‘The Phantom Menace’ at 19: Reconsidering the most maligned Star Wars film

The greatest rift in Star Wars fandom opened up 19 years ago this month, and it hasn’t healed over since. Even now, to provoke dark scowls or preemptive defensiveness from lovers of the saga, you need only utter three words: The. Phantom. Menace.

But nearly two decades on, is it time to reconsider George Lucas’ most maligned movie? Clearly it’s not his most dramatically satisfying story, but it’s hardly the worst-reviewed film in history. With 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, it can boast a better reception than, say, Armageddon or The Day After Tomorrow. In terms of box office gross, it remains Lucas’ most successful film.  Read more…

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