Star Wars is still a cherished part of many people’s childhoods. Beyond the nostalgia, its sheer coolness and grandeur make it perfect for the theaters. However, it’s no secret that the Star Wars universe is expansive, with a plethora of spin-offs and sequels, which amounts to a $10 billion franchise.
It’s remarkable to think that the franchise remains relevant with new movies still coming out to this day. Nevertheless, it’s only natural that, despite its popularity, Star Wars has had its occasional oopsie-daisy moments. One such instance is The Phantom Menace, which even George Lucas, the creator of the universe, admits to being a bit “disjointed.”
Even George Lucas Agrees This Star Wars Movie Was Hard to Watch
Despite its commercial success, The Phantom Menace was a critical disaster. Of course, it was a commercial success, as the fans were hungry since this was the first release since Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, after 16 years.
Despite grossing an astounding $924.3 million worldwide, it failed to capture George Lucas‘ heart. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Lucas openly admitted his mistake regarding the film, as documented in the DVD special features (via YouTube). He said,
“It’s a little disjointed,” Lucas says after the screening ends. “It’s bold in terms of jerking people around. I may have gone too far in a few places.”
The movie currently has a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was criticized for its confusing plot, awkward editing, and tonal inconsistencies. Viewers particularly disliked the disjointed climax and the sudden shifts between action and comedy.
George Lucas’s introduction of midi-chlorins as a hard sci-fi element divided fans, detracting from the mystical aspects of the Force. Some found the film’s focus lacking the adventurous spirit of the Star Wars universe.
Efforts Made by George Lucas to Improve The Phantom Menace
After watching the movie himself, George Lucas realized it was too difficult for a normal person to follow inside the cinema. Despite it being too late, he, along with producer Rick McCallum and editor Ben Burtt, attempted to fix it.
In the same DVD feature, they were seen discussing the issues, with Lucas acknowledging the challenges faced.
“I do a particular kind of movie of which this is consistent,–But it is a very hard movie to follow. But, at the same time, I have done it a little more extremely than I have done it in the past. It’s stylistically designed to be that way, and you can’t undo that, but we can diminish the affects of it. We can slow it down a little bit, so if it’s intense for us, a regular person is going to go nuts.”
To further explain just how bad the situation at hand was, the editor speaks about a specific scene that was simply too jarring to watch. Burtt said,
“In a space of about 90 seconds, you go from lamenting the death of a hero to escape to slightly comedic with Jar Jar to Anakin returning … It’s a lot in a very short time,”
Lucas also shared his opinion,
“It boggles the mind–I have thought about this quite a bit, and the tricky part is you almost can’t take any of those pieces out of it now, because each one takes you to the next place. And you can’t jump because you don’t know where you are.”
Despite the critics’ hatred for the movie, The Phantom Menace enjoyed a remarkably successful run at the box office, becoming a mega-hit. Looking back, many fans have nothing but good memories associated with the movie. However, it will likely be remembered as one of George Lucas’s least favorite Star Wars movies.
Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace is streaming on Disney+ and will also re-release in theaters on May 3rd.
