Now THIS is pod racing! A 25th anniversary reflection.
Watching this again in the cinema a quarter century after the original release was a joy and I did not expect to think that. To be clear it is no where near redeemed, all the thoroughly discussed issues are still there and yet amongst them are brilliant moments.
Yes of course Anakin is a little weirdo that asks if a stranger is an angel, but his mom believes there was no father involved in his conception so can your really blame him? I certainly don't blame Jake Lloyd, on review he did not deserve the hate. Ah but isn't Jar Jar still a pain? Not this time, he's now the comedic foil (or loveable moron) that I suppose he was always meant to be.
I'll grant that the pod racing scene is still unnecessary at best and dumb at worst. However the sound team need to take a bow, as child I did not fully appreciate their work in the way I can now. I love the contrast of Sebulba's stock car versus Anakin's sports bike, and all the other pods in between.
Plenty of people will still see this a low point, and as the gateway for the significantly worse trilogy that came long after it but it's not that for me anymore. As I sat there with a beer in one hand and popcorn in the other I couldn't help but have that moment of wonder all over again when Darth Maul ignited his second lightsaber. Goosebumps. After all isn't that what cinema is all about?
