Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Review

While this is my least favorite Star Wars film, it is still a good film. Yes there are flaws... OH MY there are flaws. But it is entertaining. I admit I had trouble getting into it until the second time I watched it (and reading the book version helps as well), but it is a good film.

I enjoyed learning the origin of Anakin Skywalker. I enjoyed learning about other jedi that had been destroyed. I enjoyed learning that Anakin had created C-3PO. And yes... I enjoy seeing Natalie Portman in almost any capacity.

Yes, I could have done without Jar Jar Binks. In fact I thought his "accent" was VERY difficult to understand. I didn't know what he was saying most the time (thank you, closed-caption!).  

Seeing Darth Maul was very entertaining for me. I enjoyed seeing a sith that I was not previously familiar with. I enjoyed learning that there are only two sith: the master and the apprentice. This actually leads me to another point. If you haven't read "Darth Bane" yet... DO IT!!

I learned a lot from this film. And chances are, if you watched it, you learned a lot too. I think one problem is that when people in their 30s were looking forward to the new trilogy (like I was), they expected to get that same feeling they had from the original trilogy. This was impossible for 2 reasons: First, the visual spectacle was brand new in the original trilogy. That wasn't the case in 1999. Secondly, who can get the same feeling from something at the age of 31 as they can at the age of 9? The answer: virtually no one.   

By the way... Can anyone answer a question for me? Was the word "sith" ever actually used in the original trilogy? If so I can't find it anywhere. It is used in the novelization versions, but in the movies themselves? Please let me know if they ever say "sith."