5) Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
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This isn’t the complete shit show I used to think it was. There’s enough positive elements for me to say it’s passable. The pod race. Darth Maul. The lightsaber duel. Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan. But make no mistake – it’s a massive disappointment. I think the reason this movie is always referenced as the iconic symbol for the prequel hatred is because it’s the first one. It’s the one people waited weeks in line for. Oh, and Jar Jar. Yeah, that too.
It would have been interesting to see the reaction of this film had Jar Jar not been in it. The Jake Lloyd factor would still be there, as would midi-chlorians, but if you fixed that one major mistake, people may have responded better to the prequels. Looking back at it now though, Jar Jar becomes less of a point of contention with fans, as stuff like the overuse of CGI and flat acting is now the subject of more vitriol.
Aside from Jar Jar though, The Phantom Menace is loaded with tons of issues. As I said before though, I can get on board with this as a half way decent movie, but when it holds the name Star Wars, it’s still embarrassing.
Best Scene: The final lightsaber duel truly is thrilling, and it doesn’t hurt that John Williams knows how to compose really good music.
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