I actually think The Phantom Menace is the best of the prequels (which is like saying Papa was the tallest Smurf, I know). I'll admit, the biggest reason for this is probably because it's the one I've seen least recently, and I saw it at a time when I was less critical than I was when seeing Sith. Also, a big factor is that I wasn't all that excited about it in the first place (and thus did not see it as a huge letdown for my huge expectations). I like Star Wars, but I've never loved it.
That said, I think Menace is better than the other two because it's the one farthest removed from the original story, and thus is the one least weighed down by necessary plot points or the shoe-horning in of original characters. The next two movies had to be constantly concerned about all the myth-building moments that lead into 4-6, whereas Menace basically had to introduce Anakin and have him meet Obi-Wan and Padme, and introduce the Sith as the eventual villains. Other than that, it had more creative freedom.
Also, Darth Maul was the best of the prequel villains, Liam Neeson probably gave the best performance of anyone in all three movies, and the characters actually interacted with their environments in Menace, unlike Sith, for example, where they constantly in space ships standing in front of windows showing space battles.
That said, I don't believe I'll be watching it again.
That said, I think Menace is better than the other two because it's the one farthest removed from the original story, and thus is the one least weighed down by necessary plot points or the shoe-horning in of original characters. The next two movies had to be constantly concerned about all the myth-building moments that lead into 4-6, whereas Menace basically had to introduce Anakin and have him meet Obi-Wan and Padme, and introduce the Sith as the eventual villains. Other than that, it had more creative freedom.
Also, Darth Maul was the best of the prequel villains, Liam Neeson probably gave the best performance of anyone in all three movies, and the characters actually interacted with their environments in Menace, unlike Sith, for example, where they constantly in space ships standing in front of windows showing space battles.
That said, I don't believe I'll be watching it again.
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