Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Full Screen Edition)

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Summary: must have (if your a hardcore starwars fan)
Review: even if you didn't like the movie compared to the previous Starwars flicks, if you are a hardcore star wars fan you basically have to buy this DVD. If you don't know why, then your not a hardcore starwars fan (not that there is anything wrong with that).

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Summary: Lucas' new toy
Review: One doesn't get far into the maze of extras on "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace" before figuring out that George Lucas and his co-workers made this DVD as much for themselves as their audience. Lucas' glee is evident as he introduces a handful of deleted scenes, all completed at significant expense for the DVD edition. The missing footage is, of course, every bit as good as what remained. But the real treasure here is the insiders documentary "The Beginning: Making Episode I." Director Jon Shenk had all-areas access to the production process, including casting, rehearsals, set and model building, filming and post-production. On disc, "The Phantom Menace's" CGI effects seem more focused and believable, with fewer blue-screen disconnects. The small-screen treatment somehow seems to amplify the movie's appeal to children. The thrilling Jedi knights martial arts scenes, however, lose much of their impact compared with the theatrical presentation. Colors are vibrant and stable, with deep-space blacks, dazzling whites and nary a speck or a sign of wear. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX mix keeps all speakers jumping, especially the subwoofer. Rear sound effects are active and more playful than on most discs, but still tend toward the predictable. The lack of DTS option will disappoint many audiophiles. (Other downbeat note: There is no option to mute Jar Jar Blinks.) Lucas and some of his key collaborators provide a commentary track that's heavy on effects and light on humans. Easter eggs yield a blooper reel, deleted scenes from the deleted scenes docu (!) and a few outtakes. All in all, an essential for "Star Wars" fans.

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Summary: Episode 1 - DVD Special Editon
Review: I have seen most of this 2 DVD set, and find that the added scenes in the Pod Race and the Air Taxi scene on Coruscont make it a lot better and closer to the novel. The behind the scenes extras on Disc 2 are well worth the price I paid for it at my local BJ's Whole Sale Club (about the same price as listed for this DVD (used) on Amazon.com)
I had rented this DVD set before buying it and saw most of the
special features on Disc 2, my only problem was with the version selected to view as for some reason the names of the Directors involved in making the film,(George Lucas & company) would come up on screen as though I had selected the audio commentery feature of the Disc.
Those who put this down and call it a ploy for marketing Toys and Action Fiqures are out of thier minds and just don't get it, though I have to admit that the discrepency between Episodes I & IV in relation to Obi-Wan's memory of meeting and knowing R2D2 & C3PO when Luke Skywalker first meets him can be explained, as: 1.)C3PO did not have his outer shell on him when they first met, and that Obi-Wan was correct in saying "I don't seem to remember ever owning an Astro Droid" because he never did own one. 2.)The Droids were never introduced to him after he rescued Luke Skywalker from the Sand People in Episode IV. 3.) The R2 series of Astro Droids look a lot a like with only differences in shapes and colors of the units, and how would Obi-Wan know that this R2 unit was the same one from long ago when he was still an apprentice to Qui-Gon as was shown in Episode I.
All in all I say that this is a good Disc to own, rent it for yourself and see, if you like it by it it's worth the price for any True Star Wars fan.

Rating:
Summary: Huge Disapointment
Review: I was REALLY looking forward to this movie when it came out. I am a big Star Wars fan (watched the movies hundreds of times, read the books, etc.) and had been watching the reports for another movie comming on its way. I rushed to see it and after the movie was over I sat there wondering "What the heck was that?" It was terrible. The whole story was ment to run on effects instead of a story line. Though it did follow the story I feel as though much of it was thrown together just around the computers and what they can do. The guy with the long ears (sorry don't know his name) was compleatly anoying and though he was there to be funny he was FAR from funny. Why does he need to be there? In the original Star Wars, there were no chars. added just for comic relief. They were funny on their own. I am not even sure if I will waste my time on the next one. It will probably be a waste of my time and 6 buck.

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Summary: Stars Wars Perfected
Review: This is Star Wars, full of action, droids and with a minimum of thought--except wehen Anakin says goodbye to his mother. I can't wait for the next one. The hesitation of he Jedi Council about Anakin is superb, and the blundering bad guys are perfect, and the pure evil of Darth Moll (trivia--he has 11 horns) reminds one of Iago. There are a thousand small things, some of which are documented in the how I made it disc, but this is a buy it, not a rent it, DVD. Just the sound is worth it, like the Matrix.

Rating:
Summary: Mostly a good DVD, but some gripes
Review: Ok, the weaknesses of Phantom Menace are well known, so I won't go into pointing out the weaknesses in it. The DVD has some really nice features, particularly alot of the bonus material that was added. Still, some of the menus are so filled with flash that it slows down getting to what you want to see (For example rather than give you a good decent list of the deleted scenes, you have to view the name of the scenes one at a time). My biggest gripe is the fact that Lucas changed the film on the DVD so that it is different than the one on VHS or appeared in the theater. While the additional scenes were nice, a DVD that does not explicitly name itself as a director's cut should at least give the viewer the option to see the film the way it was originally presented (for an example of how that is done very effectively see the Abyss DVD, while I much prefer the Director's Cut, it is nice to be able to see the original).

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Summary: A great Reason to own a DVD Player
Review: First let me say that I am a huge Star Wars fan. I have been since I saw the first one at a drive-in when it first came out. Do I feel that Star Wars is the best thing in the world? No. Do I feel it is great entertainment? Heck yes. And this DVD proves it. Packed with some of the best extra features I have ever seen on a DVD. Also, the best picture and sound I have ever seen or heard. Now, if you hate Star Wars. Then why are you reading this. You will only hate the DVD. But if you liked or loved the movie. You will love this DVD. Just the "In the beginning" documentary is worth the price of the DVD. I have sat for hours watching the extra features and I still need about another hour or two to finish watching them all.

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Summary: Quit bashing Episode I!
Review: This is not a review so much as a vent. Yeah Jar Jar is really annoying, that's what he was supposed to be. The fact that Qui Gon chose for him to accompany them was just as annoying to the audience as it was for Obi-1. That was the whole point, we identify with Obi-1 in his development as a Jedi Knight. What would have happened if there would have been no Jar Jar? No one would have known about the Gungan's grand army and they could have never taken back Naboo. The point here is obvious - everyone has value and potential. Qui-Gon saw something hidden that Obi-wan and the rest of us were ready to overlook. (. . . )If we are big enough to overlook minor flaws in people we may discover some real intelligence and value. That's what is so great about this movie, to really enjoy it, you have to alter your own views a little and look past your own bias and preconceptions and develop some genuine tolleration. And that, after all, is the key to really getting along with people anyway isn't it?

Rating:
Summary: AWSOME!!!
Review: Boy what can i say..this dvd simply ROCKS ...im a Star Wars fan for the most part of my life (im 26),i liked TPM but didn't loved it like the original trilogy...this dvd is packed with featured unlike seen on any other dvd even better then T2 and The Abyss,if you are not a Star Wars fan u just got to have this for the maximum sound and picture quality,if you are Star Wars fan..well...you probably have it already ;)
now all there is to do is to wait for the original (and improve) trilogy on dvd...(...)

Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST DVDs ever created.
Review: Besides the movie and the usual Star Wars saga, this DVD has TONS of extras that will appeal to anyone. The deleted scenes have been reworked in the studio and look like they could, and should, belong in the movie!! The 'making of' documentary was unbelievable!! It really gives the Star Wars fan an inside look at how things fall together, or fall apart. I gained a new appreciation of the movie after seeing the DVD. It boggles the mind how Lucas worked from nothing to being able to build this incredibly realistic universe complete with intense sub-plots and stories. I gotta say that I spent a good 3 hours just viewing a part of the special features and still have more to go. AWESOME says it all.