10 Reasons that "The Phantom Menace" is the best Star Wars film

Yes, I'm controversial. No, I don't mean best prequel. I mean best of all six. Yes, best of all six. This article is only for fans. Not just fans, but fans that know the difference between a Toydarian and a Falleen. Here we go!



10. Padme Amidala



Ahh, Luke and Leia's mother. What an obscure subject you were for a while. There was once a failed endeavour to reveal her identity in a novel called "Before the Storm" by Michael P. Kube-McDowell. I once tried to read this book, but couldn't stand it after the first 6 chapters. That should say something because I can count on one hand the number of books I've stopped reading out of disgust. George Lucas answered this question and made one of the most empowered female characters in Science Fiction history. She plays a pivotal role in the plot, which we'll get to later, and wore some of the most awesome outfits, which in a way reflect the tone of the scene. Natalie Portman was stellar in her performance. I especially liked her banter with Qui-Gon Jinn, who knew all along that she was posing as her own handmaiden.



9. Cast



By cast I mean not the really main characters. I mean everyone from Ahmed Best to Silas Carson, in both of his roles. Everyone who thinks that CGI took over for the actors must have a screw loose. I give special kudos to Terrance Stamp for his small but overwhelmingly great performance as Finis Valorum. Nute Gunray was played as a cowardly but still somewhat evil trade viceroy by Silas Carson who, as mentioned earlier, also did a shorter role as council member Ki-Adi Mundi. I can't stand criticism of Jar Jar Binks. Jar Jar is funny. He provided great comedy, without taking away from the serious tone of the film. Ahmed Best was great. They could have done just some CGI model, but Ahmed provided the life of the character. Jake Lloyd was perfect as a young and innocent Anakin. He interacted well with Qui-Gon Jinn, who could really tell that he was the chosen one.



8. Jedi



Not only was this a different time period, but there was a different ruling order. The Jedi were in power, and there was a Republic instead of an Empire. The Jedi could be shown in all their glory. And what glory was shown. The Jedi Temple is magnificent, but once again, the CGI only played to the strength of the actors. The Jedi council consisted of many intriguing people, all of which would eventually be given their own stories.



7. Locations



CGI can also play to the story's strength, and greatly. Naboo isn't even all CGI. A good portion was filmed in beautiful Italy. The general beauty of the place complimented Natalie Portman's acting greatly as well. Tattooine was also filmed in the exact same place as in "A New Hope" and "Return of the Jedi". Tunisia is very plain and white. That played well to Jake Lloyd, and in turn the character of Anakin. A Phantom Menace Movie poster showed Anakin standing in the desert with Vader's shadow behind him. Who says Star Wars lacked Subtlety and Intricacy? Coruscant was the gem of the film though. The Jedi Temple was talked about earlier, but the Senate complex was divine. The vastness of the main chamber was breath taking. It played to everything grand about Sci-Fi.



6. Obi-Wan Kenobi



Ewan MacGregor IS Obi-Wan. Alec Guinness was nice, but did he play Obi-Wan through 3 different stages of his life? No. He is played here as a confident young padawan. Obi-Wan deserved to be played younger and in his prime. He had a great duel with Darth Maul at the end, and finally gave the character a face, other than wise old mentor. His interaction with Qui-Gon was so great that they wrote a book series about it.



5. Character Journey



One of my favorite types of movies is where the characters go on a journey that takes them far from home, and they pick up new comrades along the way, all the while learning about themselves. No movie embodies this more than the Phantom Menace. It starts with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, then comes Jar Jar Binks, Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. They even got R2-D2 and C-3P0 in!

4. Plot

This movie had a plot to top all. The Trade Federation stops all shipping to Naboo. They go so far as to put Battle Droids on the planet and enslave the citizens. The Chancellor sends Jedi to negotiate and they are almost killed on arrival. They escape to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala and leave the planet with her and a gungan who tagged along. Their Hyperdrive breaks down so they have to land on Tattooine, where they won't except Republic credits for a new Hyperdrive. This leads to them finding a slave boy named Anakin who is evidently force sensitive and can podrace. He wins them the money, but Qui-Gon believes that he is the Chosen One, prophesied to bring balance to the force and defeat the evil Sith. Qui-Gon then takes the boy with them to Coruscant where Queen Amidala tries to tell the Senate about the impending crisis, but they are mired in Bureaucracy. Taking matters into her own hands, she and the Jedi go back to Naboo and, with the help of the Gungans, they wage war against the droid army. They win too, after Anakin Skywalker destroys the droid control ship. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan then find Darth Maul, a Sith, who engages them in a duel. He kills Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan kills him in retaliation. His master's dying wish is that he take Anakin as his Jedi Apprentice. The backstory was so good that James Luceno, a great author, wrote a prequel novel to the prequel.

3. Darth Maul

Darth Maul represented a whole new type of villain. A Sith Lord. He had the tattoos, the double-bladed lightsaber, and everything. He's completely evil. He will do anything his master says. He killed Qui-Gon! He would've killed Obi-Wan. He only had to say one or two lines of dialouge. Ray Park made art out of the lightsaber duel at the end. The character inspired a comic book miniseries and even a novel.

2. Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn played old Ben Kenobi to Obi-Wan's Luke. He is an experienced Jedi Master, and often defies the Jedi Council's orders. He was one of the greatest Jedi because he favored inventive thinking and gut instinct to following direct orders. It was through him that the Naboo and the Gungans prevailed against the battle droid army. The strength of his character was shown early in the film when he tried to cut through the blast doors in the Trade Federation Control Ship. Liam Neesen was the perfect pick for Qui-Gon's calm and collected character, and he performed his part in the duel against Darth Maul like a dance. Besides, I will watch almost anything with Liam Neesen in it.

1. A New Era

Even if I have not persuaded you with reasons 10 through 2, then you can at least agree that The Phantom Menace contributed greatly to Star Wars in the terms of creating a new era for writers to play in. Other things, like the Clone Wars, many novels, and the majority of Dark Horse's contributions to Star Wars in comics have all sprouted from The Phantom Menace. Like the tagline for the movie states, "Every saga has a beginning".

Introduction

"Hello, Readers!"

I am F. Ludmer, your host. I have started this blog as a way to voice my opinions to whoever feels like reading them. I have no dreams of becoming a world famous blogger, and going on cable news every other week.(However, if you wish to make me one, I will be forced to oblige.) I instead, have only one wish. To write of my thoughts, feelings, interests, and whatever irks me at any paticular moment. (Because, let's be honest. Name an all-around optimist who writes a blog.) I wrote this passage as an introduction, not a real entry. My first official entry will be "10 Reasons that 'The Phantom Menace' is the best Star Wars movie". I hope to write that before the day is done. So I'd best start. May the Force be with you!