More complex than the trilogy plot-wise, and highly underrated.

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2000)

I don't understand why people think the plot of "Phantom" is infantile compared to the other entries of the trilogy. I mean, the others hardly had a plot. A New Hope was simply a shoot-em-up, with the ultimate goal being to destroy a big battle station. ESB was a chase movie. ROTJ was similar to the first, but with more plot. What worked with the series is the fact that it had interesting characters and, of course, the whole Anakin/Vader subplot. However, TPM's plot works on many levels, it's just that people can't seem to understand it. If they did, it would probably make a lot more sense. First off, everybody's asking: "Why did the Nimoudians blockade Naboo?" The answer is simple-in case you haven't figured it out yet, Senator Palpatine(The senator who Amidalia confers with on Coruscant) is in fact, Darth Sidious. He wants Naboo blockaded so it will generate strong sympathy towards him in the Senate, so he can become Supreme Chancellor. If the occupation treaty is signed, he'll get even more pity. However, it's not necessary to his overall scheme that the Neimoudians win-it would just *enhance* his chances. As for Maul, he's sent to reassure the Nimoudians, and also to get rid of those pesky Jedi, since Palpatine hates the Jedi anyway. Either way, whether the bad guys win or lose, it all goes down in Palpatine's favor. As for Jake Lloyd, the kid honestly wasn't that bad. Look at it this way-at least it wasn't the Jerry Macquire kid. The only major problem with the film is Jar-Jar, but George Lucas has taken notice of this and has lessened his role and toned down his character for Episode II. Anyway, most of the problems this film had-honestly problems people are complaining about WAY too much when they could be doing something productive-will probably be fixed with Episode II, as it appears from early reports.