Star Wars movie had more of an epic feeling to it than this one and I have to say, that's TOTALLY true, but this is the beginning folks. You know, you should regard the 9 episodes of Star Wars as a 3 hour lasting movie, in which every trilogy covers an hour. Now it is totally natural, that the first hour is merely an introduction and not by far as epic as the middle of the movie. Or do you know a movie without introduction, that moves right into the epic feeling or do you know a movie in which the introduction itself is really cool and after that it even gets cooler? Also you'll have to adjust to the new actors and actresses. You are used to see Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (CarrieFisher), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Vader and many others. But now you'll have to focus on Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), young Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor), Qui Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and of course much hated Jar Jar Binks. I have to say, that although I had to get used to the new performers I found it pretty easy. Everyone was watchable, although I didn't like Samuel L.Jackson that much in his role and Obi Wan got a little too little attention. This however will change as the story goes on.
I really liked Liam Neeson, REALLY surprised me. The performances of Lloyd and Portman were good also, although I liked Lloyd a bit better, Obi Wan was also OK. I also liked Darth Maul pretty much and I didn't find Jar Jar Binks an annoying guy at all. He actually brought in a little fun. The other cast was good also, like Shmi Skywalker, Sebulba, R2 - D2 and C - 3PO. Of course the movie is a little more childish, but hey, there are children in the movie, you know and it's a bit of a teenage flick, so what's to grumble of a little bit of childishness. The special effects are astounding (OSCAR!!!!), although I didn't like all the creatures. And I also didn't like all the scenes, but hey nobody's perfect, not even THE Great LUCAS. The music by Williams is good (OSCAR nomination), as always, but I liked the music during the last lightsaberduel, between Neeson and Park best. That music was teriffic. The fight itself was beautyfully choregraphed by the way (Hong Kong style you might as well say). This part of the movie had a little bit of that much missed epic feeling.
So I think the future of Star Wars (Episodes II and III) are in the hands of very well acting Portman and also very well acting McGregor and L.Jackson who I think doesn't really fit, but who knows what'll happen in the next 2 Episodes and what I'll be saying in 6 years. It'll be good of course, like this one, on which I had not much comment as you may have noticed. I even liked it so much that I'm going to see it again when it comes to our little HELLHOLE town for 10 guilders (5 bucks), because going to what is considered the BIG TOWN here, about 25 kilometres away from here is too expensive to me ($ 7,50 for the flick and another $5 for travelling and probably even more for consumptions) If you think about watching the Phantom Menace remember, do NOT expect too much, look at it as a new episode (that's what it is) and don't compare it too much to the 2nd trilogy. You'll definitely like it if you do that, just trust me or sue me if you didn't like it.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS!
8/10