Oceania 20th Anniversary of The Phantom Menace

Today marks the date when Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace had arrived in cinemas across Australia back in 1999.

Do you have any fond memories of the event?
What were your thoughts on the film when you first saw it and compared to now?

 

I remember the anticipation and the marketing leading up to it. The toys, the trading cards, the tv specials, the video games.

I didn't get to see it on opening week though I remember the day I went to see it well enough. I had been playing Episode 1 Racer on the N64 before going to see the film.

At the cinema, there was a very large queue out onto the street. It was exciting going in, I had not experience energy like that before and not knowing what to expect. A packed cinema and waiting for the previews to hurry up so the film could start. Then the fanfare started up.

Overall, I loved it. I came out of the cinema wanting to see it again and also excited to see it what will happen in the next film. Three years felt like a long time back then

Thank goodness for the video games to make the time go a bit faster.