GITS reader David Augustyn emailed me this:
Someone has posted, yes a 70-minute review of what was wrong with The Phantom Menace. Amid the comedic delivery (think faux Midwest rube) is I think a really solid analysis of the film’s structural flaws. The reviewer talks about character arcs, protagonists (you’ll love how he mispronounces it), and yes, screenwriting.
Slashfilm.com has embeds of the video (broken up into 7 ten-minute segments) here with additional commentary:
Chances are you probably didn’t like Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. You might be a Star Wars fan, or at least a fan of the original trilogy. After waiting in line for hours, days, weeks, you may have even written a mini 200-400 word review on an internet message board somewhere. If you were a working movie critic, you might have even written a 1,000-2,000 word review of the film for some newspaper or magazine. All of this exists in the realm of possibility…but what about a 70-minute video review?
Some guy named Mike from Milwaukee, WI put together a 70-minute video review discussing the many reasons why the movie was horrible. And this isn’t your usual fanboy rant, this is an epic, well-edited well-constructed piece of geek film criticism. In fact, the way I learned about the video was from Lost co-creator and Star Trek producer Damon Lindelof, who said “Your life is about to change. This is astounding film making. Watch ALL of it.” Watch the video review embedded after the jump.
Part 1: “In this opening segment I discuss the major flaw of The Phantom Menace which is the characters and the lack of connection with the audience.”Part 2: “Part two now focuses on the second biggest problem with the Phantom Menace, the story. The mystery plot lacking direction and emotional involvement was really the other big problem. No tension, no drama, no stakes. Characters aimlessly follow along the events.”Part 3: “Paaaaaart 3. Shit just got real.”Part 4: N/A commentary
Part 5: “Part 5 focuses on the real “Phantom Menace” which is Qui-gon Jinn. His character makes no sense as do his actions. I also focus on Anakin Skywalker and how that character sucks too.”
Part 6: “Things that don’t make sense at the ending and an analysis of light saber duels”Part 7: N/A commentary
And a big H/T to David A for sending me the link.
Well, I have to disagree with most of what he says – at least in the first part. Amidala is CLEARLY the protag of all the prequels.
In the first she plans the recapture of the planet, in the second she goes to rescue ObiWan, in the third, well, she was pregnant, but she worked most fervently against the Chancellor.
I didn't find the story incoherent, it followed the plot line in the starting "blurb." The Trade Federation, sponsored by Sidious, takes over a planet and tries to kill its ruler – as a matter of fact they tried to kill her throughout the prequels.
Everything revolves around that. I'll definitely revisit as I get to listen to them all.
You could actually ask the same questions about TF2.
It was surprising seeing all the plot holes that Lucas didn't catch and that no one told him about. Especially since this is same franchise cited in screenwriting how to books.
Next time Lucas feels like unleashing another Star Wars stool sample upon the moviegoing public, he should ring up Mike (from my neck of the woods, no less!) and hire him as story consultant.
Fuck it, let Mike write the damn thing. Couldn't do much worse!
Y'know, I finally showed my 8 year old daughter the original trilogy a few weekends ago and she, of course, loved it.
As the credits to Return of the Jedi rolled, she gushed, "That was awesome! Did they make any more Dad?"
"No!" I lied.
Let her learn the harsh realities of life on her own, I say!
Y'know, now that the topic has been breached, I must say…
I got into looooong and useless coffee shop discussions about this heinous film with my geekazoid buddies back in mid'99, when this vile flick hit, and I contended then, as I do now, that there actually could be a good film in there somewhere if you just gave the script a few more re-writes. ("Oh no, Mr. Lucas, your script is great!" laud his underlings, while secretly holding their noses)
Like, say, starting with Anakin, making it HIS story, pushing the two milquetoast Jedis into the background, where they belong, and tracking Anakin to his ultimate destination – - Jedi Training.
Shit, how hard was that?! Duhhhh… Seems like a no brainer, don't it?!?!
Oh Scott, why on Earth did you open this can of worms…
This guy sounds like Jame Gumb.
Christian H.: Is it really that CLEAR? I think you are gravely mistaken.
You say the plot revolves around trying to kill Amidala but what does she do to prevent that? Absolutely nothing. She's the most inactive character of them all.
The laughs!!!
The man is great.
M.
Ripping into what's wrong with a Star Wars movie is a WASTE OF TIME. I liked the Phantom Mentance, and was very impressed by with the story Lucas and crew were able to put together. LOVED the bad guys: Darth Maul and Lord Sideous.
Imagination galore.
This is show gauged for teenagers. It is not a character study. Seems like so many people who cinema enthusiast miss that.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
You say the plot revolves around trying to kill Amidala but what does she do to prevent that? Absolutely nothing. She's the most inactive character of them all.
Yes, that's my contention. She was the protag of all the prequels whether Lucas meant it or not. Part of the issue is the story itself. It was basically back story of how and why there was a Luke Skywalker, not an attempt to make a greater character.
She planned the attack with the Gungan, she pretended to be someone else putting herself in even more danger. She LED the attack to recapture the palace.
It was her idea to stay and fight. QuiGon "forced" her to leave.
Glad you liked it, Scott.
I've often wondered why the music in the prequel films seems less dynamic than in the first three. Aside from a few passages in "Duel of the Fates", most of the score is forgettable. I mean, it's John Williams! Should be kick-ass, right? But it's like he dialed it in.
Then while watching the series of reviews, I realized why.
Like any good score composer, he's following the story cues. The emotion, the drama, the excitement. In The Phantom Menace it's just not there.
Just listen to any piece of that score, then to the lush and wonderful "Force Theme" in Ep IV when Luke sees his murdered family. No comparison.
I used to fault Williams for such a lackluster body of work in the prequel films: derivative and repetitious, bombast and no poetry. But I think now he was working with what he had: films that were derivative, repetitious, bombastic, etc…
Wait, I'm thinking of the sequence when Luke watches the twin sunset on Tatooine, yearning to live his own life. Both use the "Force Theme" to different effect. The first is about longing, the second loss and death, tinged with anger.
Hilarious and so accurate. For Xmas this year I'll pray that none of us ever turn into a modern day George Lucas.
I watched up until the basement scene in the second clip — it was pointless and not necessary.
Also…is he really saying anything that hasn't been said since 1999? It's all stuff we already know.
Listen to this for a nice view on The Phantom Menace from john Hodgeman (fast-fwd around the 45 min mark)
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=232
What the review basically boils down to is something the reviewer admits in part II: he wanted the prequel movies to be EXACTLY like the original trilogy. He reminds me of studio execs: he wanted the same, only different. He doesn't appreciate that Lucas wanted to do something different with the prequels than with the original trilogy.
The original trilogy was a classic hero story as the reviewer describes: a ordinary guy goes on a quest when a great upheaval takes place in his life. He meets many archetypal characters along with way who either support (the mentor, the rogue, the sidekicks, etc.) or hinder (the villain). It was the first anyone had seen of Star Wars so of course Lucas had to 'sell' it by starting things off with a bang and keeping the audience hooked.
By the time the prequels roll around, however, people have been watching Star Wars (over and over again) for more than 20 years, and Lucas wanted to do something different with the prequels. He can take audience familiarity with the story for granted, so he writes at a different pace and with different goals.
The prequels are NOT a classic hero story (which seems to be the reviewer's main complain): they are a tragedy, in which we are supposed to watch the protagonist fall helplessly into darkness. The prequel story is basically about two things: the fall of Anakin Skywalker, and the transformation of the Republic into an Empire. As such Anakin is clearly the protagonist, but he's not a 'hero' in the same sense as John McClane, Marty McFly or Rocky. We're not supposed to root him on. We're supposed to feel an emotional connection, yes, so that we're saddened as he falls into darkness. This I though Lucas very effectively accomplished by establishing in TPM Anakin's bond with his mother, and the devastating toll that her death takes on him.
Once you pay attention to what Lucas wanted to do with the prequels vs. the original series, you can judge the results based on THAT information, and not on what other people ASSUMED Star Wars should be like. Of course people are free to like or dislike the prequels just as with any other movie, but at least they shouldn't accuse Lucas of failing to do something he never intended to do in the first place.
A lot of other specific things to disagree with in the review:
-It is clear (pace Christian H., above) that Anakin is the protagonist; Lucas has said so explicitly in interviews, this is Anakin's story; but it is ALSO the story of a great political upheaval, and as such many secondary characters also have important roles
-some of the other characters he profiles in part I are not as amorphous as he or his interviewees make them out to be: Qui-Gon, for example, is a maverick Jedi, an experienced warrior who nevertheless goes with his gut even when it leads to conflict with his peers. He sets the story in motion, because if it weren't for Qui-Gon's impulsiveness Anakin might never have been trained as a Jedi or even discovered. I thought that the interviewees who hem and haw when asked to describe his character were just pathetic.
-We are not told exactly what the 'taxation dispute' was, but we don't need to know it; and in any case, we know that it was just a ruse for Darth Sidious to begin his bid to take over the Senate, so we wouldn't EXPECT it to be a legitimate grievance in the first place. But the premise was clear enough for me to follow the rest of the movie just fine, I'm sorry the reviewer apparently didn't have the brain capacity for it (not surprising, given his retarded voice)
And I disagree with Daveed that Williams' music is anemic in the prequels: the Force theme shows up for the first time in TPM when Anakin leaves his mother behind, and that is a POWERFUL moment. Duel of the Fates was great, the Love Theme in AOTC was magnificent, the stuff in EP3 when Anakin falls was similarly accomplished.
I completely respect your points, JD, however I have a big problem with one MAJOR failing and you said it best…
"This I though Lucas very effectively accomplished by establishing in TPM Anakin's bond with his mother, and the devastating toll that her death takes on him."
THIS is inherently the problem at hand… we are mostly TOLD that Anakin is inexorably bonded to his mother, we don't actually SEE it. There is so much in TPM, as well as the rest of the prequels, where we are TOLD stuff. "SHOW, DON'T TELL." I had zero emotional connection with these characters because Lucas didn't take the time to SHOW us anything.
"but at least they shouldn't accuse Lucas of failing to do something he never intended to do in the first place."
My friend, the only think I expected Mr. Lucas to do was to TELL ME A GOOD STORY, period. I (and many fans like me) could care less what his "intentions" were. Turn off the CGI Overkill Machine, turn down the THX Digital noise, and tell me a story!
Like I said above, there IS a very good story in these prequels, I just have a major issue with how Georgie chose to tell it.
[crrraaapppp!!!!! I published my comment before I was done, then though I copied it to repost. Now it's gone. Argh!]
I was making the point that perhaps it's a generational thing — that those raised on VHS/cable pan-and-scan versions of the original trilogy are more forgiving or accommodating of the prequels. For some, their first Star Wars cinematic experience was The Phantom Menace. So matte photography and spaceship models on a tv screen must seem quaint in comparison to the digital orgy of 1999.
And it's not just the f/x overload. George Lucas simply doesn't write good screenplays. If you don't believe me, try reading some of his earlier drafts for Star Wars. They're excruciating.
Here's pretty much the full rundown of those drafts.
But when he had help, such as Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz on Ep 4, and Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan on Empire. There's lots of good info about them here.
It all comes down to a good story well told, and the prequels fail to do that.