I love Qui Gon's view that all life is significant, and in extension everyone has value. Neeson's warmth really helps sell Qui Gon's wisdom and sympathy.
It’s so bittersweet to watch Jake. I get happy that he got chosen but immediately get so sad knowing how bullied he got after and how it affected his life.
I remember my first time watching Episode I, on the big screen in May 99. I was absolutely thrilled by seeing Obi-Wan as a young man about my age. I instantly liked Qui-Gon Jinn and didn't recognize Liam Neeson at first since I always dive into the movie -- it's all about the characters and their story. The fight scenes were something we had never seen before. Liam, Ewan and Ray did what will remain one of the best Jedi fights ever put on a screen! Some fans got so mean with Natalie Portman! She was a teen actress doing her job! She played Padmé Amidala the way George Lucas wanted her to. Like she said herself, it was a lot of hard work. Everybody did great! The reviews at the time were mixed because the expectations were galaxy-high at the time. These days people are more coming to their senses and Episode I is now getting more of the love it truly deserves.
Interesting at 16:40 you can see Lucas is hesitant about choosing his Anakin - He's wanting validation in his thinking - wanting others opinions - but he's surrounded by "yes" people who wouldn't dare speak their own opinions on such matter - This is when the likes of people like Kurtz are greatly missed in the Star Wars saga. George is brilliant, but needs others to keep him on the rails.
"most 12 year old boys, they will have never seen him before" I think a lot of people don't realise that Lucas made the prequels for a different audience than the Original Trilogy fanbase. He didn't want to do a fan service film he wanted to make something a new generation of fans could enjoy I was a part of that new generation of fans I was 10 years old when Phantom Menace came out and I just was blown away by the film I loved it way more than the original trilogy. My dad hated it though he hated all the prequels, I loved each one more than the last though Phantom Menace is still my favourite (unpopular opinion I am sure) But I was the audience that the prequels were made for and not just me but all my friends and guess what we all fking loved the prequels. Our lives to this day still revolve around Star Wars and in particular a lot of our interest sits with the prequel era, the Clone Wars animated series etc.... It is a shame though what Kathleen Kennedy has done to Star Wars after Lucas sold it to Disney, in a way it makes sense after all Lucas was the man behind it all. He was the filmmaking visionary and the creative genius that invented Star Wars. But I guess I was hoping that the stuff post-Lucas would be better than it is. I knew they'd start to milk Star Wars but what I wasn't prepared for is just how low quality everything is Well except for Rogue One and Andor series those are the only stuff done without Lucas that actually felt like real Star Wars
11:43 i like how jonathan Brandis was the concept art and "ideal" Anakin. As much as I LOVE hayden, i think Jonathan would have been a terrific, if not, the perfect choice. I wonder what happened and why he wasnt chosen if he was the concept art.
15:19 that kid is actually better. Something I thought was missing in Phantom Menace is a darker side to Anakin, the kid is a slave you should be able to feel at least some anger and sadness. That kid has it.
But that's simply not the character that was in the film. The character is pure whimsy, that's what enhances the tragedy. If Anakin is a little emotionally compromised from the beginning that changes the dynamic completely. This actor might've worked in a different version of the movie but it would've been horrendous with what they were going with.
In the prequels, the living characters were so wooden (except Liam) and the CGI characters were way over the top. Seems like that's the direction George gave to the actors. Natalie Portman had no range in this film, and she is a great actress. Jake was hired because he was new face, and they didn't care if he could act I suppose. And George seemed to want Ewan to tone it down in scenes (at 8:01 Ewan and the producer both suggested this job didn't necessitate 'finding' the character or to have an 'extraordinary performance' - which seems odd direction for any actor?). This was not the case in the original trilogy with Luke, Han, and Leia - the actors brought those characters to life with full performances.
They should've had Hayden Christensen as Anakin for all 3 movies, he would've connected better with Natalie and I think that would have brought a more interesting dynamic. I guess I don't really see the benefit of showing Anakin as a child. But hey gotta do what the boss says!
But y pick that anakin? I never really liked him. Acting wise. I can't stand 90% of children acting. So its prob on me. But they always kill the immersion cuz they cant act. Not their fault they are children. But for them seeing 3k kids what made him special. Wasn't his acting.
Clearly it was. What made him special to George was his ability to emotionally deliver a powerful performance with the mother character. It always worked very well for me, I found it very dramatic and tragic.
She has to be one of the worst casting director's in the business, we'll maybe she's not with us anymore but for sure she didn't left a good impression ...
The Phantom Menace gets a bad rap... mostly because of the silliness of Jar Jar Binks... But I loved this film... Qui Gon, young Obi Won and the whole imagery, of how it all began was cool.
I love Qui Gon's view that all life is significant, and in extension everyone has value. Neeson's warmth really helps sell Qui Gon's wisdom and sympathy.
It’s so bittersweet to watch Jake. I get happy that he got chosen but immediately get so sad knowing how bullied he got after and how it affected his life.
Blame his parents for doing a bad job.
Things only effect your life if u let them.
I'm sure his height had something to do with his self esteem as an adult as well.
@@AlexGarcia-ze4yg it had more to do with his schizophrenia diagnosis.
The school and his parents should have done better with the bullying he got. He should be proud to have been part of SW
Why are the Phantom Menace behind the scenes videos so rare? They're great
Thanks for sharing this
5:31 This pic of Obi-Wan with sunglasses and a cigarette in his mouth has gotta be one of the hardest stills ever made
Obi with a stogie
Lucas: "I've tried to cast actors that aren't instantly recognizable". Well your movies made them very recognizable:)
8:50
I just love the criticsism and sudden Harrison just tearing a whole were no writer wants one
i love george's smile at 16:33
They casted perfect.
they really did. Especially obi, qui gon & dooku.
Lol. Harrison Ford never fails to make me laugh
I remember my first time watching Episode I, on the big screen in May 99. I was absolutely thrilled by seeing Obi-Wan as a young man about my age. I instantly liked Qui-Gon Jinn and didn't recognize Liam Neeson at first since I always dive into the movie -- it's all about the characters and their story. The fight scenes were something we had never seen before. Liam, Ewan and Ray did what will remain one of the best Jedi fights ever put on a screen!
Some fans got so mean with Natalie Portman! She was a teen actress doing her job! She played Padmé Amidala the way George Lucas wanted her to. Like she said herself, it was a lot of hard work. Everybody did great! The reviews at the time were mixed because the expectations were galaxy-high at the time. These days people are more coming to their senses and Episode I is now getting more of the love it truly deserves.
15:18 - that second blond kid had range. But, my heart breaks for Jake - he had was so excited.
Liam and Ewan made this film great, oh wait also Natalie
You don’t know much about film outside of Star Wars, do you.
Great casting and direction
18:47 and that feeling was absolutely spot on!
Jake was really good in his audition
I agree
He had the second-best audition. The older kid was far more natural.
@@r3mdh I felt otherwise.
@@r3mdh jake was better
@@vgrepairs not at all lmfao
lol the random Harrison Ford.
7:54 WHY DO THEY ALWAYS ZOOM IN ON LUCAS' FACE SO MUCH LMAO
They wanna show off his turkey goblet
That kid with pixie cut looked like a perfect Darth Vader dear lord that look could kill
18:00 holy crap. I still have that Jurassic Park watch from Burger King from when I was a kid too.
Interesting at 16:40 you can see Lucas is hesitant about choosing his Anakin - He's wanting validation in his thinking - wanting others opinions - but he's surrounded by "yes" people who wouldn't dare speak their own opinions on such matter - This is when the likes of people like Kurtz are greatly missed in the Star Wars saga. George is brilliant, but needs others to keep him on the rails.
Very interesting
Now THIS is pod racing!
What a great cameo by harrison ford
"most 12 year old boys, they will have never seen him before"
I think a lot of people don't realise that Lucas made the prequels for a different audience than the Original Trilogy fanbase. He didn't want to do a fan service film he wanted to make something a new generation of fans could enjoy
I was a part of that new generation of fans I was 10 years old when Phantom Menace came out and I just was blown away by the film I loved it way more than the original trilogy. My dad hated it though he hated all the prequels, I loved each one more than the last though Phantom Menace is still my favourite (unpopular opinion I am sure)
But I was the audience that the prequels were made for and not just me but all my friends and guess what we all fking loved the prequels. Our lives to this day still revolve around Star Wars and in particular a lot of our interest sits with the prequel era, the Clone Wars animated series etc....
It is a shame though what Kathleen Kennedy has done to Star Wars after Lucas sold it to Disney, in a way it makes sense after all Lucas was the man behind it all. He was the filmmaking visionary and the creative genius that invented Star Wars. But I guess I was hoping that the stuff post-Lucas would be better than it is. I knew they'd start to milk Star Wars but what I wasn't prepared for is just how low quality everything is
Well except for Rogue One and Andor series those are the only stuff done without Lucas that actually felt like real Star Wars
11:43 i like how jonathan Brandis was the concept art and "ideal" Anakin. As much as I LOVE hayden, i think Jonathan would have been a terrific, if not, the perfect choice. I wonder what happened and why he wasnt chosen if he was the concept art.
Underrated picture
Un niño muy lindo y buen actor mereció una grana aplauso no lo que le hicieron
Jake hands down really was the best option out of those final 3.
19:00 SILENCE and LEARN every other 21st century starwars movie!
itll take a few minutes for the nava-computer to calculate the cordinates. XD that is fun and somewhat difficult to say.
5:59 he did that in the movies.
the physical pain i felt when they cut his hair
15:19 that kid is actually better. Something I thought was missing in Phantom Menace is a darker side to Anakin, the kid is a slave you should be able to feel at least some anger and sadness. That kid has it.
I disagree
I was just thinking the same, I think he had more similarities with Dart Vader character
But that's simply not the character that was in the film. The character is pure whimsy, that's what enhances the tragedy. If Anakin is a little emotionally compromised from the beginning that changes the dynamic completely. This actor might've worked in a different version of the movie but it would've been horrendous with what they were going with.
In the prequels, the living characters were so wooden (except Liam) and the CGI characters were way over the top. Seems like that's the direction George gave to the actors. Natalie Portman had no range in this film, and she is a great actress. Jake was hired because he was new face, and they didn't care if he could act I suppose. And George seemed to want Ewan to tone it down in scenes (at 8:01 Ewan and the producer both suggested this job didn't necessitate 'finding' the character or to have an 'extraordinary performance' - which seems odd direction for any actor?). This was not the case in the original trilogy with Luke, Han, and Leia - the actors brought those characters to life with full performances.
the behind the scenes of the prequels were better than the prequels.
They should have kept Ewans Hair long…
Alec Guinness as a comedic actor? Hmm.
Harrison ford was so random
16:27 acting is so robotic for her
They should've had Hayden Christensen as Anakin for all 3 movies, he would've connected better with Natalie and I think that would have brought a more interesting dynamic. I guess I don't really see the benefit of showing Anakin as a child. But hey gotta do what the boss says!
But y pick that anakin? I never really liked him. Acting wise. I can't stand 90% of children acting. So its prob on me. But they always kill the immersion cuz they cant act. Not their fault they are children. But for them seeing 3k kids what made him special. Wasn't his acting.
Clearly it was. What made him special to George was his ability to emotionally deliver a powerful performance with the mother character. It always worked very well for me, I found it very dramatic and tragic.
Jake Lloyd is very whimsical in ways the other candidates we see aren't.
Dumpster fire of a movie
wrong
Lol ypu can tyow thisnshit but you cant say it
She has to be one of the worst casting director's in the business, we'll maybe she's not with us anymore but for sure she didn't left a good impression ...
She gave us then unknowns Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse.
She passed?
The Phantom Menace gets a bad rap... mostly because of the silliness of Jar Jar Binks...
But I loved this film...
Qui Gon, young Obi Won and the whole imagery, of how it all began was cool.
One of the worst casting directors in film history.