Fellman's Movie Reviews

Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace is the very first film in the Star Wars franchise. Not the first one made, but the beginning of the story. It is the first of the three “prequel” movies, and the beginning of the Skywalker storyline that makes up that canon that the Star Wars universe centers around.  

Now, I personally, have always liked the prequel trilogy. I think when they first came out that it was almost a fad to make fun of the prequel movies just because they weren’t the original trilogy. But deep down, everybody knew they liked them just as much as everybody else did. Because, it’s Star Wars. When people saw Darth Maul open that double bladed lightsaber for the first time, you know they were just like “whoa!!!”.  

And who doesn’t like Pod Racing? I don’t care who you are. The Pod Racing scene is a cool scene. They made an entire video game out of it. I had it. It was an awesome video game. As far as 1999 goes, the special effects in The Phantom Menace were top of the line. Industrial Lights and Magic, George Lucas’ special effects production company, always is. It’s the standard special effects company in Hollywood for just that reason.  

Not that Episode 1 doesn’t have its downsides, too. Namely, Jar-Jar Binks. Possibly, the worst Star Wars character of all time. I’ve literally seen polls. Reviews, and surveys done of the worst Star Wars characters of all time. And Jar-Jar Binks has rated #1, unanimously, on every single one. Without any argument. People hate Jar-Jar. As they should… 

The acting and dialogue is kind of weak in Episode 1 as well. It makes it almost campy in a way. You get past it because it’s Star Wars. So you just kind of go “oh well, it was a long time ago…” But when you watch some of the other movies, especially the original movies, there’s a big difference. The acting between The Phantom Menace and The Empire Strikes Back is like night and day if you were to watch them back to back.  

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch it. I mean, you should watch all of them. In order preferably. Star Wars is probably one of the greatest movie franchises ever made. And if you don’t see it, it’s you that’s missing out. So, yeah. Go and see Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. And as always, may the force be with you…