As I’ve said before, I’ve always enjoyed Star Wars, but I was never a “Star Wars person.” While, given space to think through it, I could probably rattle off every single Doctor Who serial and episode and I’ve seen every MCU film multiple times, Stars Wars has been more of a “yeah, that’s fun” property for me, with my interest waxing or waning as different projects have come along. However, sometime over the course of the second season of The Mandalorian, a switch kind of flipped in my brain and I suddenly got much more invested in Star Wars. As such, I’ve decided to work my way through the films again, revisiting them with fresh eyes. I’m going to do this chronologically, which makes the start of a bit of a chore, but I’m already looking forward to hitting that sweet spot in the middle. So today, we’re kicking off the prequels with The Phantom Menace.
Two Jedi, master Qui-Gon and his apprentice Obi-Wan, set out to help Queen Amidala when her planet of is the target of a plot by the greedy, nefarious Trade Federation to seize control of it. In getting the queen to safety, they crashland on Tatooine, where their paths cross with Anakin Skywalker, a young slave boy with a genius for engines and a surprising affinity with the Force. Qui-Gon is intrigued by the boy and hopes to train him as a Jedi.
Okay, so I was about 12 when this movie first came out, and I saw it in theaters four times. I realize this may seem to belie my whole “not a Star Wars person” backstory, but I remember that 1) the movie didn’t really spark a renewed interest in the original trilogy for me and 2) my affection didn’t really hold up after Attack of the Clones came out. The biggest factor, I think, was me being 12 and seeing a Star Wars movie – any Star Wars movie – on the big screen. That’s a powerful drug. It was also the early days of CGI, and the effects impressed me at the time. And, crucially, it was my introduction to Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman. What was a nerdy 12-year-old girl supposed to do?
Now, make no mistake. The CGI looked jarring and poorly-integrated even a few years later, when franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter showed it up. The whole “hotshot mechanic boy Jesus who would be Darth Vader” thing isn’t great, the podracing sequence goes on forever, and the midi-chlorian BS is silly. And Jar-Jar’s portrayal definitely leans into uncomfortable racist stereotypes. All of the movie’s flaws are as-advertised.
But the better stuff does still rise to the top. There are the cool design elements, like the look of the destroyer droids, Amidala’s fabulous queen stylings, and everything to do with Darth Maul (“The Duel of the Fates” is still an incredible sequence.) As a kid, I really liked getting to know Padme, and I think she’s actually cooler in this movie than I remembered, my memories of her having been retroactively dulled by the films that followed. Even though later experience with Natalie Portman has shown me me much better performances of hers, I like Padme’s blend of strength and kindness, and I appreciate her determination to help her people.
And my favorite aspect remains Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon, Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan, and the relationship between them. While, much like Portman, I’ve since learned that both actors have been far better in other films, they’re the element that consistently works for me on rewatch. Qui-Gon is every inch what you want from a Jedi master – cool under pressure, quietly wise, and an absolute badass – and the fact that Neeson can make the midi-chlorian nonsense sound halfway-compelling is a testament to his talent. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan straddles the line as a young padawan who doesn’t always follow his master’s counsel but still strives to walk the path of the Jedi. McGregor was my biggest takeaway after this movie came out, and seeing him here again, I understand why.
Warnings
Action violence, scary moments for kids, slavery, and “humor” that relies on racist stereotypes.
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