Star Wars: Episode I - Die dunkle Bedrohung

Was in den ursprünglichen Episoden niedlich war, ist hier infantil, was in den ursprünglichen Episoden spannend war, ist hier infantil, was in den ursprünglichen Episoden charmant war, ist hier infantil. George Lucas hat einfach einen Teddybären für viel Geld zusammengenäht, einen Haufen alberner Episoden hineingepackt, die höllisch abgehackt werden, ein wahnsinniges Reptil mit Ohren, das mich mehr nervt als jeder andere Held, und irgendwie beiläufig Star Wars-würdige Momente über den Film verteilt. Ich bin nur mit der Besetzung (aber nicht mit der Schauspielerei) und dem hervorragenden Duell mit Darth Maul zufrieden. Als Ganzes jedoch fast ein kompletter Flop, mit den Episoden IV und V besser nicht zu vergleichen, sonst droht die Gefahr eines Herzstillstandes... (27.01.2004)

The old trilogy was able to create a slightly stronger atmosphere, but I regularly object to the waves of criticism towards the first chapter of the Chronicles of the Far Galaxy. Even after years, I still dislike the violent contrast between repetitive political debates and the childish mood, led by the misfit Jar Jar, but the magical Padmé, young Obi-Wan, or the dark Darth Maul are so amazing that the objections disintegrate as if by waving a lightsaber. Nevertheless, the biggest surprise remains the fact that the two most famous scenes (podrace and the final Duel of the Fates) would still be the event of the year in any adventure blockbuster, even today. (20.05.2006)

Episode I is paradoxically Lucas’s only perfect Star Wars. Only with this one was Lucas not constrained by budget and the technological level of the tricks as in the first film; he was the main creative force behind the project unlike in Episode V and was not as limited by the unfolding story as in the other two parts of the prequel trilogy and Episode VI. Thus, he was able to fully let go of childishness and naïveté, build the narrative around spectacular adventures and expand the fairy-tale concept into an opulent mise-en-scene. Unlike the following two instalments, Episode I has a narrative that is entirely its own, with only sub-motifs establishing continuity with the series as a whole. (11.10.2015)

Long-winded and, apart from the race scene and a couple of duels, offers nothing but “empty" over-combination that is so childish (the Ewoks etc.) that it borders on being a parody of itself. Not even Teletubbies give us such lameness given to us by the “fun element" Jar-Jar Binks and all of his people. This wouldn’t matter so much if Binks wasn’t given more room here than probably anybody else. Even if I ignore his presence, then the infantile nature of this, despite finding the complete opposite in the following, darker episodes, really bothers me and is worse than anything I have seen even in the very worst movies for kids. But I mustn’t only throw dirt on this... In technical terms, this movie is great, from special effects through production design to the music. But everything is just here for effect and flawless special effects don’t make a good movie. If it weren’t for Darth Maul and his duel underscored by “Duel of the Fates", then nothing at all works here, apart from the audiovisual side. I suppose it is good in a way, but only at about eight in the morning, as a double feature with Teletubbies. (12.03.2005)