The Phantom Menace (and all three Star Wars prequels) Sucked. Sucked such outrageously large lemons that it's hard to fathom that they came from the same person who created the original Episodes 4-6. So much so that the only conclusion to draw is that George had a LOT of help (Paul Hirsch, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvin Kershner) and that those great minds who helped him seemingly ABANDONED him leaving George's incompetence and ego fully exposed for the world to see.
I could rant on but I shall refrain in order to make room for a 70min bout of pure genius from a guy called Mike from Milwaukee.
On the surface this is a very funny and satiric appraisal of the Phantom Menace. But to view it simply as a tongue-in-cheek fun would be to miss what is one of the most astute, accessible and well illustrated examples of story analysis i've ever seen. Mike from Milwaukee may be taking the piss but his wry tone belies a depth of observation and analytical clarity that most film critics will never obtain. More importantly he finds engaging and wholly accessible ways to illustrate the deep flaws in Phantom Menace that whilst hilarious resonate with overwhelming and inescapable truth. (case in point being the last 5mins of Part 6 which beautifully sets up why fights scenes are NOT about fighting)
I insist you watch every minute and pray that George Lucas, Michael Bay and a score of other Hollywood hacks are watching too....
Posted by
BiggsTrek
on January 04, 2010 at 01:18 PM EST
#
Wow this guy has articulated what has just been a nondescript seething building up in me for 10 years.
I made the big mistake of watching Ep 2 :Attack of the Clones the other day. MY GOD! This film is even more baffling on so many levels- so many... it makes Ep 1 look actually half decent.
What has been surprising is the Clone Wars TV series - it's amazing how much better this show is than the movies... ( not the theatrical release animated movie, but the series)...
perhaps the big 'star wars type of story' just isn't suited to the film form anymore as so many of the related media ( games, novels and in this case tv series) are so much richer...
Posted by
scott
on January 04, 2010 at 02:55 PM EST
#
It's funny - I saw the Phantom Menace specifically because it was being shown digitally at a theater in Burbank. I was particularly interested in how the digital presentation would hold up. I have no clue what the film was about nor did I see any of the subsequent films. This reviewer really hits the nail on the head here.
Posted by
bscenefilms
on January 05, 2010 at 03:21 AM EST
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Too much logic. Not enough Jar Jar.
Posted by
thebiz
on January 05, 2010 at 01:53 PM EST
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George Lucas is easily among the worst filmmakers of all time.
Product merchandisers -- he's top flight.
Posted by
yogaboy
on January 08, 2010 at 08:21 PM EST
#
Posted by BiggsTrek on January 04, 2010 at 01:18 PM EST #
I made the big mistake of watching Ep 2 :Attack of the Clones the other day. MY GOD! This film is even more baffling on so many levels- so many... it makes Ep 1 look actually half decent.
What has been surprising is the Clone Wars TV series - it's amazing how much better this show is than the movies... ( not the theatrical release animated movie, but the series)...
perhaps the big 'star wars type of story' just isn't suited to the film form anymore as so many of the related media ( games, novels and in this case tv series) are so much richer...
Posted by scott on January 04, 2010 at 02:55 PM EST #
Posted by bscenefilms on January 05, 2010 at 03:21 AM EST #
Posted by thebiz on January 05, 2010 at 01:53 PM EST #
Product merchandisers -- he's top flight.
Posted by yogaboy on January 08, 2010 at 08:21 PM EST #