Revisting The Phantom Menace: Nostalgic Perfection
After watching the credits roll this past May 4th and basking in Maestro John Williams' flawless score, I began to realize some fans owe Mr. George Lucas an apology. Episode 1 debuted on May 19, 1999, 15 years, 11 months, and 25 days after Return of the Jedi concluded the original trilogy, and despite the film's financial success, it has been scrutinized for a quarter-century. Some of the criticism is understandable. When anticipation is built for something as popular as Star Wars, expectations can be unrealistically high.
Image via: Starwars.com
From acting choices to new characters that were introduced, it seemed some fans had strong feelings about the film for one thing or another. However, as a young padawan, I look back upon this film fondly. I enjoyed every moment and cherished this time in my childhood. As I grew older and started becoming more aware of certain intricacies and technical aspects of film, I began to understand the thoughts and opinions of some of the more die-hard Star Wars fans.
As much as I understand the opinions, I still found myself enthralled watching it back 25 years later. I was surrounded by fans and engulfed in that beautiful soundtrack. Once again, I was transported back to my adolescent years and found myself in awe of Episode 1. From the cutting-edge graphics, the motion capture godfather Jar Jar, the brilliant performances by Liam Neesen and Ewan McGregor, and the all-encompassing world Lucas created, I was given a sense of euphoria, and that is a feeling that’s been missing with the new regime that has taken over the Star Wars universe.
So, to anyone who reads this, I want you to carve out some time and watch this film. If you have trepidations, put them aside and transport yourself into this amazing world and enjoy it for what it is: a George Lucas-envisioned Star Wars film. We need to preserve that feeling and keep this film at the top of our list and defend it to our nerdy death. The Phantom Menace is special, and the movie industry is better for it.
