A welcome addition to the "Star Wars" Franchise

Rating: 8/10 (13 May 1999)

I had my reservations and fears about the film, which for the most part were unfounded. Here are four of them.
Fear #1: "The Computer generated space ships will look goofy compared to the models that were used in the earlier films. The look and movement won't be the same and maybe even look too phony." George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic has outdone themselves again with the effects on this film. I didn't learn until after I saw "Menace" that all but one shot had some sort of digital effect added to it. Models and computer animation were used together, and under my close scrutiny I couldn't tell the difference.
Fear #2: "The Battle Droids, who presumably fill the role of the Stormtroopers as a uniformed mass army of bad guys will be unrealistic since they too are computer animated." The more close up the camera appeared to get to the Battle Droids, the more realistic they seemed. They aren't very intimidating, however. These droids are clumsy, sometimes confused, and are skinny. Their tinny voices are reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica's "Cylons." The Battle Droids' deployment for the battle of Naboo is one of the most impressive examples of computer animation I have ever seen.
Fear #3: "Will Jar Jar Binks annoy me?" Yes, he did. The fully digitized comical sidekick to the two Jedi Knights wasn't that bad, it's just that this character carried on with slapstick comedy throughout the entire movie. He is very funny at times and I enjoyed a lot of the humor he provided. I understand that Jar Jar Binks was intended to appeal to the kids more than the adults, but it was just laid on a little too thick for me. However, I do like him better than the Ewoks from "Return of the Jedi."
Fear #4: "A 10 year old kid is the hero of the film?" I don't really care for kid actors very much, ever since Macaulay Caulkin became the most loved kid actor in the world in the early nineties. Jake Lloyd surprised me. He is a good actor! I believe that everything that George Lucas wanted to accomplish with this kid in the film, he did. Young Anakin, who Lloyd plays, is a believable hero in an unusual yet believable way.
I/Other items of interest in "The Phantom Menace..."/i
The much-talked about pod races lived up to their expectations. The speed of the pods and the danger that is portrayed to be inherent in these races makes the scene a suspenseful one to watch. There is a two headed ESPN type announcer(s) that adds too much of an Earth-like element in my opinion. Otherwise, the vehicles that resemble a sled with two F-14 engines attached to it were just as fun to watch as the "Return of the Jedi's" speeders on Endor.
The light saber duels were better than in "Star Wars: A New Hope", but lacked the intensity and anger of the battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in "Return of the Jedi." Darth Maul, the red and black makeup wearing bad guy almost seems to be dancing at times. There appeared to be a little more choreography, or it was just more evident, in the light saber fights in "Menace."
A device used too much in "Menace" was the "accidentally killed the bad guy" scenes. Remember when Han Solo accidentally bumps into his subduer, "Boba Fett," and knocks him into the Sarlacc Pit in "Return of the Jedi?" "Menace" has those scenes in abundance. I lost count at five different times that someone clumsily or accidentally takes out multiple bad guys with one misguided action. The Jar Jar Binks character does this to excess in the final battle on Naboo.
"The Phantom Menace" is a welcome and fitting addition to the "Star Wars" series of films. The themes of loyalty, friendship, romance, religion, and yearning for a better life are continued in this prequel. I wouldn't dare attempt to guess as to why the Star Wars films are so popular. I'm comfortable in saying that nearly anyone who watches a Star Wars film will find himself or herself relating to one or more of the characters. A mother who has to say goodbye to their child. Anyone who has lost a dear friend. Anyone looking for a better life, or "a life away from here". These are among the issues that are addressed in the "Star Wars" saga. Should you see "The Phantom Menace?" Not if you didn't like the first trilogy. If you did like episodes IV through VI, then go find a long line and stand in it. You won't regret it.