(Film Review) Star Wars Episode I:​ The Phantom Menace

Time to read: 2 min read

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Review

Recently I got a Disney+ subscription and I've decided to rewatch the older Star Wars films, chronologically instead of by theatrical release date. The first film from the prequel trilogy retells the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn resolving a conflict on the planet Naboo with the Trade Federation.

I remembered this film being one of the weaker Star Wars films and rewatching it again has merely reaffirmed my previous assessment. There were some positive, such as the Podrace and the appearance of Darth Maul, which remains two of my favourite Star Wars scenes. The costume and set design were also both very spectacular. The plot is a bit straightforward with some twists which I felt were very artificial (perhaps because Lucas was trying to ensure that the story stayed consistent with the original trilogy) and the use of CGI, while pioneering at the time, did not age very well. The acting is good, but not spectacular, perhaps because of the slightly corny dialogue, such as the explanation of midichlorians.

My biggest quelm with this film, however, is the character of Jar Jar Binks, which has to be perhaps one of the most annoying characters in any movie, ever.

Conclusion

A bit underwhelming, but not terrible.

Overall rating: 7.1

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