Rating: 
Summary: Good, but...
Review: If you're buying this video box set instead of the DVD, you must be a star wars collector. Don't get me wrong, I like the movie. But the extras that are included with the VHS box set just do not warrant a 30$ price tag. Do yourself a favor and buy the DVD instead. You'll save 10$, and overall I think you'll be happier. I know I am!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Effects, terrible director
Review: If you're like me and thousands of others you bought the VHS tape and now the DVD like a good little Star Wars geek and like me you were not happy with how long this widescreen release was in coming, but you were satisfied when it finally arrived. The really good thing about this DVD is that it brought a new appreciation for what a massive project this movie really was. I still love Star Wars, but why is Lucas trying so hard to ruin what's been built?
Jar Jar remains ever annoying and the plot has some holes, but at least on the DVD suffering can be at a minimum with the skip feature. Let's be honest what we really want with this movie is a way to relive what we all love in the original Star Wars trilogy.
It is evident to me that after seeing this movie and Episode II that Lucas CAN NOT direct or motivate actors to save his life. Empire and Jedi were pulled off so beautifully because others directed them. If you look to the first of the series (A New Hope of which most of you simply call Star Wars) the same directing flops are present and bad acting reigns supreme. Maybe in years to come when these movies are remade we will have a director step up who can actually direct, but until then we'll have to deal with this blundering yet beloved fool called Lucas.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Bother. Wait for the DVD.
Review: If you're like me and thousands of others you bought this tape like a good little Star Wars geek and like me you were not happy with how long this widescreen release was in coming, but you were satisfied when it finally arrived. My advice to anyone looking to purchase this VHS tape is to wait until you have a DVD player and purchase the DVD.
There are a ton more features to this relatively mediocre movie title. The (...) extra film cell hardly makes up for that. Also, Jar Jar is still annoying and the plot has some holes, but at least on the DVD suffering can be at a minimum with the skip feature. But let's be honest what we really want with this movie is a way to relive what we all really love in the original Star Wars trilogy. It is evident to me that after seeing this movie and Episode II that Lucas CAN NOT direct or motivate actors to save his life. Empire and Jedi were pulled off so beautifully because others directed them. If you look to the first of the series (A New Hope of which most of you simply call Star Wars) the same directing flops are present and bad acting reigns supreme. Maybe in years to come when these movies are remade we will have a director step up who can actually direct, but until then we'll have to deal with this blundering yet beloved fool called Lucas.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb package!
Review: If you're still able to get this, do it! Great movie, nice box, nice book, nice 35mm frame! Now - where's the DVD?!
Rating:
Summary: Fun, faithful variation on original theme. Needs more spice.
Review: If you've never seen or have largely forgotten the original Star Wars, you'll probably find Phantom Menace a pleasant summer diversion, a fun sci-flick with wondrous special effects. Like a good Disneyland ride, its energy swoops and dips at all the right moments, making us cheer and boo on cue, leaving us satisfied and entertained, though never quite surprised. Not bad at all; pass the popcorn. To fans of the original, instead, Phantom Menace needs more spice, more unpredictability. And given the title, it needs more "dark side", too. The actors turn in a detached, polite journeyman's performance; they hold back, almost as if they were rehearsing. They remain clustered together in corporate ensemble scenes, mired in loyal teamwork. You'll sorely miss the smirking wit and swagger of the original's Han Solo, the dark magnetism of Darth Vader, or the punchy originality of the early alien characters. The Phantom Menace's only showstopper, Darth Maul, is given little screentime and then quickly dispatched after the regulation sabrefight at the OK Corral. Some ensemble acts sparkle, but Phantom Menace is of the blander variety, probably the calculated outcome of a marketing $trategy that made special effects -- not actors -- the key selling point. The SFX are indeed excellent, but would have benefited from a tighter focus on close-in details, rather than vast virtual landscapes filled with hundreds or thousands of faceless, identical, computer-generated clones. Character and plot developments are thin. The director refrained from introducing strong new elements, preferring to backfill details in a saga you're supposed to know by heart. The hazy plot threads get somewhat lost in the grandiose scenery. The actors look familiar, but more central casting than blockbuster-caliber. Aside from the underwater scenes, the sets are regulation Star Wars, robbing us of any sense of surprise. The script is mild, formulaic and polite, suitable for all ages. The aerial dogfights have a been-there, done-that, seen-it-the-first time feel. Despite all those faults, the Phantom Menace is an easy movie to like, precisely because it's such a faithful variation of the original. It has at least one epic moment (the pod race) and you do get to enthuse about some fan trivia (how *did* Ewan McGregor manage to sound like a young Alec Guinness?). Just pray for a bolder, character-driven, more flavorful sequel ...
Rating:
Summary: I Have A Bad Feeling About This
Review: If your a fan of the originals, you may be a little surprised by this film. It has some Star Wars qualities, but is very different. Special effects have taken control of this film, which is not a good thing. The special effects create most of the sets and scenes, making it difficult for the actors to do there job. This film also features some well, less than great characters. Jar Jar's humor is, well not funny unless your a five year old. This film is my least favorite Star Wars film (including "Attack of the Clones"), but it still has it's moments. Natalie Portman's performance may not be her best, but her scenes, as Queen Padme Amidala, are some of the better ones. Including the Corucant scenes, which are only 15 minutes of the film. And the action scenes at the end are good, however Anakin's (Jake Lloyd) scene's in the spaceship, and Jar Jar's battle, can be annoying at times. I really give this 3 1/2 stars but I rounded up, instead of down. And even if the movie isn't your favorite, the special features are great!
Rating: 
Summary: Skip It
Review: If your under 12 you may like the movie. If your an avid Star Wars fan you will cry! It is a sad movie I mean sad from begining to end. I am such a big fan of StarWars I can quote complete dialogue from the first trilogy. I have read all the books even the ones for episodes 7/8/9 by Timothy Zaun but could not make any real connections between the trilogy and this episode.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest achievment ever!
Review: Ignore all the obnoxious people who want to rain on your parade! With Liam Neeson as the heart and soul of this film, the acting is right up there with the special effects and soundtrack! If your a true Star Wars fan, you can't be dissapointed!
Rating:
Summary: excellent picture, very good sound
Review: Im just going to rate the dvd, not the movie. The picture quality was very good on my big sony crt using the component connections, the sound was also very good, making use of all surround speakers. The pod race scene was especially thrilling. Of course the sound could have been just slightly better in terms of surround speaker usage. This is one of the top dvds i have, more should be made this way. some are dolby digital and dts encoded, yet I might hear only 1 sound effect coming from the surrounds.. Overall a fantastic home theater dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Sorry!!!! :(
Review: Im sorry all of you star wars fans out there but I did not enjoy this movie at all.I found it very boring.Many times i found myself almost falling asleep.I think one of the main reasons i didnt enjoy this film is because of jake lloyd, who plays Anakin, and Jar Jar Binks. i found that Jake lloyd didnt do well, it seemed like he was yelling, not talking.It seems unrealistic that he could turn out to be Darth Vader.Jar Jar Binks seemed to ruin the the whole serious mood of all the previous Star Wars films.Also, all of the pre-hype on Samual L. Jackson, didnt live up.He didnt have a big role, and i was disapointed. I'm a very big Star Wars fan, but i didnt enjoy this one.Im praying that Star Wars:Episode 2 Attack of the Clones is much better, or I wont be seeing the other films that are coming. Yet again, to all of you die hard fans, i say i'm sorry.
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