The biggest disappointment in film history

Rating: 4/10 (15 December 1999)

The first episode to the Star Wars saga was never going to live up to or surpass the hype it was given and we all knew that most of the critics would pan it. But to be honest, the negative reviews were far more accurate than any positive review I read. On the whole, it's not a bad film, but the problem is that none of the heart and soul that was poured into the other episodes is present here. Lucas had always said that this one would be just to set-up the story. Well Episode Four didn't have that problem. "But it's the story, its the story," Lucas kept saying. Maybe, the trouble with that it isn't a very interesting story George boy. Everything about The Phantom Menace is flat and lifeless. The writing the direction, the action and the performances. Neeson is poorly cast as Qui Gon Jin, while McGregor speaks like a public boy with a large plum in the back of his throat as Kenobi. The plot isn't as nearly as compelling as the other three films either. The Trade Federation boundaries being in dispute sound as thrilling as the as the content of European sausages. And who cares if Portman as the Queen ever signs a stupid treaty or if Terence Stamp is voted out of the Senate? True the special effects are impressive, but without the rich characterisation of the previous films, we don't really care about the outcome. The action scenes seem rushed because Lucas has lost nearly all of his sense of timing and none of them come close to the fantastic Death Star assault at the end of the 1977 film. The nadir though has to be the suggestion of the virgin birth of Anakin Skywalker... please! None of the assurance and character of the previous films is present here and the only positive feeling you have coming away from it is that, hopefully it is setting up a stronger story for the next episodes. To end on a personal note, I remember that Time Out wrote about the original film "even if you've been entertained, you may feel cheated of something". I hardly ever agree with Time Out, but that quote pretty much sums up my thoughts; not on Star Wars Episode IV, which was made on a mere $6 million, but on The Phantom Menace, which cost 20 times as much.