Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) Review

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

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My Review

The story of “Star Wars” begins in a trilogy of prequels, the first one called “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.” Set thirty-two years before the original “Star Wars” of 1977, the story has Jedi master Qui-Jon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) hired as bodyguards for Queen Padme Amidala of Naboo (Natalie Portman). They are joined by Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a nine-year-old slave boy who displays unusually powerful abilities in the Force. They must also deal with the mysterious return of the Sith, ancient enemies of the Jedi. It is something of a mini-revelation that Anakin is five years younger than Padme.

The supporting cast is filled with familiar faces, and some new ones. They include Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Frank Oz as Yoda, Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, as well as Oliver Ford Davies, Ray Park, Terence Stamp, Keira Knightly, Silas Carson, Jerome St. John Blake, and Sofia Coppola as Sache.

John Williams once again wrote an outstanding musical score, and the cinematography by David Tattersall was incomparable. It was nominated for three Oscars: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects. The film did receive criticism from some quarters for storyline, casting, and performances, and was nominated for seven Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Screen Couple (Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman).

However, “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” was a massive blockbuster of a hit at the box office for director-screenwriter George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, Lucasfilm Ltd., and 20th Century Fox.

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