It would be good if this could be a review of a new Star Wars film but alas George Lucas still hasn’t put pen too paper, instead he sees fit to re-jiggle this film from 1999. At least he has done more than just silly little things, like making characters blink, this time around… but still the question must be raised – did fans of the series really want to see The Phantom Menace in 3D or is it just a grab for new cash.
Everyone by now probably knows the story of The Phantom Menace but in case you don’t… here goes. Two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson – The Grey, Unknown) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor – Beginners, Haywire) are called to the Planet of Naboo to help broker a deal surrounding a blockade. However, they soon learn that this is just the front of something more sinister and realise that Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman – Thor, Your Highness) and her people are under threat. The resulting journey sees them come into contact with Jar Jar Binks (voiced by Ahmed Best (TV’S Star Wars: The Clone Wars & Easy To Assemble) and Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd – Madison)… the latter who becomes one of the most important characters in the Star Wars universe.
You must wonder whether or not Lucas thought the idea of re-releasing all the Star Wars movies in 3D. As most serious film goers will tell you the bottom is about to fall out of the 3D market (people are choosing to see films in 2D rather than pay the high 3D prices) and my releasing The Phantom Menace first people who are new to the series are going to be pretty confused. Simple things like character development for characters such as Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz (Zathura, TV’S Sesame Street) don’t happen to much later in the series (due to the fact that Eps 4,5,6 were released first originally) and you don’t even really get told what ‘Jedi’ is until episode 4.
To be even blunter the 3D does nothing to enhance the film. If the film had been originally shot in 3D then yes scenes such as the pod races would look amazing but by adding 3D in post-production (even if it is 12 years later) you never really get that same look… in fact you soon forget that you are even watching it in 3D.
While it is good to see The Phantom Menace back on the big screen (and maybe for the first time for some) the fact that it is in 3D doesn’t really do anything…although you might find that seeing Jar Jar Binks jump around is even more annoying in 3D.
As far as sci-fi films go The Phantom Menace is okay (it’s nowhere near as good as the original Star Wars films, the story and characters are a lot weaker), but don’t get conned into thinking that seeing it in 3D will make the film-going experience any better.
Year: 2012
Director: George Lucas
Stars: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ahmed Best, Frank Oz
Classification: PG
Runtime: 136 mins
Rating: 