9. Pod Racing
Pod racing was arguably one of the only entirely new things to be introduced into the “Star Wars” universe with the prequel trilogy. We saw droids before, we saw ships before, we saw lightsabers and blasters and the Force before, but you know what we had never seen in the “Star Wars” universe? Leisure. Sport. Lifestyle. I know that “war” is literally in the title, and so the conflict is the driving factor of the story, but it’s still nice to have a moment of levity, where we can zoom out and see what else is in the world. It reminds us that the world of “Star Wars” isn’t just a stage to present a battle between good and evil, it’s a place that is actually lived in by various peoples. The people of that world like to gamble and be entertained, just like we do, and showing that lets us become a bit more invested in that world.
Plus, the actual pod racing scene in “The Phantom Menace” is a lot of fun. Does it drag on a bit and recycle the same sorts of shots? Yes. Does it directly further the plot? Not exactly. But it’s still exciting! The rush and carnage of that race are still intense, and watching Anakin pull through despite all the obstacles plant the early seeds of showing us his proficiency with the Force. Love it or hate it now, you have to admit the first time you watched that scene, you were on the edge of your seat.
Not to mention the Nintendo 64 and arcade games based on the race were incredibly fun, and still hold up to this day. And the race was the longest stretch of “The Phantom Menace” without any dialogue, so that bit of salvation alone is worth praising.
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