Rating: 
Summary: Are Star Wars fans getting old???
Review: Lighten up! The film and DVD are both fantastic. Any true Star Wars fans will love every minute of it.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Prequel - A Must Have.
Review: Like all those before it, this Episode of Star Wars is action packed from the opening bell. Filled with many new characters, and they are charachters, and a few old faces, this movie brought the Jedi to a new level. It for the first time answers the question, "Why would anyone carry a Light Saber when they could have a Blaster?". The Jedi fighting is awesome, fast paced, and fearsome to their enemies. A must have! A Great Family Film.
Rating: 
Summary: Phantom-packed DVD with the-lot
Review: Like as many detractor's of the film as fan's of it I antiscipated the cinematic release like everybody else. Problem is I did'nt expect the same as the previous trilogy to live up to expectation's but felt despite the wonderful although tell-tale CGI effect's there's still something to be said for more organic looking FX however these were on a grander-scale the story itself is fine but somewhat hollow even though it's setting it up for another trilogy the beginning it fall's rather flat all the same. Naturally previous character's Yoda the droid's and Palpatine are great welcoming re-addition's but something sorely lack's with the newly-seen one's like Qui Gon,Amidala and the like that seem devoid of any personality let alone real character although young Obi Wan Kenobi IS VERY GOOD though Ewan McGregor coul'dve been given more than what was presented. Production values were high but even the music score does'nt compare to the other's in the series. Enjoyable for light-weight entertainment but lack's nesscesary dramatic-pull power and involement. Liked the new addition characters Watto,Sebulba and Anakin's mum Shmi Skywalker but agree with most some reviewrs that the casting of Anakin as played by Jake Lyod was an error now forever committed to celluloid. Liam Neeson, Nat Portman were fine, Jar Jar Bink's may have irritated many other's except small kid's but I found him to be more vulnerable,sympathetic and human than the human cast. Rented this a few times since release on video liked it a little more but just not-enough until the terriffic DVD release recently.
If only the wait for the Hamill,Fisher,Ford trilogy weren't so far off in the DVD future.
Rating: 
Summary: ADD A FLYING TOASTER AND I'LL GIVE IT 2 STARS
Review: Like everyone else, I waited in rapt anticipation for this one. The continuation of the Star Wars epic in prequel. But then I didn't realize that Lucas, having been taken prisoner and apparently brainwashed by evil representatives of the Empire, had been ruthlessly forced to see his loyal followers as nothing more than Star Wars-starved nincompoops who would take in anything with the Star Wars logo slapped on it.It started out okay and then, with the introduction of Jar Jar Binks, easily the most unbelievable and ludicrous character that Lucas has ever cast, I realized that all was lost. The majesty (and, yes, I mean majesty) of the first three installments (Episodes IV, V and VI) of the Star Wars story were diminished by this one. Holy cow! Kill off the most interesting character in the whole story, Qui-Gon Jinn? What's that all about? And Ewan McGregor? What's going on there? Ewan needs to stick with shallower roles opposite shallower actors like Nicole Kidman (Okay, so she finally got an oscar. But, hey, since when did the Academy know anything?) Given McGregor's poor acting, I half way expected him to launch into a tone-deaf song or for Ms. Kidman to come cavorting across the screen as a half-dressed space trollop. It might have redeemed his dreary performance. And what is this using the force to push apart droids? If that is how easily it can be done then throw down the light sabers and push the heck out of everyone! It would be like Indiana Jones first fighting the black-turbaned swordsmen for several minutes and then pull his gun and take the easy way out. But wait, that's what Lucas intended in the first place. It was Harrison Ford (our long lost Han Solo) who determined that the gun was quicker and mightier than the sword. The final sequence, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's duel with a double-light-saber-wielding Darth Maul, brought me back a little. On pins and needles I thought that perhaps victory would be snatched from the jaws for defeat and a boorish movie spared by a good scene. Maybe something surprising would happen! Maybe a flying toaster would appear and save the day! It started well. The scene was well choreographed and believable (in Star Wars standards). And then things took a decidedly predictable turn for the worse. Qui-Gon unexpectedly takes a light saber in the abdomen and lies dying. But wait, Obi-Wan has fire in his eyes, grinding his teeth at his horned foe and the apparent murderer of his mentor. The two glower at each other menacingly--in fact they glower phantom menacingly. The force field drops and Obi-Wan engages the evil Dart Maul. Some first class light saber play ensues. There is hope. But then, one two and through and through (to borrow a phrase from Lewis Carroll) Obi-Wan, the hope of Jedi Knights everywhere, slips up, misses an important parry and ends up hanging in an air shaft while Darth Maul traipses back and forth above him like a deranged rooster. Now is the chance! Now surely Maul will reveal himself to the helpless Jedi, just as he had promised his master, Darth Sidius, earlier in the movie. But the cat must have his tongue. He prances stupidly on the edge of the shaft and says NOTHING! What is going on here? I recalled the wonderful dialogue between Darth Vader and this same Obi-Wan, (though several years older and much more convincingly acted by Sir Alec Guiness). But wait. There is STILL hope. Obi-Wan, using the force, vaults from his precarious perch, summons his master's light saber in mid-flip and lands in front of his ruddy-faced foe. However, before he can utter a word of appropriate dialog (such as "You killed my master, you horned toad from Hades!" or "You scratch that rash and it will spread!") Obi-Wan applies his light saber and sends Maul plummeting to his bisected doom. And with his two-pieced fall the chance for a glorious ending for Star Wars Episode I went down the tubes as well. While titled Episode I, this movie is easily the fourth best in the Star Wars series. Stick with The Empire Strikes Back or with Return of the Jedi, my two favorites, or the original Star Wars (Episode IV).
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Beginning
Review: Like many other 30something year olds, George Lucas was the author of all my childhood fantasies. I saw Star Wars Episode IV when I was 6 and was completely blown away. No movie has ever had the same impact on me. With the release of Episode 1, George Lucas had the daunting task of trying to recreate the experience we all had in 1977. There is no way this film (or any film) could live up to those expectations. I have chosen to view Episode 1 on its on merits and find it to be brilliant, wildly entertaining, and ground-breaking in its use of computer generated effects. The DVD is the best I have ever purchased. It provides a plethora of extras which are extremely insightful and enjoyable. I know there are many Phantom Menance "bashers" out there, but true Star Wars fans will "get it".
Rating: 
Summary: Depends on how the next 2 follow up
Review: Like many other fans, I hate how "kiddified" this series has become. First Lucas decides that Endor should be populated with Ewoks rather than Wookies in RotJ. Then comes Phantom, and Lucas no longer has Han, Lando and the rest of the crowd to keep the audience entertained, so he throws in Jar-Jar, who's purpose seems to be to walk into things, making funny noises in the hope of eliciting a laugh. That vented, it was still a decent movie. I don't care that the film lacked some of the feeling of grandeur that 4, 5, and 6 had; it wasn't supposed to be about saving the universe, it was supposed to be a setup for it (ever notice that there's a "1" in Episode 1)? There was awesome music and special effects, and the lightsaber duel and the pod racing scene were superb. Admittedly, the movie did take a bit too long building up to the race, that part needed some trimming. I also have a hard time believing that a Jedi council that seems to do nothing but sit around all day making funny faces at one another can be all that wise, and I caught absolutely no hint of the Darkness hidden in Anakin, nor a single tear as the kid said goodbye to his mother. He just seemed like a very poor actor. Still, these are minor gripes in comparison with the thrill I get watching most of the movie. Maybe if people didn't kill their imaginations they would enjoy it more.
Rating:
Summary: a tour-de-Force
Review: Like many others, I did not enjoy TPM on my first viewing. I was crazy over the first and last half-hours of the film, but was a bit non-plussed by the Tatooine and Coruscant sequences in between. But those amazing sequences on Naboo caused me to love the film by the third viewing. The same things that TPM had going for it(a "Star Wars" film; being the most anticipated film in history) are also the things it had going against it (would it live up to and be worthy of the original trilogy? would it be worth the 16-year wait?). Another potential liability is that it, like "Return of the Jedi", is a virtual remake of the first film ("Jedi" re-ran the Death Star and the climactic Rebel assault on it; TPM re-runs the aging Jedi and his brash young apprentice helping a plucky royal female from a peaceful planet against technocratic tyrants). Heck, TPM even echoes "Jedi"'s three-way climax(space battle, land battle, lightsabre battle). And yet, (in my opinion) it works! Some have criticized the extensive use of special effects at the expense of character development; Lucas once said that he wanted to make "abstract films", wherein there are no characters yet the viewer is moved by what is on screen. In TPM, I think he has succeeded brilliantly.
Rating:
Summary: Good start to the series
Review: Like many people I had some high expectations of this film and how it would look and feel, plainly it was great. I found the political subplot in the film made the movie much more than a just a "kids" film. I liked all the characters, even the notorious Jar Jar. I though Liam Neeson was great. For those who did not like the acting of Jake Lloyd and others need only to look at the original movie. Mark Hamill is not exactly Shakespeare. All in all a great start and the later movies with their darker tone will, much like Empire and Return, steal the limelight. All I can say is great beginning, and lets hope that it keeps getting better!
Rating:
Summary: Watch it- YOU WILL LOVE IT
Review: Like millions of other fans of Star Wars I was angry at the reviews its had because peoples expectations were too high if your going to see it go in with an open mind. Everyone has a go at Jar Jar Binks for being so anoying but he dosen't play a massive part in the film. The lightsaber fight at the end is brilliant its very fast. I can't wait for Episode II and III to come out- I will be first in line for those.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible DVD of an underrated movie
Review: Like most "Star Wars" fans, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of "Star Wars" -- any "Star Wars" -- on DVD. The wait is finally over and it was well worth it. This DVD is, without question, the best DVD yet. The picture and sounds quality is outstanding (those who complain about the DVD not being available in DTS sound must remember that is only a matter of preference as many like myself think DTS to be much ado about nothing), but the main reason for getting the DVD is the specieal features and brother does this have special features. The enumerous items on the second disc include deleted scenes (including a few I wish had been included in the original film) not to mention the single best behind-the-scenes documentary I've ever seen (called "The Beginning"). The usual DVD toys are here such as all the trailers (including the "Tome Poem" TV spots) . The only things missing are more stuff with the actors and an all-music track (a terrific DVD special feature that is too sparingly used by studios). As for those who continue to gripe about "The Phantom Menace" as a film, I'm sure the vast majority of their population are of those who watched the film only once. I, too, was disappointed by the film when it first came out; it was good, but not "Star Wars" good. Then I saw it a second time and discovered it was better than I remembered. Then came a third viewing, then a fourth and a fifth as it became better each time I watched it. It is certainly not the best of the four movies, but the film grows on you as it as the hype from the film's release as well as expectations vanish. With no hype and a familiarity of the story, your eyes wander to the amazing costumes, effects and set design as it becomes easier and easier to ignore Jar Jar Binks' more annoying traits and accept him for the amazing visual effect achievement he is. If you've seen the film only once because you didn't like it, I recommend renting this DVD and I think you'll have a change of heart. If you do like the film, BUY IT! Now, if we can just get George Lucas to release his death grip on the original trilogy . . .
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