Classic Movies Live – Season 5, Episode 16: The Phantom Menace
May 15, 2024
This week on Classic Movies Live!, our hosts discuss another film re-releasing in celebration of an important anniversary! Twenty-five years ago, the world finally got to lay eyes on George Lucas’ grand vision of the backstory for his blockbuster series Star Wars. Starting with The Phantom Menace, Lucas presented a new vision of a Galaxy Far Far Away, which would prove controversial among fans of the original series, but unquestionably influential to the landscape of cinema going forward.
Fully self-funded, The Phantom Menace afforded Lucas full creative control over his universe. The film would be filled with memorable and quirky characters, an ambitious (if uneven) story, innovative film techniques never before seen at that scale, and career-making performances for its top-billed cast. It would go on to become the highest-grossing film of 1999, and be nominated for three Academy Awards. It would also divide critics and fans for years, with its legacy in a constant state of eternal re-evaluation.
And speaking of re-evaluation, neither of our hosts had seen this movie since they were much younger. So this week, you’ll get to hear Pierre and Jeff re-evaluate their own feelings on The Phantom Menace… live!
