Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D

[mogzilla]

the butler did it.

[Michaelvk]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was one of the what-if's that were labeled as bluray redo's on youtube, but someone dubbed Jar-Jar with a completely different voice and accent.. It instantly became far less grating..

As for Star Wars and Titanic going 3D.. How's this for a nice blend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsvj0TmBlO4

[radiator]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was one of the what-if's that were labeled as bluray redo's on youtube, but someone dubbed Jar-Jar with a completely different voice and accent.. It instantly became far less grating..

There's a relatively well-known fan edit on Youtube called 'Balance of the Force', which has alien languages dubbed over the Gungans and the trade federation guys. I think they've also cut out a lot of the sillier moments of the film, and also rewritten dialogue (via subtitles for the alien characters) so the plot makes a bit more sense - ie the trade federation now actually has a coherent plan/motivation.

[Michaelvk]

I never did understand the trade federation blockade of what is essentially a planet made for coach holidays..

[TordelBack]

I never did understand the trade federation blockade of what is essentially a planet made for coach holidays..

The Senator for Naboo Gardens and Waterpark is secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith, who has orchestrated the blockade through his spineless ineffective allies.  By engineering this crisis specifically around his own homeworld, he both undermines Chancellor Zod of the Republic and positions himself to be elected in his place.  At the same time, he demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the Republic to manage its tax affairs, let alone deal with invasions of one of its member by another, giving momentum to a secessionist movement and eventually a civil war that he will use to set up the Jedi and reshape the Republic into his new Empire.

The critical flaw in TPM isn't so much the plot, it's its complete failure to communicate it in a clear and interesting manner.

(Incidentally, the heroes in TPM do succeed in so far as they make the Republic look much more effective than it actually is, and cost the Sith an apprentice, thus probably delaying all Sidious' plans for a little while at least).

[JOE SOAP]

It sounded better as a prologue in the original '77 Star Wars novelisation:

Another galaxy, another time.

The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that... it was the Republic.

Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.

So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from outside.

Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.

Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace. Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.

Having exterminated through treachery and deception the Jedi Knights, guardians of justice in the galaxy, the Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy. Many used the imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions.

But a small number of systems rebelled at these new outrages. Declaring themselves opposed to the New Order they began the great battle to restore the Old Republic.

From the beginning they were vastly outnumbered by the systems held in thrall by the Emperor. In those first dark days it seemed certain the bright flame of resistance would be extinguished before it could cast the light of new truth across a galaxy of oppressed and beaten peoples...

From the First Saga
Journal of the Whills

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally they became heroes."
Leia Organa of Alderaan, Senator

[Mardroid]

That's curious. In that version the emperor has less power but is controlled by his corrupt imperial governors! Interesting to see how things evolve over time...

[radiator]

I never really saw the Emperor as a Dark Jedi in the original films. He's obviously powerful/magical, but seeing him waving a lightsaber around in Episode III seemed to demystify him a lot.

[HdE]

I don't often take this stance on entertainment, but...

Is it just me, or does the advertising schtick here seem a bit overblown? 'Experience it for the frst time in 3D'... as if any of these movies were mind-blowing tip-top Star Wars experiences in the first place?

Lucas needs to STOP with this continual tinkering and endless regurgitation of the movies. It's turned a once-was-fun franchise into something quite boring and missable, to be blunt.

Don't get me wrong, I LIKE those 3 movies. But there's no doubt in my mind that the magic and excitement from the original trilogy just isn't there. These aren't movie events that are worthy of the sort of fanfare that seems present in those header texts.

[A.Cow]

Lucs might tinker too much but I'd argue that the original Star Wars trilogy would have dated badly if they hadn't had the Special Edition treatment.  Seriously, even a fair proportion of those people who bought the "original version" DVDs probably rarely watch them.

As for the Phantom Menace, it's very clear that people are just looking for a nail to hang their hate on.  It as made for 10-year-olds, just like the originals were, and it works great for 10-year-olds.  Lucas' big mistake on the other two was that he listened too much to the fanboys' whining -- trying to inject a more adult tone to a saga that is more Power Rangers than Godfather.

George Lucas might be a bit of a twonk, but he gets far too little credit for the stuff he got right.

[TordelBack]

Lucas' big mistake on the other two was that he listened too much to the fanboys' whining -- trying to inject a more adult tone to a saga that is more Power Rangers than Godfather.

Yup.  It's important to remember that TPM came out the same year as The Matrix, an orgy of patent leather trench coats, endless sub-machine guns and painfully self-conscious  "cool".  By contrast, TPM is bright, airy and distinctly, resolutely, UNcool - rejecting the grimy bounty hunters, mile-long grey death-ships, desperate outnumbered humans and technology held together with spit and duck tape of the originals in favour of a mix of baroque shininess, outre aliens and simple homespun.  It's not like Lucas hadn't considered these things - the pre-production art shows variations on armoured Jedi in black leather throughout - but instead he decides to go with something almost at visual right-angles to both his own work and the SF culture of the time.

Which is my way of saying that the fresh, deep, design of TPM is the best thing about the prequels, and the progressive slide into fanservice and familiarity, best exemplified by Jar Jar's exclusion from RotS, is not the partial redemption some critics feel it is.

[JOE SOAP]

As for the Phantom Menace, it's very clear that people are just looking for a nail to hang their hate on.  It as made for 10-year-olds, just like the originals were, and it works great for 10-year-olds. 

That's no excuse for bad storytelling in the prequels just cos it's for ten year olds. Don't they deserve better?

[Michaelvk]

Granted, I did like the design elements, some of the concepts (the pod racing was definitely awesome..) and the idea of going back to an era where there was form over function. In Ep2 there was even more of this.. That beautiful opening of the ship gliding past those art deco skyscrapers really does look pretty.. But it does kind of all fall down when people start to open their mouths, especially Anakin, who always seems to be trying too hard to be whiney..

That's no excuse for bad storytelling in the prequels just cos it's for ten year olds. Don't they deserve better?

Pixar has no problem with storytelling..

[Spaceghost]

I don't think Jar Jar Binks is the biggest problem with The Phantom Menace. Even without him it would be an incoherent, joyless, confusing, soulless mess of a film.

The characters are all boring and two dimensional and the plot makes no sense. Without decent characters and a gripping narrative, all you are left with is a total failure.

[brendan1]

I don't often take this stance on entertainment, but...

Is it just me, or does the advertising schtick here seem a bit overblown? 'Experience it for the frst time in 3D'... as if any of these movies were mind-blowing tip-top Star Wars experiences in the first place?

Lucas needs to STOP with this continual tinkering and endless regurgitation of the movies. It's turned a once-was-fun franchise into something quite boring and missable, to be blunt.

Don't get me wrong, I LIKE those 3 movies. But there's no doubt in my mind that the magic and excitement from the original trilogy just isn't there. These aren't movie events that are worthy of the sort of fanfare that seems present in those header texts.

You do know the advertising "fanfare" is designed to make people want to see the film?

What would you recommend?

"See this so-so film that most people thought was one of the worst Star Wars films ever made - IN 3D!"