First of I think it's fair to mention that The Phantom Menace was never going to live up to all expectations. Expectations which after sixteen years and one mightily impressive trailer (see below) had been built up to sky high levels and I still believe that a lot of the negative reaction the film gets is connected to the fact that it could never been the film of everyone's dreams.
Now certainly the film is far from perfect on it's own terms but it's not as terrible as many would have you believe. I would in fact suggest that it is a perfectly entertaining piece of escapist science fiction (of fantasy if you're one of those Star Wars is fantasy types)
Often the film is criticised for it's story and plotting with many accusing it of being too dry and overly complicated. I really don't think this is the case, ok the opening text scroll isn't the most interesting but overall I feel the story works on the two levels required of it; to set up the following arc and as a self contained adventure.
In terms of the arc story we have the Trade Federation being manipulated in order to generate a crisis situation allowing Palpatine to take the reigns of government (along with Anakin's first steps on his path) and the smaller scale we have the story of two Jedi Knights fighting to protect a Queen and save a planet from a hostile invasion force (and their encounters along the way).
How anyone sees this as on overly complex tale I don't know, maybe they get themselves too bogged down in the small details, but this is hardly 'Chinatown' here, after the whole franchise is inspired by the '30s adventure serials (hardly known for their intricate plotting)
Another thing people seem to gripe about is connected to the plot, often I see people say the film has no clear protagonists despite the fact that Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) spend ninety percent of the film on screen. Not sure how else you'd identify you're heroes.
What I suspect many people mean is that they feel there isn't a character which they can clearly identify with as the audience. In this I'd say there is more of an argument. In A New Hope Luke clearly fills this role as he is the outsider to the situation and this has to have a lot of stuff explained to him (and thus to the audience) added to this is the fact that he starts out as very much the 'boy next door' with nothing special to mark him out.
In contrast Qui-Con and Obi-Wan are already established players in their world, with special skills and little need to stop and have the world around them explained to them. They are indeed hardly to relate to as characters initially but that doesn't mean they aren't the film's main protagonists. In fact I'd even suggest Qui-Con is the main man and that Obi-Wan is amongst the second tier of characters alongside Padme, Anakin and Jar-Jar.
If you look at A New Hope it's the same kind of setup with Luke front and center with Obi-Wan, Han, Leia on the second rung then 'Droids and Chewie on the third. It's the characterisation that differs rather than the way the players are structured at this point.
It is true that film suffers from some dodgy acting, Jake Lloyd as little Anakin is terrible, but it's not all terrible. Liam Neeson in fact is very good throughout I feel, doing an excellent job of conveying a mentor figure to Obi-Wan and a very capable seasoned adventurer. He looks practiced in his sword fighting and even remains dignified when Jar-Jar is on screen.
Ewan McGregor is a little less steady as Obi-Wan but to be fair on this outing he isn't really given a lot to work with as at this stage his part remains largely functional rather than dramatic. The accent is a bit odd too.
Natalie Portman is decent as Padme (although the surprise reveal of who she was never did surprise me, but then that's because I can recognise actors) though her interactions with Jake Lloyd's Anakin are fairly poor, but I suspect that's largely not her fault.
Ian McDiarmid is charmingly suspicious, which is great because that's exactly what he's meant to be. And everyone else veers from a bit dodgy to blink and you'll miss them (keep you eyes and ears peeled for Keira Knightly, Soffia Coppola, Dominic "McNulty" West, Greg Proops, Celia Imrie and Terence Stamp) But then the original trilogy is hardly an acting masterclass but is largely carried along by the charm of Harrison Ford a lot of the time with the odd bit of help from various RSC members.
The digital characters are very well realised (eleven years before Jim Cameron 'changed the game') weather you like them or not you can't deny the technical achievement of integrating them so well into the film. As annoying as Jar-Jar is (and to be honest I can live with him) he does mark a leap forward. As do the likes of Watto and Sebulba. Added to the fact that their performance are better than some of the 'normal' actors.
For the last word on the performances I'd say take a look at the background and production footage and see just what a weird environment they were working in. It's not surprising they performances are little flat when being asked to act in front so much blue and green screen, then having to redo things many time so calibration shots can be done for the CGI work and characters. (And it's fair to say George isn't really an actor's director)
Production design the wise I think the film is a big success. Every location, alien, prop, costume is lovingly crafter and many of the sights are really quite impressive but this often seems to be taken for granted.
Each location is distinct and varied from the underwater locales of Naboo to the massive Senate chamber to (And if you're going to question the reality of an all desert planet then I'm afraid you'll probably want to be avoiding space operas all together). Whatever Lucas lacks in terms of using his actors and refining his scripts he retains his eye for a stunning shot set-up and creating an evocative universe.
Even the Battle Droids look cool although they are pretty much lame in all other respects. There is much more imaginationion going on here than there was in Avatar and yet one of them is accused of being too cartoony and the other is apparently the best thing since the invention of the moving image. People even complained that CG Yoda didn't look right. Well that's probably because he still a puppet in this one people.
Plus of course the design teams here gave us Darth Maul one of the coolest things in the entire Star Wars cannon and a character that provides one of the best moments in all of the films if you ask me as he enters that hanger and sparks up his sabre.
It is shame he was dispensed with at this stage though as I feel it wouldn't take to much or a rewrite for him to stick around and take over parts of Count Dooku's place in events. (In fact I would have Maul largely play Dooku's role with the Count replacing Grievous in the narrative)
The duel between Maul and the two Jedi in the third reel is in my mind the second best lightsabre duel in the two trilogies and the best within the prequel set. And with the final Vader versus Luke confrontation taking the prize out of the sheer drama it's the Maul brawl that leads the way in terms of the physicality on display. Some may make fun of the force fields involved (and to be fair they are rather inexplicable) but they do allow for a great little character moment as Maul prowls, Qui-Con meditates and Obi-Wan looks on frantically.
It just as well that this fight is the business though as the films other action set pieces are a little disappointing. The space battle is easily the weakest in the series (and I've always wondered why the Droid ship's reactor is in the hanger bay) and the big ground battle is spoilt by being a too heavy on the slapstick.
Of course the Pod race is the other big set piece. This one is initially thrilling and quite breathtaking but then it just goes on for too long. Had the race been half the length it would have been much more intense and thrilling but has it is you do find your attention wondering a little as the third lap begins and Anakin once again overtakes everyone from the rear of the field. (Still it did give rise to the Pod Racer game which I used to love as it was ridiculously fast).
The race does do it's job of offering up some action at the halfway point and the classic Star Wars third reel action fest does end up working quite well despite he baggage of two underwhelming segments.
In general I think The Phantom Menace offers up a good solid Star Wars experience, ok there a few bumps along the road but then that's true of a lot of things. It is true that the continuity isn't what I thought it would be all those years ago but now I've had time to love with it, you know, I'm ok with it.
Sure a bunch of things don't quite make sense but then I'm willing to let a few things go in a universe with magic and laser guns! In the end I think, mainly because of Qui-Gon, I prefer this entry in the series over Attack Of The Clones (which I've also watched recently and will get to next) but behind Revenge Of The Sith in terms of the prequel trilogy.
I'm sure people will disagree but I think by and large it seems to be the done thing to have a go at Phantom Menace but in a series that already gave us fighting teddy bears there's nothing here in my view that 'breaks' Star Wars and as a film on it's own merits it's fine (miles better than Temple Of Doom for example) and in my view quite enjoyable.
2 comments:
I haven't seen this for ages so I can't do a detailed critique but what I most remember is how boring it was compared to the original three. Not mind-numbingly boring in absolute terms, but as the original three were highly entertaining it seemed that way in comparison. I don't think there was one big reason for this (even Lucas directing, seeing as he appeared to direct A New Hope OK). Just little things that all added up. E.g.: Lack of a fun main character (Han Solo-equivalent) to offplay all the earnestness from the Jedi types. The premise, which I agree is not complex, but is certainly far too arcane for a pulp film. Overuse of special effects - I guess they were trying to reproduce the wow-factor of the originals, but now that anything's possible with CGI nothing is going to wow in the same way, and instead it just ends up looking overblown and tedious. Finally pacing, as many scenes go on for just a bit too long, or in the case of the pod race much much too long. This is maybe a side effect of trying to shove in as much CGI as possible.
But I agree that Jar-Jar isn't particularly annoying and certainly no worse than the ewoks. If there had been a fun main character there would probably have been less pressure on him to be the comic relief.
I see what you're saying and it is something that improves with the subsequent entries as you get more banter from Obi-Wan in the second and third of the prequels. But of course thats counter balanced by the main narritive getting darker and darker.
I don't think the CGI is actually overused like many people do. For there is nothing in there feels too forced in terms of it's inclusion. Some of the compositing isn't perfect however and there's when you can tell things are CGI'd. Tho I would agree it lacks the lived in feel of the original films (truth is at the end of the day it is actually cheaper to use CG than build loads of full size sets and intricate model work)
I'd agree that the pacing could be a little better but then I think that's partly down to the fact the film has to lay the ground work for the rest of the trilogy (hence introductions to the Senate, Jedi council etc)
There's less that feels unneeded to me here than in say The Dark Knight.
But I do see where you are coming from and I accept I am in the minority on quite liking the film!
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