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Author	Topic: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
yodas_waiter Registered: Oct '06	Date Posted: 5/19 2:17pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	Wow, it's really gone ten years? In the months leading up to Episode I's release, what were your feelings? I was super excited. I got hold of all the kids material and read through it all several times over. How old were you at the time? 10. The perfect age to see it for the first time. Meeting Anakin when he's the same age as you resonated with me in a special way. What hopes did you have for the new Star Wars adventure? I was hoping it would blow my mind. And when it hit - how did you react? My mind was blown. I loved it, absolutely loved it. Looking back now - how do you feel about The Phantom Menace? I still love this movie, but maybe not in the same way I did ten years ago. Having only experianced Star Wars on home video, it was an absolute experiance seeing it on the big screen and seeing as the PT arrived at just the right age for me, as the OT had done for the older fans, it has a special place in my heart. However, I can see where some of the criticism is coming from when I watch it nowadays. Still, I don't believe this movie deserves all the hate it's got. It's a part of a precious childhood and it will always be dear to me. -----signature----- Padawan to Sionnach-Airgid Author of Chyler databank entry Nominated Best New Author in Before the Saga 06/07 The Enforcer (SW Super-hero tribute): http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28028864/p1/?2
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Darth-Stryphe Title: Former Mod and City Rep Registered: Apr '01	Date Posted: 5/19 5:17pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I just wanted to come by and say "happy birthday, PT". It's a little hard to imagine its been ten years. For better or worse, and despite my reputation as someone who doesn't like the PT, I am glad it was made. -----signature----- Lord of the Script, it's FABULOUSO: http://boards.theforce.net/Star_Wars_Community/b10012/8237772/p1 The Desperate Road: http://boards.theforce.net/your_jedi_council_community/b10008/23481819/p1 I love you, lonely Dewback on the ridge Az Isten áldjon meg!
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QuiGonJade Registered: Nov '02	Date Posted: 5/19 8:58pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	For a while May 19, 1999 felt like just about the most significant date in my own personal history, as I counted down to it. Today being May 19, 2009, I suppose I'd be crazy not to at least look back on it a little. I was 28. However, as much as I was counting down to the date, I also had spent the last three years slowly lowering my expectations, not so much to so I wouldn't be let down, but because I was legitimately nervous it might be a huge disaster. I specifically remember saying "I'm nervous the new movies will be awful" as far back as 1996 or 1997. I just, if you will, had a bad feeling. I was thinking about how disappointing Young Indy was, how blah Willow was, how much Radioland Murders had flopped (I never saw it) and, heck, even as much as Last Crusade is a classic, it was mostly for the comedy, it wasn't quite the adventure Raiders was. Then we got the special editions and Lucas got about half of the changes right, but also added "Jedi Rocks" and edited ESB to make it seem completely disjointed at the end. (I didn't really care about Greedo.) So, the way I saw it, Lucas wasn't quite on a losing streak leading into TPM, but it wasn't exactly a winning streak either. And I had no idea what seeing a new SW movie as an adult felt like. I mean, it was possible I wouldn't even have liked SW had I been 20 years older and saw it for the first time in my 20's. And then slowly I got some of the details, the title (which of course made me say "what the ****"), the fact that Anakin would be a nine year old child, something very un-SW at the time, and eventually I started reading articles in the paper that said the new one's rumored to be a little disappointing. And to be honest, I wasn't all that blown away by the TPM trailer, though I can't quite place my finger on why, it was just kind of "is that all there is?" To be fair though, there was also some good pre-movie stuff. It's hard to explain how weirded out I was when I found out Darth was a title rather than a first name and that there were two new Darths in this one. And I ended up buying an Episode I mouse pad, and, in a true example of trying to find my inner child, I actually bought a couple of posters two weeks prior to the release. One was of the space battle, one of the three way duel, and suddenly I was finding myself wondering how the story would lead up to these moments. The anticipation finally hit, became quite intense. And yet I had already gotten advance warning that Jar Jar was a kid's character and the critics were starting to bash it (that morning's newspaper, as a matter of fact.) So it was just strange. In the theater there were only a few people cheering as "a long time ago in a galaxy far far away" came up; it was as if it had already been about 75% ruined before we even saw it. And then I saw The Phantom Menace. It all remained mixed. The 3-PO droid with the female voice seemed to indicate, here we go, it's sort of the same Star Wars and sort of not (which is actually what I both expected and wanted.) Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan suddenly igniting their lightsabers after their ship explodes blew me away for a few seconds. But then the battle that followed wasn't as exciting as Death Star stuff. And it sort of went on and on, or should I say on and off, in my gut reaction. Jar Jar was an "off", but pretty early on, right around the time they were leaving Naboo, it just suddenly hit me, no matter how weird this feels, this is going to be a very good [i]story[i]. And it mostly remained that way. Anakin wasn't anywhere near as insultingly cute as I was afraid he'd be. In fact it hit me I think I was, as an original fan, almost supposed to identify more with Qui-Gon for being Anakin's father figure. The Senate scene blew me away visually. I was actually disappointed with the duel at first because for some strange reason it took a few listens for Duel of the Fates to grow on me, the very first time it felt like it didn't belong. Overall it felt like something quite different from Star Wars, but when Qui-Gon died, and was about to say his last words to Obi-Wan, and it was obvious what they were going to be, I got my good Star Wars feeling back; finally here I was actually watching a Star Wars prequel, actually setting up the legendary Obi-Wan training of Vader. Well, 5 minutes till 5/20, so I'll sum it up by saying, I had it see it a couple more times before I could even begin to figure out what I thought. And I concluded it was a very good but not quite great movie, but a lot better than people were saying it was. I saw it in the theaters 9 times, and that's probably all I really need to say. Today I feel it's a slightly flawed, still kind of strange, but ultimately quite good prologue to five movies that are even better. -----signature----- OBI-WAN: But Master Yoda told me to be mindful of the Classic Trilogy. QUI-GON: But not at the expense of the Prequel Trilogy.
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DarthTunick Title: Arena's Streak for Colors Host Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 5/19 9:33pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era - Date Edited: 5/19 9:34pm (1 edits total) Edited By: DarthTunick
	I enjoyed TPM/the PT, despite it's faults. The release of those films, and becoming a part of this site through these forums has been a very important part of my life....................................................happy anniversary, TPM! -----signature----- September 11th, 2001 -Never forget Viva Los Angeles! RIP, Cody "Snowball" Reeves, 1978-2008. It's a long day, livin' in Reseda.......... 2009-2010 L.A. Lakers: 5-1, my record at Staples Center: 0-1
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Jedi Vince Registered: Aug '99	Date Posted: 5/19 9:48pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I wore the same Phantom Menace t-shirt to work today that I wore at the opening. And I haven't been able to take the score out of my cd player in the car this whole week. -----signature----- The PIGMAN: Drawing the line against Jihad http://fawstin.blogspot.com/ http://www.jihadwatch.org/ Don't tread on me.
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Blue_Jedi33 Registered: Aug '03	Date Posted: 5/19 10:36pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era - Date Edited: 5/19 10:49pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Blue_Jedi33
	Oh good times, with TPM, Star Wars was back after a whole generation had grown up. For me the Darth Maul final scene is still the best lightsaber battle, especially at the very end between Obi-Wan. Other scenes had awesome battle sequences, but for me that final one on one is the best, Obi is really ticked and it shows. Maul is cocky as ever. There is just something about that scene, that makes it the best for me. And how the debate raged on after is Sidious really Palpatine or is there a clone or a twin. And then the inevitable basher VS gusher backlash. I am less forgiving of the Jar Jar fiascoe today than I was 10 years ago. The clumsy stupid alien thing was overdone. In 2009 we can just imagine how much better TPM would have been without Jar Jar Binks. A sidekick add on like the alien DEX Obi met in the AOTC at the dinner, would have been so much more entertaining and interesting and less distractingly foolish. Oh what could have been. But I am happy that Lucas made the first of what would be the prequel -----signature----- POTESTATEM OBSCURI LATERIS NESCIS!
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Darth-Johnny-Cash Registered: Jan '09	Date Posted: 5/20 2:38am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	StarWarrior77 posted: Darth-Johnny-Cash posted: StarWarrior77 posted: That's bull crap. Not everyone was disappointed by TPM. Prove it. And I was speaking for myself nobody else. Maybe you should do the same. Whatever. I'm not getting into a big argument over this. Then don't . Speak for yourself and not other people. -----signature----- "If you can still eat pizza, despite it not being your favorite, then you are tolerant of pizza. If you refuse to eat it because you don't like it, then you are intolerant of the pizza." The immortal words of Go-Mer-Tonic
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ObiWanJedi93 Registered: Aug '08	Date Posted: 5/20 3:47am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I say every Star Wars film, show, book, is equal. -----signature----- "This will be a day long remembered." -Darth Vader; Episode IV Proud Member of the Obi-Wan Kenobi Fan Club (SWC) Jedi Master in the New Jedi Trials (SWC) Clone Commander in the Galactic Republic (SWC) Rebel Commando in the Rebel Alliance (SWC)
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Jango_Fett21 Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 5/20 7:30am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era - Date Edited: 5/20 7:31am (1 edits total) Edited By: Jango_Fett21
	I can't believe the anniversary slipped past me without a celebration. Grrr. Anyway, I wanted to address the whole issue of just how much dislike there is out there for TPM and the Prequels as a whole: I've been on this board - under various different usernames (mainly because I kept forgetting them) - for several years, and it has been my experience - particularly in the year or so after TPM came out - that the ratio of those fans who enjoyed TPM and the Prequels as compared to those who hated TPM and the prequels is actually weighed in favor of those who enjoyed the films, even though it might seem otherwise at times. The reason for this, I've found, is that the Prequel supporters tend to be less vocal about the films than the haters, who seem to try and go out of their way to try and foist their dislike of the films on everybody else. I've also seen this phenomenon elsewhere, although to a lesser extent than here, since, after all, this IS a SW message board.
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Gallandro Registered: Jul '98	Date Posted: 5/20 9:38am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	Jango_Fett21 posted: I can't believe the anniversary slipped past me without a celebration. Grrr. Anyway, I wanted to address the whole issue of just how much dislike there is out there for TPM and the Prequels as a whole: I've been on this board - under various different usernames (mainly because I kept forgetting them) - for several years, and it has been my experience - particularly in the year or so after TPM came out - that the ratio of those fans who enjoyed TPM and the Prequels as compared to those who hated TPM and the prequels is actually weighed in favor of those who enjoyed the films, even though it might seem otherwise at times. The reason for this, I've found, is that the Prequel supporters tend to be less vocal about the films than the haters, who seem to try and go out of their way to try and foist their dislike of the films on everybody else. I've also seen this phenomenon elsewhere, although to a lesser extent than here, since, after all, this IS a SW message board. Fans of the Prequels FAR outweigh the naysayers; they are a very small but very vocal minority. In general people tend to be more vocal and passionate about something when they are opposed to or have a negative reaction to it... just go to any product message board, like Apple's Ipod. If you just read their message boards you would think every consumer has issue with their Ipod, or hates the player and wants to dump it for a Zune or other MP3 player. Yancy -----signature----- No, they're just going to tax "businesses!" So unless you buy something from a "business," like groceries or clothes or gasoline ... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small "business," don't worry ... it's not going to affect you. F Thompson
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mrmdee23 Registered: May '09	Date Posted: 5/20 10:43am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	Hey all, new to the board... I liked and hated TPM at the same time... The movie had the best music of any of the Star Wars films - Duel of the Fates! And Darth Maul is only second to Darth Vader in terms of being a total bad a--... That being said, Jar Jar kills it for me... him and Lloyd's acting. And it pissed me off royally when I heard Lucas say that he didn't have enough material to make two movies when RotS came out. I still watch the movies, but I fast forward through Jar Jar scenes and pretty much the entire scene on Tatooine. I do the same thing with ATC and can get through both movies in about 2 hours. My life-long dream is for Lucas to allow someone to recut the movies into a singular entity. I even started a petition. Click here to sign... It is my life-long dream to see these movies cut into a single film... Anyway, I blogged about my feelings toward Episode I earlier and you can read those if you want! I'm very excited to be posting on a pretty active Star Wars board.
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Xoxaan11594 Registered: May '09	Date Posted: 5/20 2:38pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I was 5 when my uncle took me opening night. I had already been absorbed in Star Wars for 2 years (yes, my uncle showed it to me at age 3), and I don't think I understood until we got to the theater the reality of it. Star Wars was back! I had never (and have not since) seen so many fans in one place. We had advance tickets and got into the first showing. I was so excited (except I remember asking my uncle during the scene in Palpatine's apartment "Is it almost over?" ). Unfortunately, as we were leaving, I rather boldly proclaimed that the best part was when Obi-Wan cut Darth Maul in half. The entire lobby went silent and glared at me. Needless to say, my uncle picked me up and ran to the car! -----signature----- I am Vergere. What are you?
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Avian005 Registered: Jan '09	Date Posted: 5/20 9:14pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	Xoxaan11594 posted: I was 5 when my uncle took me opening night. I had already been absorbed in Star Wars for 2 years (yes, my uncle showed it to me at age 3), and I don't think I understood until we got to the theater the reality of it. Star Wars was back! I had never (and have not since) seen so many fans in one place. We had advance tickets and got into the first showing. I was so excited (except I remember asking my uncle during the scene in Palpatine's apartment "Is it almost over?" ). Unfortunately, as we were leaving, I rather boldly proclaimed that the best part was when Obi-Wan cut Darth Maul in half. The entire lobby went silent and glared at me. Needless to say, my uncle picked me up and ran to the car! Harsh, why would they glare at you if you're five years old? My favorite part of the film is the fight anyways. -----signature----- Prequel Trilogy + Original Trilogy = The Greatest Films on Earth "May the Force be with you, always."
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 5/20 9:26pm Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I think the people in the lobby were mad because they hadn't seen the movie yet and he had just spoiled them on the fate of Maul. -----signature----- Personally if treating homosexuals with respect and dignity is the definition of 'anti-Christian' then I hope that Obama is the friggin' anti-Christ. - FIDo
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JMJacenSolo Registered: May '06	Date Posted: 5/21 10:37am Subject: The Phantom Menace 10 years - revisiting the beginning of the prequel era
	I was 12 at the time. I was a Star Wars fan but not a freak, and I wasn't really a part of the mega-hype that so many of you are talking about. In a big way I regret that because it's obviously something that will never happen again. I had one friend who was a massive Star Wars nut who relayed to me bits and pieces of information as he learned them, and I remember him distinctly telling me about Midichlorians for the first time. When I saw the movie it didn't make much of an impression on me. I remember thinking that the political element was far too heavy, though now I like that we get to see how the Galactic Empire had it's origins in something so innocuous as a trade blockade. Still, that alone does not redeem the film, which I maintain is almost completely awful. I just plain think that TPM is a conceptual disaster ; a wasted chapter that pretty much derailed the PT before it even had a chance. -----signature----- Man kann die Vergangenheit nicht ändern
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