User blog:ARTaylor/20 Years of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Set thirty-two years before the events of the original trilogy, the prequel film follows a group of Jedi Knights who must protect a queen when her planet is invaded by Sith forces while also discovering a young boy with a powerful connection to the Force.

The film was one of the most highly anticipated follow-ups of all time, coming sixteen years after the previous movie Return of the Jedi. The film received mixed reviews from critics and longtime fans who praised the special effects, musical score, and action sequences but criticized the screenplay, acting, and characterizations of Anakin Skywalker and most notoriously Jar Jar Binks. It remains the only live-action film to receive a rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite that, the film was an enormous box office smash breaking numerous records. It became the highest grossing film of the year and at the time was the second highest grossing film of all time. The 3D in 2012 brought in enough for it to cross the one billion dollar mark, being the first Star Wars film to do so. The film was nominated and won numerous awards, such as three Academy Award nominations, though also seven Golden Raspberry nominations. The film renewed then-fading interest in the franchise. It was the first in the prequel trilogy, which led to numerous video games, novels, comic books, and television series.

The film was written, produced, and directed by original creator George Lucas. It was Lucas's first directorial effort since the original Star Wars film in 1977 having taken on other duties for Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.