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Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

A review by Damian Cannon.
Copyright © Movie Reviews UK 2000
Every so often a film comes around that defies judgement on its own merits. Maybe it's a hoped-for blockbuster, more an event than movie, produced on a scale sufficient to make or break studios. Perhaps it's a sequel, the follow on to unexpected success and an attempt to repeat some magical catalysis of talent, timing and audience. Even worse it could be a 'cult' movie, one with an instant demographic ready to spend money in pursuit of experiencing their dreams made real. Easily annoyed and often quick to find fault, such viewers are both financially lucrative and communicative in their displeasure. Well The Phantom Menace suffers from each of these burdens at a level sufficient to cow even the bravest director. Fortunately, in the watching, the film generally manages to shield itself from the grossly global hype.

What you have is a universe similar, but subtly different, to the one recognised by any Star Wars fan. As yet there is no evil Empire, battles remembered have yet to occur, figures familiar are far from taking their first breath. It's a disorientating feeling and, sadly, The Phantom Menace makes little effort to set the scene. George Lucas leans heavily upon his original trilogy for background, strictly foreground, assuming that this will suffice. Thus an excessive number of characters make the rounds again, twisting both patience and continuity into contortions. C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels) staggers around, revealed to be the creation of prodigy Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) somewhat absurdly continues his serving of royalty, proving himself a lifesaver yet again. Then there's Jabba the Hutt, more a port-soaked uncle than a grotesque, legendary outlaw. Kept on as reference points, they serve to jar rather than reinforce.

Still, with a handful of decent new characters to play with you might expect The Phantom Menace to hold its own; after all, Lucas has had twenty-odd years to refine and craft their persona. Well on the basis of evidence submitted he must have been engaged elsewhere. For a start the key duo of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), a thread throughout the film, are so low-key and restrained as to fade from visibility. Jedi knights, protectors of the innocent, they may be but that doesn't explain their lack of charisma. Where's Han Solo when you need him? Even worse, their opponents Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) and Darth Maul (Ray Park) absolutely fail to embody pure evil, which is surely their reason to exist. Darth Vader exuded menace, danger was all around when he appeared, but you don't get a whiff of this in The Phantom Menace. Put simply the pair are without dimension, Lucas doesn't let you get to know them and as a result you don't fear their power.

Coming back to Darth Vader though, even here he is the dominant character, looming over the saga with a squid's inky shadow. As soon as Anakin appears on-screen we're looking for a sign, a hint of what he is to become; his future is all mapped out, what we want is a beginning. Lucas plays this expectation with expertise, including signs and pointers that bad decisions are being made without quite tipping his hand. So young Anakin inevitably becomes the pupil of Obi-Wan, destined over the next two films to wander perilously close to the 'dark side'. As an actor Lloyd is bright and fresh, directed with a fairly sensitive touch, yet handed some undistinguished scenes and lines. It'll be interesting to follow his development as a life unfolds.

Obviously the key attraction with The Phantom Menace is the special effects, magic intended to make Lucas' personal dream believable. The movie does not disappoint, in this sphere at least The Phantom Menace triumphs. Computer generated imagery truly has progressed in the past few years, at no point are the seams either obvious or irritating. Spacecraft zip, aliens fight, robots march, all superbly integrated with the physical sets. It's not so much that the effects are groundbreaking, though no doubt they are, but that they are part of the film rather than an addition. Actually, they are the film. The rest of The Phantom Menace is uneven, studded with high-toned, pseudo-philosophical dialogue spoken by characters with minimal appeal and scant chemistry. Given the class of the cast members, Lucas must shoulder the blame. After all, he's directing his own script.

Yet all of these flaws could be forgiven, but for the fact that The Phantom Menace is so superficial. Here is Lucas trying to create a grand space opera, a story to span the ages, and all he really delivers on are the special effects. Where is the majesty, the sense of history? How can the Galactic Republic have so little weight or depth, based on Lucas' portrayal of its Congress? Without this it's impossible to get a feel for what's being lost, for the magnitude of what's at stake. So, apart from a few scenes of real excitement, the film fails to build momentum and draw you into its story, it evokes no sense of drama. What The Phantom Menace does give you is a platform, a starting point from which great things are possible. The struggle for Anakin's soul is about to begin, let's just hope that Lucas takes some pointers from this episode and gifts the fight a heart.

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