Rating: 
Summary: The Power of Dark Side
Review: I'll be brief: this movie had no acting, plot, romance or humor. Special effects alone are not enough to make a movie interesting, especially a film with as much potential as Star Wars.As the initial installment in the series, this movie could have done a MUCH better job of introducting the main characters. I still think a real prologue to the series is necessary, that details the reasons WHY Palpatine moves to the Dark Side and a good story behind Anakin's mother. The plot was very weak: the conflict between Naboo and the Federation was obviously contrived and was only of marginal importance to the real issues of Anakin's early days and Palpatine's move for power. Many people have said that all of the Star Wars movies are really kids' movies, and that Jar Jar was consistent with episodes IV, V and VI. If so, why does this CG anamoly come across as excessive juvenile and irrelevant to the plot? Lucas should hire a new director and some real writers to help with Episode II. It's a shame to mar the spectacular story of the first three films.
Rating: 
Summary: Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace
Review: In writing this review i will compare The Phantom Menace to the other Star Wars movies. First off the sound. The music in the Phantom Menace is mostly disapointing, besides the excellent 'Duel of Fates' the music is either repeated or not very good. 'The Imperial March' from Empire is far better than 'Duel of Fates'. In terms of story The Phantom Menace is fairly adequate, the plot is very difficult to detect and some people may think that it doesn't have one. In terms of set pieces i think that The Phantom Menace has only two real exciting moments, the lightsaber duel in the reactor core and the deployment of the droids onto the battlefield. These set pieces are both mediocre when compared to: the battle of Hoth, the asteroid chase, the duel on Cloud City, The first attack run, the second attack run, the space battle in Jedi and the speeder bike chase. I really didn't like the podrace. Now, here comes the big surprise, Even the effects aren't as good. I may sound mad but the models and puppets they used for the classic trilogy are for more realistic than The Phantom Menace's CGI effects. Overall The Phantom Menace comes third in the Star Wars quadology, lagging behind the exciting and deep Empire, the exciting and not so deep Jedi but still ahead of the not so exciting and not so deep A New Hope.
Rating: 
Summary: Do not buy this!
Review: Yes, it is a great special effects flick. But do not buy this VHS tape! Show your displeasure and maybe Lucas will cave in with a DVD format release.
Rating:
Summary: The typical cinematic let down.
Review: This movie is like all the rest that come out every year--great special effects, horrible plot and character development. There was little if any human dimension throughout most of the film (the end climax between Obi Wan and Darth Maul was the only captivating part--it had a reason to watch, it had a human dimension to it). So if you are able to entertain yourself with nothing more than dazzling special effects and think that good character development only muddles up a film, then you'll probably enjoy this. Otherwise you'll see it for the tasteless hype that it is.
Rating: 
Summary: UUUGHH A dumb kiddie movie!
Review: I was and am a huuuuuuge fan of the original trilogy. They were great intelligent films, with adult themes that kids could enjoy because of cool action and neat special effects. They had a grand and epic story of the ages. Episode one is really just a kids movie that some adults might think contains some neat special effects -- but little else. I could hardly beleive that after waiting umpteen years for epsisode 1 that I would be looking at my watch and wondering when it would be over. It just could not hold my attention because the script read like a Saturday morning GIJoe or Transformers or Thundercats cartoon of old. Simple, ridiculous story that makes no sense except for kids to learn that good beats evil with action-figure-like power. Unlike the original trilogy, the action was not clever and was completely unbeleiveable. The heros win the day because Jar Jar trips on a pile of blue balls, accidentily releasing them into the ranks of the enemy troop. Next, the little boy Anakin hides in a spaceship, hits the auto-pilot (keep in mind the experienced pilots can hardly even get their ships out of the hanger let alone hold up in battle), and viola! he lands right in the middle of the control ship (there are about 50 of them, but he just happens to fly into the right one) and shoots a few times and the entire enemy fleet is destroyed. How conveinent. Maybe some techincal trekkies will argue that Anakin has the "force" and can do anything, but the lame plot device of invoking the force when the writers cannot think of a clever action sequence is no substitute for the clever action that should have been. I won't even talk about Jar Jar or how lame the overall character development was, I'll leave that to you guys. Great for little kids who just want to see their favorite toys on the tv, but lame for discerning adult admirerers of the originals
Rating:
Summary: Who ever didn't like this Movie needs to study up!
Review: Any one who thought that Episode One wasn't very good needs to do some studying and movie watching! This peice of Cinematography was in perfect line with Episodes 4-6. These Episodes, starting with 4, all lead up to the climactic Episode 6. That is exactly what Mr. Lucas was trying to do with Eoisode one. Granted it had less action than Episode 4, but who cares. It was a Star Wars Movie! The first to be released in my life time! I was ecstatic to see it and thought it was great. Any one who did not thimk so needs to watch the older movies and read up on Star Wars history. Untill they do this they will believe Episode One was not up to par. May The Force Be With You!
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: star bores 1
Review: where's the plot? prequels don't make since as far as story development. we alreay know the important stuff, so why take us backwards and force us to watch it. i'll tell you why... easy money. it is obvious luca$ doesn't have anywhere to go with this storyline. i will admit that the special effects were good and john williams still has it but, i would only buy this if it were on dvd. sorry george, not interested.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest Star Wars out of the 4.
Review: The best movie. I know some people put down Jake Loyd's acting but he is just a kid and I think he did extreamly well . Jar Jar steals the show with his funny accent and his clumsieness (if there is such word) . Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan did awesome , Queen Amidala / Padme did good, and Darth Maul is so cool with that lightsaber and those teeth . The special effect are amazing Jar-Jar is all CG and looks like a real alein . A definite buy!
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars Commercial
Review: I would rate this movie 3 stars if it was the first in the series rather than the fourth and a continuation I've been waiting 20 years for. This movie is nothing more than a commercial for Star Wars toys and merchandise. A waste of talent (Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, etc.)I was really excited to share this movie with My five year old daughter who had really enjoyed the tapes of the first three, I think she got alot more enjoyment out of Toy Story 2. The special effects were so-so (especially being that it came out the same year as The Matrix) Save Your money or buy the first three. If Your a Star Wars fan You will enjoy it, but for the rest of us its just a lesson of selling out to make money. Shame on You Mr. Lucas!
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