20th Anniversary of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

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Horrible movie. Terrible acting. And Jar Jar Binks. I suggest an effigy that is shot, hanged and then burned. Do not try this in real life.
 
I was in my early 20’s when the original Star Wars came out. It blew my socks off. The special effects of the opening scene alone was worth the price of admission.

The story was simple…a spaghetti western in space kind of story. You liked the good guys and hated the bad guys.

When Episode 1 came out, I’m not sure what I was expecting but it failed on several levels. The acting was terrible. The story tried to be complex but wasn’t interesting to me. The special effects were still good. E2 and E3 kind of went downhill from there.

The Disney movies redeemed them a bit but were way too nostalgic. A few less nostalgic moments would have been much better!

I saw the original movie probably at least 15 times it was so fun! The next 2 I saw multiple times as well. E 1,2 and 3 I watched once and that was plenty.
 
I don’t think the acting was terrible. I think the writing and direction was.

Laurence Olivier couldn’t have read those lines with that direction well.
 
You don’t find the delivery of lines by Natalie Portmann’s Princess Amidalia flat and affect-less?
 
Ah, that explains why I have rotten luck stuck in a airport. It’s the Phantom Menace striking back…
 
Growing up in the 80s, I was never one of the obsessive Star Wars fans. I really only saw the movies a couple of times each. But I inherited many original Star Wars figures (and the Millenium Falcon) from my older brother, and spent many years playing with those toys.

Phantom Menace came out when I was in college. By then, I thought Weird Al was simply wrong that “they’ll be making these movies till the end of time.” So hearing of the prequel trilogy was an unexpected surprise for me.

I actually enjoyed the prequel films when they came out. In retrospect, I can see their shortcomings and appreciate the criticism. But watching them in the theater for the first time was an enjoyable experience. I never quite understood the hating on Jar Jar Binks. He never really annoyed me.

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years already.
 
@(name removed by moderator), yes the original trilogy was better, no disagreement there.
 
I think George Lucas told her to deliver like that. These choices were all made by Lucas. You can see it in the documentaries.
 
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Rhubarb said:
I think George Lucas told her to deliver like that. These choices were all made by Lucas. You can see it in the documentaries.
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Now that you mention it, he is pretty flat and affect-less as well.
 
I haven’t really seen The Phantom Meance, but I have seen Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. In the latter flick, the viewer not only gets to see Yoda fight, but also hear James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader.
 
I’ve always found Jar Jar Binks to be a complex but underdeveloped character. I have been interested in the plight of the Gungan ever since seeing TPM and would love to see a 3-movie series exploring Jar Jar’s origins and the workings of Gungan culture and government.
 
I like the prequels. But, then again, I’m into Star Wars for the lore. It’s more than just a series of movies to me: it’s the entire fictional universe. Plus, the prequels are so meme-able.
 
I liked the prequels. Not as much as the original trilogy but perhaps that was because I was at an age for the original series that was in awe at the whole ‘another world’ storyline.

I do like listening to the youtube videos that blast certain movies and I know the prequels and the current trilogy has detractors.

I especially like the interpretation that Jar Jar Binks is a secret Sith Lord.


Some people are so creative with their thinking.
 
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I did not care for the first three episodes.
But I have enjoyed episode four to the present date.
 
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