Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointed not on DVD
Review: While the movie was great, I would've liked the home version better if it was on DVD. Unfortunately, Lucas sunk so much capital into the Laserdisc, I'm sure he still holds a grudge against DVD. Nevertheless, the film is fun to watch if for no other reason than the effects.
Rating: 
Summary: Call him George "Demographic marketshare" Lucas
Review: While the original Star Wars series wasn't a revelation in story-telling (It was a little too soap opera-ey), it had many things that people identified with. They liked the "scruffy" rogue, the country boy who does good, the elegant and feisty princess and the comic relief. Lucas takes parts of his first trilogy and stuffs it to make the Phantom Menace. The space battle is a pale comparison to the "star war" in ROTJ, the pod race seems just like the forest chases in ROTJ, the dirtiness and the hopelessness of Tatooine takes place again like it did first Star Wars: A New Hope. Having robbed his first trilogy for ideas, he creates bland characters. Other than Qui-Gon Jinn and Princess Amidala, the others feel awkward in their roles. The worst of course is Jar-Jar who only purpose is to do cute things (such as bump into things, get in trouble and do cutsy spirals before jumping into water). The unfortunate thing is that Jar-Jar will return in the next movie (Lucas, try listening to your fans instead of your marketing group). The story revolves around the Trade Federation, an organization that has political aspirations. It has created a blockade around the small planet of Naboo and the Supreme Chancellor has sent two Jedi Knights to take care of the situation. Lord Sidious, who is sick and tired of waiting around tells his underlings to begin the invasion of Naboo (for what purpose, I don't know). So faster than the Iraqis left Kuwait, Naboo is taken over and occupied by Federation Idiot Droids that seem to say "Roger Roger" over and over again. The princess, the jedi and silly Binks escape to warn the Republic senate but lose their Hyperdrive and land in Naboo for repairs. There they meet Anakin and his mother. While it is his mother's destiny to be a slave forever (?), Anakin's is to be a jedi knight, because of the kaka that Jedi Jinn has made up (sorry...Lucas took a fatal step with this mitichlorian mumbo jumbo) and the fact that Shmi won't admit to who the father is. Lord Sidious sends the devil himself, but Satan (called Darth Maul here) has forgotton to wear his sandals and the good guys get away. So after being sidetracked with an irrelevant pod-race, the mission continues and they reach the magnificent planet of Coruscant to persuade the Senators that the Trade Federation are actually bad people. After Chancellor Vellorum proves that he should have acted like Wilson from "the Limey", not Pricilla Queen of the Desert, he is ousted and Princess Amidala pushes Senator Palpatine (in a big conflict of interest) as the new Supreme Chalupa...sorry Chancellor. So with the politicking all done, the "rebels" go back to Naboo to turn some droids into end tables. Problem is, they have no army. Enter the Gungans, who are basically like a third cousin from the backwoods of Arkansas. Their king (who looks like a refugee from Mardi Gras) gets fooled into helping the people that like to look down on them, so the war begins and Gungans are the front line. Of course, don't expect the Naboo (whose planet is named after them) to do anything but supervise. I won't give away the ending but I'm sure that anyone reading this already knows what is going to happen. So why am I giving this 3 stars instead of the 1 it deserves? Because Lucas is a marketing genius and has turned by mind into goo. He already has me trying to pre-order tickets for the next Star Wars coming out with a wave of his hand. I am and will always be a Star Wars slave....I just wish George Lucas would make the pain of seeing Jar Jar Binks a little more bearable....Rating: C+
Rating:
Summary: only DVD can possibly do justice
Review: while the phantom menace is really a great film only DVD can do it the justice it needs. it was awesome in theaters and the only way to preserve the same quality would be to put the film out on DVD. the vhs tape looks pretty awful when compared to DVD movies. DVD would add many more pixels to the screen therefore increasing resolution quality and the sound would sound so much better if it were off of a digital soundtrack. just imagine how many extras would be on any star wars DVD....it'd probably take a few days just to look through it all. and lucas, one who normally DEMANDS that his films are put in the BEST quality possible....decides NOT to put his film on DVD but rather vhs, which is basically the worst quality out there. while it's not a bad movie...actually it is an excellent work of art, but there's no vhs tape that can do justice to it. all the high resolution video/audio that the producers went so far to achieve and make possible gets all but lost in this transition to vhs tape. LUCAS SHOULD REALLY WAKE UP AND DECIDE TO GIVE IN TO THE ENTITY THAT IS- DVD
Rating: 
Summary: Eye candy
Review: While this episode has had it's critic. We should be reminded this was not intended to be "Gone with the Wind". We should, however, take this movie for what it was "eye candy"! It does also begin to build nicely the background information we will need to know as our loveable little Anie becomes the villianous Darth Vader. While the story lines do conflict, occasionally! Recall in episode V, Obewon tells Luke to seek out Yoda "the Jedi master who instructed me". He must have forgot the time he spent with Qwi Gon Jin. However, we can and should look pass those minor Faux Pauxs and recognize the nearly flawless special effects. As well as some new and very loveable characters. Not to mention some interesting social commentary, like a planet that is one very big city. Think about the palpatations that some of our environmantalist fiends must have had at that thought. Finally, this is a movie that I am extremely happy to have in my movie library. I might also add this is a movie that will, I think, stand on it's own as a movie classic in the truest sense of the term. Ok I'll stop drinking my George Lucas Kool-Aid, but if you want a relaxing evening at home with popcorn, your family or a friend, and a very good family friendly action adventure kinda movie it would be tough to do better.
Rating:
Summary: Great Treatment of a Less Than Perfect Film.
Review: While this film has it's disappointments, (the idiotic Jar Jar Binks and overly cutesie Anakin) it is still a visually stunning film with great special effects. In many ways the DVD is better than the film. Don't get me wrong, I liked more about the film than I disliked but, the DVD is an excellent transfer with nice extras. There are a few hidden "easter eggs" which show outtakes and some humorous additions. If you even faintly enjoyed this film then you'll be pleased with the DVD. Of course, we're all waiting for the original three films to get the DVD treatment. One of the beauties about DVD is the ability to freeze the action and clearly see what's in the picture. You may want to do that in a few scenes here. In the Senate scenes you can use the still action to check out some of the characters slipped in here...like the "E.T.'s" etc,. I personally like to skip to the Darth Maul scenes. Great stuff. For all of it's faults, I still enjoyed the movie. I think we tend to be a bit harsh on the newer films because of the comparisons to the original trilogy. Again, the digital transfer is top notch as is the sound quality. If you have a home theater setup then you'll really enjoy playing this baby.
Rating:
Summary: Good Beginning
Review: While this film may not be the best in the Star Wars series, it is definitely a great way to begin the story. It brings back to life the old pleasures we remember from the original trilogy, but introduces us to new stories. You must own this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: While this is not the best Star Wars ever, it still is one of the best. The storyline is great, almost all the characters are great, and the special effects, well... like from a galaxy far, far away. My only complaint is Jar Jar Binks. While JJB moved things along in the movie, at least we could've seen some redemption in this movie (ie. standing up to the robots and fighting bravely instead of cowardly). All in all this is a great movie everyone should have.
Rating:
Summary: Decent entertainment but short on plot
Review: While this movie certaintly provided entertainment in the form of cutting-edge computer generated graphics, it sorely lacked a strong, convincing plot to give the movie PURPOSE. While some may correctly point out that it is intended to be a prequel, this does not mean that it should be devoid of a plot with substance. Overall, the movie certainly has merits (graphics, cast selection), it is riddled with too many flaws to overlook. This, combined with an anemic plot, reduces its rewatchability and renders it sub-par when compared with the original Star Wars series.
Rating:
Summary: Can't top the original
Review: While this movie is filled with awesome visual effects that will leave most happy, it seemed to lose something that made the original movies so memorable. Still, true Star Wars fans will be pleased.
Rating: 
Summary: Episode IV please
Review: Who cares about this horrible movie? Would Han Solo ever have made fart jokes like Jar Jar? For that matter, if I never see Jar Jar again it will be too soon. What a disappointment. Please release IV, V and VI on DVD asap! (and preferably the original versions of those, too)
| 
