I Actually Really Like Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Childhood nostalgia or am I weird?

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has received a lot of hate through the years.

The Wrap ranks it as the worst of the Star Wars movies. Jar Jar Binks might arguably be the most hated character of the Star Wars franchise. And most painfully, the Machete Order doesn’t even include Episode I, judging it superfluous to the plotline.

But I’ve personally always had a soft spot for this movie.

Maybe because it’s the first Star Wars movie I ever watched.

I was 9-year-old at the time and I primarily watched two things — Disney movies and Asian martial arts films. Clearly, my parents weren’t too fussed about the R rating Hollywood gave the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee.

Star Wars was the perfect blend of these two worlds, and I instantly fell in love with it.

The lightsabers and the excitingly choreographed action were right up my alley. Add to this a bit of “magic” (the Force), a “Disney princess” (Queen Amidala), and “Prince Charming” (debatably either Qui-Gonn or Obi-wan) and I was tickled pink.

In hindsight, maybe this was some early foreshadowing for Disney acquiring the Star Wars franchise?

I’m no longer 9-years-old and have since expanded my horizons beyond The Phantom Menace and Disney fairytales.

I’ve brushed up on the original Star Wars trilogy that’s held to such high regard. From the regality of Princess Leia to Luke’s farmboy-to-Jedi transformation to the bad-boy, heartthrob that Han Solo was, I can see why the original trilogy captured hearts and converted fans into diehards.

I’ve dutifully and dedicatedly contributed to the box office sales of every Star Wars movie released since then. Regardless of what the critics and movie reviews had to say about the films, not much can hamper my excitement for the iconic Star Wars theme song and the scrolling yellow font across a movie theatre screen.

I’ve also spent a fair amount of time dissecting, discussing, and debating the merits of Rey as a Palpatine and the redemption of Ben Solo. Did it become “too Disney”? Were the writers simply giving younger audience members what they wanted? And who would want to have sex with the Emperor?!

And yet, I still can’t let go of my fondness for the one that started it all.

I hear the criticism about The Phantom Menace loud and clear. And I get it — there are flaws. From the overuse of slapstick humor to the extended amount of time spent on Tatooine and Anakin’s podrace, I’m not saying it’s the best Star Wars film ever.

It also doesn’t help that Lucas envisioned the target audience to be 10 to 12-year-old boys. Whether he was attempting to ensure another generation of Star Wars fans or merely attempting to boost toy sales, clearly this film missed the mark for those that were fans of the original trilogy.

As a kid, I thought it was pretty cool to see Anakin Skywalker — who happened to be my age at the time — win the podrace and play a key role in the Battle of Naboo. I’m sure these aspects of the movie were strategically included to win over the kids in the audience. I also had a crush on Obi-Wan — not sure if that was quite Lucas’ intention but hey, it happens.

I admired Queen Amidala’s courage and loved her elaborate headpiece and outfits. I thought lightsabers were the coolest things in the entire universe and hopped to my kungfu classes with a bit more enthusiasm. But even back then, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Jar Jar Binks though.

With time and age as I rewatch this movie, the charm of the podrace isn’t quite the same. I realized I wouldn’t one day marry Ewan McGregor and also learned he’s far too old for me. The idea of a 14-year-old queen leaves a lot to be questioned and I find myself wanting to gag Jar Jar Binks.

But there’s also a lot from my initial enthusiasm that remains unchanged through the decades.

Across the nine Star Wars movies and two standalone films, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are my favorite duo.

Their synchronicity, mutual respect, and Master/Padawan relationship throughout the entire movie were and remain some of my favorite things about the franchise. Whether they’re taking down droids, racing underwater, or battling Darth Maul, they made me wish I had a Qui-Gon to my Obi-Wan … or maybe an Obi-Wan to my Qui-Gon?

Given that these two are my favorite, it should come as no surprise that my favorite battle sequence is the final duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Darth Maul — though personally, I could have done without Qui-Gon’s death.

The whirling green, blue, and red lightsabers at breathtaking speed paired with the epic Duel of the Fates soundtrack keeps me on the edge of my seat no matter how many times I watch this battle. The varying martial arts styles —including impossibly high jumps, flourishing spins, and impressive displays of the Force — hold my attention. The energy gates at Theed build the suspense to the point where I find myself holding my breath and bracing myself for the inevitable death.

But it’s not just the physical feats that make this a stand-out battle. There’s an artistry to how the duel plays out, highlighting each duellist’s personality, character, and experience. All this culminates in the scene where the three are separated by the energy gates at Theed. As Jason Fry puts it,

Maul tests the energy field and then prowls around like a caged beast. Obi-Wan, powerless to intervene, bounces on his tiptoes in frustration. And Qui-Gon? He switches off his saber, regards Maul for a moment, then sinks to his knees and shuts his eyes.

Undoubtedly, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are key characters in The Phantom Menace, but they’re not the only reason I still really enjoy this film.

A character of few words, there’s an intensity to Darth Maul that’s gripping from the moment we meet him. Though the antagonist — and Qui-Gon’s killer — there’s just something badass about him. His red-and-black markings are cool too.

Putting aside for a moment Queen Amidala’s age, I enjoy seeing Padmé as queen. I’m a sucker for strong, female characters and it’s nice seeing her as more than just Anakin’s love interest. She’s a strong-willed leader, a force to be reckoned with, and surprisingly good with a blaster. Her death from heartbreak in The Revenge of the Sith is a disappointing storyline so it’s nice to see her character get some early redemption.

Whether you love or hate little Ani, there’s something to be said about a kid discovering a world of possibilities. It’s equal parts heartwarming when Anakin learns he’s no longer a slave and heartbreaking at the realization that he must leave his mother behind. We know that Anakin will become Darth Vader so personally, I find it nice to see a version of Anakin who’s young, bright-eyed, and innocent.

And I’ve even come to see some redeeming features to Jar Jar Binks thanks to this Myers-Briggs crossed with Star Wars personality chart. Mostly because, as an ESFJ, I guess I have more in common with Jar Jar than I’d initially like to think …

So, fellow Star Wars fans, you tell me.

Is it purely for childhood nostalgia that I still consider The Phantom Menance one of my favorite Star Wars films? Or are we Star Wars fans, in our unfettered enthusiasm, sometimes just a tad critical of our favorite franchise?

PS — While you’re judging my taste in movies, I might as well add that my favorite from the original trilogy was Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) and my favorite from the sequel trilogy is The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX).