Movie Review: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

I grew up on Star Wars. The original movie that got the ball rolling, "A New Hope" came out in 1977, when I was not yet even three years old, and still living in another country, on another continent. The second movie, "The Empire Strikes Back", came out shortly after we came back to the United States. Then the final installment of the first trilogy, "Return of the Jedi", came out in 1983, and was the first of the movies that I saw in the theater. I still remember how much of a thrill it was, and it still conjures pleasant memories when I think of that particular movie (as well as E.T., back in 1982).

The next trilogy came out many years later, lasting from 1999, with "The Phantom Menace", going through to 2002 with "Attack of the Clones", and finally culminating in 2005 with "Revenge of the Sith", where we finally see Anakin Skywalker's conversion into Darth Vader.

Star Wars blends the best of the action genre and space fantasy movies with a good amount of romance and drama, and juggles along with this some mythological themes worthy of Ancient Greece. It has captured the popular imagination, and no less an authority on mythology than Joseph Campbell has called it, with some validity, "American mythology". That, plus the movies are beloved by millions the world over, and such figures as Darth Vader, Yoda, C-3P0 and R2-D2, to name just a few, are instantly recognized through much of the world. So, it has some credentials, to say the least.

Of course, it has not all been rosy. George Lucas has been criticized for trying to squeeze every last dollar that he can out of the franchise, and has altered the movies themselves, released them only very slowly, and then with different versions, if you will. He received criticism for the second trilogy, which most Star Wars fans consider not quite on the level of the first trilogy (and I happen to be among those who feel this way), and even with the toy line, where some of the "rare" figures have such subtle differences that you really have to shake your head and assume it's just a money-making gimmick. The marketing for it is huge, and of course, George Lucas certainly cannot complain about not having received enough money for it, so the popular opinion has turned against him, seemingly assuming that he is excessively greedy.

Be that as it may, the movies themselves have remained the same, largely, alternate endings or not. There are actually supposed to be nine installments, although Lucas has insisted that the six that already exist are it, and he has no plans on making more of these movies. We shall see. It has been almost seven years since the last movie, but it is hardly inconceivable that he would make another trilogy – although I have seen the brief stories behind them, and they seem kind of weird, admittedly.

There are similarities between the trilogy of movies that exist already. The titles, for example, all seem similar in the order that they are placed. "A New Hope" suggests an invisible presence, as does "The Phantom Menace", "The Empire Strikes Back" is clearly about some kind of conflict or battle, as is "Attack of the Clones". The closest association is between "Return of the Jedi" and "Revenge of the Sith", especially since the 1983 movie was originally going to be titled "Revenge of the Jedi", until Lucas decided that it was not accurate, spiritually, and that an enlightened figure like a Jedi would not seek revenge.

It is not just the titles that are similar, but similar things happen, often at similar times in the movies. Much of the first installments take place in Tattoine, the desert planet. In both of them, the bearded fatherly figure of a Jedi Knight is killed while the younger accomplice looks on. The younger Anakin bears a strong resemblance to Luke in the original movie. In both of the second movies, we see the introduction of the "Fett" characters, Boba in 1980, and Jenga in 2002. Also in the second movies, we see a Skywalker (Luke in 1980, and Anakin in 2002) lose their right arm, their fighting arm, in lightsaber fights where they seem hopelessly outmatched. We see the vastness of the armies in both trilogies, as well, and perhaps especially in the second ones for each. The last movies in both trilogies see the temptation to the Dark Side, albeit with very different results, and both movies also see the triumph of different forces, the Dark Side for the more recent trilogy, and the good side for the older trilogy. There are similarities, to be sure. Even some of the characters make appearances, albeit sometimes in hidden form. We see C-3P0 and R-2D2 in all of the movies, and Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader are both prominent characters in all of the movies, as well. Yoda is in five of the six, and Chewbacca, Jabba the Hut, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia all make appearances in each trilogy.

Star Wars is great for all ages, and the cross referencing, if you will, of fans shows remarkable diversity. I personally know quite a few fans, including some that I would never have guessed would be fans of such a series. You the reader probably know quite a few fans of Star Wars yourself.

Anyway, I am writing this because I took my son to see "Phantom Menace" in 3-D last night. I grew up on Star Wars as a kid, and it's fun to watch my son's enthusiasm now as an adult, although he kept asking if I was still awake throughout the movie, which was actually better than I remembered it being. Plus, seeing it in 3-D was, admittedly, pretty cool! You can really get a fuller effect by seeing it like that on a big silver screen, and it enhances the experience considerably. All in all, not a bad way to share an evening together with my little son, who is starting to rival me at a much younger age, as far as Star Wars is concerned.