Rating: 
Summary: Star Bores
Review: Lucas has become the ultimate technobrat. He seems so preoccupied with the technicalities of his digital realm that he seems to have dispensed with other key elements such as story, dialogue and acting performances. This seat-numbing experience only kicks into a higher gear once (the pod-race sequence). Other scenes are dull, lifeless and (in many instances) downright boring. A single good performance from a key actor might have saved this mess but all the actors can do is look embarrassed and confused (hardly surprising since they had very little to react to when the film was shot). The villains are all surprisingly un-menacing (this kind of movie, like a good James Bond thriller, needs a really good, hissable villian). The only thing left to look at is the effects but they cannot keep this sad, lazy effort afloat. Lucas has proudly announced that he is planning to shoot the next installment digitally. Honestly, who cares? Why doesn't he deal with all these technicalities that he obviously so dearly loves and hand the reigns over to someone else for the episode II? Irvin Kershner brought a marvellous sweeping operatic grandeur to "The Empire Strike Back", something Star Wars was in dire need of in Episodes VI and I. The DVD crowd needn't worry - they're really not missing much. This is the ultimate litmus test for those who prefer style over content.
Rating: 
Summary: It's all George Lucas!
Review: Lucas has cooked up yet another masterpiece with Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. This wonderful prelude to Episode II introduces us to the character of Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader. Some find him annoying, but he acts just like any 9-year old would! Excited, ambitious, and out-going. Jar Jar, while a bit irritating at times, was a welcome addition, and casting Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn was the best casting decision in the whole movie! Neeson plays his parts flawlessly and gives us one more reason why he's one of the best actors of all time. Any Star Wars fan will greatly enjoy Phantom Menace! This is a film I will remember and be proud to own for many years to come! I eagerly await TPM's launch on DVD! George Lucas knew exactly what he was doing with this movie, and he ended up with a timeless classic!
Rating:
Summary: It didnt live the hype
Review: Lucas has forgotten what is to write and direct a movie and just remember what special effects are. Sadly special effects are just shiny lights without meaning in this movie. Also He manages amazingly well in destroying the concept of force,and death star explosion is now but a joke. Sad, very sad, star wars first trilogy nows look a little worse than before
Rating: 
Summary: Not what it could have been
Review: Lucas has lost his touch. First off, if you have a somewhat poor script (written by Lucas himself, if I'm not mistaken), then you get an entirely CGI character thrown at you, which you have to act like you're interacting with, and then half the time you're put in front of a green screen (or blue) with nothing real around you, how are you going to act well? You don't. Even Liam Neeson (a usually excellent actor) did a flat job.
Jar Jar Binks stinks like nothing I've ever seen in a movie. A complete waste of film space, and completely unnecessary! He nearly RUINED the film. A few scenes could have been incredibly powerful were it not for him swaggering around with his floppy ears filling up half the screen. There are even people who have taken the time to make Jar Jar hate sites! A total goof ball... agh... I can't go on writing about him.
Lucas even managed to inject more eastern religion psyco babel. It's a bunch of rot, and really annoying. "Ooh, there's some weird little things called 'mediclorians.' The more of 'em that I have, the cooler with the force. Whoa." (not a direct quote!;)
Other than the poor script, the flat acting, the bad story flow, the egregious Jar Jar, and a mediocre soundtrack for Williams (except for Duel of the Fates!), the pod race and saber fight still make it worth watching!
Just rent it when you don't want to watch the old ones, but still want to see something like the old Star Wars (it has an essence, but a very weak one at that).
Rating: 
Summary: As good as Howard the Duck
Review: Lucas has seemed to lost touch of the magical feel he created for the first series with the desire to "outdue" anyone and everyone with technology and his "crazy" special effects team. If you read what this movies plot (Huh?) is before seeing it you wonder if this movie would have been gobbled up by a studio if the previous ones didnt exist to give him some kind of credibility. Lucas needs to let someone else write and direct as he is really only concerned with how many digitalized images he can throw at your senses at once. Story was bad. Acting? worse; even the special effects in some scenes just seem to be completely overdone and computerized, where you sit and are reminded that there is a blue screen behind the actors. I own a DVD player but the video looks okay (I would never buy it). I hope it never comes out for DVD. Who cares? That's probably the biggest surprise a lot of viewers get from this movie. Who cares about these people, places, or their futures? Lucas is also re-releasing the original trilogy for the 18th time again in the near future. This shows Lucas's state of mind trying to remind people that he did actually make a good, fun, well executed series at one time and that he's coming back to rob all the suckers who would buy it again, because he's now more greedy than he is imaginative. For those who argue (like Lucas did) that this movie is a "setup" for the next 2, that's an excuse, copout, and an apology for making a bad movie. A trilogy is 3 movies that stand on their own, complete. Lucas said this because he knew it was lacking and weak. That's like not doing your job for a week, and when you get in trouble from the boss you tell them that you were intentionally relaxing for the next week where you were really going to "pour it on, just wait and see". I also hope Spielberg stays away from Lucas in his future projects. Lucas is as stale and boring as "his" Episode 1 bomb. I'm sure the audio is descent but once again who cares. More than reviewing the actual quality of the video, I wanted to get these thoughts off my chest for Lucas wasting my time with his experiments in digital buffoonery instead of actual substance. I hope people are starting to get annoyed with these technology clowns taking their audiences for idiots who require nothing more than flashing lights and big budget blue screens to sucker them in. The only thing worse is "Howard The Duck". Why doesn't Lucas keep re-issueing that one? Put him in front of a blue screen flying through space. Now that's a shame.
Rating:
Summary: At last ! X-Mas is on Octhober 16th this year
Review: Lucas is learning from the fans, i just cant wait to get my fingers on this DVD. This is a treat fore the whole family. Now let's do episode 4,5 and 6. Next year X-mas is even better on May 22, i will sit in the theater watching episode II. See you all there. Greetings from the donkey from Shrek.
Rating:
Summary: The story of the rise to glory is easier to tell
Review: Lucas knows how to tell a great story. He has the ability to interweave human mythology, characters, and environments, into great stories. The star wars trilogy was thrilling. Each episode protraited a struggle against good and evil. It celebrated the trumph of the human spirit. It inspired great heros to fight against evil. However, the "Phatom menance seemed anti-climatic. The "Phatom menance" story does not tell us enough about the Sith. Lucas failed to explain "why we should hate the Sith." The Jedi council knows the Sith are bad, but for the rest of us; it doesn't make sense. In contrast, Darth Vader hit the screen with mechanical breathing, shogun like armour, and represented the demon warrior. However, one might observe, it wasn't until "Empire Strikes Back" that true identity of Vader was revealed and his true identity disclosed.
The Gui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi Won Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) characters aren't as interesting, as the historical figures: Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia. The student-teacher relationship protraits Kenobi, as the questioning student, and Gui-Gon as the experienced Jedi. Kenboi has much to learn of the living force. The story seemed to focus more on the secret society of the Jedi and their code of Honour, rather than their relationship. The story wasn't as fun. I personally missed the swagger of Han Solo, the friendship of the rebels: Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker; and the network of friends who helped take on the empire.
Incredible digital art sequences brought the ancient city of Venice, to life. The digital work of Industrial Light and Magic was stelluar. I loved the return, of some, of the original star wars digital animals. The city planet was masterfully created digitally. It set a precedence for more virtual emmersion.
The pod race was fun. The simulate has Anakin racing at 600 miles hour through the barren bad lands and among some hostile opponents. Dirty tricks, crafty drivers, near escapes, and great graphics make this portion of the movie excellent.
Why did Lucas protray Anakin as the chosen one, the savior of the Jedi and the rebel? It all comes down to something in Anakins cells. Did Lucas mean, Mitochondria? Ok, Anakin has something in his cells producing, Jedi level energy. In fact, Anakin has more, of this stuff, than any being alive. This gives him the ability, to see the future, and display remarkable Jedi skills. This also explains his superfast reflexes in the pod race, and the only human to race. Stranger yet, is Anakin's mother's explanation, Anakin has no biological Father. This is a very difficult information to shallow and bridge. I believe Lucas has chosen this approach, as a foundation to be used later. So don't take it too seriously. The Jedi Council sense much fear in little Anakin and reject his request to become a Jedi. Gui-Gon is certain that Anakin is the chosen one; deciding to train him, as a Jedi, against the councils will.
Ewan MacGregor as Obi Won Kenobi was good and he played his role well. MacGregor created a very likable character and the fight scenes were masterfully assembled. The death of Gui-Gon at the hand of Darth Maul was very dramatic. I was surprised as the cunning character of Darth Maul. It was obvious the Sith were stronger than the Jedi. However, equally, as cunning, was Obi Won Kenobi victory over Darth Maul. Showing that good will prevail over evil. Ankins love of Queen Amadala was misplaced but may have been designed to appealed, to the younger audience, infatuated with her beauty. Queen Amadala character was believable, but she seem very serious and made complex political speechs with lots of jargon. However, the costumes were excellent. Dispite the political jargon, one thing everyone understood was that an "Invasion" occurred. The movie goes through alot of twists and turns, but in the end, Anakin save the alliance by accidently blowing up the main orbiting power source, forcing all the invading force robots, to shutdown. Finally, the Jedi Council agrees to allow Obi Won Kenobi to train Anakin, as a Jedi.
The story of the rise to glory is easier to tell than the story of the fall from grace. The theme is clear: war is coming to the the alliance.
Rating:
Summary: Every kid's fantasy (of all ages)
Review: Lucas made a kid's film which is a chapter in a saga and he did it meticulously and very well. As a kid's film, it's fantastic in every sense of the word. It should not be compared to adult themed sci-fi films. Nor should it be compared to the other SW episodes in that they are just that; episodes in a larger story. I mean, who compares chapters in books? Naysayers dissect and analyze what they didn't like as passionately as SW fans do about what they loved. There's not much point in nitpicking here so I wont bother. I would recommend that all reviews (including this one) be read AFTER one has seen the movie for the first time. The kid in all of us will either secretly or overtly enjoy this movie. The video format will allow easy replay. I am still debating over whether to spend the extra $20 on the wide-screen version. I don't yet have the Phillips $15,000 plasma flat screen to take full advantage of the "letterbox" version, but I really dislike "pan and scan" versions, so I think I'll pop for what I think will be the better edition (widescreen.) DVD is actually the preferable format for diehard Star Wars fanatics -- but that won't happen till 2005(after the release of Episode III.) Anyway, enjoy it for what it is in itself - a really fun experience!
Rating: 
Summary: Enter stage left... heroes and demons.
Review: Lucas managed to make such an event out of the release of The Phantom Menace that I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I must have read ten articles, watched adverts and trailers and I even caught a part of the "making of" on TV. Talk about building expectations, how could anything, barring the second coming, live up to it all. I suppose that was the question going through my mind as I approached the cinema. Would you believe I was even a little nervous?
Yes the cinematography was breathtaking, the effects were cutting edge, the design was first class, blah blah blah. But that's not what makes a good film. Does it have a decent story, interesting characters, suspense, action? In short, does it pack enough emotional content? Well, in this case... Yes, it does. How could I think George Lucas might let me down.
I happen to think Natalie Portman stole the show entirely, but maybe her beauty and the fabulous costumes had something to do with it. And, as much as the first Star Wars was cast with relatively unknown actors, Liam Neeson added just the right touch of weight to the ensemble. Of course I wouldn't be the first to suggest Ewan McGregor is going to be giving us memorable performances for years to come and I'm not talking about the Star Wars prequels. All in all, a stand out cast were able to make what could have been a light sci-fi romp, into another classic.
During the early moments of the story, we join two Jedi, only this time they are set amid a backdrop where Jedi are thick on the ground and are given routine tasks, like diplomatic negotiation. Obi-Wan is familiar to us but not as a young man yet to be promoted to Jedi knight. His friend and master, Qui-Gon Jinn, is the other Jedi and it is this duo that teaches us the true nature of a Jedi's role. In the first films the Jedi culture was all but extinct. In The Phantom Menace it is in full flower and we can watch in awe as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan defy poison gas, blast shielding and military robots. In fact it isn't until they come up against another, albeit darker, proponent of the Jedi arts, that they are forced to pause.
I have to say, Darth Maul was wonderful. I suppose it was always going to be a tough job coming up with a "bad guy" concept to match Darth Vader but wow! Ray Park was and is a stunt-man rather than an actor but during the final fight scene where force fields temporarily separate the combatants, his frustrated strides brought to mind a caged tiger. I certainly didn't envy our heroes, waiting to face such an animalistic warrior.
There are quite a few set piece scenes in the film, all of them memorable. The journey through the center of the earth was fabulous; talk about your perfect fishing hole. The pod race was probably a little over cooked but fun none the less. And it did contain a nice homage to the locked fenders in "Return of the Jedi". But for me, it was the little things which won my heart. Like the moment when Padme, "Hand-maiden to the Queen", is scrubbing the heroic R2-D2 but takes a moment to comfort the young Anakin who's just coming to terms with a potentially permanent separation from his mother. It's all the more poignant after we learn more about Padme's true role.
So, as much as I was anticipating the release of Episode One, I am now left with the distressing feeling that the true test of my patience is still to come. I have two years to wait for Episode two and who knows when "three" will appear. We're waiting George, we're waiting.
Rating:
Summary: Phantom Menace-Like it or not
Review: Lucas stayed true to his vision, rather than to fans of Star Wars. Maybe this means that while the movie perhaps could have been better, the story could not. For this Lucas is to be commended. You can find links to various Star Wars sites
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