Episode 1, Blogisode 2

Every year, I like to watch through the entire Star Wars saga. Last year I promised myself I wouldn't include Attack of the Clones this time, so 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 it is! It might seem good to watch 1-9 with that new one coming out, but the 2nd tier Star Wars fan that I am, I probably won't be seeing 9 until 2020 anyways. I may even, *gasp*, wait until it comes out on dvd, so 1-9 could be a 2020 thing. Anyways.

As "Written and Directed by George Lucas" just popped up on the screen, I have completed Episode 1. After seeing The Phantom Menace a handful of times, I really think it's pretty underrated and holds up rather well as a primer for the series (especially when you go ahead and skip to Episode 3 afterwards). The fact that the plot is, on its own, pretty inconsequential gives the film a low stakes levity. The effects are underrated and impressive for pre-2000. I would say it has two of my top ten Star Wars characters, not controversially Darth Maul, and perhaps controversially Jar Jar Binks. That's right, the incomprehensible, notorious train wreck is just too awful to resist now.

Yet, admittedly, compared to the originals, it is tough to compete. But, I find all of the misery of the prequels to be concentrated solely in Episode 2. There you find the endless cosmic politics, the horrid, red tinted CGI, the bouncy ball fighting yoda. It's just the worst. But here is some more Jar Jar Binks…

via GIPHY