It’s been five years since a new Star Wars film appeared in theaters. Still, Disney’s been taking full advantage of the anniversaries of several titles in the series’ sprawling catalog of movies to keep them present in the public consciousness. After last year rounded out the original trilogy’s re-releases with the 40th anniversary of “Return of The Jedi,” Disney moved right along and capitalized on this trend, re-releasing “The Phantom Menace” to theaters again.
So, as “The Phantom Menace” turns twenty-five, let’s examine how a criminally underrated trilogy became so beloved in the eyes of Star Wars fans so many years after its release.
Now, this explosion of popularity runs somewhat congruent with fans’ disdain for the more recently released trilogy of films released under Disney’s ownership. Common fan complaints centered around how films like “The Force Awakens” were entirely too nostalgia-heavy. The trilogy as a whole felt more like a thinly veiled rehash of the original trilogy without the heart that had made it one of the gold standards, if not the gold standard, of innovative blockbusters in history.
Unlike the prequel trilogy, which made a point of trying something new with its aesthetic and narrative, the sequels were almost entirely beat-for-beat repeats of better movies. Naturally, this made fan opinions do a 180. As clunky as the dialogue may have been at times, though undoubtedly meme-worthy, they couldn’t fault George Lucas for trying to be innovative with the story, especially considering this was a whole new generation of fans he was trying to appeal to, not just the ones from the 1980s.
One of the aspects that garnered many fan complaints at the time of its release was “The Phantom Menace’s” greater focus on politics, how the ramifications of hubris, and the more significant acclimation of political power in the hands of the insidious, can lead to the downfall of civilization. It was a very intriguing and relevant take on the franchise. Unfortunately, that didn’t go very well with critics at the time, as they thought that it bogged down the story and kept the focus away from the flashy explosions and dogfights they came to associate with “Star Wars.”
Because, sure, why let nuanced discussions about the ramifications of large-scale decision-making take up space where they could fit in another space battle? After all, throwing away nuance for the sake of spectacle has never been an audience letdown, right?
Oh, wait.
Still, comparisons to another extremely popular fantasy series that went off the rails in recent years aside, this added level of depth served to reinforce the original trilogy in hindsight rather than detract from it. Characters such as the iconic Dark Lord of The Sith, Darth Vader, are bolstered by the added layer of tragedy and nuance that the prequels folded onto them. Vader was no longer just a vanguard of evil who turned away at the eleventh hour; there was a man beneath the mask. A man who loved greatly and who lost his humanity in his sacrifice to preserve that love, only to lose himself in the attempt.
There is also the impact of the internet on the perpetuation of the opinions and viewpoints of prequel defenders. As technology continued its unending advance, so did the ways in which fans could offer their views into the broader cultural landscape. Before digital avenues like Reddit took off running, fans were limited in how they could express their viewpoints, both in finding like-minded fans or offering contrary opinions to critics. Fans felt isolated in their expression until recent years, and now the wider internet landscape is starting to reflect that rather than just being lopsided.
Star Wars is in a much different place now than when the prequels last graced cinema screens. Ownership has changed, and what was once an aspiring filmmaker’s dream project has become part of a more significant corporate phenomenon. There are more movies, both good and bad, to populate the larger library of titles set in this beloved galaxy far far away. How will the prequel’s triumphant return to theaters be perceived now that its fans are all grown up? Only time will tell once that iconic opening crawl begins to scroll again this May.
