Rating: 
Summary: Sit back and enjoy the ride...
Review: Okay, sure...alot of people and critics are saying that the movie was not all that it was hyped-up to be. OF COURSE NOT! You can't seriously think that a movie that has been hyped for so long can actually make everyone happy. If you've seen the other Star Wars movies, try and think of this while watching this installment:This movie was made to bring up questions of how some characters had evolved in the other movies from the beginning. It was also created to let the viewer in on a little history of some other characters: in particular Ben Kanobi and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. I think it did just that. When seeing this movie, the best thing to do, as I did, is to not go into it with any expectations. Just watch the movie and enjoy the ride it takes you on. If it seems to be a little open-ended, it's supposed to be that way. That's how you get a "prequel". I am sure that Mr. Lucas knows what he is doing. He's been doing it alot longer and better than most of us can say. Just sit back and enjoy his movies, and I think you will not be disappointed. I know I definitely wasn't after The Phantom Menace.
Rating: 
Summary: Remember Episode IV was a first too...
Review: Okay, there are people who are bashing this movie because of lack of character developement, unresolved plot (maybe that one is just me), annoying characters. The other camp says "But this is the first of three, of course there are unresolved issues...." My personal take is that this point does not, in any way, mitigate the first group's arguments. Episode IV was conceived to be the first of three as well but was constructed to be complete in and of itself. There were very few unresolved issues. Of course with a built in fan base Lucas can take his time and give us a more cohesive whole. I predict that it is going to be a very frustrating time until all of these movies are finally released. That aside, I found that this movie grew on me and I was able to ignore jar-jar after the third time through. Some special effects (i.e. the battle droids) were a bit articial and failed to sate my blood thirst (I'm sorry but stormtroopers were much better targets). The light sabre scenes were by far the best aspect of this movie. I think when the trilogy is complete I'll probably have a better opinion, but for now I think this is a pretty weak beginning.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Movie
Review: Okay, there are those of us who hate this movie (me included). Then there are the people who tell us it wasn't that bad (usually not Star Wars fans). I understand that expectations were high. Basically what it boils down to is that if this was the first movie released instead of Star Wars (Yes, that's the name. NOT A New Hope), would people really think it was any good? Probably not. Would it spawn any sequels? Probably not. I really tried to like this movie for months, but when I ask myself those questions, I realize that this was a really bad movie.
Rating:
Summary: IT WASN'T THAT BAD
Review: Okay, we all know what this wasn't the best movie ever, JarJar was trite (and perhaps offensive), but come on . . . has anyone seen the original (Ep.IV) recently? That was hokey. Also, the jedi fight scenes in this were unbeleiveable. Made Luke's and Vader's fight in ROTJ look like a pillow fight. Also, rumor has it that Lucas has promised us a "darker" Episode II which should be fun so buy the video and Lucas will have more money to spend on the next one. :)
Rating:
Summary: The Force Is Strong With This One
Review: Okay- First, this movie was surpassed by its own hype machine. People expected so much out of it because of all the pre-release hype. That said, this movie does not live up to all expectations, but it is an enjoyable look at the Jedi in their prime. The 2-Disc set with exclusive Episode 2 footage is well worth the purchase price. If only you could delete Jar-Jar or see the final Duel un-cut.
Rating:
Summary: The Jar-Jar Effect
Review: Okay... here's my take on the whole Star Wars saga gig. I dug Episode 1. Yes, it has its problems (which I will address, I promise) but visually, it is filled with color, vibrance, excitement, and a hint of possibility. And that's the keyword to all the Star Wars films: possibility. Throughout the saga, we see the Dark Side as materialistic and bent upon power, destruction, and obsession. The Sith always speak of "destiny," almost as a nihilistic ultimatum that everyone is forced to endure; according to them, there is no way out of what one can foresee. However, the Light Side continually speaks of being "guided" by the Force, and a possibility for change from a foreseen destiny still withstands. Perhaps this is why Qui-Gon Jinn's body does not disappear when he passes on as Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi's did... He lost that organic belief in the spirit and emotion, resigning his trust in Anakin and those around him to the events he has foreseen. True, these events were of good nature: he freed Anakin from slavery and helped his doomed crewmates aboard the Queen's ship. Yet, he lost that belief in change. Also, this same obsession and trust in a pre-determined fate may also be why the Emporer rebuilt the Death Star in Return of the Jedi... His sight in the future was dominated by an obsession with realizing the creation of this ultimate weapon of power and destruction. Luke's destruction of the first Death Star simply allowed the Emporer, in his mind, to create a more powerful and defensive weapon to better accomodate his sight of "destiny." My point is, the Light Side prevails and human vitality and possibility reign and bring a balance, an awakening, within the characters' lives. Maybe i'm over-analyzing all this. Still, here's my point: I think George Lucas is caught up in the special effects of his films, but I also think he's gotten lost in trying to thematically place all of his characters. Forgive me, but I actually did like Jar-Jar Binks. I think his purpose within the series was to show an innocent rise in power throuh the luck of chance. But, other than that thematical reason, he really serves no purpose as a character. I liked him (strange as that may sound), but he was kinda pointless other than for the kids and comic relief. Deep down, beneath a very rusty surface, the Star Wars saga has a very human heart. Nevertheless, George Lucas should not stumble upon these themes by chance, as Jar-Jar has by his own fate. Just because we now have the ability to tell a story and let go of all boundaries doesn't mean that we HAVE a great story to tell. Please, Mr. Lucas, retain the integrity of your films as an art and as entertainment. You succeeded with flying colors in American Graffitti and A New Hope... even moreso with The Empire Strikes Back. We understand your purpose in repeating events (the bigger fish eating the smaller one... twice. The Death Star... twice.) but please remember to expose that human nature to the Star Wars films creatively, extending beyond the boundaries of repetition in storytelling. And above all, don't get mixed up with entertainment and the themes you aim to express. It seems more and more like these two things are becoming oil and water, shaken not stirred. When, in fact, they should be more like that blue goop that Luke got served from Aunt Beru. Episode 1 is fun, guys. It succeeds in entertaining, but left too much repetition & seemingly-dropped plot elements.... and too much bland acting. (as a result of no character development... not lack of talent and skill on the actors' part) Please, I'm on my knees, leave your characters with that sense of possibility and change; this is the one thing that still can be preserved for the future of the Star Wars universe. Maybe I've overdone all this and gone overboard and melodramatic with my analyzation. *shrug*.... And majorly fun, and at times, touching. Rock the house, Mr. Lucas, and keep it fun for us all, never forgetting to implement your themes beyond just plain ol' symbols and into the acting, script, and cinematography... Make art.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD, fun movie
Review: Okay...Okay... I did not enjoy it the way I enjoyed the original Star Wars. Perhaps that might have something to do with the fact that I was ten years old at the time. Maybe my standards have changed a bit over the past 25 years (at least I hope they have.) Yes the acting is mostly bad and mostly lost in the spectacular (if sometimes bloated) special effects. Hey, it's Star Wars people! Is Jar Jar annoying? Yes, to my mid-30-year-old mind. If I were 12 again? This might just be the coolest movie ever. Enjoy it for what it is. The extras alone are worth the purchase, and you get a pretty good kid's movie thrown in as a bonus.
Rating:
Summary: We's-a gonna die? This movie kinda did..
Review: Okay..lets get this out of the way right now...this movie did not live up to the hype...I was a *little* disappointed, to say the least....to compare this movie to the originals is a bit unfair, but the movie still didn't strike me the way I thought it would...whoever put the trailer together for the movie is a genius, because there's not much more substance to the movie than was in those 2 minutes....there were too many flaws in the movie, and I think George is getting away from the elements that made the Original Trilogy so popular....this one was SO overdone---from the annoying characters (Jar-Jar, you know I'm talking about you, pal!), to the goofy underwater seen that was totally out of place, to that ridiculous battle between the Gungans and the Droids (hello....can you say "Ewok Battle"?) The diologue was terrible...the plot was pretty bad (for a Star Wars movie)...oh yeah, and the kid who played Anakin (who in their right mind cast him? ) seriously needs to run into oncoming traffic (well, that was bad...but you get the point)...anyways, for a true Star Wars flick...this died on impact....HOWEVER, I gave this film 4 stars....because in itself, it IS a pretty good movie! The special effects are breath-taking, worth watching for them alone...and it also is good movie to buy because, although I kinda had a bitter-sweet taste from it...I was fascinated by it at the same time...it's a movie you can watch over and over and over and not get <too> tired of....
Rating:
Summary: get the widescreen if you can
Review: On april 4th, I bought the phantom menace in its standard format. I will say that I was slightly disapointed. Two days later, I went back and bought the collectors widescreen edition. This format is the way the movie should be seen. The standard format, cuts out a lot of the action that takes place on the sides of the screen. The widescreen is exactly the way it appeared in the theater, so you see all the action that is on the sides of the screen, and better than the standard format. Plus with the collectors edition you get a book and film strip which are not in the standard edition. So if you have the extra fifteen dollars, get the collectors edition. If not, the standard edition is still a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: TPM DVD Finally coming!!
Review: On October 16, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will begin the worldwide release of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace on DVD. The highly anticipated arrival of Episode I marks the first film of the Star Wars saga to debut on DVD. Enthusiastic fans of the film will be rewarded for their patience. Clocking in at about 480 minutes in length, it features over six hours of additional bonus material, including brand new visual effects sequences executed just for the DVD release. Here's what the two-disc set will feature: The Phantom Menace, mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality, presented in Anamorphic Widescreen and Dolby 5.1 Surround EX (English), Dolby 2.0 Surround (English and Spanish), and Dolby 2.0 Surround (French, for Canadian release) Audio commentary by Writer-Director George Lucas; Producer Rick McCallum; Co-Editor and Sound Designer Ben Burtt; Visual Effects Supervisors Scott Squires, John Knoll and Dennis Muren; and Animation Supervisor Rob Coleman, offering personal insights into the making of the film. Seven never-before-seen deleted scenes with full visual effects completed just for the DVD release. "The Beginning" -- an all-new hour-long documentary culled from over 600 hours of footage offering unprecedented access inside Lucasfilm and ILM during the making of Episode I. Multi-angle storyboard to animatic to finished film feature, that lets you flip through the various phases of development of key action sequences. Five behind-the-scenes featurettes exploring The Phantom Menace's storyline, designs, costumes, visual effects and fight scenes. The popular "Duel of the Fates" music video that debuted in 1999 All 12 parts of the Lynne's Diaries, the web documentaries that first appeared here at starwars.com. Galleries of theatrical posters, print campaign, and never-before-scene production photos. Downloaded by millions from starwars.com, the original theatrical teaser and launch trailers, plus seven TV spots including the "tone poems"
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