Star Wars Magic at the Box Office with “The Phantom Menace”

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 8, 2024

 

Guess what movie was Number 2 at the domestic box office this past weekend (May 3-5)? It was the special re-release of a 25-year-old Star Wars movie.

 

That’s right, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace took in $8.7 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, and that was second behind The Fall Guy ($27.7 million). 

Hmmm. I’m not sure if that says more about the current state of movies in theaters or the lasting effects of Star Wars. Probably both are at work here.

 

By the way, when released originally in 1999, the film cost $115 million to make, and it pulled in more than $924 million in gross box office revenues. That’s a major box office success.

 

And as for those who still diss the Star Wars prequels, while each film had its problems, they actually have improved with age, like a fine wine. Star Wars creator George Lucas directed The Phantom Menace, and there’s much to appreciate. 

 

My favorite moment is the final light saber battle where Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi take on Darth Maul. Lucas excels with these kinds of operatic scenes. But there’s a great deal more than action here to appreciate. Watch how each character acts or reacts when the fighting is paused periodically due to the forcefields engaging. Darth Maul paces like a caged animal. Qui-Gon kneels and meditates. And the young Obi-Wan bounces, wanting to get back in the action. 

 

Great stuff. 

 

I’m glad I journeyed to the theater this past weekend to catch The Phantom Menace on the big screen – apparently with a good number of other people.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.

 

Never miss any new book by Ray Keating by joining the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship with Ray Keating at

https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship.

 

Various books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon. 

 

• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, and The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

“Disney Gallery/Star Wars: The Mandalorian” is Must-Watch on Disney+

by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 14, 2020

Disney+ aced its first live-action Star Wars series with The Mandalorian (check out our review). And now it’s created an excellent documentary series about the making of The Mandalorian. But this is far superior to the typical “making of” documentaries related to a movie or TV series. Disney Gallery/Star Wars: The Mandalorian ranks as must-watching.

The first two episodes of this eight-part series are available on Disney+ now, with the third coming tomorrow (May 15) and one more on each successive Friday.

So far, the documentary series is mainly focused on round table discussions led by Jon Favreau, creator of The Mandalorian, with the highlights being conversations with the various directors involved in the show’s first season. Those directors are Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Taika Waititi. Some other brief interviews and behind-the-scenes footage are worked in as well. But, again, this is primarily about fascinating conversations, with Favreau asking the right questions and ably steering the discussions in interesting directions.

As a result, these round tables are not exclusively meant for the Star Wars fans, but also for those interested in creating movies and/or television shows. Indeed, it’s not only a unique situation to be able to listen to a team of directors who basically worked together to produce an eight-episode television series, but to so clearly see the passion and expertise that each brings to the table.

For good measure, the respect and joy for Star Wars that each possesses clearly helps to inform the creative process, and should warm the heart of every Star Wars fan.

And that brings up the high point so far in this series. I will not spoil it, but check out Dave Filoni’s description of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. In particular, his discussion of the role played by Qui-Gon Jinn. What Filoni says about Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin might just change your take on the Star Wars prequels – indeed, elevating the importance of those films above where they might have previously been held. It was like Filoni was teaching a short class to appreciative students – not only to the viewers, but to his fellow directors around that table as well.

Star Wars fans who have been re-energized by The Mandalorian will be further pulled in by this documentary. And along the way, Disney Gallery/Star Wars: The Mandalorian might wind up creating some new fans.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.