Rating: 
Summary: A Major Disappointment
Review: Two reasons not to buy this movie: 1) It's not on DVD, and until Lucas gets with the future and puts it on DVD then do not bother to buy the primitive VHS tape. Lucas is trying to double-dip by have Star Wars fanatics buy the VHS when they really want the DVD, and then a year later put out the DVD, thus getting a double-charge from consumers. It's crass commercialism at its worst, but then what would one expect from Lucas. 2) And more importantly, this movie was abyssmal. The three way fight scene was the only cool part of the movie. The acting was terrible and more wooden than Long John Silver's peg leg. Jake Lloyd's "acting" as Anakin was just painful to watch. The dialog was childish. The directing and pacing were uneven. The computer special effects looked like computer special effects and did not suspend my disbelief in the least. The movie was painfully cliched. And finally, Jar Jar Binks must have been the most insipid character in popular entertainment since Barney. Except for Darth Maul and one fight scene, the movie was just terrible. I went to see the movie with very low expectations and it could not even meet those. Avoid this trash.
Rating:
Summary: Bad Movie All Together
Review: Undoubtedly, this is the worst Star Wars movie of the four. It is pointless, silly and pretty much stupid. The plot is somewhat confusing and the characters speak English with such an accent, nobody understands them. Jar Jar was another bad idea. What moron at Lucasfilm's thought of him? He was completely designed for kids yet many fans are kids AS WELL AS Adults. Jar Jar had absolutely no point in the movie. He could have easily been drafted out of it. This movie all together was a bust. The only reason it wasn't a flop was because it carried the prestigious name STAR WARS. If George Lucas had brought this script to Fox Studios 22 years ago, they would have rejected him along with every other movie company in the world.
Rating:
Summary: No. Just No.
Review: Unfortunatly, I am not allowed to select a "no star" opition, but that is what this movie diserves. Loud special effects DO NOT make movie. There was somethings missing from this one, shall we call it writng? It's a shame George, you have to go and make you millions, hmmm? Coun't leave as-is alone could ya? Maybe next tiem you will think twice before scarring a classic trilogy for the rest of us!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best film events since the originals!
Review: Unlike some of the reviewers, I must say that I quite enjoyed this film. I wasn't alive at the time of the original three, so I don't know about hype statistics, (E1 probably wins). I applaud George Lucas in his ability to surprise us with a handful of somewhat fresh young faces. In a way, it's better, because this isn't their only great film, ( like Mark Hammil). I was surprised at Naboo's diversity. I was also dissapointed that Qui-Gon Jin, ( the long awaited mentor of Obi-Wan) could not make it to E2. I think that Episode One is another film in the great line of George Lucas' masterpiece's, and that instead of slandering it for not being like the original, praise it for being a fresh new start to an old myth!
Rating:
Summary: At the top of my favorite feature-packed DVDs!
Review: Up until this DVD was released "T2: The Ultimate Edition" was the #1 DVD on my list. But then "The Phantom Menace" came out and I was like, uhm, push "T2" to #2, because we have a winner. This DVD has everything, well for the exception of the option of both viewing formats, this DVD is great. Most of us have seen the widescreen version at some point or another like at a friend's house on VHS, but must we have to suffer thru it for this. Oh well, let bygones beat bygones, I say. The best thing about this DVD is that Lucas has put some of the deleted scenes into the feature itself. In case you were wondering the time-length of the movie, it clocks in at around 2hrs and 20mins. The major noticable addition was the Podrace scene (one of the best scenes in movie history along with the charriot scene in "Ben-Hur"), because you don't see (SPOILER AHEAD!:) Anakin fixing his Podracer in the original, you don't see the intros to all the racers in the original, so you get more footage, that will save you time for switching the discs over and over again. But they didn't put EVERY deleted scene in the movie, some were left on the 2nd disc in the Deleted Scenes section which is presented in documentary form with explanations for being deleted and behind-the-scenes of some, or just watch them alone. Another big plus is that you get to see the entire "Duel of the Fates" music video that aired on MTV in May '99 (the year of Ricky Martin, *sticks finger in throat*), and the film-making process from writing the script to the cutting-room-floor. Some things were left out, like the possibility of having "The Phantom Cut" that was spoken of so much in Summer '01 as an easter egg, or having an interactive choice of having Jar-Jar be removed. But hey, what we have on the DVD is good enough. The art on the discs is magnificent: Disc One: Contains a real close-up of Darth Maul's hideous face.
Disc Two: Containg the end battle of Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Well, ciyonara. Hopefully Lucas will release the rest of the saga on DVD soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Intended for children
Review: Upon voicing their disappointment with this movie, Star Wars fans were told, "It's a child's movie." Why weren't we made aware of that *before* it was released? Very simply, it would have hurt sales. As with most Star Wars fans, I sort of expected the proverbial "second coming" with this movie. Needless to say, I was disappointed. I was happy to see Star Wars back in action, but I was disappointed with the movie itself. One thing to take into account is that the original Star Wars trilogy revolutionized movie making. In their day, those movies were quite astonishing. Having raised the "bar" so high, it is impossible for Lucas to recapture that magic we all felt in the late 70s and early 80s. Another thing to take into account is that most of us were quite young when we saw the original trilogy, making us more impressionable than we are now. My main complaints with this movie are the most famous: the clumsy reptilian oaf who mispronounces everything; the apparent racial stereotypes. The basis of Jar Jar's personality is obvious, as well as the other villians in the movie (Asian, Italian, Jewish accents, etc.). But, to be fair, Lucas also provided a few African American actors with roles as "good guys," such as Samuel L. Jackson as a Jedi. Lucas is a genius with special effects and coming up with nifty names that roll right off the tongue, but he's not so good finding good dialogue for his actors, or for even finding good actors; often, these actors come across as cardboard. I think that the most interesting character in the movie is Darth Maul . . . so, anyone who has seen this movie will know why I'm disappointed. If you are a Star Wars fan of old (1970s/80s) you will probably be confused by your feelings for this movie: you will be glad that Star Wars is back in action, but will be a little disappointd by the movie. One thing that can help to keep this movie in perspective is to remember that it really is, well, intended for children. Apparently, children love Jar Jar Binks . . . my nephew does.
Rating:
Summary: Very Bad
Review: Very bad Sci-Fi. Take away the special effects (which were done in the 70's) and this would have been a B-rated movie playing at 1:00 am on cable. In the first Star Wars Lucas introduced a universe with great potential. Since the Ewoks it has been nothing but a marketing plot.(Do I need to bring up Jar Jar Binks?) In the next film perhaps Lucas will start making good Sci-Fi again.
Rating:
Summary: Where is the DVD version?
Review: Very disappointing to see there is no dvd version planned. I don't even own a vcr any longer. If you have listened to any movie on both dvd & vhs formats you will understand my grief---I can just imagine how spectacular the sight & sound would be. George, it's time to get into the digital age wouldn't you think?
Rating: 
Summary: Movie Review, but unless the DVD has no Jar Jar...
Review: Very Disappointing. I am a die hard Star Wars fan, which is why I believe I was so disappointed with this movie. I ended up seeing it twice on opening day, but fell asleep during the hour and a half "plot- building" portion of the movie the second time around. (Jedis fly to Naboo. Jedis kill droids. Jedis imitate Jaques Cousteau. Jedis rescus Queen. Jedis fly to Tatooine. Jedis watch boy in pod race. Jedis watch horribly over dramatic acting of future dark lord of the sith. Jedis fly to Corcusant...) In my opinioin, this was a passable movie. It was entertaining at times, but I will not be seeing it thirteen times in the theater as I did for the first Star Wars. I did see it a second time, but only because I had already prepurchased the tickets. If it was up to me, I would have seen the Matrix a third time instead. What was wrong: * Lack of Epic Scale - If Episodes IV, V, and VI were comparable to World Wars I, II, and III (whenever that is going to be) then Episode I was equivalent to a civil war in a small South American village. The first three movies were EPICS, they told stories of good vs evil on a galactic scale. Episode I told of a minor skirmish of political beauracracy that was very uninteresting. * Lack of Memorable characters, droids, vehicles - The first series gave us Luke, Lei, Han, Darth Vader, C-3P0, R2-D2, Obi-Wan, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Millenium Falcoln, the Death Star, Star Destroyers, X-wings, Y-wings, etc...This first movie gave us Obi-Wan. There are more characters and machinery that I would never want to see again, than see return. From a merchandising standpoint, how does Lucas expect to make any money of those ridiculous looking donut shaped warships? In particular, Darth Maul is a particularly weak character. The only time he shows up, is when it is time to deliver some much needed action to a dragging plot. There should never be comparissons between Maul and Vader, as they don't even come close to comparing. Vader is the embodiement of presence and character, whereas Maul is just some face painted goon. * Terribly annyoing characters - Anakin, Jar Jar, anyone from the Trade Federation...Hopefully all of these characers will be dragged off and shot during the time between this movie and the next. * Horribly mangled English - Jar Jar, anyone from Naboo who was not a human, anyone from the Trade Federation, anyone from Tatooine who was not a human...When you can't understand what is being said, it really is hard to develop a plot. * Awful acting - Anakin, every single extra or bit character...on the bright side, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman did a very good job, Ewan in particular. However, all of the bit characters were terrible. In particular, the Naboo fighter pilots stood out to me as terrible method acting. (Note to future script writers and bit actors: whenever you speak aloud your observations or your thoughts, chances are yor acting will be unbelievable.) * Bastardizing legends - Jedi explanation of the Force in Star Wars, "A universal energy field that binds us all together, guiding our actions". Jedi explanation of the Force in Episiode I, "A bacterial infection"...I much prefered the religious and mythical overtones of the force in the first three movies to the genetic engineering of Episode I. Question: If we know that "midichlorines" create Force sensative individuals, why aren't there a couple billion genetically engineered Jedis out there? * Transparaent "surprises" - About five minutes into the Naboo invasion, the Queen and "Padme" switch places, supposedly in secret. Yet, after seeing "Padme" on screen for about three seconds, i said to myself "Self, why did the Queen take off her makeup?". Apparently the invading robot forces with their digitally enhanced optical inputs could not discern this difference as easily as my puny eyes. * "Nothing can beat Destroyer droids" - According to this movie, two Destroyer droids can pretty much beat any invading force. These things show up twice in the movie, and while they are really cool to look at, they are apparently unbeatable to any invading force, whether human or Jedi. It is particularly galling that the two Jedis in the beginning of the movie, who have just mopped up anything the Trade Federation throw at them, run away so quickly after being set upoin by these droids. If these things are so great, why didn't the empire use them in episodes IV, V, and VI, and why in the world didnt the Trade Federation use these to invade Naboo instead of their pathetic "Roger, Roger" attack droids?!? * Weak Beginning and End - The previous three movies started strongly and finished conclusively, even the second which had the arduous task of developing plot for the third movie. Episode I "ended", and yet the movie kept going for another fifteen minutes. It sounds more like I hated the movie than merely being disappointed, but it did have its bright spots. Ewan McGregor was great as Obi-Wan, the lightsaber duels were excellently coregraphed (but still a pale refelection of Obi-Wan vs. Darth Vader, Luke vs Darth in ESB, and Luke vs Darth in ROJ), the special effects were indeed very good (when not used merely as screen shots), and the plot answers some age old questions (Why did Obi-Wan teach Anakin himself? How did the Emperor come to power? Why does Anakin become Darth Vader). Yet there was far more wrong with the movie than was right. I think the ultimate test, is whether this movie would have made any money without the previous three movies. I strongly believe that Lucas would have lost a lot of money on this movie without the crutch of a twenty year old Star Wars legend to lean on.
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars Fans: Stop Whining
Review: Virtually every one of the millions of people who grew up loving the original Star Wars films had an idea of what Episode I should have been. That kind of devotion and anticipation easily produces failed expectations and harsh criticism. That being said, the tantrum thrown by many Star Wars fans because George Lucas didn't make the film just the way they would have done it tends to obscure this film's greatness. The Phantom Menace has its flaws: Jar Jar Binks is exceedingly irritating; Jake Lloyd's performance as Anakin Skywalker is very mediocre; the characters don't endear themselves to you the way they did in Episodes IV, V, and VI, partly because you don't get to know them nearly as well. Who cares what becomes of the Naboo pilots or the Gungan soldiers? What Lucas did in the Phantom Menace was lay the groundwork for the two darker films yet to come. Episode I showed us what Jedi can do given a full complement of training and modern special effects. When the Jedi go to work, the visuals are as action-packed as any shoot-'em-up you'll ever see. The nastiness of galactic politics is sure to play a bigger role in Episodes II and III, but Lucas has already given us a glance of the nefariousness faced by the Republic. The scenes on the capital planet of Coruscant were some of the most intriguing of the film, not to mention some of the most stunning to watch. Viewing the Phantom Menace by itself, perhaps it doesn't deserve five stars. But it wasn't made to stand alone. When the trilogy of prequels is complete, Jar Jar and the childhood Anakin aren't going to detract from the overall enjoyment of the tale spun by Lucas. Episode I is an integral part of telling that story. Star Wars fans seeking a religious experience should look for it in a house of worship, not a movie theater. Star Wars, including the Phantom Menace, is just a story, but a fascinating, remarkably illustrated one.
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