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MAY 1999 | VOL. 3, NO. 5
FEATURE
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KEVIN RIDOLFI
It is virtually impossible to go into George Lucas' "The Phantom Menace"
without high expectations. After all, every magazine (this one included),
entertainment web site and news program has been drumming up hype for what seems
like eternity. Such great exposure led to unrealistic expectations and a sense of
urgency that was culminated with hordes of hyperventilating fanatics waiting on
line to purchase tickets for a movie that will be in the theaters for months.
No event can live up to that type of advanced anticipation and speculation.
"The Phantom Menace" made Super Bowl hype seem like a page ten story about the
local Girl Scout bake sale. Lucas had, for the duration, played his cards close
to the vest; only allowing a handful of close friends, including Steven
Spielberg, special previews of the film. Reportedly, not even the actors saw it
until the very end. After the hype, "The Phantom Menace" remains a powerful experience that
starts to fill in many of the questions hinted at in the first three episodes.
The landscapes are beautiful and the special effects are, characteristically,
spectacular. Episode I does, however, fall disappointingly short of expectations
in terms of character connectivity and emotion - areas where the originals
succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Twenty-plus years after "Star Wars", diehard nerds are still dressing like
Han Solo or Princess Leia because those characters were complete portrayals - the
audience felt for them and raced along on their adventures with them. I find it
very hard to imagine a future decade when people are still discussing the antics
of Qui-Gon Jinn or Mace Windu. "The Phantom Menace" uses its characters as props,
through which to see the amazing sights and play with the latest technology -
which has always been the knock on science fiction, and something which Lucas
has, in the past, risen above. Rather than focusing on the quest of a few, "The Phantom Menace" tackles the
expansive issues of trade wars and political dissent. The film begins with
distant shots of a trade blockade around the planet of Naboo. Lucas immediately
introduces two Jedi negotiators, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi
(Ewan McGregor), around whose actions the film will revolve. While their action
scenes are, at times, breath-taking and fun, they are for the most part shallow
characters who simply act to push the movie from one location to another. At no
point, does their fate seem to matter nor do they evoke any emotions or empathy
from the audience. Once on the surface of Naboo, Lucas shines with gorgeous, expansive views of
the capital city and captivates the imagination with an underwater city and
ensuing journey through the watery core of the planet. Here, Jinn and Kenobi meet
the overly cute and out-of-place Jar Jar Binks (voiced by Ahmed Best). This
horse-like piece of computer animation is too American with its speech patterns
and verbiage, and Lucas tries too hard to use Binks as a comic vehicle (something
that Harrison Ford achieved with ease). I couldn't help but think of Binks as
just a launching pad for countless merchandising opportunities who lends nothing
to the over all plot of the movie. Eventually, the Jedi accompany the young Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) to
the capital planet Coruscant to plead for senate intervention of the federation's
blockade. Necessary ship repairs lead the group to the planet Tattoine where
Qui-Gon Jinn happens across mop-headed Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a
nine-year-old who is particularly strong with the force. Casting Lloyd as Anakin
may have been Lucas' greatest mistake in any of the movies. His squeaky-voiced,
unemotional portrayal belittles the character, whom fans know will eventually
become Darth Vader. At some point in either episode two or three Skywalker and
the Queen are to fall in love and give birth to the twins Luke and Leia, which
seems like quite a stretch after many of these scenes. Age difference between
Portman and Lloyd aside, she treats him more like a little brother than someone
for whom she is to eventually show true passion. The tremendous battle on Naboo in the second half of the movie are easily the
most exciting and engaging scenes in the movie. Segmented into three separate
skirmishes, each with their own flavor, the battle showcases Lucas' enormously
influential Industrial, Light & Magic technology. One skirmish features waves
upon waves of hammer-like robot soldiers who are dropped from gigantic transports
and unfold themselves in an impressive sea of metal. There is the obligatory
space battle with its heroic twist and a light saber duel between both Qui-Gon
Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi and the double-light saber wielding Darth Maul (Ray
Park). This lengthy duel is much more acrobatic and intense than the future
battle between Kenobi and Vader on the yet-to-be built Death Star. Most importantly, "The Phantom Menace" ends up setting the stage for the
unveiling of many of the mysteries that surrounded the earlier movies. The
groundwork is set for Anakin's training, the establishment of the Empire and the
fragmented passion between Anakin and Amidala. This is a movie devised to develop
a frame of mind and an understanding of issues rather than an intergalatic romp
with simple boundaries of good and evil. Using his tremendous resources and inventiveness, Lucas ultimately seems
intent on showcasing technology with "The Phantom Menace". The vibrant soundtrack
and amazing vistas make an impressive portfolio for Industrial, Light & Magic
and, without a doubt, make "The Phantom Menace" a worthwhile experience. However,
the disappointing lack of character development and audience empathy dispel any
need to stand on line for hours to see the movie. Rather than fall victim to the
hype and all of its unrealistic expectations, go to "The Phantom Menace" as if
you are seeing a solitary movie rather than a part of a series - the experience
will be much better. KEVIN RIDOLFI of Pawtucket, RI, is the creator and editor of Renaissance Online Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected] |
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