Lightsabers at the ready, folks, because a classic Star Wars movie is heading back into cinemas. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Star Wars – Episode One: The Phantom Menace, Disney/Lucasfilm is re-releasing the movie for a limited time.
For those who have no idea which Star Wars movie this is (which is probably three people), The Phantom Menace is the one with Darth Maul, Jar Jar Binks, and all the podracing. Directed by George Lucas, and starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman, the film is a prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy and details the early days of Anakin Skywalker.
In the film, two Jedi knights are dispatched to the planet of Naboo to help settle an ongoing conflict. When the Jedi arrive on the planet, they encounter hostility, as well as an insidious plot to invade.
After being attacked, the Jedi mount an escape from Naboo. Along the way, they team up with a young queen, a clownish native, and a boy with an uncertain future who will prove to be very important.
Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past quarter century, chances are you are more than familiar with The Phantom Menace. When the film was originally released back in 1999 it was a huge deal, and to this day it remains one of the most hyped movies of all-time.
In fact, if you were around in ’99, you’ll know just how big the release of The Phantom Menace was. Marketing for the movie was everywhere, and the arrival of the film was an event, with mammoth pre-bookings boosting up the box office, and audiences queuing around the block to grab a ticket.
The tie-in merchadise was also off the scale, with countless companies lining up to be associated with the film. From Walkers crisps and Pepsi, to Walls ice cream and Galoob, Lucasfilm had partners coming out of their ears.
Open up a magazine or a newspaper, switch on the television or the radio, or simply walk into a bookstore or a supermarket, and you would find yourself surrounded by Phantom Menace madness. It was a crazy moment in time, but a fantastic one nonetheless, and it was perfect if you counted yourself as a Star Wars fan.
But of course, with so much excitement surrounding the film, could The Phantom Menace have ever lived up to the hype? No, not really, but for a short window in time the film wowed audiences, injected a bit of movie magic into cinemas, and made a heck of a lot of money.
Following its initial release, opinions over The Phantom Menace dipped for a while, as it (and its sequels) were unfavourably compared to the original Star Wars films, and this did take the sheen off a bit. Some fans felt the picture was disappointing, with paper-thin characters, naff dialogue, and too much reliance on CGI, and the film became the butt of a few jokes.
However, over time opinions shifted again, as the kids who grew up watching The Phantom Menace became adults, got nostalgic for the film, and began to champion it. The movie also benefitted from various fans turning their attention to other Star Wars films they didn’t like, which got the brunt of their criticism instead.
But how does The Phantom Menace stand up 25 years on? Is it good, is it bad, or is it somewhere in between?
It’s somewhere in between. The Phantom Menace isn’t the greatest Star Wars movie, nor is it the worst, but it is entertaining.
The film suffers from some problems, including clunky dialogue and stiff performances, but it also has a superb score by composer John Williams, beautiful cinematography from David Tattersall, and some excellent fight choreography.
A touch of nostalgia does help here, but The Phantom Menace is fun, even without the rose-tinted glasses. It has playful moments, plenty of heart, and a good sense of adventure.
Highlights of The Phantom Menace include a thrilling podrace on the desert planet of Tatooine; an epic battle to save Naboo; and a three-way fight sequence between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. The film also introduces various new characters into the saga (Padmé, Mace Windu, Captain Panaka, etc); brings back some familiar faces (C-3PO, R2-D2, Yoda, etc); benefits from a sublime performance by Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine; and has some truly amazing sets and costumes.
All of this, and much more is packed into a runtime which clocks in at just over the two-hour mark. And it’s two(ish) hours of sheer spectacle and imagination.
Sure, there are times when the film stumbles and makes some odd choices, but it never becomes anything less than creative and entertaining. Director George Lucas loads the film up with so many characters and ideas there is always something to look at and catch the eye, and this helps the film move along quite nicely.
Amazing? No. A fun time at the cinema? Certainly.
Should you wish to catch Star Wars – Episode One: The Phantom Menace when it returns to cinemas, you had best be quick. The film will be screening in the UK and the US for ONE WEEK ONLY, beginning on Friday 3rd May.
Yes, this does mean you can watch the movie on Star Wars Day, aka Saturday 4th May. But you might want to book your tickets as soon as possible, as it will no doubt prove a popular time to watch the movie.
And if you can’t make a screening, don’t worry, The Phantom Menace is currently available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital download. You can also catch the film on Disney+.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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