I saw PHANTOM MENACE on opening day, at an early morning screening at the movie theaters in Union Square, planning on just heading straight from the screening to the office. I remember that the torturously unfunny JarJar Binks was just unspeakable, and there were lots of other weird elements that only got weirder the more I thought about them, mainly the really unpleasant change in the way the Force itself was presented, as being a physical characteristic in the bloodstream (those midichlorians or whatever they were) rather than some kind of mystical thing that anyone could tap into with the proper guide. I remember being appalled at the racial cartooning going on, with JarJar and the little Watto character (the little hook-nosed Jewish stereotype) and the really systematic whiteness of the leads — Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman. I’m not usually bugged by things like that, and I may have been over-reacting.
And the general silliness of the entire enterprise. At one point little Annakin, played by the appalling Jake Lloyd, actually hollers “Yippeee!” Jesus. The fart jokes. Jar Jar stepping in animal shit twice — twice, mind you.
The whole enterprise seemed geared for children, and singularly non-demanding children at that. And Lucas’ response to the complaints was basically, “Well, it’s just a fantasy, it doesn’t have anything to do with real life, you’re taking it all too seriously” which response he never made when getting a rimjob from Bill Moyers about the socio-cultural-religious-heroic aspects of the Star Wars Phenomenon.
In a nutshell — I was grossly disappointed, but after RETURN OF THE JEDI and the Special Editions of STAR WARS and EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and the attendant stupidity of re-editing STAR WARS so that Greedo shoots first and misses Han Solo at point-blank range, I can’t say I was suprised. The films that came afterward only made things worse.
You’re right…the Special Editions were a precedent. And Return of the Jedi…well the Ewoks were a bit silly, but other than that I think that film is a masterpiece – sweeping, epic, emotional, human. The final showdown between Luke, Vader, and Palpatine is incredible. And the ending is great…how perfect to end it in nature, since it’s more about the Force than all those spaceships and whatnot.
The Phantom Menace, besides, of course, Jar-Jar, little Ani, midichlorians, potty humor, Node and Beed, etc., is deeply flawed by lack of humanity. That’s what makes the original trilogy so incredible and immortal – I care about Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and all the characters so much, because they feel like people.
I agree with what you said about Lucas’s stupid excuse – “it’s for kids.” It’s for kids and adults. Star Wars is for everyone. It wasn’t until my teens that I really got into Star Wars. Star Wars should appeal to the kids, the kids inside the adults, and the adults inside the adults.
I mean, realized it was complete shit as Jar Jar’s role grew more pronounced. There was only 15 minutes of screen time before he showed up, anyway, and until then of course there could still be some hope, we had no idea where it was going… I grew up as a REALLY huge Star Wars fan, knew everything about it, waited for 9 hours outside Menace’s opening night… and I remember during the 2nd Boss Nass scene – which I couldn’t begin to detail to you if I tried – that I literally began to fall asleep, and was shocked that I was falling asleep in the new Star Wars film. And I recall that the film’s final shot, of “a guy” holding up “a glowing sphere” just left me completely baffled… I still can’t tell you what the eff that means… And now I just realize that all those films are just the most pathetic forced commercial efforts I’ve ever seen. Now I like Star Trek. Star Trek’s for grown-ups.
And with Roscoe – yeah. After the special editions came out, it was plainly evident that Lucas didn’t have a clue what he was doing, so Phantom Menace wasn’t exactly a massive shock. Just a massive disappointment.
I also recall that in episode 3 (which everybody gets behind and I don’t know why since its equally an awful as the others), during the scene when Palpatine kills Mace Windu, I recall just being aghast, and realizing it was an utter failure, when I heard Mace scream the most cliched lines imagineable, “No, Anakin! Don’t do it!” as Anakin is literally about to “go to the dark side.” Like flipping a switch. Thought that was just the stupidest thing I’d ever seen. Worse than Sci-Fi Network originals.
About 8 minutes into it.Had I not taken my 12 year old nephew along I would had walked out and asked for my money.
As bad as Airport 79
opening night, mann’s chinese theater, los angeles
child actor was horrendous, jar jar binks horrendous
theater aghast
I think it was the moment that underwater king was making his little shaky-head noise at the discussion of Jar Jar.
When Jar Jar breaks into Bill Cosby’s dentist routine from his concert film.
The real question is, at what point did you realize that all 6 were bad?
Episode 5 is the only film that is above Mediocre.
DOPE FIEND WILLY you are wrong
Of the three prequels this is my favorite, and I actually enjoyed it a quite a bit, except for a few details. The Gunduns and Jar-Jar are basically a different variation of the Ewoks and I think both hurt the film for me. I also didn’t like the lack of development for the Darth Maul character and the fate of Qui-Gon and Darth Maul in the final light saber battle. Other than that, I enjoyed the film.
Star Wars raised me. I was watching Star Wars before I knew how to poop. When I watched Episode 1 I liked it. I still like it. Leave me alone…
I took my sister and nephew to see it and my four-year old nephew was having fun watching the movie and acting like he was throwing the energy balls at the drones, so it was good fun, and that’s all I expected from it.
I knew it was bad when I saw it for the first time. I still saw it a bunch more times.
I remember seeing the teaser trailer for Episode I for the first time. It was on MTV News. I lost my shit. It was the greatest thing I had ever seen. I lost my shit for the trailers for Episode II and III as well.
I’m still in denial. Same as HBTS, I remember Star Wars more than anything else from my childhood. I know it’s bad, but I still enjoy the pod race scene and the lightsaber duel.
Personally I do think that The Phantom Menace is a good film, about as good as Return Of The Jedi but not even close to the two first films. I guess that I have always been one of those rare people that actually like all of the Star Wars films..and I don’t mind.
It was about the first line of dialog. I remember very clearly thinking, “Oh no, it’s not going to be bad is it?”
Star Wars was the first film I ever saw in theaters—I was three in ‘77. One of my earliest memories. So I’m a part of the ‘raped my childhood’crowd ;)
what was the first line again?
It was the pilot of that ship in the very beginning. A horrible line delivery, and it didn’t get any better from there. 97% of that movie is unwatchable.
I actually tried forcing myself to like it and saw it three times in the theater and haven’t been able to sit through it since. I was lost when Jar Jar wasn’t killed instantly in his first scene, and no matter what I told myself I couldn’t convince myself it was a good film. So to answer your question I didn’t admit it was bad until I had given it three chances and thought about it a whole lot.
This may be an unpopular opinion but I don’t think the prequels are horrible. Maybe because I am not that big of a Star Wars fan to begin with. Yes I have seen all of the movies at least once and I’ve enjoyed them, but I am not in that camp.
The only sci-fi film that “raped my childhood” was I, Robot, OH HOLY GOD THAT MOVIE WAS TERRIBLE! That movie got positive reviews when it was released, but does anyone remember it now? NO!
My favorite book was “I, Robot” by Issac Asimov.
At the time my favorite film was Dark City which was directed by Alex Proyas.
And my favorite comedy was Men In Black staring Will Smith.
So my interest peaked when I herd Alex Proyas was directing an adaptation of Issac Asimov’s “I, Robot”, staring Will Smith. By the time the first trailer appeared online I was facing a trifecta of disappointment.
I recently herd that Roland Emmerich will be directing a trilogy of films based on Asimov’s “Foundation” series. For those unaware the “Foundation” series by Issac Asimov is regarded as the greatest works science fiction literature in the English language. Roland Emmerich is the director of such films as 1998s Godzilla (a film that proved to be a disappointment to fans of movies where men dress in big rubber costumes and knock down cardboard models of buildings) and 10,000 B.C. (a film whose sole glowing review described the movie as “RETARDED”).
Dear Hollywood,
FUCK YOU!
Sincerely,
Ray
a.k.a. Ray the Squirrel
When I realized I hated every character in the film… then Jar Jar showed up… damn! I loved Episode 4 when I was a kid. Not so much now. More for nostalgia than anything else. Empire is really the only one I am still fond of. I just can’t get around the dialogue in all these movies. I really wish I liked the other 5 films more. I saw all the prequels in the theaters even though I walked out disappointed each time. For me, I care more about a story that grabs me than any special effects. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that after all those years in between the trilogies, that this was the best Lucas could come up with. Again I can respect the fact that people can appreciate Phantom, but I just can never bring myself to watch it EVER again.
People who can appreciate Phantom have very low standards.
This is true. I have very, very low standards.
I’m with Jazz. I think it’s the best of the prequels. I fell asleep when I saw it in the theatre (probably ‘cause I was up all night and waited in line for hours), but my recent rewatch wasn’t too bad.
It has the only scenes of the prequels that I rewatch (pod race, duel of the fates), but I can’t stand every single line of dialog.
Sam—you may have low standards but your taste is still impeccable.
It has Jar Jar Binks. Do we really need to say anything else? I mean, isn’t Jar Jar Binks officially the worst idea that George Lucas ever had? Isn’t he officially the worst character in any sci-fi/fantasy movie?
What I love about the Plinkett review (http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/) is that it spends over an hour destroying The Phantom Menance and barely mentions Jar Jar at all.
Plinkett’s reviews are far better than the films. I laughed so damn hard.
Jar Jar Binks of course.
But ultimately when Darth Maul – one of the coolest looking villans ever – went out like a total bitch I knew my indifference towards the Star Wars franchise was justified.
Vader was a great villain because he taunted Luke while he fought him. The fight was just as much in his head and soul as it was with the lightsabers.
Maul was a mute. Waste.
wiggumfloss3
I was only six or seven when I saw it in theaters, and hadn’t even seen the original trilogy, so it was fine by me. But now, at eighteen, I love the original trilogy with all my heart, and despise The Phantom Menace, which I consider the worst of the prequels. I constantly wonder what it would be like for diehard fans of the original trilogy going to Phantom Menace on opening night, excited as could be, only to have that pile of shit thrust upon them. For anyone who experience this, what was it like? At what point into the film did you realize how truly awful it was? Were you in denial? What was it like for Star Wars nuts seeing Phantom Menace in theaters for the first time?