tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post7351113434003619060..comments2024-03-27T15:16:57.305-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Heath Holland On...Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenacePatrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-81059230646421334732015-06-28T21:33:41.762-05:002015-06-28T21:33:41.762-05:00I don't think George was interested solely in ... I don't think George was interested solely in making three new Star Wars movies. I think he knew his retirement would be imminent by the time he finished with Episode III. Sure,he supervised the completion of 100 scripts for a live-action tv show and shepherded the launch of an animated series, but that's not directing film. I think he doubted he'd make another film ever again, which meant there were lots of things he needed to say in these three. He wanted to do all the things he did with the Original Trilogy:<br /><br />- push the technological envelope;<br />- apply history, anthropology;<br />- reference all the genres/films he loved as a child and as a film student;<br /><br />while also<br /><br />- making references to his entire filmography;<br />- making references to his filmmaker friends, the Movie Brats, and particular individuals who either meant something to him in his life or worked on the Original Trilogy;<br />- making references to certain films that paid homage to Star Wars/ripped Star Wars off;<br />- applying what he'd learned when he was involved with the Canyon Cinema movement when he made student films in college, treating the prequels as cinematic tone poems, with elements that "rhyme" or correspond -- visually and in dialogue -- with the Original Trilogy. <br /><br />The prequels would be, collectively, George's six+ hour personal film, in 1970s filmmaker parlance. <br /><br />George, like Luke in the Original Trilogy, was a young man dreaming of making a name for himself in the great big cinematic world in those years leading up to Star Wars (1977). Anakin represents a wider swath of George's life. Growing up in Modesto, George, like Anakin, was a tinkerer, someone who liked to build and fix things. George worked on cars the way Anakin worked on his pod racer; the way Anakin salvaged old Protocol Droid parts from Watto's junkyard and constructed a new droid to help his mother around the hovel while he was away at work in Watto's junk shop, George salvaged old car parts and built cars. Anakin would grow up trying to remain independent from what he saw as the binding, dogmatic view of the Jedi, only to become the head of an Imperial Empire, bending other star systems to his will. And on into adulthood, George, like Anakin, trying to remain independent from what he saw as the conglomerate, binding, dogmatic, Imperial studio system, became the head of his own Empire -- exactly what he was fighting against kowtowing to in his formative years. <br /><br />George has managed to do what his mentor Francis Ford Coppola maintains is impossible in the current blockbuster movie climate. He made personal films within the mainstream. Mike Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-24445166320879944942015-06-28T21:25:35.558-05:002015-06-28T21:25:35.558-05:00While people behind me, walking out of the theater...While people behind me, walking out of the theater after the end of the midnight screening of The Phantom Menace the night before the opening loudly proclaimed their disenchantment with the film (with shouts of "What the FUCK was THAT!"), I was pleasantly satisfied with it, and already anticipated Episode II. And how could I not? Like A New Hope, all Phantom Menace did was lay the foundation. Sure, the prequel trilogy is more of a piece than the original trilogy, with more callbacks to The Phantom Menace in Episode II and Episode III than Empire and Jedi had with A New Hope, but the real meat of the story was being kept from us until 2002, so it had my imagination running. <br /><br />My opinion of The Phantom Menace was, well, I gotta say, it reminded me of Return of the Jedi to a certain extent. Although I sensed a pattern, and a scheme up George's sleeve, this was before the documentary on the dvd suggested a "rhyming" motif with the original films, and well before Star Wars Ring Theory illuminated George's grand design for the prequel trilogy. Of course, Phantom Menace also hits some of the same beats as A New Hope. The Tatooine-bound second act references Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress just as A New Hope does; and those references would appear sporadically throughout the rest of the film, up until the award ceremony at the climax, officially bringing the Naboo and the Gungans together in peace. (There are other shots that pay homage to the cinema of Akira Kurosawa. Two shots leading up to the ground battle between the Gungans and the battle droids pay homage to Throne of Blood and Ran.)<br /><br />People jibber about the dialogue and all the green screen and the CG, but it's like Sam Witwer says during his prequel commentary for Rebel Force Radio: "This is the most literal representation of the 1930s Republic adventure serials ever presented in the Star Wars saga." For the most part, I agree. That's not all it is, however. It's the Republic serials; it's Forbidden Planet, and Flash Gordon, and Buck Rogers. Despite the enormity of the production, all the green screen and the deliberate acting style forced upon the performers by George brings the prequels into a different realm altogether: it gives off an aura of recall to the science fiction and fantasy films from AIP. From Crown International Pictures. From New World Pictures. (Perhaps, even, from Toei. All of the battles involving the Trade Federation, the battle droids and the droideka resemble a Japanese manga come to brilliant, colorful life.) And George is the big budget Roger Corman in this instance. The prequels are the most blatant of big budget B movies, with an overabundance of scope, vision, and the pedigree of the matinee pictures of yore. <br /><br />And that's just skimming the surface. <br />Mike Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-76868405049368847382015-05-22T23:18:30.307-05:002015-05-22T23:18:30.307-05:00Ah, thanks for the correction. I believe a double-...Ah, thanks for the correction. I believe a double-"edged" lightsaber would be quite lame, since a normal lightsaber is...infinite...edged.Andy Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17324674060230571696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-62656895674330260852015-05-22T20:14:58.146-05:002015-05-22T20:14:58.146-05:00Thanks for sharing all that! I know many people wh...Thanks for sharing all that! I know many people who felt the same as you did in 1999. I mean, I was 20 and in college when TPM came out and I think we had a virtually identical experience, what, with the toys and the tournaments and the surprise upon hearing about a backlash. And I still don't think filmmakers have come up with anything cooler than a double-bladed lightsaber. :)Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-37673785521799261282015-05-22T18:55:41.059-05:002015-05-22T18:55:41.059-05:00Brian Blessed's Lord Locksley, a bigger contri...Brian Blessed's Lord Locksley, a bigger contribution to cinema than King Vultan (or even Boss Nass)? Surely you jest!Michael Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-48202748780042573242015-05-22T18:50:34.055-05:002015-05-22T18:50:34.055-05:00Then there's the fractured relationship betwee...Then there's the fractured relationship between the Naboo and the Gungans. I think Padme had her decoy (Keira Knightley) order her to clean Artoo after their escape from the Neimoidians -- it was the perfect excuse to learn about the Gungans. Symbiont circles are mentioned twice in this film; to describe the relationship between the midi-chlorians and Force users, and the Gungans' relationship with the Naboo. Perhaps the Gungans' poor grasp of a language other than their own made the Naboo (and the Jedi) consider them unintelligent, but I wonder how much the Naboo really knew about them before the Neimoidian occupation. The Queen didn't even realize the Gungans were warriors until Jar Jar told her on Coruscant, and that helped make her decision to return to Naboo and fight back. Of course that meant pleading her case to Boss Nass. <br /><br />That celebration at the end had more to do with the Gungans and Naboo coming together to form a unified world than the victory over the Neimoidians. That's what that glowing sphere symbolized. <br /><br />Oh, and I have to mention the coolest thing about the Neimoidians. They have Atreides shield technology. Could you just imagine if they used the Weirding Way? Michael Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-45813495115315350622015-05-22T15:25:43.750-05:002015-05-22T15:25:43.750-05:00Oh my gaawd, what's wrong with your faaaace?Oh my gaawd, what's wrong with your faaaace?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-24404909254036962252015-05-22T11:09:17.500-05:002015-05-22T11:09:17.500-05:00First of all, Heath, I think this is one of your f...First of all, Heath, I think this is one of your finest columns for the site. Like the Hobbit story that got you here, you have incredibly well thought-out and convincing arguments for a movie that is sort of easily hated by many who didn't give it a proper chance.<br /><br />I just thought I'd give an experience from "the target audience" for this film, as I'm probably the prime example of it. I was nine when TPM was released, and it rocked my world. I was obsessed, and had tons of action figures that I would just use to stage fights from the movie in my bedroom or pit against one another in "Jedi vs. Sith tournaments" etc. I absolutely loved it, and didn't even realize for years that the superfans didn't like it. I just thought it was awesome to have a new Star Wars movie, and I didn't think filmmakers could ever conceive anything cooler than a double-edged lightsaber.<br /><br />For a long time, I thought ROTS was my favorite prequel, but I think that was just because it was darker and therefore easier to defend. Looking back, TPM is definitely my favorite, and I'd say the best. I agree that the podrace is fine the way it is, and one of the coolest action scenes of the era. I don't mind Jar-Jar, because (kinda like the Ewok debate) I was the right age when I saw it, so I thought he was hilarious. In truth, I identified with him, because I saw him as a clumsy but well-meaning character who was cruelly vilified for being inadequate even though he was always doing his best.<br /><br />As far as the all the politics and trade stuff, I didn't really understand it as a kid...but I didn't care. I got the point that Palpatine was evil and was pulling strings to try to take control of the Republic. The general gist of it came through, and was enough to understand the dynamics. However, all this got a little out of hand in Attack of the Clones, and I was pretty lukewarm on it. Even as a 12-year-old, I was really underwhelmed by Episode II, and had no interest in seeing it again for like ten years. It just served as a placeholder to get me from Episode I to Episode III. I'm interested to hear your column next month, because even after rewatching AOTC several times, this is still how I view it. I think it's on a tier below the other five films in the franchise. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!<br /><br />I would also try to convince the world of why the first Star Wars is better than Empire, but that's a wormhole I might not want to go down.Andy Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17324674060230571696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-23292974470675767022015-05-22T08:44:27.334-05:002015-05-22T08:44:27.334-05:00Well said, Michael. I think there's a lot to u...Well said, Michael. I think there's a lot to unpack around the Jar Jar character (ESPECIALLY in how that character impacts the next movie) that is overshadowed because grown ups just can't get past how annoying he is. And as for Gungans as a whole, I like them. They're totally different from Jar Jar. I like their technology and I like the way they live under the waters of Naboo in their own society with their own military. We can't forget that NO ONE likes Jar Jar in the movies except Qui-Gon, and I'm not sure I'd say he likes him either, as much as he feels a duty to protect all life. I feel like the film is saying "even this wretched, backwards creature has a place and purpose in the galaxy." And I think that's an important message to take away. I'll explore that more in future columns; I've still got a long way to go. <br /><br />And Brian Blessed was also Lord Locksley in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the most important contribution to cinema in the history of movies. I also dug that this Shakespearean actor was having fun as a fat frog-man. Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-57047653948131137782015-05-22T07:54:51.972-05:002015-05-22T07:54:51.972-05:00Obi-Wan even calls Anakin pathetic at one point. Obi-Wan even calls Anakin pathetic at one point. Michael Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-5099946761443115622015-05-22T07:52:16.033-05:002015-05-22T07:52:16.033-05:00There actually quite a bit of location shooting o...<br />There actually quite a bit of location shooting on Attack of the Clones. They went back to Tunisia for the Tatooine scenes, they shot in Italy for the Naboo scenes, they even shot at a location once used for Lawrence in Arabia. <br /><br />I can appreciate what Lucas was going for with Jar Jar on the technological level. Certainly other filmmakers took what George did as a starting off point. Now, as far as liking Jar Jar or hating him, I'm rather indifferent to him, and I don't really have a problem with the Gungans as a whole, either. (I also get a kick out of the fact Brian Blessed, King Vultan of the Hawkmen in Flash Gordon 1980 is playing Boss Nass. I love Boss Nass.) Hell, we have characters in the film who make clear how pathetic Jar Jar is. Well, if they think he's pathetic, I guess it's okay for us to think so. Michael Giammarinonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-63990412325023070212015-05-21T16:20:32.786-05:002015-05-21T16:20:32.786-05:00Though I think AotC is the most entertaining prequ...Though I think <i>AotC</i> is the most entertaining prequel, due to its deliciously terrible moments, colorful action and super-pretty Portman scenes, I agree that <i>TPM</i> offers the most food for thought. One can watch it and pretend the next two movies will be a lot more interesting, better-acted, and location-heavy than they are. I also agree Neeson gives the prequels' best performance, and the relatively low stakes and lack of inter-character conflict for most of the movie allow one to tune out of the rather thin main story (surely a Jedi Master and a Jedi Knight could rather easily commandeer themselves and a few passengers a private flight to Coruscant) and instead focus on the flourishes and world-building of the movie's margins.<br /><br />And I've never met anyone who likes Jar-Jar even a tiny bit, but I admit I don't actually know anyone in the necessary age range for such a stance, so I'll take your word for it they exist. :PGaithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07025861553487915665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-17853648214587847182015-05-21T14:55:38.767-05:002015-05-21T14:55:38.767-05:00I have mixed opinions about the prequel trilogy, a...I have mixed opinions about the prequel trilogy, albeit I think I like them more than most. The Phantom Menace is probably the prequel I like the most, albeit I think it's very flawed. I really love the themes of duality and mitosis, and the action is great, but the acting and writing is definitely subpar, and I'm still not sure if Palpatine's plan makes a lot of sense. At the very least, it has my all-time favorite movie score.Kino Notabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15852233217962741446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-43648153819916168742015-05-20T18:27:30.706-05:002015-05-20T18:27:30.706-05:00That's well said, Erich. For the record, I agr...That's well said, Erich. For the record, I agree that there are flaws in direction and narrative. I'm just trying to show here how much of the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater by a certain group of people and point to the many wonderful things that I appreciate about these films. These are the things that keep me coming back over and over, and having conversations about what does and doesn't work is why we're here. That's what makes F This Movie different from a lot of what's out there. Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-90612883448242109602015-05-20T13:57:56.575-05:002015-05-20T13:57:56.575-05:00Great article, Heath. We can agree to disagree abo...Great article, Heath. We can agree to disagree about the quality of the prequels, but you presented plenty of good reasons for why you like this movie. My biggest problem rewatching all three prequels recently is that they are so badly paced. Scenes just...linger...then peter out so we can watch another scene that drags on too long. It's like Lucas thinks editing is just fancy wipes. I can see why that might appeal to someone, like yourself and Lucas, who loves this universe and wants to stay in it as long as possible. It made me bored. <br /><br />All of your arguments are rock-solid from a thematic and world-building perspective, but I don't have a problem with any of that. My issues are with the filmmaking. It's like the Man of Steel superfans (who you are nothing like), who think the only reason people don't like that movie is because of what happens at the end, and spend all their time arguing for its thematic depth and gritty realism when my problems with the movie are its pacing and clunky storytelling. <br /><br />Old man grumbling aside, you are doing good work here. Disrupt the narrative m'man! And may the force live long and prosper. May it live long and prosper...everyone.Erichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16442117462054923058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-39846500321787916802015-05-20T13:39:56.450-05:002015-05-20T13:39:56.450-05:00"My summer of 1999 was my last real year of f..."My summer of 1999 was my last real year of freedom, before relationships and a serious job took center stage, and Star Wars was EVERYWHERE. The future was bright, all my friends loved The Phantom Menace, and the best was yet to come."<br /><br />Amen.Michael Pomarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04209918617642114880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-64304921292508666542015-05-20T12:17:15.247-05:002015-05-20T12:17:15.247-05:00(Stands up, claps) Preach on brother.(Stands up, claps) Preach on brother.Matt Sollenbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088555561067804979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-61582996221547898312015-05-20T09:43:38.333-05:002015-05-20T09:43:38.333-05:00Great essay, Heath, and I would have to say that T...Great essay, Heath, and I would have to say that <i>The Phantom Menace</i> has aged relatively well and is by far my favourite of the PT (supplanting RoTS's brief reign) - it just feels the most Star Warsy of them to me. My initial impression is useless - it was a weird time in my life, I didn't even see it until July and I watched it whilst coming down from a bad trip my first time doing really "good" LSD - but even in my first few subsequent viewings I never felt particularly disappointed (midichlorians didn't bother me a bit) - I mostly liked it and was excited by what was to come.<br /><br />Qui-Gon and Darth Maul are great characters and the rest of the trilogy suffers for want of them - I like the idea that we could get more of them in the years to come. It's kinda funny - George kept us with Star Wars blueballs all these years and now that Disney has them OF COURSE they're going to release new features every year - you'd have to be an idiot not to (right George?) - and they and the fans should definitely worship at the Altar of Lucas for giving us/them a story well that conceivably will never run dry and a brand that I'm not sure can be diluted. I guess time will tell.<br /><br />But going back to TPM - you're right about the things it does right and you're right that we should give a fair shake to what is there and forget about the stuff that isn't. It introduces some characters and ideas that are both compelling and integral to the Star Wars Universe.<br /><br />That being said, I still have to go back to the old argument that, if this is supposed to be a kids' movie - and I agree that it is - why the tedious adult stuff that even most adults find boring? Many great kids' movies (I'm looking at you, Pixar or hell, the OT) manage to take the best of "kids' stuff" and the best of "adult stuff" and mix them in a way that's equally entertaining to all ages. The obvious answer is that all the boring commerce/political stuff is necessary to get us to the point where Palpatine can overthrow the government and take absolute power (a la Hitler) and that's true, BUT I think the most valid criticism that could be levelled at Lucas is that he got lazy with that crucial part of the STORY and told it in the most obvious and straightforward (even with the convoluted (but still kinda boring) machinations) manner such a story could be told. I don't have an alternative to suggest off the top of my head, but I think it's severely limiting to the imaginations of great storytellers to suggest that there wasn't a way to tell that story that didn't so boringly echo our actual history and political processes.<br /><br />And that's the only thing resembling a rebuttal to one part of your great essay which I mostly agree with (love the stuff on the music - had never really listened to "Anakin's Theme" especially with the story in mind and the second half is wonderful) - I have some more vicious thoughts on the next two, so I'm really looking forward to read what you have to say on those - maybe you'll make me come around on them a bit!Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03114869401584310369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-39754786695599297412015-05-20T09:01:21.000-05:002015-05-20T09:01:21.000-05:00Yeah, people who complain endlessly about the CGI ...Yeah, people who complain endlessly about the CGI of <i>The Phantom Menace</i> have apparently not been to the movies in the last 10 years, because there's a ton of model work and location filming. <br /><br />Jar Jar will probably always (unfortunately) be the breaking point for many people over this movie. I mean...he's not awesome, but a ton of kids (who are now adults) loved him. I can think of a dozen characters in mainstream modern movies that annoy me far more than this froggy dude with floppy ears. I agree it could have been toned down and handled with a little more subtlety, but watching <i>The Phantom Menace</i> with my daughter makes it clear how much kids connect to him. Heath Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802874033845631338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-49940113727803530862015-05-20T07:59:33.248-05:002015-05-20T07:59:33.248-05:00I've mentioned before that The Phantom Menace ...I've mentioned before that The Phantom Menace is my favorite of the prequels. I know many people pick Revenge of the Sith, but that movie is just so "dead" because of the near-universal use of green screen that I find it impossible to watch without getting depressed - and not because of the subject matter. Phantom Menace has tons of CGI, but it also has much location shooting and revisits Tunisia, which to me is the spiritual home of Star Wars.<br /><br />There are a number of things in Phantom Menace which I believe were brilliant in conception, but hopelessly flawed in execution. Jar Jar is a key example. I think I understand his role in the film - he is the "holy fool" who is fated to take part in great events despite his best efforts to avoid them. But I cannot agree with the notion that Jar Jar is "supposed" to be annoying. His irritating qualities are those things Lucas put in to make him appealing to children, but they also have the effect of making him intolerable to adults. I think it would have been possible to make Jar Jar seen "inconsequential" to many of the major players (like Obi Wan) while still making him endearing to us.<br /><br />Your essay should be required reading for anyone who has seen Red Letter Media's video on the film. Both sides have interesting and worthwhile points to make. Excellent job!Steve K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02141959251034133806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-88941815378288705732015-05-20T06:43:27.405-05:002015-05-20T06:43:27.405-05:00Heath, I just want to say that this essay is absol...Heath, I just want to say that this essay is absolutely amazing. You've given me a greater appreciation of this movie and the things it does right. Thank you for turning me around to the things this movie accomplished. Can't wait to read the next essays! Lucasnoreply@blogger.com