Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace. "Surely You Can't Be Sidious?"

[@INFILTR8US]

Anakin: "Are you an angel?" Padme: "No. I'm a ****ing queen you filthy little peasant. Never speak to me again."

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

Qui-gon: "You're who? Get back on the ship."

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Hahaha that's hilarious 😂😂😂

[@ashroskell]

Fun fact: I met Ian McDiarmid three times in the same year, quite by chance on each occasion! First, he was coming out of Blackpool Victoria Hospital as I was going in to see my dying mother. It was not a time to stop and ask for an autograph, but as I stared at him, mouth agape, as we passed each other in the corridor, he winked at me. I’m sorry to say I gawked at him again, but this time it was because of the sheer coincidence. It was only a couple of weeks later and he and I were shopping in the same Tesco in Scotland. I later read up on him and discovered he’d grown up in Angus, where we were. The third time was at some traffic lights, where we had both stopped, again by coincidence, and again in Eastern Scotland. We exchanged a look of recognition and both laughed. He’s very patient and the gentleman you would expect. And, of course, the most evil man in the universe 😉✌️

[@TheToonMonkey]

"I am Sidious, and don't call me Sheev"

[@davincent98]

More like, "I AM the Senate. And don't call me Shirley."

[@TheToonMonkey]

@@davincent98 except the title of the video doesn't say "Surely you can't be Senate"....

[@stephenpalmer9375]

I just remember being terribly bored during the whole thing at the time. And never once in 20 odd years wanted to see it again. This hasn't changed!

[@CaminoAir]

I had the same experience. Although I had read the illustrated screenplay beforehand, as it was released a few weeks before the film. Reading the screenplay, it was difficult to keep track of who was speaking, as the dialog was all functional and indistinguishable. The technical aspects of the movie kept my interest at a reasonable level. I'd still be more likely to re-watch 'TPM' (as dull, mechanical and under-written as it is) than 'The Force Awakens', which I found depressing in how it summed up modern blockbusters: just give the audience the same thing again with a few tweaks and no long term plan.

[@stephenpalmer9375]

@@CaminoAir I’m not really a Star Wars guy, although Empire is one of my fave films of all time (and maybe that is rooted in nostalgia). But I’m glad someone else has the same thoughts on The Force Awakens. I remember entering the cinema as others left, all exclaiming how brilliant it was. And I just thought.. this is just the same film from 1977 with some bells and whistles. And when that giant crack appeared between Rey and Kylo in the dramatic end fight, me and my daughter groaned so loudly

[@Сайтамен]

Arguments are so well constructed... "Movie was bad because I was bored" - well I wasn't. Anything else?

[@AndrewGivens]

@@Сайтамен These are the entire basis of all SW fan arguments/complaints: "It wasn't the head-story what I wrote in my head before seeing what someone else had come up with in their own head, so it was rubbish." Rabid SW fans are the absolute pits.

[@blacklivesorblackvotes2985]

@@Сайтамен Shit taste. Anything else?

[@mikavirtanen7029]

As an Royal Shakespeare Company veteran Ian McDiarmid was by far the best actor in Prequel trilogy. Even Lucas with his "directing" of actors and mediocre script couldn't keep Palpatine down.

[@MattMcIrvin]

"Revenge of the Sith" was as good as it was because McDiarmid was carrying it nearly solo (and it gets worse once he has to wear the withered-face prosthetics, which inhibit his physical performance).

[@r4h4al]

Agree. He was the best performance everybody else was so wooden for reasons I don't understand.

[@Сайтамен]

What is wrong with the script and directing?

[@r4h4al]

@@Сайтамен Lucas.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

@@Сайтамен things, lots of them

[@mallninja9805]

I watched it in a theater on opening day, at the tender age of 24. It was OK...and that was devastating.

[@oobrocks]

Well said

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

I like everything I’ve seen you do, but I ADORED this one.

[@redringofdeathgamer]

"Push the envelope" gag always cracks me up.😆

[@MrWhipple42]

The original trilogy was a huge part of my childhood, so I was really excited as a 30-something when I went into the theater in 1999 to see The Phantom Menace. I was expecting for George Lucas to blow me away-and even said so out loud as the lights in the theater dimmed-but I walked out feeling like I’d seen something that was…just okay. The lightsaber duel at the end was certainly a highlight of the film, but the movie failed to capture any of the wonder or awe of any of the first three. I just couldn’t figure out why. Decades later, I saw Red Letter Media’s 70-minute Plinkett review and finally realized why TPM had been such a letdown.

[@r4h4al]

Then over the years it was the other way around the film got so panned so much that when people watched it for the first time over recent years it was a lot better than expected.

[@MrWhipple42]

@@r4h4al I would argue that TPM only looks good in comparison to what followed it, most especially Attack of the Clones and the gawdawful sequel trilogy.

[@r4h4al]

@@MrWhipple42No I think it stands up in it’s own right tbf.

[@ballgang367]

>unironically cites plinkett opinion discarded.

[@blacklivesorblackvotes2985]

@@r4h4al no. The film is still bad. You only say this because the sequels exist. One turd smelling worse doesn’t make the other smell good. That’s just your standards lowering by the day.

[@T.S.Birkby]

Spaceballs should definitely be reviewed. Merchandising, Merchandising, Merchandising

[@stevebragg4256]

Still love this film and this trilogy. Even Alec Guinness called his dialogue banal back in the day. Lucas has said his dialogue is old B movie serial type dialog.

[@white-dragon4424]

More like it's dialogue written by someone who's on official record as being barely literate.

[@crazyman8472]

“Surely you can’t be serious?” “I am serious; and don’t call me Shirley.” 😜

[@beatrixwickson8477]

23:32 "George Lucas really wanted to push the envelope of what was possible with film technology" So simple but so funny. Genius!

[@BTScriviner]

Found your channel a few days ago and have been binging your entire set of videos. Great reviews that are insightful and also make me laugh out loud. Five thumbs up. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@preahko]

I have to say, I really love your reviews and especially your dry humor and wit...the #1 gem for this video was calling Qui-Gon "the galactic Neville Chamberlin" (or whatever your exact quote was...a close #2 (no pun intended) was "Anakin lists off all the places he's taken a shit...."

[@michaelproctor8100]

Weird Al Yankovic's parody of this movie (The Saga Begins) is a must see.

[@6581punk]

Saw it at the cinema, not sure if it was on day of release or what. Left the theatre feeling unconvinced. Then later watched on a dodgy copy that was probably one of the first "digital" cam releases. I think a lot of my enjoyment of star wars is down to nostalgia and growing up with it. But the prequels are now old enough to have some nostalgia to them.

[@briancross7835]

After watching this vid, I went back & watched the original teaser trailer for Episode I. Even with 23 years of hindsight, I felt a split-second where it was 1998 all over again, and The Phantom Menace was gonna be the greatest film I would ever see...

[@americansupervillain4595]

I never could understand why Ani built a protocol droid. It would have made more since to build something that would help him and his mother with their daily labors.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

Well, he built him from scraps - apparently, he only found protocol droid scraps. That's a subtle tell that Anakin is not the all-awesome guy from the prophecy: he Ikea'd C3P0 from parts found in Watto's garbage but brags about it like he invented the thing from scratch. He's manipulating the truth from the very start. Obviously you don't appreciate George Lucas' genius writing!

[@ThumpertTheFascistCottontail]

The best thing about Star Wars is that it gives us a reason for great videos like this.

[@Сайтамен]

The fun thing about the "all was CGI"-complaint is that it's simply wrong. The only two scenes where everything in the background was CG are the droid factory and the talk - scene between Mace, Yoda and Obi-Wan in Episode II, and those only because they weren't in the original Script and added very late. in 90% of all other scenes, most of the buildings, scenery, landscapes, Backgrounds and Sets are Sets, Real-World locations, models or miniatures. The arena of Geonosis in the background ? Model The Hangar where Obi-Wan and Anakin fought Dooku ? Gigantic Set Most outside- and inside shots of Kamino ? Model All Landscape-shots of Mustafar aswell as the Mining-complex are taken on a model, the Lava is just real footage of Lava from Mt Etna, and all inside shots, aswell as the plattforms Anakin and Obi-Wan fight on are sets. The Mountains in the background on Aldeeran are the alps, filmed in switzerland, Theed and Naboo are all models, or real places in Italy. The underwater-landscapes in EpI are models, and remember the scene in EpIII where a bunch of wookies storm towards droids Landing on their beach ? The Wookies were real people in costumes, and the beach a model. The filmed the wookies in Front of a bluescreen, then put the model-landscape behind them. The exact same way they did it back in the OT. Both Obi-Wans and Anakin Jedi-Starfighters from the Beginning of Episode III were live-sized mock-ups, aswell as a additional Cockpit-only Set for scenes from inside. Basically every detailed background or building we saw in close - up from the outside was either a Set or a model, from Utapau to even extremely minor sceneries like Cato-Neimodia. EPIII alone had vastly more models and sets built for it than the entirety of the OT COMBINED. Wether people want to accept it or not, it's very possible that Ep III relied LESS on CG than TFA

[@Dan.50]

I can watch the OT anytime and still enjoy them and see things that I've missed. Can't say that about any of the others.

[@Сайтамен]

TPM shows why Anakin is so important, his strong attachment to his mom, why Obi-Wan wasn't right teacher to him, why he hates Tatooine, Jedi rules, Palpatine becoming chancellor, world building, etc...And of course, podracing and Darth Maul. AOTC actually tells a great story (Palpatine's rise to power by manipulation Republic and Separatists, Anakin's progression of falling to the Dark Side, start of the Clone Wars), develops characters, shows us real war, new planets, species, ships, droids, world, and has strong connection with 1 and 3. What does ROTS show us? The largest battle in the Clone Wars, deaths of Dooku and Grievous, Kashyyk battle, Anakin's conflict with Jedi and himself, his weakness (save who he loves), which perfectly works with saving Luke, Palpatine's manipulation and rise to power, Order 66, 2 amasing final battles and the creation of Darth Vader and Empire, birth of Luke and Leia, new hope. It is meaning for the whole Galaxy and is the most emotional.

[@andrewbevan4662]

The hype for this was incredible, I lived through it

[@bryanbird1266]

I remember being thrilled by seeing Jedi in there prime for the first time. Not old men, half trained boys, or cripples.

[@bob23301]

Nothing gets me more excited in my sci movies than contract negotiations. Lol

[@AwdryFan1997]

I've always wanted to hear the Stam Fine take on the prequels!

[@suk6323]

How we all cheered and then the film began...

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

Wow, the trailers must've been killer!

[@jwnj9716]

Darth Maul should have been the main villain or at least kept around till 3rd film where we get a rematch. Oh well, too bad.

[@colonelkilling2425]

And General Grevious ! He should have been kept as the main villian longer too.

[@Сайтамен]

Why? Because he looks cool?

[@jwnj9716]

@@Сайтамен Yeah and you can do a lot with him in the later films since he is mysterious in the first one. Maybe reveal something we didn't expect about him.

[@ash9280]

I think the problem is if you build up Maul as a villain for the prequels. It takes away from Palpatine being the main threat and the films are mainly about his rise to power. Building up a villain doesn't appear in the OT takes away from Palpatine being the main threat to the OT and the PT. It would feel more disjointed. Hence, Maul, Dooku and Grevious exist more as goons to do Palptine's planning. I think too many people got caught in the ''coolness' of Maul.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

@@jwnj9716 I salute you, sir! This is the first time I've seen a Maul apologist not playing games but simply, truthfully stating "yes, he looks cool, that's all I need"! I might not share your opinon but by golly do I respect it!

[@niamhryan2973]

Great job Stam!!!!! I laughed so much.

[@lordofbats3601]

More good work Stam

[@Shockwave-ob2tx]

Yep. And I'm positive the character of Qui-Gon was created just so Obi-Won wouldn't look like an idiot for training Anakin

[@Сайтамен]

To show that Obi-Wan wasn't the right teacher for Anakin, Qui-Gon was.

[@zatornagirroc7175]

He mocked Darth Maul's saber, but you have to admit that the first time you saw it, you geeked out just a little bit.

[@john_blues]

I am Sidious. And don't call me Shirley.

[@caloss2]

The phantom menace didn't happen in a vacuum; I remember the tale of two friends deciding whether to watch the Matrix or the phantom menace, thinking the new star wars would make the matrix seem average, deciding to see the matrix first being blow away then watching the phantom menace the next evening and being very disappointed.

[@lucasoheyze4597]

All you needed to say: Matrix was better

[@henryglennon3864]

[deadpan] I am Sideous, and don't call me Sheev.

[@alexdalrymple]

Great review as always. Totally agree on the worst Star Wats being more enjoyable than the best LOTR. Like you, Star Wars has always been my jam and I’ve always found LOTR a bit of a chore to watch.

[@jessica23claire]

Do I care about Star Wars? No. Have I watched more than one? No. But will I watch this video about Star Wars for Stam's sardonic commentary? Yes.

[@SteveSmith-wk9dx]

I loved a review of an unrelated Keira Knightly performance which described her as "looking like Natalie Portman in the early stage of a werewolf transformation".

[@lisvender]

You know, maybe Natalie Portman should have starred in a Metal Gear game. “Snake. Snake. Snake.”

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Boss Ness allways reminded me of Leonid Breshniev

[@AquamentusLives]

Thank you! I never got why people liked Gui-gon Jin, he was such a poor lead. Poor decision after poor decision.

[@r4h4al]

He was a good Jedi he was as close to Luke as we were going to get. He made poor decisions but so did Luke, Han & Leia.

[@Сайтамен]

Qui-Gon is a wise Jedi who knows council isn't always right, and follows only will of the Force, prefers to solve problems diplomatically and cares about each life form.

[@RighteousBrother]

I willed myself into liking this film, i just couldn't comprehend there being such a thing as a duff Star Wars film in 1999.

[@valmarsiglia]

When I saw it on its release, the entire theater erupted in a loud, spontaneous "BOO!!!!" when Sidious got killed.

[@jamesparker4471]

Raspberry jam beats strawberry jam.

[@daelen.cclark]

I am Sidious… And stop calling me Shirley!

[@ryanreyes4622]

I am a die-hard fan and I want to say I like that he tried something different he made the bad guys operate in the shadows more manipulative and cunning.

[@Wazulon]

Tattooine. It's a dry heat.... Sums up every Star Wars movie and spin off ever 🤣

[@billsinkins361]

Years ago someone commented that much of this film seems like an galactic version of the McLaughlin Group

[@Otokichi786]

When "Star Wars I" showed up, I got a "this is for the next generation" vibe. "Weird Al" Yankovic took a bit over 5.5 minutes to summarize this tale: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnbGm5qAiNaGiLc At the time, I found it interesting, since we see where C3PO and R2D2 came from. Compared to the Mary Sue sequels, "The Phantom Menace" plays like a work of Shakespeare, which illustrates Disney's fall to Dumpster Fires, Inc. 8:58 Welcome to Tatooine, did you bring your own water?

[@InternetTAB]

I make sure to slap adblock off for ya buddy! thanks for your hard work

[@nosidezero]

17:50 That's a helluva burn lmao

[@SimonLeicester]

Likewise remember seeing it on first release. I think the sense of disappointment hit me within the first 10 minutes when you realise this is just filler and you’re two more movies away from seeing Anakin becoming Darth Vader. Still a masterpiece compared to The Last Jedi or The Rise Of Skywalker

[@JeffWiersma]

As a colossal Star Wars fan, I walked out of the theater on opening day wildly disappointed and wondering if The Phantom Menace was just a bad dream.

[@valmarsiglia]

It's every bit as terrible as people make it out to be. Whatever magic the OT had, the prequels just didn't. Their overall look is like something from a middling SyFy miniseries.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

It's been a long time since I've seen this film. I remember it having a sort of naive charm despite all its flaws. The sequels went in an overly dark direction which felt at odds with how the trilogy had started, but they're probably slightly more interesting plot wise.

[@davehandelman2832]

Love your reviews!!

[@donbonjour1722]

Stam, I agree with you. Phantom Menace was not that bad.

[@briandain8432]

Remember kids, only Gamble for a kid's Freedom when You Know you can use your supernatural powers to CHEAT. IF I HAD KIDS I WOULDN'T LET THEM SEE ANY MORE THAN Rogue One through Return of the Jedi.

[@ezra_harryvitale5626]

Are you dissing on Lord of the Rings? I love your vids, but what are yo ur thoughts on LOTR? Love the review.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Oh, and thanks SO much for your review, as it means I don't have to watch the film. Which I may've done at the time it came out, but I don't remember.

[@vladpiranha]

Even though the story was the weakest part of The Phantom Menace, it feels more like a complete film than the follow-ups and I'll tell you why - the cinematography. You can notice this best when Anakin is preparing to leave his mother on Tatooine. The use of depth and focus in the camera work was something we really wouldn't see in the next two films. There was real effort made, so blind hatred of The Phantom Menace always seems childish and unfair.

[@lorentoy1994]

Haha, he’s the Neville Chamberlain of the Star Wars universe… he’s a schmuck. LOL

[@briandain8432]

Liam Nielsen was supposed to return as a Force Spirit in the Very F-ed up Ep3, but he was so Disgusted with Ep1, he said No thank you.

[@SpeedyEric1]

I am serious for loving this film, and don’t call me Shirley.

[@xiaoka]

If you know that Jar Jar is best ignored and look at the rest of the film as establishing a trilogy, it’s bearable just to get to the good parts (Darth Maul scene)

[@pete2097]

Duel of the Fates - this needed a mention because it's epic

[@briandain8432]

I had this Sweet Widescreen Calendar of StarWars Special Edition. However, I got a Magnifying glass on the scene he replaced of the Xwing approaching the Death Star.... It's all the Same Ship!!! You can see the INSIGNIA MARKINGS ARE THE SAME! THEY REPLACED HOURS OF PHYSICAL WORK FROM THE 70s WITH CGI SHIT.

[@mrd5024]

The sound design of the pod race has yet to be matched

[@TheBeird]

I’ve grown to not only despise Star Wars, but all discourse around it. BUT I will make exceptions for some KZbinrs. Looking at Phantom Menace in a bubble, when you take away the primitive CGI, wooden acting, weird pacing etc, the main problem with it is that it’s BORING. So, so boring. However, seeing what cinema has become - and Star Wars as well - I would sacrifice both butt cheeks and half a bollock to let big movies be in the hands of auteurs. Even those who make poor creative decisions. Disappointment is worth the risk as opposed to safe, cookie cutting dull as fuck modern franchise bullshit 🥵 And breathe

[@MattMcIrvin]

The most interesting of the sequel movies was "The Last Jedi", which had an auteur trying to take it in a substantially different direction. But the superfans HATED it. Hated, hated, hated it. Created a lot of that bad, bad discourse. And Disney and Abrams resolved never to make that mistake again.

[@thestorm99]

@@MattMcIrvin You're clearly mixing your psyche meds with alcohol again.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

Primitive CGI? Compare this to the three years previous Toy Story (a CGI film, like Antz, I'd love to see re-rendered to 2022 standards) and tell me The Phantom Menace looks bad or even poor.

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

@@MattMcIrvin Superfans ruin everything.

[@Сайтамен]

Why? Because awkward character said some awkward lines? Because they used CGI to show fantastic worlds and creatures? Because midichlorians somehow "ruin the Force" because "magic is cool science is boring"? Because they dive into political conflict to show how Republic became Empire? Because they showed Jedi grandmaster fighting with Jedi signature weapon to protect his friends and stop the war? Because a comic relief had too much screen time in the first movie, but still had purpose in the plot? I don't understand.

[@mhoppy6639]

If you get a moment check out the story of chancellor velorum (Terence stamp) and the ‘gift’ that Lucas bought for cast members. It’s hilarious and the tale is found on Peter Serafinowicz’s podcast which you can find if you search on YT. It’s well worth the time

[@Сайтамен]

Peter Serafinowish is a narcissist who got to say 3 lines in Star Wars and considers himself a part of it who Lucas should parade on every comic con...

[@lucasoheyze4597]

No he doesn't 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@tommylakindasorta3068]

I was sixwhen the first Star Wars came out, so I was basically raised on it. I thought The Phantom Menace was OK but a mild disappointment. I fell asleep halfway through the second one. Never saw the third one.

[@kirk1701]

Yeah, I was one of those moviegoers who walked out of the theater and felt a disturbance in The Force...like the movie could have been better. Too, I felt I've seen the entire film since the previews leading up to the release was showing something new on TV seemingly every other day. I didn't have the urge to see TPM a second time in theaters. I also didn't see Episodes 2 & 3 in theaters. People talk about Disney ruining _Star Wars,_ but I think it started with Lucas and his prequels. Indeed, at this point, Lucas was surrounded by 'yes men' and 'yes women'...no one, like Gary Kurtz, to tell him what won't work.

[@tremorist]

It was so ridiculous, they sold Star Wars Oranges at the grocery.

[@nutherefurlong]

The special editions seemed like a cool stunt to renew interest. I didn't know at the time that these were going to be considered the only versions intended to exist. Glad other people had other plans Speaking of which, there is a take on this film that just changes Jar Jar's lines to a subtitled alien language, as well as the Trade Federation guys' speech, and cuts a few silly scenes and it's a surprisingly decent Star Wars movie, at least for me.

[@ltjjenkins]

I feel for the people who saw this multiple times not because it was good but because they thought it was their fault they couldn't understand the movie.

[@briandain8432]

Gotta Realize How so-called children's entertainment changed 1977 to 1997. Luke's Adopted Family's skeletons burned in the distance. But kids in the 90s were on goddam Teletubbies & Barney the Fat Purple T-Rex!

[@5stardave]

Return of the Jedi (original theatrical version) was the best of the original trilogy. Most of the people I knew loved the Phantom Menace when it was released, many watching it multiple times at matinee prices.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

YODA PUPPET 😮😮😮😮😮😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 WTF I remember the old days before this was released! I'm a life long star wars fan watched ROTJ aged 5 in the cinema I was like that was worse than the Ewoks 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ambarcraft4476]

So which movie do you like more, Star Trek FInal Frontier oder Star Wars Ep 1 ?

[@801guitar3]

How woooed.

[@carbondragon]

The only positive thing I can think of that came out of the prequels is the Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit board game, and even that was never reprinted due to rights issues I think. It was pretty, all the prequel movies were, but the actual substance was pretty disappointing.

[@Cliffjumper24]

There's a documentary called "The People vs George Lucas" where Lucas explains that he made The Phantom Merchandise for kids... which changes things for me. As an adult, Jar Jar is shit... but he wasn't invented for me. If you're 8, Jar Jar Binks getting his tongue grabbed by Quaigon and let go like Tom in Tom & Jerry, or sticking his face in electricity and getting a numb tongue... is hilarious!

[@neiltaylor6645]

I can’t wait to see this I been waiting years I first in line here we go so excited oh 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈

[@millabasset1710]

prequels > originals return of the Jedi is my 2nd favorite Star Wars movie though.

[@ivane5110]

I saw the first three movies in the theater and followed the Marvel comic during and after. When word of a new movie came out I was interested but had had so many years of it, that I probably wasn't too blown away. When I heard that it was going to be a prequel (though I don't think that was a term yet) I was less interested, since it wouldn't be anything furthering the story. And when I saw the commercials I was let down. I ended up deciding to see it when it came out on VHS and was glad I waited. It really was its own thing and felt either unconnected to the originals or like a bland reimagining. I'm sure it was as magical for its generation as the first was for mine, but to this day none of this trilogy interests me. The later trilogy was better quality visually and felt more connected, but that one is also not that interesting. But they are another generation's 1st Star Wars experience too, so I hope it was as magical. The thing that's so troubling though is how intense so many have gotten over the topic. But then that seems to be the way with a lot of topics these days, I guess.

[@akshaytrayner1960]

Great review

[@Сайтамен]

Basically it boils down to people being flabbergasted that the people Lucas hired to help him make the prequels were largely in sync with him creatively (you know, as you might expect) and didn't constantly trash talk him while being filmed for behind-the-scenes footage. There's no real evidence that Lucas was surrounded by "yes men" to a greater extent than is usually the case. There's this whole mythology about how Lucas was constantly being challenged and put in his place by others during the making of the original trilogy, but if you do a little actual research you find very little evidence of that either, besides some claims made by disgruntled ex-producer Gary Kurtz who was fired halfway through Empire for incompetence and spent the next several decades constructing a self-aggrandizing narrative which recast himself as the hero of Star Wars.

[@connie_d]

you can't get a tetris or even a line with just the square :p maybe that helps the simile tbf

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Lucas doesn't like to be around other human beings. He's also had health problems from childhood. Pampered somewhat by his mom, his relationship with his dad was not good; George didn't want to go into the office-supply business. Also: Watch "American Graffiti" before viewing any SW films; you'll then see how Lucas put his life on film. Oh, and read "Mythmaker: The Life and Work of George Lucas" by John Baxter.

[@white-dragon4424]

I don't even think he realises it himself, but Lucas is a major Aspie.

[@Сайтамен]

Prequels expaned the universe, made the political conflict more complex rather just "good guys vs bad guys", put more work into worldbuilding, is that a bad thing? Palpatine uses Trade Federation to invade Naboo, plays a victum card and burocracy and becomes Chancellor. He through revolutionary Dooku orchestares Separatist movement to create outside enemy (typical dictator move), to get reason to start the war, get emergency powers, make Jedi look like agressive soldiers, conquer all the Galaxy in the "uniting it again" process and then executes all the Jedi, plays the security card and dictates the Empire, also destroying last of Separatists. That's actually brilliant.

[@El-Burro-Grande]

I feel really bad for Jake Lloyd the person. I'm certain he did the absolute best he could to meet the expectations of the adults around him as a child actor. He suffered a great deal of abuse and trauma that no kid deserves, just because so-called 'fans' did not like the movie. Apparently Lloyd also suffered from schizophrenia, and had led a troubled life ever since. I hope he gets the medical help and support he so badly needs. In the mean time, people shouldn't shit on the actor for the sins of bad screenwriting and direction performed by others.

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

If it wasn't for TPM and its subsequent failures, George wouldn't have sold to Disney, and we wouldn't have gotten Solo, which is my third favorite Star Wars film. So, I should really thank George for this Romper Room adventure.

[@Сайтамен]

Solo? Really? About how Han got his stuff and surname?

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

@@Сайтамен Yes Solo. About the adventure a young guy has chasing his dream, the freindships he makes along the way, the betrayal of his mentor, and the heartbreak of his first love. ,...but if all you saw was him getting his stuff, then, oh well.

[@AaronJohnson-mo8rf]

the earlier special editions of star wars were decent But the versions from mid 2000s and up that included the No sound and then that schmucky noise from greedo where he added that macklunkey line is just absurd and they should just REMOVE the maclunkey line entirely whereas with the prequels, i think i have some positive opinions involving the prequel trilogy as opposed to the sequel trilogy this isnt because of anakin evolving into darth this is because of liam neeson as qui gon in phantom meance and ewan mcgregor as obi wan as neeson's padawan hearing neeson as qui gon talk to obi wan is quite welcoming,

[@michaelcarbone6101]

Yahoo-oo-oo!

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

Scared of a copyright strike re the THX screech? Don't blame you Dr.Dre was actually sued (unsuccessfully) for opening one of his albums with that very note.

[@psychologixselfmastery]

The thing which has made the prequels more popular is the resent spate of Star Wars films. All of us who saw the original Star Wars movies in the 70's and 80's felt that the prequels were a bit meh, but then came the new Star Wars movies and we all realsied that at least the prequels have character arcs, the characters are true to the original story and basic story telling was at least present in the prequels even though they were boring and over cumbersome with the dialogue and Anakin Skywalkers endless moaning and groaning.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

I laugh when people try to talk themselves and others into that thinking this was somehow good. It was as bad as the subsequent sequels. Regardless of who directed what, bad is bad.

[@connie_d]

timeline of my opinion of this film: release: don't care, didn't watch early 2000s: clearly rubbish, not bothered at all 2021: confusing, unsure what's going on, enjoyed the bad dialogue and line readings 2024: seen it loads, love it, keep noticing new details, keeps getting better, especially in the context of the whole ani fall from grace/redemption arc, definitely like it more than a new hope which is boring sometimes it's nice to have once been right and end up with bullshit opinions

[@connie_d]

oh also i remember everyone was like it's rubbish but the pod racing scene is good. that's my least favourite part, it seems like a silly action scene that gets in the way of the story and worldbuilding of the rest of the film. similar to the maul fight which everyone likes, which was just...a fight. i know i'm wrong idc :p

[@Homeschoolsw6]

10:47..." did not, for one minute believe "

[@davidfrederick6003]

Im "NOT" a star wars fan (Im a trekkie). BUT I loved this film was a beginning. BUT my ironic problem. I hated the sub title. "The Phantom Menace". I have an original whats called a teaser poster "Star wars Episode 1: The Beginning" Which is the FAR BETTER TITLE!