Star Wars Episode I, the Phantom Menace (1999, PG): ***
Lucas returned to directing the prequel trilogy, and the Phantom Menace was released in 1999. It's entertaining, the special effects are cool, the pod race and the climatic lightsaber duel are highlights. However, the biggest shift I notice between this new prequel and the originals, are that the Phantom Menace has it's highlights in the special effects, the costumes (which really are pretty cool) and the action scenes. Don't get me wrong: the end lightsaber duel is arguably the best choreographed out of the entire saga, and there are quite a few memorable and funny moments. But what made all three movies in the original trilogy was that they found strengths in their storylines and their characters. The Phantom Menace finds most of it's strength in the opposite arena. Despite those flaws, the Phantom Menace is still a good movie; very well does it introduce us into the characters and story arc even if it doesn't maintain control over them like where the previous installments succeeded, and to top it off; it's very, very entertaining. And because the prominent goal of movies is to entertain, well, that should make the Phantom Menace a credible film on its own. Directed by George Lucas.
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