time for a fresh look at this one

Rating: 7/10 (10 June 2005)

No matter what anybody says, Phantom isn't actually that bad a film. Yes its slow in places, has a questionable script and some poor acting (Natalie Portman stand up), but in the end were we really expecting a film that would stand up to the test of time like the originals has?
Think about it for a moment. Think about what Phantom has been mainly criticised for, and then look at my reasoning below.
In 1977 Lucas made star wars as a labour of love. Only star wars. Empire and Jedi were made to cash in on that films success, so when people say that he has only made phantom for the money, so what if he has? He's only human after all, and if its money he wants then he did well didn't he? Film-making is a money making business, and only a handful of directors are really in it for the artistic effect it has on the world. If Lucas made these new films halfheartedly, then so what?
What you have to remember firstly is that when star wars was made, the effects were top quality and state of the art. Nothing like them had been seen before, so of course they were going to get praise. These days, instead of cardboard spaceships and wires, we have CGI. Yes its weightless and unreal, with too many smooth edges and not enough variation in the different shades of colour. But was Lucas really expected to go back to technology he had used twenty years ago?
The fact that many people accused Phantom as just being a tool Lucas used to sell merchandise is a moot point. Star wars was made for a generation of children (and of course adults) who were brought up imagining what they were playing with. Toys and action figures weren't as advanced, but now they are, and mainly because of star wars we have a lot of merchandising. Lucas, clearly with one eye on that market has produced a movie thats not only a movie, but a cash cow he can make even more money off. So what if star wars toys were overflowing in stores around at Christmas? Lucas knows where the money is at, and he went straight for the sweet spot. If the film you make has the power to earn you x amount of dollars another way, then why not exploit that road?
The above are just superficial points. Now we have the meat of my argument.
Star wars comes out. Empire comes out. Jedi comes out. All three are lauded as magnificent films upon release, and twenty five years later they still are. When you think of star wars today, you usually think of great effects, great characters, and a great easy to follow storyline. Nobody thinks about the faults.
Lets look at some possible areas for discussion relating to the always loved original star wars trilogy, and the mostly disliked Phantom.
Jake Lloyd/Hayden Christensen vs Mark Hamill
yes I know Christensen isn't in Phantom, but you can see where I'm coming from. Yes, Lloyd is irritating as Anakin, and most people just wanted to punch his stupid whiny voice. But then, isn't that the same way most people felt about Hamill after star wars? Who can honestly say that Hamill is anything but a weener as Skywalker? Who would you rather be; Luke or Han solo? Nuff said. And Christensen is repeatedly attacked for his less than impressive acting skills. Did Hamill win an Oscar for best actor? Did Harrison Ford or Carrie Fisher? No they didn't. When the anakin actors are criticised, shouldn't we be remembering that hamill and co weren't exactly amazing back in the original trilogy?
Old scripts vs new script
Poor dialogue? Meaningless expressions and sentences? Words that nobody in the audience understand? Which am i talking about, phantom or star wars a new hope? Yes Lucas can't write a script to save his life, but as Harrison Ford so eloquently put 'you can type this s***, but you sure as hell can't say it.' the dialogue in the originals was shoddy, as it is today. Remember that when you say that Phantom has a poor script.
Jar Jar Binks vs c-3po
Yes binks needs shooting. He very nearly ruined the movie. But in every nostalgia programme i watch people always refer to c-3po as being the most annoying character in the series. In fact, after empire came out there were calls for his head, and yes he is slightly annoying in that film, as binks is in Phantom. If we're going to attack Binks, we damn well have to attack c-3po.
Overall what I'm trying to say is that while phantom has its much criticised faults, so did the originals. If we're going to have a go at Phantom, i think its fair that we do the same for the originals. After all, its slightly unfair to pick out various problems with one film, but then ignore them completely for another film thats identical.
Don't let nostalgia blind you to the truth. Phantom is flawed, but so were the others!