Rating: 
Summary: A great DVD!
Review: I'm so tired of hearing how bad this movie was. If people thought the movie was so bad, why did they buy the DVD? Anyways... I bought this DVD because I'm a Star Wars fan and I liked the film. Was it as good as it could have been? No. Was it bad? No. I saw it eight times in the theatre and a few times since. I can't say that about many films. As far as the quality of this DVD goes, it's fantastic! Where the film may not have lived up to expectations, this DVD certainly does. The picture and sound quality are top notch. The lack of DTS is not missed. Fans should know that Lucas is about THX not AC3. The disc even has a great feature that helps you optimize your sound for THX on 7 channels. I doubt anyone that has complained about this has even listened to the disc. Certainly the extra features are welcomed and well done. There is an hour long making-of documentary. Every trailer and TV spot is included as is the music video for Duel of the Fates. One of the best features are the seven deleted scenes that Lucasfilm went back and finished for this DVD including a whole additional lap for the podrace. There are also some overlooked features. Most people think of the menues as an after thought, but this DVD has the best menues I've ever seen, and there are 3 different main menues that randomly load each time you play the DVD so it's not always the same. There is a DVD software viewer for watching DVDs on your PC. I found this software to actually be better than the one that came with my player. Also for those with a DVD ROM is access to exclusive web content like the trailer to Episode II on Nov. 9th. You really have to see how fantastic this DVD really is. I got mine for $17.99 which was more than a bargain. You most likely have already seen the movie, so that shouldn't be the question. As to how well the film was adapted to DVD format, there should be no question.
Rating: 
Summary: How Can You Not Love This?!?
Review: I'm still amazed by all the bad press that this movie receives. For anyone who loved the original trilogy, there is no way that you will not enjoy this film.
Granted, the film doen't measure up to A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back, but it is certainly enjoyable, and in my mind, superior to Return of the Jedi. The main problem with the film is Jar Jar. He is more annoying than the Ewoks in ROTJ, and lacks the intrigue of Chewbacca. But honestly, from the pod race scene on, he becomes a background character. Sure, he still plays a role in the end battle scene, but you don't really mind him here, as the action and special effects overshadow his annoying voice and clumsiness.
Another major complaint is young Anakin, played by Jake Lloyd. Give me a break, people! He's supposed to be a cute, innocent child who loves and misses his mom - and he plays this role convincingly.
Lastly, people complain about the droids. Sure, they lack the "coolness" of stormtroopers, but let's remember, this takes place quite a few years before ANH. It's fun looking at the droids, the ships, and yes, the whole Trade Federation plot, and seeing how all these things evolved and influenced the universe as we're used to seeing it in the other films.
As for the dvd, the special features alone are worth the cost. It is currently the best made, fully-packed dvd on the market.
Give the movie a chance, and see it for what it is - the start of the greatest science fiction story ever told. Give Mr. Lucas a break, and judge the saga as a whole. I guarantee, he knows what he's doing, and when it's all said and done with, he will not disappoint!
Rating: 
Summary: Less than I'd except!
Review: I'm suprised at this movie. I was realy cheesed off. I thought this would be some great scifi drama like the last 3. You could call this a kids movie practicly. In the movie the good guys will only nuetrilise threats if they our non living. Naboo all they talk about is we must realy on negotioations. Even when the power is out. There was no siege at all they didn't even go down figting on there own. It reminds reminds me of the halacust. They dont't even pick up a laser until the Jedis come.
Rating: 
Summary: Very dissappointing movie, but good special features
Review: I'm sure I won't say anything that hasn't been said before, but here goes: I found this movie extremely disappointing, as both a Star Wars fan and avid movie buff. However, I added an extra star to my review grade because I enjoyed the numerous special features. I will start with the actual movie: I could sit here a nitpick about a thousand little things that I didn't like and thought were poor choices on Lucas' part, but instead of being completely negative, I have decided to just talk about a few bad points and few good points. Pros:
1) I enjoyed seeing some of the origins of the characters of the later movies as their youthful selves. I also liked some of the first time characters, such as all of the Jedi Masters at the Temple and the Siths.
2) Unlike most fans and purists, I liked Lucas' use of "midi-chlorians" (although I think the name is dumb). I think that a scientific origin of the force is much better than it being some sort of abstract religious concept.
3) The effects and overall look of the film is undeniably spectacular. All the CG fits in pretty much perfectly with the real sets and characters. Cons:
1) I found Jar Jar Binks absolutley revolting. I did not enjoy any of his jive-talking antics or idiotic pratfalls. He was featured far too prominently and had too many lines.
2) I hate to pick on child actors, but I though Jake Lloyd did not do a very good job. He seemed very wooden and flubbed many lines. Even if he hadn't flubbed the lines, they would have fallen flat anyway because they were very poorly written. Would it have killed Lucas to make Anakin a little older, like 11 or 12 for this film? I think that would have made a huge difference.
3) I found the "highlight" scenes overlong, boring and, at times, non-sensical. By "highlight" scenes, I mean the pod race and the Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon/Darth Maul light saber fight. First of all, both of these scenes were overlong and given far too much importance. I found the pod race very annoying because of: a) the out-of-place announcer (sorry Greg Proops, but it's true), b)the ridiculous fart joke before the start, c) Anakin's silly proclamations, d) the fact that it was really a glorified NASCAR race. The light saber duel I found bad for 2 reasons: a) an over-reliance on form over substance. At several points it seemed like Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon could have just poked Maul in the back or chest with the light saber, but instead did a little flip and missed their opportunity, and b) the goofy red barriers that opened and closed at intervals. What possible purpose could there be for them? I could go on and on with negative things, but I think I've gotten my main points across. The DVD: I was very pleased with the special features on this DVD. A pretty good and informative commentary, and dozen+ little featurettes, storyboards, and all kinds of other goodies are easily accessible and well organized. In summary, as a Star Wars fan, this DVD is a must-buy, but I guarantee that I will not watch the movie more than a couple times for the rest of my life, and that will be only becasue I may watch them all in a row on occassion.
Rating:
Summary: A truly dazzling visual tour nevertheless
Review: I'm very sorry to hear that this movie fell short of George Lucas's hopeful expectations, but it has its truly inspiring moments anyhow. The action sequences will truly take your breath away as well as the eye-popping ariel shooting of the majestic cities that may one day represent our own cities several thousand years from now. And the young queen who ascended the throne so early in her life is the most fascinating character of all, with her really bizarre hairdos and her plucky exploits. The story, however drags on a little and I did squirm about in my seat at those times. In addition, there are some pretty silly parts like the king of the swamp shaking his jowls until his spittle flies everywhere and a desert mount suddenly breaking wind for no good reason. But the special effects, especially produced by the sophisticated computer technology of the '90s are quite beautiful and awe-inspiring to watch. So go enjoy the ride nevertheless!
Rating:
Summary: Good movie but...
Review: I'm waiting for the DVD edition before I buy it. Sure I'm a Star Wars Fan. But why would I buy anything on VHS these days? I'd rather wait the 3 or 4 years and get it on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: No DUH!
Review: I'm writing this review for the rare Star Wars haters. Star Wars is so cool, it doesn't matter if you hate the series, you're still gonna like, that may not make sense, but it my favorite movie of all time, along with the older Star Wars. If you didn't SWE1 because you hat the series, rent this and I garentee you'll like it! --Patrick Browning--Game Dude
Rating:
Summary: TIME WELL SPENT
Review: I'TS A GOOD MOVIE, YOU HAVE THE CLASSIC ELEMENTS OF GOOD AND EVIL, AND WE ALL READY KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS, GREAT SPECIAL EFFECTS AND A GOOD STORY, HOW MANY MOVIES CAN YOU SAY THAT ABOUT? WORTH EVERY PENNY.
Rating:
Summary: Where's Luke and Han when you need them?
Review: I've always been a huge "Star Wars" fan, infact, after nearly 20 years the original film is still my favorite movie of all time. Even its two successors "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi", although not as good as the original, are very well made and enjoyable movies themselves. Naturally, as with all the other fans of the series world wide, I couldn't wait to go see "Episode I" when it was finally released in the summer of '99. I went into the theater expecting to see something magical, something completely wonderful that would allow me, for two and a half hours, to relive my past childhood experiences of having seen the original film and "ROTJ" in the theaters. However, as I walked out of the theater, with the end credits rolling up on the screen behind me, I realized that I had allowed myself to get my hopes up only to have them come crashing back down around me. "Episode I" (properly titled "The Phantom Menace") is not really a bad movie, but it does lack a lot of the things that made the earlier three films so special. #1 The story itself is just not as good. Granted this is the "beginning" of the entire saga, and the story is not really awful, it just lacks a lot of the warmth and freshness that made the first three films so original and different from all other motion pictures. #2 The CGI effects are the real stars of this movie, and therefore only manage to over shadow the true elements of the film, the human actors. Don't get me wrong, I don't really hate the whole CGI thing in movies, but I will always believe that the old Harryhausen style of making film creatures and using real life props, costumes and settings will always be the better way to go in making motion pictures. To me, using "real" substances to make film effects and filming in "real" locations just make a movie seem more believable. Personally, I think that the whole use of CGIs only helped to "kill" the motion picture industry in the '90s. Sure it was nice to see old characters again, like Jabba, but I felt as though I were only watching cartoon drawings of them instead of actual "flesh and blood" representations. Granted the Special Edition releases of the original three films had new CGI scenes and characters added to them, but the films were basically the same as they had always been, just fine tuned a little. #3 I didn't really find myself being able to care about the characters as I had in the original trilogy. Even Yoda seemed kind of like a stranger to me in this one. And don't even get me started on Jar Jar Binks, a tragic attempt to create a character to help fill the void left by the missing Chewbacca. The only character who does have the same old "feel" to him is R2-D2. The film would've been better had C-3PO figured more prominently in the story line, considering his time spent on screen was maybe 5 minutes max. Hopefully (surely) we'll be seeing more of him in episodes 2 and 3. #4 The acting, particularly that done by the kid who played Anakin and the chick who played Queen Amidala/Padmee, was extremely card board and at times nearly unbearable. Granted, when Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford were cast in the original film they were pretty much amateurs when it came to acting, but they were able to do an excellent job anyway. finally, #5 The musical score composed by John Williams, who is truly an artist of his field, although not bad, does tend to sometimes lack the magical quality of the music he had written for the original trilogy. And many of the major themes (some understandably not appearing in this film) are not even present in the film. Even the Main Title is only heard a total of about 3 times during the movie. With all that having been said, and I know I've been a little harsh, one should not dismiss this movie as a meer imposter and not see it. For what it is, "The Phantom Menace" is not a bad movie, it just fails in its attempt to live up to the reputation of its three predecessors. Let's face it though, will any movie ever be able to compare to the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Considering the mostly dismal state of the motion picture industry today, I'd have to say that the possibility of that happening is highly unlikely. Good luck George, and may the Force be with you.
Rating:
Summary: Different Perspective
Review: I've been a hardcore Star Wars fan since I first saw the original trilogy years ago. I couldn't wait when I heard George was going to write a prequel trilogy back in 1997 and when Episode I was released, my jaw hit the floor. I loved it, as well as Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Now before you start thinking I'm just a SW fan protecting George Lucas because he's my idol or something, stop thinking and keep reading.
I've read reviews for movies galore and in many of them people have lost their appreciation for the reason movies are made in the first place. I'm not defending George because he is who he is or Star Wars because it's one of the greatest things since sliced bread. I'm defending movies in general. Most people will say if a movie is good or not because of acting or dialogue or something like that, but there are a few of us who really don't care about that stuff. Too many people have raised the standard on the level of escapism offered in a movie that there are only a few new films that are "good". But, that's what movies are made for! To give us another world into which we can go and forget about everything else for an hour and a half or so. I don't care about acting or dialogue, I pay attention to where the movie takes me. I can see the little similarities between the new movies, the old, and the extended universe books and it actually seems like I'm in the movie.
I guess some people are just too picky. What's happening now to movies is exactly the same thing that happened to books. So next time you start to knock a movie, think of it from my perspective and reconsider.
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