5 Reasons Why Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Is A Genuinely Brilliant Film

2. Outstanding Piece Of Science Fiction

In Naboo we are given a stunning and beautifully crafted landscape, featuring an homage to the classical European architectural styles of Venice, in the city of Theed. The green-tiled domed roofs and sandstone exterior of the buildings are aesthetically pleasing, whilst the marble hallways and statues provide a sense of high-culture and tradition. When the Trade Federation droids and tanks roll into the historical setting of Theed, the juxtaposition of new and old makes for powerful imagery. Equally, the military blockade and invasion of the peaceful planet appears to draw on the Nazi invasion of Paris, France in World War Two. In stark contrast to the calm and serenity of Naboo, we are given the overwhelming futurism of Coruscant. The high rise metallic buildings, masses of flying cars and alien figures have the essence of classic science fiction, and the portion of the film set in Coruscant has a distinct stylistic atmosphere. The democratic discussions and focus on bureaucracy has hints of George Orwell's 1984, whilst the representation of a futuristic state mired in archaic policy and corruptibility can be seen as a critique of modern day politics. The plot line of the Trade Federation may seem slow and dull, but it provides an intelligent and complex basis for the story as a whole. The final setting which Star Wars fans will be most familiar with, but which also acts as great sci-fi piece is Tatooine. In Tatooine, we see the desert planet almost forgotten by the advances in technology and democracy, with which the rest of the galaxy has seemingly prospered. The worn-down buildings and worn-out characters represent the fallibility of society, with untrustworthy and dishonest individuals profiting from exploitation. Bringing the central characters from more advanced settings into the harshness of Tatooine creates a meaningful transition. Just as the Trade Federation seems out of place on the cobbled streets of Naboo; the shining silver starship of Queen Amidala upon the desert flats of Tatooine produces an evocative juxtaposition.