Time for me to fall right into three films I hate in order to get to three films that I love. Because we all know what's coming in December and it's about time I talked about what has been one of my favorite movie series since childhood. Yes, that's right - the whole series. As a child, this was actually the first Star Wars movie I saw in theaters when it was new. And I loved it.
In my defense, I was eight.
However, as many people from that era did, looking back on it now as a grown man...I find that it's not that good. And it's not because of the abomination that is Jar Jar Binks. It's not because of the wooden acting. It's not because of the needless use of CGI everywhere. All of that, except maybe that first one, I can forgive. That's right, I can forgive George Lucas for all of that. But there is one thing I can't forgive, and I'll get into that in a minute.
Many years before the events of the original film, it is the time of the Republic. Things look a lot better now, and two Jedi (Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor) have been sent to a planet called Naboo to negotiate a settlement with the dreaded and horribly racially stereotyped Trade Federation. Unfortunately they call "no rikey" on the deal and try to gas the the Jedi, who make their way to the planet and rescue the democratically elected Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), escaping off planet so she can make her case to the Galactic Senate.
However, on the way, they come to a desert planet and find an enslaved Force prodigy named Anakin (Jake Lloyd), discovering he is so powerful...thanks to his midi-chlorian count. And here is where I have my biggest problem with the prequel trilogy - midi-chlorians.
While this is skipping ahead (or skipping back), the Force is described in A New Hope as "an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the galaxy together." The Force is described as a mystical thing, something that is beyond even the full understanding of those who use it. It's mysterious, vague, and gives a sense of awe. Midi-chlorians, however, are the exact opposite of that. Putting it down to a science and quantifying it.
While I am a big proponent of "magic is just science we don't understand yet" rule, that was neither wanted nor needed in a setting like Star Wars. It completely ruins all of the very otherworldly mystique that surrounded the Force in the earlier films, and makes it all the more mundane where it was actually one of the sole unique factors that stood out in a universe of unique and diverse alien races. So, needless to say, I am not a fan.
It's also very telling that - after this film - this concept is never mentioned again in the movies. At the very least, George can recognize sometimes when he's done something stupid.
But getting back to the plot, they free the boy, find that the Galactic Senate isn't going to help, and thus go back to Naboo to free it themselves.
So, the Prequel Trilogy had to take the set up mentioned in A New Hope and set the path to bringing it all into fruition - namely the Jedi being wiped out and the Empire taking over. They do this with the introduction of Darth Sidious - in reality Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) - and his apprentice Darth Maul (Ray Park). While Sidious doesn't actually interact with any characters but Maul (as himself), Maul actively tracks and combats the Jedi and poses their first real threat as his attacks reveal to them that their ancient enemies - the Sith - are still active.
Maul was actually an excellent antagonist and I...yeah, okay, I'm trying really, really hard to not just retread Belated Media's "What if Episode 1 was good?" video (which, if you haven't, you definitely should). Needless to say, I agree with quite a few of the points they makes in that that would have improved the film immensely.
While Anakin can be somewhat annoying, I can chalk that up to the fact that Jake Lloyd was all of ten at the time the film was made and thus shouldn't really be held to the same standards as an adult actor. And we will have an adult actor in the next film who is...shall we say...really...really bad...
But I can actually throw some positives out for this film. Ewan McGregor is amazing in his turn as Obi-Wan Kenobi - something that will continue throughout the three films - going from a young padawan on the cusp of full adulthood to having to take on an apprentice just as soon as he gets himself Knighted.
I will never say anything bad about a John Williams score. Ever. It will not happen.
The lightsaber fights are actually really good, especially that big one at the end between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Maul. Really, there is some impressive stunt work there (compounded in awesomeness by John Williams's "Duel of the Fates", of course).
...okay, admittedly, those are the only three things I can really not take issue with. This film is just awful. The plot has way too much politics and chattiness in both the Senate and the Jedi Council, the Gungans are pointless and should not have in any way been included in the plot, and Liam Neeson is not at his best having to deal with a bunch of bad direction from Lucas.
Oh, and the podrace just drags on. Like, crazy long. Not Ang Lee's Hulk long, but really long regardless. Not a fan.
Next week, however, we go into what is probably the most reviled addition to the Star Wars saga. I hope you like sand...
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is now available from Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox.
For the latest from the MadCapMunchkin, be sure to follow him on Twitter @MadCapMunchkin.
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