After an unsatisfactory first five minutes in the first prequel to the blockbuster Star Wars trilogy of the late seventies and early eighties, The Phantom Menace progresses into a thoroughly entertaining piece of science fiction fantasy.

The scenes look like they are derived from a comic book and there are plenty of throwbacks to older Star Wars material, most notably in the development of plot, characters and brief comic interludes.

The intention of the makers is to create a coherent and epic series, one that viewers can watch from beginning to end on the life and drama of a family set somewhere other than earth, but that earthlings can relate to.

The Phantom Menace continues this trend with its over arching theme of good defeating evil and lesser themes of loyalty, courage, belief in ones self, sacrifice and redemption. The good verses evil topic has a quasi-religious overtone with the supernatural phenomena called The Force, something that has fascinated young and old alike.

Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) is a master Jedi sent with his apprentice Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewen Macgregor) to settle a trade dispute between the peaceful Planet of Naboo and the Trade Federation. After an unsuccessful meeting, the Federation maintains blockades and stifles communications and has ulterior motives to dominate proceedings. Queen Amadala of Naboo (Natalie Portman) will not tolerate war and is intent on protecting her people.

When the Jedi’s, along with the help of a native creature of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks, and the Queen’s handmaiden, stumble across Anakin Skywalker, a slave who works in a junkyard of the planet Tatooine, Qui-Gon feels that Anakin has special powers. After some bargaining with Anakin’s owner and a good stroke of destiny in a "pod race", Anakin comes on board to help support challenge the strokes of evil over the democracy.

Anakin is then going to be trained as a Jedi Knight. And if you’ve seen the first trilogy you know what happens to him (and the evolution of that won’t be on screen until the next two episodes).

The battle scenes in space and on Naboo, the climatic and convincing light saber duel, the presence of Liam Neeson and Ewen Macgregor, the pod race, the rousing John Williams score and the visual excitement outweigh any deficiencies in an enjoyable space opera.

However it isn’t as good as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back but maybe better than Return Of The Jedi, if you want to do the comparing game. 8/10.

Peter Veugelaers Ó Copyright 2000