The Phantom Menace at 20: A Defense

[Turd Ferguson]

I didn't realize ROTS had such a bad reputation. I thought it was clearly felt by fans to be the best film of the prequel trilogy. But, I can be out of touch with these things. For me personally, ROTS is actually in my top 3 Star Wars films. It's one of the very few that actually provoke an emotional reaction in me. For as much flak as the actors get for the prequels, I thought that Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, and Ewan McGregor did a really excellent job in the last few scenes of the film. I can really feel the heartbreak from Portman, feel the anger seething out of Christensen, and feel the utter disappointment from McGregor.

RotS is actually my favorite Star Wars film. Ian McDiarmid absolutely kills it in this movie and elevates it above Jedi and Empire for me.

 

[publiusr]

Happy 20th Birthday, TPM. You may not have been the greatest movie ever but you weren't and still aren't as bad as many people would have the rest of the world believe.

It had a WWII feel. The title helped with that.

 

[cooleddie74]

It felt like Star Wars. Sadly not all Star Wars films can say that.

 

[Set Harth]

Ian McDiarmid absolutely kills it in this movie

Sometimes literally!

 

[cooleddie74]

Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGregor were easily the two best things about the Prequel Trilogy. Palpatine and Obi-Wan shone even when the scenes they were in didn't rise to the same level.

 

[Set Harth]

If it's not Scottish, it's crap!

 

[saddestmoon]

TPM is the best of the first three PT movies, IMO.


Visually stunning; among the best musical themes in a SW movie; and cohesively distinct enough in style to be an absolute worthy first outing for the Prequels.

Love it to bits!

 

[Smellmet]

It's nowhere near as bad as people make out. I think it's a better movie than the last jedi.

 

[BillJ]

It's nowhere near as bad as people make out. I think it's a better movie than the last jedi.

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I think The Last Jedi is a far better movie than The Phantom Menace. The prequel trilogy in general just didn't have any kind of emotional core that I cared about. The Phantom Menace, in particular, just didn't give me any characters that I cared about.

There were workable elements, but overall I found the movies very flat.

 

[Booji]

It's definitely my least favorite of the series. I still saw it six times. I haven't seen another SW flick that many times. I love the overall story and themes. I just don't like the execution. I remember the night before opening I ended up reading the entire Topps widescreen card set and spoiled the whole movie on myself. I thought there was a bunch of story missing, but when I saw it in theaters and that was it... It's a missed opportunity, but still holds a special place in my heart.

 

[saddestmoon]

TPM gave me some of my fav SW starship designs - namely the republic cruiser and Maul’s Sith Infiltrator. For these reasons alone, I can forgive it for whatever else it does or doesn’t do.

Doug Chiang’s visual designs are fantastic (he also worked on Rogue One and TFAs).

 

[cooleddie74]

The Naboo Starfighter. Enough said.

 

[Booji]

TPM gave me some of my fav SW starship designs - namely the republic cruiser and Maul’s Sith Infiltrator. For these reasons alone, I can forgive it for whatever else it does or doesn’t do.

Doug Chiang’s visual designs are fantastic (he also worked on Rogue One and TFAs).

Fuck yes!

 

[Set Harth]

Doug Chiang’s visual designs are fantastic (he also worked on Rogue One and TFAs).

So he didn't work on TLJ? What is it with Chiang being replaced on these trilogies? He didn't work on ROTS either.

 

[XCV330]

The Naboo Starfighter. Enough said.

It was my desktop image on my computer all through late 97 when the first photos leaked until the movie came out.

 

[saddestmoon]

So he didn't work on TLJ? What is it with Chiang being replaced on these trilogies? He didn't work on ROTS either.

I didn’t actually realise that when I posted - but checking now, you are correct.

 

[saddestmoon]

I still have my Kenner Episode 1 3 3/4 inch Naboo starfighter! It’s absolutely wizard (I use that term both in jest and in seriousness)!

 

[cooleddie74]

Hasbro released a new and improved 3.75"-scale Naboo Starfighter in 2012 to coincide with the 3D rerelease of Episode I but it was all but impossible to find at brick-and-mortar retail.

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[Mach5]

People who complain about too much CGI in TPM have no clue.

 

[Smellmet]

People who complain about too much CGI in TPM have no clue.

It's not just TPM either. All the prequels used a huge amount of miniatures.