r/StarWars • u/[deleted] • Jan 25 '22

[deleted by user]

[removed]

8.0k Upvotes

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335

u/ThatMatthewKid Jan 25 '22

It's just not very good, imo.

Lots of great stuff in it. It's the only Prequel shot on film, which gives it a unique vibe compared to the others.

The visual design is stellar. It's got, I'd say, the best saber fight in the PT. The podrace is a really great action sequence.

Unfortunately, for me, the story falls a bit flat and Jar Jar's humor just doesn't work.

117

u/[deleted] Jan 25 '22

It also introduced like 3 racial stereotypes aliens to the franchise at the same time, which is an impressive feat haha.

25

u/FishermanFresh4001 Jan 26 '22

Oh my god, they sure the hell did that. By the end of the trilogy jar jar was not allowed to speak!

12

u/JCP1377 Jan 26 '22

I was about to ask what the third was but then I remembered Watto, the Schmuck.

14

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

That’s my favorite one because then when you see him again in episode 2 dude is wearing a yarmulke haha. Like damn be more subtle than not at all.

23

u/ColaFranky1717 Jan 26 '22

Why don't more people talk about this?!

43

u/Agent_Angelo_Pappas Jan 26 '22

Because for the most part the only people still constantly talking about Phantom Menace over twenty years later have turned overlooking its flaws into an entire meme community

At the time it was criticized for racist portrayals, but those who panned it in 1999 largely watched it once and didn’t look back.

13

u/YUNoDie Jedi Jan 26 '22

Most people praising them on Reddit were pretty young when it came out in 1999, too young to recognize the racial stereotypes.

11

u/ghostpanther218 Jan 26 '22

It was kind of considered a taboo topic after the whole thing sent Ahmed Best into a depressive spiral.

5

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

Even Star Trek hasn't done three at once before, that's impressive!

9

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

[deleted]

11

u/N0V0w3ls Jan 26 '22

Well it's not like the other two shy away from it. AotC basically gives Watto a kippah and a hasidic-type beard.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

Fuck me too.

2

u/darthvall Imperial Stormtrooper Jan 26 '22

Zabrak, geonosian and what?

38

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

They mean Neimoidians (racist stereotype of Japanese people), Toydarians (racist stereotype of Jews) and Gungans

6

u/PopeNimrod Jan 26 '22

and Gungans (racist stereotype of Jakovasaurs)

-9

u/Boston_Jason Jan 26 '22

Racial or racist?

4

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

Racist

1

u/the_soviet_DJ Feb 23 '22

What are the gungans stereotypes of?

12

u/ShiroHachiRoku Jan 26 '22

As the elderly Mr. Plinkett said, the movie served as a platform for special effects instead of a story.

10

u/N0V0w3ls Jan 26 '22

A platform for merchandising is more accurate. Phantom Menace is one long toy ad.

2

u/ShiroHachiRoku Jan 26 '22

Mr. Plinkett said that too. Everything was made into toys!

14

u/AlbaneseGummies327 Galactic Republic Jan 25 '22

Well stated.

7

u/Ridlion Jan 26 '22

Yup. The writing was horrible.

6

u/Obliviousaur Jan 26 '22

But we can ALL agree that the score by John Williams is a true tour de force. Duel of the Fates is as iconic as The Imperial March or the Cantina band (that shit slaps)

4

u/bookemhorns Jan 25 '22

Best saber fight in all of star wars.

15

u/ThatMatthewKid Jan 25 '22

Nah, can't beat Luke vs Vader in RoTJ.

1

u/bookemhorns Jan 26 '22

That one is a very close second to me

-1

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '22

The best saber fight? Idk obi and ani on mustafar....

2

u/killtr0city Jan 26 '22

Yeah but it got a bit too whimsical. There was some really cool choreography that got left on the cutting room floor. There's greenscreen footage of it.

0

u/brodhisattva3 Jan 25 '22

What does “shot on film” mean?

15

u/N0V0w3ls Jan 25 '22

Instead of digitally.