A Good Film that Fails to Meet Expectations

Rating: 7/10 (13 August 2010)

The title to this review may be the understatement of the century, but it's truer than what many other reviewers will tell you. When I first reviewed this film, I gave it a 9 out of 10. I recognized the film had some flaws, but I loved it so much that I overlooked them and focused on what I loved about the movie and Star Wars in general. But, watching the movie now, as an adult, it's clear that it hasn't held up that well. My mind is not as clouded by my love of all things Star Wars, and I think I'm able to give it a more level headed review.
I grew up in the 80s, and like many boys my age, I lived and breathed Star Wars. For me and many like me, this was the most anticipated movie of my life. I was only 3 when Return of Jedi came out, and didn't get the opportunity to see it in theaters, so for me, this movie was a very big deal in 1999. And it was very exciting. I loved it, it was probably the only time I clapped or cheered in a movie theater. It was a great experience. I actually saw the film a few times afterwords, but unlike the older Star Wars movies, I started to like it less and less each time I saw it. I still loved it, but it didn't have the same greatness the older ones had.
Part of the problem was the messy plot. It's difficult to tell what exactly is at stake for our protagonists in this movie, because you're not sure what the bad guys' plans are, and exactly what or why they're doing what they're doing. There are many plodding moments in this movie in which the plot seems to lose focus. It seems to go off on tangents that, at times, get rather dull. The dialog and acting is weak at times and the weaker moments stick out more upon repeated viewings.
Also, the characterization is a little weak. There's no clear protagonist that the viewer can relate to. You have the Jedi, Obi Wan and Qui Gon, who seem to know a lot more than the audience and so make poor protagonists. Then there's Queen Amidala and her handmaiden, whose identities are often confusing and it's not clear what the audience is supposed to know about their relationship to each other. There's also Jar Jar Binks the alien quirky comic relief. As ridiculous as he is, he's probably the easiest to relate to because he's the most clueless one of them all. A lot of people hated Jar Jar because of his quirky way of speaking and cartoony design. Personally, I didn't mind him and found him quite funny at times. But I can see why people were annoyed by him, since he, the quirky comic relief, was the only one the audience could relate to early on and he therefore seemed to get a lot of screen time.
Finally there's Anakin, who is the closest thing to a main protagonist we get. But he's not introduced until 45 minutes into the movie. Perhaps this is not such a bad thing as his acting is quite weak, but he's a 9 year old kid so he gets a little leeway. This is probably the most kid friendly of the Star Wars movies. Although there is some mild violence, it is definitely less intense than some of the other movies. Plus the young character of Anakin is someone that a child can relate to. Jar Jar is also quite popular with kids, as his slapstick brand of humor is something that I found got them laughing pretty hard in the theater. But just because it is kid friendly doesn't mean that there isn't something for adults to enjoy as well.
There are enough great moments in this movie to make it worth watching at least once. The visuals and action are spectacular and the John Williams Score is fantastic as always. There are some really strong emotional moments too, especially with Anakin's mother, and between Obi Wan and Qui Gon towards the end. Many believe that this film is a waste because there's no point in seeing Anakin as a kid. While I can see their point, I have to disagree. Seeing Anakin as an innocent kind hearted boy makes his overall character arc later in the saga all the more tragic. In this aspect this film accomplishes what it needs to accomplish. It sets the stage for the Star Wars Saga and introduces Anakin, the Saga's main character, as he was before he became a Jedi and before he lost his innocence.
Though probably the weakest film in the saga, it's still a very good one to see. But it doesn't hold up too well on repeated viewings. If I were to introduce Star Wars to someone I probably would not start with this film, unless they were a child. Start them with the original 1977 film, Episode IV: A New Hope. This is the classic that started it all, and it still holds up as a great film. The characters are much stronger and the protagonists are easier for older audiences to relate to. This makes it the best way to be introduced to the world of Star Wars.
If they like the original Star Wars movie (and who wouldn't), show them Episode V, 1980's Empire Strikes Back, arguably the best of the films. After that, show them this film. After seeing Empire they will have a deeper understanding of the world of Star Wars going in and will appreciate the back-story more. Plus, it's only natural that, due to the loose ends left open at the end, someone who has just seen Empire Strikes Back will have a million questions about the back-story and will want to see the prequels at that point.