That the boy is crippled by anxiety, prophesies: "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." To say nothing of asthma. Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz), who intuitively realizes Qui-Gon senses a strong Force in the boy and wants to make him an apprentice despite the Jedi Council's misgivings. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), a somber Jedi knight, and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), his earnest apprentice, come to the aid of Naboo's elaborately garbed young Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) and her ladies in waiting.Īfter escaping from the planet aboard the queen's ship, the entourage is forced to land on the scabrous planet Tatooine, where they encounter the scum of the known universe as well as Anakin Skywalker (pathologically adorable Jake Lloyd), a 9-year-old slave boy destined to become Darth Vader.Īt this point, Anakin proves an able and enthusiastic ally when the little band returns to Naboo to engage the formidable, robotic army assembled by the Trade Federation. For some reason, the powerful Trade Federation, which is secretly in league with the evil Sith, attacks the paradisiacal planet of Naboo (never mind that the Naboopians are a peace-loving people). "Phantom Menace," which begins with the familiar expositional scroll, deals with murkier fare tariffs, taxes and political skulduggery.
When Han Solo fired up the Millennium Falcon in 1977, he, not Captain Kirk, took us where none had gone before: a dazzling, critter-filled cosmos where good was easily distinguished from evil.
The art of star wars episode i the phantom menace movie#
The light sabers hum and the heavens glitter, but the movie misses the ingenuity, humor and simplicity of the original rocket ride.
Even die-hard fans of the heretofore awe-inspiring saga are bound to be disappointed with this joyless, overly reverential and impenetrably plotted prequel, which opens Wednesday. There's a disturbance in the Force called hype, and "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" doesn't begin to live up to its advance press. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) battle Darth Maul (Ray Park) in "The Phantom Menace." 'Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace' (PG)