Rating: 
Summary: How can you possibly be dissapointed with this film.
Review: George Lucas has finally brought us back to how to whole Star Wars saga begins, and he lets us see it first-hand. A young Obi Wan Kenobi and his master Qui Gon Jin uncover the plot by the evil Darth Sidious to break down the Republic by manipulating the new Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, played by the same actor who played his evil Emperor Palpatine character in the first trilogy, Ian McDiarmid. They also discover a boy, young Anakin Skywalker, strong with the Force, and promising as the prophecized "one who will bring balance to the Force." It is very exciting for any Star Wars fan to see how it all began. The movie answers so many questions that begin to make the original saga make more sense. Where did Anakin begin, and what weaknesses brought him to the Dark Side? How did the Sith return? The movie is outstanding. I haven't even mentioned the special effects yet, but I have just one word for them: So-realistic-it-is-mind-boggling. Never has a Star Wars Episode seen such amazing special effects. And virtually every camera shot has some digital effect applied. One must applaud all of the cast for their oustanding work in interacting with their digital co-stars. Just a couple minutes into the film, and you don't even consider that the Battle Droids aren't real. ILM has done such a fantastic job that you completely accept them as real. The DVD is definately the best DVD I have ever seen. An hour-long behind-the-scenes documentary, feature length commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, trailers, photos, making-of featurettes, and more. There is enough entertainment and information about Star Wars to keep any movie fan occupied for hours. This is a MUST BUY!
Rating: 
Summary: Et tu, Lucas?
Review: George Lucas has like every other director in the USA, bowed to comercialism. The Phantom Menace was made, first and foremost, to make money and attract a big audience. Queen Amidala, Darth Maul, and Jar Jar Binks all looked like they had been made with action figures in mind. Lucas also threw in many characters from the original trilogy that contributed nothing to the film, like C-3PO and R2-D2. Perhaps the worst attempt to attract an audience, namely kids, was the casting of Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker. Terrible! The special affects in the film were stunning, creating beautiful city-scapes and underwater worlds. Unfortunately, Lucas overdid it. The sea mosters in the underwater scenes look like they were made out of legos, and the CGI characters Jar Jar Binks and Watto look like cartoons. Lucas made the sad mistake of using special affects as a means to an end, rather than a tool. On the plus side, the pod race and the battles at the end were thrilling. Overall, the Phantom Menace is a typical modern action-adventure film, made to make money, not to be timeless or thought provoking. The Phantom Menace has some good material, but lacks the magic that the original trilogy had. Only buy it if you're a die-hard Star Wars fan.
Rating: 
Summary: DVD confusion
Review: George Lucas has repeatedly said that he is waiting until he completes all six movies in the SW trilogy's before he release a DVD containing them all. This was a fine addition to the Star Wars saga, the kids movie of the prequel trilogy. I look forward to the next release in a few years which promises to continue the story in a tradition more akin to the originals.
Rating:
Summary: Great work GL!
Review: George Lucas has written a fabulous script for TPM! This is by far the best movie I've ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest "Star Wars" movie ever!
Review: George Lucas is a genius! This is by far the best movie ever! The only thing I don't like is that there's no DVD yet. But Lucas is busily at work on Episode II right now. He wants to make the DVD version as good as possible, so he's waiting to finish Episode III (2005). Jar Jar Binks is the funniest, most interesting "Star Wars" character yet. I don't understand some people. I can't wait to own this movie!
Rating: 
Summary: MARKETING GENIUS !
Review: George Lucas is a marketing genius. He build a fanastic climax to a history that is, at his best, a simple one. Full of special effects, there are several unforgivable flaws: 1) the movie is clearly made for everyone from ages 9 to 80. No deaths, nothing politically "Incorrect"; 2) Jar Jar Binks is disgusting; 3) THe boy who plays young Anakin is as bad as actor as he can be. I don't understand how he was cast.
Rating:
Summary: Bad movie, great DVD
Review: George Lucas is a punk. He kept saying how he had this movie written and ready to go for years. Fifteen years after Return of the Jedi he gives us an average Sci-fi flick. But despite the weak plot, annoying characters, and complete absence of testosterone, this DVD is a must buy... There are several extended scenes completed just for the DVD, a plethora of promotional material, and reference quality sound, but the crown jewel of this package is the behind the scenes documentary. Not the typical talking head featurette, the hourlong program features some "colorful" reactions of the actors and producers to weather and casting. It also reveals exactly how adamant Lucas was about a creature named Jar Jar. Hopefully he didn't finish the script for episode 2 over a weekend.
Rating:
Summary: As Good As The Original, But Different
Review: George Lucas is finally realizing his dream of telling the "complete" store. The special effects in this movie are top notch. The characters are well portrayed and the acting was great. Though a lot was computer generated, you could really feel like you were part of the action. And for those who say Jar Jar Binx was annoying...well, I beg to disagree. He brought a measure of humor to the movie that would allow even the youngest of viewers to be drawn into this magnificent film. I loved the new characters -- especially Jar Jar -- and can't wait to see what Lucas has in store for us next.
Rating:
Summary: The good is very good, the bad is horrible.
Review: George Lucas is hard to figure. Examples of George's senility: the Gungan leader, Anakin's flying hook-nosed slave lord, Yoda, the Trade Federation baddies, and of course Jar Jar (who's so far out ahead in first place that he almost makes everything else moot). Examples of George's brilliance: the visual effects on the whole (the feeling of expanse, whether in space, on Coruscant, out in the open, underwater...it's all breathtaking), the fight scenes and choreography (absolutely spectacular), the action scenes (pod race, space battle, etc.). And unfortunately, this trend isn't entirely new to this movie...if you watch the originals again, you'll see that senility gradually creeping up, starting with the Mos Eisly aliens in IV and culminating with the Ewoks in VI. I wish Mr. Lucas would just recognize what works...he has 4 of these babies under his belt already. But no, even in the face of as large an outcry as could exist against Jar Jar, he's still insistent on including the character in the next film. I hope it's for good reason considering what a detrimental effect the character had on this film...if Jar Jar isn't a pivotal part of the upcoming plot, then his inclusion will be practically the equivalent of George flipping off his fans. Anyway, lose the attempts at cutest aliens, and give the visual effects team and choreographers a raise, and we're three-quarters there. Have I mentioned how jaw-dropping the saber fight scenes are? (I hope Ray Park can be given more Star Wars work...his athletic talents add immeasurably to those scenes!) On the subject of the DVD, it does have some of the highest quality on the market...both the presentation and the sheer value of the extras is incredible, especially for such an amazingly reasonable price. I'm not much one for extras in general, but the ones on this disc (like the deleted scenes...incredible!) make a very strong argument. A sincere bow to the Lucasfilm for the value it offers fans with this DVD. Here's to hoping Episode 2 (my potential favorite of them all, synopsis-wise) finally meet's this franchise's incredibly high potential.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film, Greedy Lucas
Review: George Lucas knew very well that making VHS edition is much cheaper then the DVD. So he made 1.5 million of these he knows will sell like hotcakes. Then he will make the DVD and everyone will buy that too(rightfully so). He is just trying to squeeze the bucks out from those who are impatient to get the movie for home-viewing. Only our patience for the DVD will defeat his greed. As If he needs the money, he is already a multi-hundred millionaire.
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