TPM- The sixth best SW Movie shown some love

[The Boot]

Saw it 11 times theatrically m'self (I did the February charity re-release thing too, Irish!), and can be counted amongst those who very much enjoyed it, warts and all. Mainly because of one Qui-Gon Jinn.

I still love the way Neeson nonchalantly shrugs off being grossly outnumbered by the hangar full of armed Droids...

"Won't be a problem".

Better still is the way he "holsters" his lightsaber in the same motion after slicing that Battle Droid in half (shortly after the arrival in Theed).

Cool as ice.

 

[Rocktonix]

P.S.

Irish wears man panties.

I call them manties. Oh and I agree with lightbulb Amidala PF.

 

[DarthNeil]

Better still is the way he "holsters" his lightsaber in the same motion after slicing that Battle Droid in half (shortly after the arrival in Theed).

Cool as ice.

Ah, I totally forgot about that--- very cool. Almost Landoish--wouldn't you say Irish?

 

[adambadadam]

Hey...

Love the thread and it's cool to see some people with whom I have something in common with.

Just my .10, but I think TPM was just fine the way it was. In the original Trilogy you're supposed to get that "used universe" feeling but when Obi-Wan speaks to Luke about the "grandeur" of the Old Republic, I always got the impression of something gleaming and royal. TPM is inspired by the best images of movies like Metroplis and Flash Gordon. I thought the design of the sets, to the dialogue of the characters really conveyed that. Sure the Queen speaks that way! She's royalty! Everyone is supposed to speak like some old stiff Brit, that was the society/culture of tradition. The design of the hardware/spaceships all had that '50's "fin" and taper. Everytime I look at a Naboo fighter it just kinda makes me think of a P-51, or better yet a P-38. Everything is shiny and has curves. I think it dovetails nicely into the Original Trilogy which takes place some 30/40 after TPM.

Now what would I like to see Sideshow do...

Well I know for a fact that a prototype Destroyer droid does exist, but Hasbro never committed to it for cost considerations. I'm sure Sideshow might have similar issues with it but I'd commit myself to buying one. Same goes for Nute and Rune. They were closer to being offered but cancelled, not so much for re-tooling costs intead Hasbro didn't think they could move giant quantities of them. This doesn't seem like such a big deal for Sideshow. Not that Sideshow wouldn't want to sell alot of them, they're just not looking at the same market Hasbro does. Which is why it makes all the sense in the world for Sideshow Collectibles to have the STAR WARS license. Anyway, all 3 characters appear in each of the 3 prequels.

I'm just glad everyone has taken time to look at how much great stuff "The Phantom Menace" had to offer.

 

[DarthNeil]

Hey...

Love the thread and it's cool to see some people with whom I have something in common with.

Just my .10, but I think TPM was just fine the way it was. In the original Trilogy you're supposed to get that "used universe" feeling but when Obi-Wan speaks to Luke about the "grandeur" of the Old Republic, I always got the impression of something gleaming and royal. TPM is inspired by the best images of movies like Metroplis and Flash Gordon. I thought the design of the sets, to the dialogue of the characters really conveyed that. Sure the Queen speaks that way! She's royalty! Everyone is supposed to speak like some old stiff Brit, that was the society/culture of tradition. The design of the hardware/spaceships all had that '50's "fin" and taper. Everytime I look at a Naboo fighter it just kinda makes me think of a P-51, or better yet a P-38. Everything is shiny and has curves. I think it dovetails nicely into the Original Trilogy which takes place some 30/40 after TPM.

Now what would I like to see Sideshow do...

Well I know for a fact that a prototype Destroyer droid does exist, but Hasbro never committed to it for cost considerations. I'm sure Sideshow might have similar issues with it but I'd commit myself to buying one. Same goes for Nute and Rune. They were closer to being offered but cancelled, not so much for re-tooling costs intead Hasbro didn't think they could move giant quantities of them. This doesn't seem like such a big deal for Sideshow. Not that Sideshow wouldn't want to sell alot of them, they're just not looking at the same market Hasbro does. Which is why it makes all the sense in the world for Sideshow Collectibles to have the STAR WARS license. Anyway, all 3 characters appear in each of the 3 prequels.

I'm just glad everyone has taken time to look at how much great stuff "The Phantom Menace" had to offer.

Awesome.... But the thread is falling fast--- we need positive air to keep it afloat (sorry--I was outside in my hottub enjoying a few beer).

Excellent note about the "look" of the old republic and the spaceships--- real homage to the Flash Gordon serials and the gleaming look of an undisturbed society.

 

[Memnoch]

I think its interesting to look at how slowly, yet also very rapidly things declined from bright and gleaming to the impending totalitarian state that was to come. Palpatine came off so nice in TPM that you couldn't help but want to look past the fact that he was the Sith Lord. I think in way, TPM played Qui Gon as Obi Wans father more than his mentor, and Obi Wan played the Luke role. When Qui Gon died Obi Wan became a Jedi Knight, when Vader was destroyed and Anakin Restored, Luke became a Jedi Knight.

And for Jar Jar... I think he was fantastic because it showed how the most noble intentions can have the absolute worse consequences. Jar Jar wanted to emulate Padme in her strong leadership and Palpatine manipulated that to get his army and his war.

And yes Neil, the score. Williams painstakingly worked backward. He dropped in cues to tie the whole Saga together musically so that Anakin's Theme had hints of the Imperial March and things like that. He was just brilliant and in top form.

 

[EVILFACE]

Qui Gon Jin made TPM.

I would have loved to have had a scene with Qui Gon Jin and Count Dooku together.

 

[DarthNeil]

Qui Gon Jin made TPM.

I would have loved to have had a scene with Qui Gon Jin and Count Dooku together.

I agree---just for the conversation. (and maybe a little lightsaber fun) And also rememnber in Ep II when Dooku told Obi that Qui Gon would have gone along with him----- and Obi vehemently disagrees----great stuff.

 

[Seretur]

There is also the argument of the larger story structure.

For all the misfires in tone and sometimes even execution of characterizations and individual scenes, TPM has a really solid narrative arc: the conflict is established early on (commercial greed vs. idealistic Naboo, supported by Jedi nobility), it is enhanced once the internal strife of Naboo is revealed (the above-ground paradisal, human rulers vs. below-ground chtonic, Gungan underlings), and given a new dimension with the expansion of the storyline into Tatooine and Coruscant, and the introduction of the wildcard named Anakin.

He sets in motion the individualistic streak in Qui-Gon, which in turn inspires Queen Amidala to surrender her pride and acknowledge the Gungans, and this -- not the combined wisdom of the Jedi Council and the Senate -- proves decisive. Okay, he himself also gets to have a huge streak of good fortune in destroying the Droid Control Ship... but as his own, and the fate of his son prove, this is Fate -- or Force -- at work.

I actually have a great respect for this story structure, both in the awakening of individualism within a galactic society that has become rigid through millenia of complacency, and in the need for the Naboo (conscious) and the Gungans (unconscious aspect of the planet's civilization) to join forces to overcome their joint, technological foe. Neither Qui-Gon would've been able to achieve his ultimate destiny (overcoming death) without Anakin, nor would the Naboo have been able to rid themselves of the Droid Army without Qui-Gon, and therefore Anakin.

So whatever detail might work or not for you (and I have MANY pet peeves in this film, just as I have MANY scenes I love), TPM is a solid piece of overall storytelling, and for that, it has always had my respect.

Here's hoping Lucas gets rid of fart jokes, dung jokes and other things that needlessly mar the movie in an upcoming HD home video release...

 

[DarthNeil]

Seretur---- some wonderful analysis into why TPM should not be dismissed. It's great to see that we've got a thread going filled with positive comments and interesting thoughts. Great job fellow SSFreaks.

 

[Seretur]

Thanks, Neil!

 

[adambadadam]

Wow! I came back to check and see if I was getting flamed online for being so "milktoast" about TPM, but the last few post's really hit home. Alot of these points I've thought about and tried to convey to some people, but most can't get past the neg. I wish I could say it as eloquently!

I really agree about the Jar Jar comment and thoughtly it was deftly cool that what he's set up to do at the end of AOTC.

As far as what's left out of the movies when they're re-released in HD... the tiny thing I would disagree about is cutting stuff out. I'm all about putting more into something, i.e.appropriate material. I just happen to think that one of the coolest things George ever did was make SW, and TPM for that matter, for everybody!!! Not just the adults who remember what the Original's were like, but for my little nephew who get's into it just like I did. When I was that age, SW spoke to me on level's that adults "didn't understand", didn't think was serious enough. It's just "kid's stuff", "grow up"! It's funny, but that really doesn't get said anymore being how SW has saturated our society.

And so what if Lucas makes movies to sell toys. We're all on a website/forum board dedicated to a company that makes stuff that we all like to buy!

Definitly not kid stuff!LOLOLOLOLOL

 

[DarthNeil]

When things are changed or removed from the original you get into that bad area of tweaking that inspires an infuriating question--- who shot first, Han or Greed? Han MUST shoot first to set up his flawed and rebellious character that is not the cookie cutter hero. To have Greedo shoot first or for them to shoot simultaneously and Greedo to miss so horribly does nothing for the character but rather weakens his overall story arc...

Having said that if a new TPM release is in the works I'd rather they add some digital effects or new scenes rather than eliminate or trim what's already there.

Back to what scenes stand out: all of the scenes where the droid tanks (mechanization) glide across pristine green valleys really stood out as poetic. Industry vs. nature which was echoed (or rather touched on earlier) by Tolkien in The Two Towers and the reason why so many people held on to his books so tightly during the 60's... Are we in a new era of industry destroying nature?.... Al Gore might think so.

Visually the droid army's invasion of Naboo has always looked great--especially their main ships landing from their ominous orbit.

 

[IrishJedi]

tweaking that inspires an infuriating question--- who shot first, Han or Greed?

Typo or Freudian slip?

 

[adambadadam]

When things are changed or removed from the original you get into that bad area of tweaking that inspires an infuriating question--- who shot first, Han or Greed? Han MUST shoot first to set up his flawed and rebellious character that is not the cookie cutter hero. To have Greedo shoot first or for them to shoot simultaneously and Greedo to miss so horribly does nothing for the character but rather weakens his overall story arc...

Having said that if a new TPM release is in the works I'd rather they add some digital effects or new scenes rather than eliminate or trim what's already there.

Back to what scenes stand out: all of the scenes where the droid tanks (mechanization) glide across pristine green valleys really stood out as poetic. Industry vs. nature which was echoed (or rather touched on earlier) by Tolkien in The Two Towers and the reason why so many people held on to his books so tightly during the 60's... Are we in a new era of industry destroying nature?.... Al Gore might think so.

Visually the droid army's invasion of Naboo has always looked great--especially their main ships landing from their ominous orbit.

Or how technology destroys art! How many times have you heard Lucas accused of this. Hey, maybe people have a point; but when you peel back some layers, like you just did, I don't think TPM took anything away from the craft of film-making.

I really liked the shots of Theed. The marble/stone buildings that looked like they were covered with turqouise or rune stone. Not excluding the 3-way lightsaber fight, I really liked the whole lets "infiltrate the throne room" scene
with Padme' and Panaka. Still to this day, that first trailer of Ep1 with the shooting back and forth across the corridor give's me goosebumps. You know the "every saga has a beginning" trailer. When that scene burst's on screen, you knew you were teased a STAR WARS movie. The laser's never looked that good in the OT.

BTW-Sideshow really needs to do a Panaka figure!

 

[adambadadam]

Typo or Freudian slip?

Both probably. He's just that good!

 

[DarthNeil]

Money is green isn't it?... What was Greedo's colour?--- I forget.

 

[IrishJedi]

On a related note...

Bounty Hunter 4-LOM's name came to be as an acronym for "For the Love Of Money".

I'm not making that up, either.

 

[King Darkness]

I've always enjoyed TPM. It was a lot of fun. I saw it in the theaters four times when it came out.

Same here. I went 4 times and would do it again.

No its not the best movie in the saga but its good fun, and any SW should see that.

 

[MaulFan]

I think a large part of TPM not being thought of so well is that it's a "get the story going" film, where half of the story had already been told. If you look at the saga as one 12 hour movie (rounding for quick numbers) it's like a lot of films, you have a slow start that gradually builds up to the peak action and fades off into the finale, and unfortunately, TPM was 2 hours of build up, AOTC gave us a little bit more, then ROTS took us into the things we'd come to crave from the OT films, so I think for some, seeing TPM was like, do I really need this, but it's story information that had to be told and had to happen in the course of the saga. Now that's examining it as a whole, there are points about it that beyond story quality, just didn't work, like many, I agree Anakin's ""acting" wasn't all that spectacular, and granted, children aren't the best of actors, but when you see a child star like Dakota Fanning (don't know if anyone is familiar with her work in Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, etc.), you see that some children can act fairly well. Regardless, I still like TPM, and I am glad for it because it gave me one of my favorite SW characters ever, albeit a short appearance, his short time had a great impact on me