Remembering Star Wars The Phantom Menace

[Mace Dolex]

I thought this would be a cool thread where we would al reminisce about 1999 being the year that Star Wars came back to theaters after a 16 year wait (not counting re-releases) for a newer generation, discuss all the hype, anticipation, speculation, and final thoughts.

I didn’t have a computer back then so my only source of info came from Star Wars Insider and any other periodical that had a mention of the prequels, the hype was so big that even silly rumors abounded that Samuel Jackson was to play Lando Calrissian’s father, that half of the footage shot was out of focus.

I remember exactly in November ’98 when several TV stations showed the teaser trailer my thoughts on seeing Darth Maul wielding a double bladed lightsaber made the waiting more intense this guy was the next badass next to Darth Vader or so I thought.

Toy stores got the jump by releasing the sneak preview toys of Mace Windu and the Battle Droid, Suncoast video had those nifty ceramic mugs.
Come early ’99 and The Mummy and a little movie called The Matrix start off the summer movie going season, lines start forming a month before the release. Would the long 16 year wait be worth it?....well…

I saw it opening weekend twice in fact but fell asleep during the second viewing, I didn’t care for Jar Jar Binks, the pod race is just boring after repeated viewings, Darth Maul is wasted with so little screen time, there aren’t many memorable John Williams’ themes, the CGI is too distracting and the spirit of the original trilogy is not there.

 

[deathshead2]

I was 8. It was my first Star Wars movie. By Oct I was Darth Maul for Halloween. That movie was . My mind was blown. Even though it has it's flaws I still love it the most out of the other three. And I'm sorry, but Lucas was right kids would think Jar Jar was hilarious. I laughed so hard when he was on screen.

 

[Solidus]

I was a freshman in High School, I remember that was my first mid-night showing I think. And it was crazy. The event was more memorable than the movie. Though the end fight and Duel of the Fates was the best part of it, and an awesome piece by John Williams.

But I remember sitting there with 56k modems downloading the new trailer online, in a small small box with quicktime lol it was so tiny. But awesome. Sadly the movies were not the greatest, but I do remember everything very well around it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I remember being bored and insulted.

I think I went to see the Matrix again a week later to clense my brain and restore my dignity.

 

[ImWithTeamConan]

I wasn't good at critiquing movies or whatever at that age. I remember being riveted by Darth Maul and that fight but by the end of the movie I was just like "something's missing". It didn't have any magic to it. It was cold.

 

[Ipodman]

I think I was more interested and amazed by matrix at that time...

 

[CBGB]

I was 6. I don't remember seeing it, but it affected me hugely. I was at the age where I thought Jar Jar was the greatest. I actually do remember going to the lake near my house and pretending Jar Jar's underwater city was there. I'd go up and down delivering messages. It was weird.

 

[deathshead2]

I remember begging my mom to go to pizza hut for the star wars cups they had, one for yoda and a jar jar. Strangly besides those cubs and the darth maul outfit i never bought the toys. I was to into power rangers pokemon and playstation to care.

 

[CBGB]

Oh, I also had the Phantom Menace Pod Racing game for the Nintendo 64!

 

[Timstuff]

I was 13, and it was like Christmas every day for like a month. There were new Star Wars toys, comics, games, etc. everywhere. In hindsight, did the movie meet expectations? No, but I didn't care. It was still a new Star Wars movie and I had a blast experiencing what was the biggest movie release I'd seen in my lifetime. I mean, this was Star Wars. It was kind of a big deal for me, and I ended up seeing it probably 5 times in theaters.

 

[deathshead2]

Oh, I also had the Phantom Menace Pod Racing game for the Nintendo 64!

My 4th grade class illigelly downloaded it to our computer. Good times trying to finish homework first to see who got to play.

 

[Ghostvirus]

I stayed in line all night to get the tickets. It was amazing. I loved the film. Still do. Love them all equally. Can't believe it has been 11 years!!!

 

[Solidus]

Still have all the cans of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew, and Mountain Dew cans with each of the characters. I collected them all. Still got them somewhere.

 

[Kurosawa]

Oh God here it comes again. Let's get it all out of the way. Jar-Jar sucks, Luca$ raped my childhoodez, Maul shoulda lived, Anakin should have been a teenager, Matrix was better (HA! People blast the acting in TPM then praise a movie starring Keanu "Woah" Reeves)...did I miss anything? Oh yea, I guess someone needs to post the link to that loser on YouTube whining about it for 2 hours or whatever.

I've been a hardcore SW fan since 77, I camped out all night (only time I've ever done that), I loved it then and I still think it's a great movie.

 

[Dark Victory]

I was only four at the time, and can still remember the friday night showing. I hate all of the prequels now, but I'd be a damned liar if I said that The Phantom Menace wasn't one of the greatest movie experiences of my life.

 

[deathshead2]

I was only four at the time, and can still remember the friday night showing. I hate all of the prequels now, but I'd be a damned liar if I said that the first prequel wasn't one of the greatest movie experiences of my life.

Me and you got the spirit.

 

[Timstuff]

Oh God here it comes again. Let's get it all out of the way. Jar-Jar sucks, Luca$ raped my childhoodez, Maul shoulda lived, Anakin should have been a teenager, Matrix was better (HA! People blast the acting in TPM then praise a movie starring Keanu "Woah" Reeves)...did I miss anything? Oh yea, I guess someone needs to post the link to that loser on YouTube whining about it for 2 hours or whatever.

I've been a hardcore SW fan since 77, I camped out all night (only time I've ever done that), I loved it then and I still think it's a great movie.

This post for the friggin' win! up:

 

[Kurosawa]

Preemptive strike.

 

[roach]

I had gone with 3 friends of mine and it was the greatest movie experience I had. People dressed in costume. Everyone cheered when the Lucasfilm logo came on the screen. The audience seemed to love the movie. It wasnt until a few months later that I knew people hated it.

 

[Silver Knight]

I was 11. Left a huge impression on me and the year the was 1999.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

I was 10, I was a huge Star Wars fan previously due to the VHS editions of the OT. I was so excited to see episode I, I couldn't wait for it. I liked it back then, not as much as I liked the OT though. Nowadays I can't watch the whole movie, if I do, I skip to the fight scenes. Even back then I was not a fan of the Jar Jar Binks scenes.

I remember collecting all the Pepsi cans, and going to Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell for the stuff they were giving out. Plus all of the action figures. I remember having lightsaber fights in my backyard, my friend had Darth Maul's and I had Luke's green lightsaber, the one that lit up and had sound.

 

[Ghostvirus]

Oh God here it comes again. Let's get it all out of the way. Jar-Jar sucks, Luca$ raped my childhoodez, Maul shoulda lived, Anakin should have been a teenager, Matrix was better (HA! People blast the acting in TPM then praise a movie starring Keanu "Woah" Reeves)...did I miss anything? Oh yea, I guess someone needs to post the link to that loser on YouTube whining about it for 2 hours or whatever.

I've been a hardcore SW fan since 77, I camped out all night (only time I've ever done that), I loved it then and I still think it's a great movie.

LOL. You sound like person that has had to listen the haters for many moons.

I do agree about Maul living though. I don't think the movie sucks because he died. I just wish he had lived is all.

 

[Hush]

Podracing is one of the coolest things to ever touch the silver screen, EVER! I was 11.

 

[Vile]

I remember being shocked that I could EVER hate a Star Wars film.

I was in denial for weeks.

 

[Octoberist]

I was with my friend, and by the end of the movie, we were both amazed how the un-entertaining the movie was..