Mesa Called Jar Jar Binks

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was meant to be the true beginning of the Star Wars saga. Yet it ended up being the beginning of it’s unfortunate downfall. In the 16 year gap between Return of the Jedi, Star Wars retained a large and very dedicated fanbase. Thanks to the books, comics, and spin-offs that were still being made at the time. So you can understand the excitement that The Phantom Menace received the second it was announced. Fans finally had something new to look forward to. They even bought tickets to another movie, just to see the trailer. Then 1999 came around and fans were in denial for a long time. Unlike the original trilogy, I was right in the middle of this Star Wars craze. Buying the merchandise, building the LEGO, and getting the fast food toys.

At 4 years old, I was obsessed with The Phantom Menace. It’s the first Star Wars movie I saw in theaters. My dad took my brother and I to see it the first time and we dragged our mom to see it the second time. The origin of the prequels can be traced as far back as the original film. George Lucas knew the universe he created was too rich to be limited to one movie. That lead to a trilogy then The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi lead to the possibility of exploring everyone’s backstory. The final push was the advancement in CGI. For better or worse, Lucas was determined to do whatever he wanted. So he ended up directing and writing for the first time since A New Hope. But it was his full creative control that spelled trouble for The Phantom Menace. SPOILER ALERT! (just in case)…

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… must have been so great to see after 16 years. Same with the 20th Century Fox and new & improved Lucasfilm Ltd. logos. In keeping with tradition, John Williams’ iconic theme plays in all its glory. I imagine several fans ignited their toy lightsabers the moment Star Wars appears. Then skepticism sets in the second you read the opening crawl. I’ve seen The Phantom Menace so many times, yet I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the overly complex political overtones. But I’ll do my best. 32 years ago, the Galactic Republic was the Star Wars equivalent of a nation’s government. When the shady Trade Federation sets up a blockade of war ships around Naboo, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic sends 2 Jedi Knights to negotiate. Opening with the traditionally used quote “I have a bad feeling about this” is great fanservice, but it should have been a clue about the movie itself.

Except it’s awesome to finally see Jedi in their prime. Qui-Gon Jinn is the stern Master of his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. Who at this point, is depicted as a young Padawan learner. Which is what his braid is supposed to indicate. You’d think such a key figure would be the primary focus, but really it’s Qui-Gon who’s the closest thing to a main character in this cluttered ensemble. The Trade Federation’s Neimoidian Viceroy Nute Gunray is the primary antagonist that they face. Although it’s future Emperor and current dark lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious who’s really the one pulling the strings. He orders an end to the Jedi and it’s just satisfying to see them ignite their lightsabers. Green for Qui-Gon, blue for Obi-Wan. The slender and very disposable Battle droids are the army that they face. They cut through them easily, but the more advanced shield equipped Destroyer droids (or Droideka) are a trickier threat.

So they escape on a droid transport that lands on Naboo. A green planet with large regal cities and underwater inhabitants. The worst among them being the biggest insult to Star Wars at the time. Overly clumsy, frustratingly bothersome, walking punchline Jar Jar Binks. Who Qui-Gon foolishly rescues and we’re stuck with the entire movie. Jar Jar takes the Jedi to the underwater city he was banished from. It’s a feuding race of Gungans lead by the slobbery Boss Nass. They refuse to help, but a Jedi mind trick at least gives them passage to Theed. After evading hungry fish. The capital of Naboo is lead by the very young Queen Amidala. A soon to be key figure in Star Wars history. Queen Amidala, her handmaidens, and security officer Captain Panaka are rescued from invading Battle droids and taken off the planet in a Royal Naboo ship. The blockade attacks and it’s none other than R2-D2 who fixes the ship long enough for them to escape. Only the hyperdrive is damaged and Tatooine happens to be the nearest planet. Supplies are scarce as it’s a desert planet in the outer rim, but Qui-Gon, R2, Jar Jar, and handmaiden Padmé take their chances.

As if by destiny, future Sith lord Anakin Skywalker is revealed to be just a little kid. Albeit a crafty aspiring pilot slave who works for Watto. A greedy Toydarian who only agrees to sell a hyperdrive (and free Anakin) in exchange for his victory in a Podrace. Back at home, Anakin’s loving mother Shmi reluctantly agrees to the terms. We’re also given the bizarre information that Anakin built C-3PO and Anakin develops a crush on Padmé. The Podrace is a high speed thrill ride that Anakin races against his rival Sebulba. There are many twists and turns, but Anakin comes out on top. Thanks to Anakin being unusually strong with the Force and dubbed “the chosen one.” Except the Force is forever ruined when it’s referred to as Midichlorians. Anakin says a sad goodbye to his mother and that’s when the Sith reveal themselves. Sith apprentice Darth Maul is a mysterious demonic looking threat who first duels with Qui-Gon before they escape. They finally reach the giant city planet known as Coruscant. A key location that houses both the Galactic Senate and Jedi Temple. The Senate is an enormous interplanetary congress made up of every alien in the galaxy. While the Jedi Council are peacekeepers who aid in their affairs.

Every Jedi Master introduced has their own extensive backstory, but the primary standouts are Mace Windu and Yoda himself. Sensing fear in the young Skywalker, the Council forbids his training as a Jedi. Until Qui-Gon shows disagreement towards the Jedi. Long story short, after endless political discussions, Chancellor Valorum chooses to elect a new Chancellor. That’s where the scheming Senator Palpatine comes in. As he plays both sides as both Senator and dark lord. Queen Amidala and the rest return to Naboo to handle matters themselves. Except Padmé reveals herself to have been the Queen the entire time. So the Gungans agree to help. That’s when the action is split into 4 tonally different sections. First with the Gungans lead by Captain Tarpals (and Jar Jar for some reason) fighting off the Trade Federation’s ground troop of Battle droids. Then with Padmé and her officers blasting their way through the palace in order to find the Viceroy.

Then with Anakin and R2 accidentally ending up in a Naboo starfighter on its way to the droid control station in space, and finally with the battle we’ve all been waiting for. A lightsaber duel between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan that was finally the fast paced, high energy duel we deserved. Everything about the duel is exciting. I get chills everytime Maul ignites his never before seen double-edged lightsaber. When every conflict reaches a stand still, Qui-Gon is killed. A vengeful Obi-Wan uses the Force to retrieve his master’s lightsaber and cut Maul in half (never to be seen again?). Anakin blows up the droid control station, the Battle droids are broken, Padmé arrests Gunray, and Obi-Wan agrees to train Anakin in Qui-Gon’s place. When cremated, the only question left unanswered is whether Maul was the master or the apprentice. Yoda grants Obi-Wan the rank of Jedi Knight and all of Naboo celebrates peace in their system…

Queen Amidala reigns

The Phantom Menace is a lot like A New Hope in terms of story structure. There’s a young Skywalker living on Tatooine, a lightsaber duel that ends in a master’s death (followed by a big “No!”), a space station that the Skywalker blows up, and a big celebration at the end. According to George Lucas, it’s supposed to be like poetry. Only The Phantom Menace ended up a mixed bag. One that I can’t bring myself to dislike. It’s part of my childhood and there’s still a lot I genuinely enjoy about it. As well as stuff I agree is bad, but enjoy mocking just as much. The biggest example being Jar Jar Binks. Never before has a major fandom had a character that was this hated. Jokes and parodies were inescapable. Just don’t blame it on Ahmed Best. I was too young to realize Lucas was just trying to appeal to little kids by inserting an overly comedic character in the movie. Which must explain how it managed to retain a PG rating. Despite PG-13 long being established in the late 90’s. There is an overabundance of poop and fart jokes that don’t belong in a Star Wars movie. So apart from being stabbed or cut in half with a lightsaber, the violence is just as tame as before.

Since he was back in the writer’s & director’s chair, George Lucas saw this as an opportunity to make Star Wars the way he’d always envisioned. That meant loading it with more CGI than any other major Hollywood movie at the time. This was the first movie to make extensive use of CGI background characters and sets. It was finally a way for Lucas to make each planet as big and intricate as he envisioned. His intention with the special editions. Theed is a beautiful royal city and the Senate is a clever design. Look out for the Wookiee and E.T. cameos. The only problem with the CGI is that it can make some moments feel stale. Especially when it’s a main character like Jar Jar or a CGI army like the Battle droids. Then there’s the cast that’s just like the original where it’s both newcomers and A-listers. Liam Neeson has just the right commanding presence to bring a mostly one note Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn to life. Independent actor Ewan McGregor was pitch perfect casting as a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi. Although he’s set aside during most of it, you do sense a young Alec Guinness in his performance.

She may have made a name for herself earlier in her career, but Star Wars is really where Natalie Portman became a star. Making Padmé a worthy new female lead. Apart from the strange robot voice she has. Really it’s her numerous outfit changes that take center stage. Her most iconic being her red Theed dress. Most of the costumes were inspired by larger than life Queens of the past. This was the first Star Wars movie made with fans requesting a role. I’ll bet you forgot Keira Knightley plays Padmé’s decoy or that Sofia Coppola is a handmaiden. Being cast in a Star Wars movie should have been a dream, but Lucas should never have had a child actor play such an important character. Jake Lloyd’s Anakin Skywalker is too childish and often difficult to take seriously. Except for when he’s Podracing. Say what you will about the prequels, but at least they tried something new. Inspired by chariot races, the Podrace is a well crafted sporting event in the Star Wars universe. Look out for Jabba’s cameo. Other high profile actors include Terence Stamp and Samuel L. Jackson. Mace Windu doesn’t have much to do, but Jackson was a fan who wanted to be a Jedi.

The only returning actors are Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz. Palpatine doesn’t quite make an impression. Yoda is an ancient Jedi master, but he sits things out as well. Droids however, can be powered for decades. R2-D2 looks the same, but C-3PO is just a prototype without parts. So they use an animatronic instead of Daniels. The cast is big, but the racial stereotypes are an unusually glaring problem. Jar Jar’s “mesa’s” and “yousa’s” are obvious Rastafarian stereotypes. The industrious Neimoidians are Asian stereotypes. Money hungry Watto is a Jewish stereotype and don’t get me started on all their alien features. Despite his obvious devil design, Darth Maul is the only consistently menacing force in the movie. It’s a weird title, but The Phantom Menace refers to both Maul and the returning Sith. Expert martial arts performer Ray Park was terrific casting. It’s what makes the lightsaber duel the best part of the movie. The choreography is thrilling and it made everyone want a double-edged lightsaber. Of course the scene is incomplete without John Williams’ top-notch score. “Duel of the Fates” is one of the best compositions of his career. Making epic use of a grand religious choir.

Although partial Christian influence is another problem that Lucas introduced. The idea of Anakin being immaculately conceived by the Force is just offensive. Then it’s made more baffling when Midichlorians are introduced. I’m sorry, but I refuse to believe the mysterious nature of the Force is just space bacteria. So as many epic moments as there are in The Phantom Menace, there are just as many ill advised additions. But I can ignore the politics and numerous Razzie nominations. The Phantom Menace is still just as quotable. Even the terrible Anakin or Jar Jar lines I quote ironically. Looking back on it 2 decades later, I can find an appreciation in what George Lucas was trying do. Although his CGI tampering did persist with Yoda. Although I understand replacing the awkward looking puppet with CGI. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is all over the place, but at least it made an impression. “May the Force be with you.”

Podracing

Followed by: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones