Rating: 
Summary: Relax, it's only Star Wars!
Review: Most people were preparing their bodies, minds and souls to receive George Lucas' wisdom through THE PHANTOM MENACE last summer. When it did not give people the meaning of life, there was a backlash. How could people ENJOY a movie with expectations like that? My thought: There loss! It's only STAR WARS. It's supposed to be fun. It's like THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS in space, but a lot better done. Yoda is Obi-wan's master, not mine! I get engrossed with these characters so I won't have to deal the deeper complexities of MY existence (at least not for two hours). The special effects are without equal. The pod race and the climactic light-saber dual stand as two of the best set pieces in the STAR WARS saga. And just imagine(if you must) Jar Jar Binks as your most irritating, but lovable, pet, and you're okay there. Besides, this movie is just exposition. I can almost garauntee Episodes II and III will not be this light story-wise. Lucas had to introduce us to everbody and get them in place. My view is he made the very best of a mundane and unenviable job. STAR WARS is meant to entertain us (the moviegoers), the deeper meanings and reasons should, really, only be relevant to Lucas. It's his spaceship, I'll let him fly it. I agree with Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson): "Don't worry. The Force will guide us."
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as parts 4-6, but not as bad as most are saying
Review: Most people were so hyped up for the release of STAR WARS, EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE that it was just a huge letdown for them. It's far from the best in the series, I will say that, but it's not bad, by any means. It's cool, because we finally get to see Darth as a little boy and we learn his backstory, along with the rising of the Republic and the onciming tension between them and the Empire. Also, we get to see Yoda a few hundred years younger! But, check it out if you haven't yet, because it's not really a bad movie. Just don't expect it to be the best in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't judge a Star Wars movie by its Screenplay
Review: Most people who have this movie says the screenplay stunk. I think it fits in well with the whole Star Wars plot. Once Episode 2 comes out i'm sure this movie will make more sense.
Rating:
Summary: ok movie, FANTASTIC DVD
Review: Movie: The Phantom Menace is an ok film. I believe that while it is a slight dissapointment, quite juvenile in some aspects, and occasionally fast and off-paced, it's fun to watch, provides a good introduction and opening to the series and can satisfy in a lot of areas for hard-core fans. Especially in the Jedi area. The Jedi are developed wonderfully in this movie. We get to see them before they were reduced to Yoda, Obi-Wan and Luke. We get to see when they were a big part in politics and a large influence in galactic affairs. The ideals of the council, the nature of the apprentice-master relationship and their fighting style. The lightsaber fights are breathtaking. In other aspects, the movie fails in a few areas. One being the character of Jar-Jar. Jar-Jar seems to be a good idea in concept. However, his execution comes off as exxagerated, annoying and excessive. While he can be occasionally entertaining, he says to much when he shouldn't be saying anything, he says the wrong things and he gets in the way. It's as if you're on a date with Star Wars and Jar-Jar is a third wheel. He is tolerable though and doesn't "ruin" the movie as many have said. The second problem is the character of Anakin, but he's not as big of a problem as Jar-Jar. It's mainly Anakin's lines. The piercing, groan-inducing "Yippeee!" should've been replaced with something like "All-right!". The line "Now THIS is pod-racing" should be totally removed. Other than that, Anakin is played rather well. And if you had seen his competition(see below), you'd understand why he was picked. The third problem is Darth Maul. Darth Maul is saddeningly underdeveloped. We never get a sense of how evil he is. He comes off more as a mere assassin than a trained sith-lord. There's a TV spot series(included in disc 2) in which one is voice-overed by Darth Maul reciting a poem about fear. This poem has more words than Maul's total lines and, I think, shouldve been included in the film somehow. If not, there should've been more scenes in which he talks more and discusses his dark-side ideals. Aside from Maul, Jar-Jar and Anakin, all the other characters are great. Anakin's mother Shmi(Pernilla August)gives the best performance. Amidala(Natalie Portman), the two Jedi(Neeson and McGregor) and Senator Palpatine(Ian McDiarmid) all give notable performances as well. My final problem is the pacing. Watching this movie is like being repeatedly punched in the gut in good and bad ways. It takes you from shot to shot showing you widespread oohs and aahs at an uneven and occasionally disappointing pace. You'll want to see more of a moment or location but the movie just whisks you away and says "HEYLOOKATTHISNOW!NEATHUH?OKMOVINGON!" Aside from these problems, this is a really great movie. It's certainly worthy of the Star Wars name and is loads of fun to see multiple times. The conflict on Naboo and the way it spreads to encompass the characters is a good introduction. Theres a great blooper reel on this disc. To access it, use search mode on your remote and go to title 3. From what I've seen and heard, Episode 2: Attack of the Clones will not have any of Episode 1's problems and will be an incredible film, far surpassing an ok film like The Phantom Menace. Final Score for movie: 3.5 out of 5 Features: This is George Lucas' first DVD and it was long-anticipated. I can tell you it was worth the wait and certainly worth buying over the VHS version without a doubt. DISC 1: The Movie Crisp, clear perfection. This movie was filmed digitally so when its recorded digitally, it's absolutly perfect. A far cry from VHS. This movie shares is pristine quality along the lines of seamless digital transfers of Pixar's Toy Story series, A Bug's Life, and Square Pictures' Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. You certainly won't be disappointed with the presentation. Plus, DVD has freeze-frame pausing unlike VHS's skippy jargled pausing. It's certainly an advantage in this movie for all the visuals you want to stop and soak in every little detail from. With DVD and a transfer this good, it's possible and really fun. Disc 2: Special Features If you wanted to know all about how this movie was made, Disc two certainly satisfies. "The Beginning" is a highlight of this disc. A camera crew was given total unrestricted access to the sets and offices that made The Phantom Menace. 600 total hours were filmed. You get one hour of the best footage. It's really great stuff covering all stages of production. No voice overs and no cutting to cast and crew sitting in a room remeniscing. This documentary gives you a fly-on-the-wall kind of experience. You see it all as it happened. Theres tons of featurettes. If you're curious about any little aspect of the film be it design, production, casting, special effects and more, theres a featurette for it. One of which is called "3000 Anakins"(the one I mentioned above) You can see quite a few of the kids who auditioned for Anakin. When seing the other two finalists, you will know why they picked Anakin, I assure you. All the trailers and TV-spots are there. The "Duel of the Fates" music video is great and it contains a few more behind the scenes shots. Movie Posters in more than a dozen languages are included. The production photo gallery is ok. Theres two scenes where you can view storyboards, rough animatics and final shot together or each one alone which is really neat. There's 7 deleted scenes, some of which have been reincorporated into the movie on disc 1. If you watch the documentary, you can find out why certain scenes were cut and a little backround on deleted scenes in general. One of the most impressive parts of this documentary is the breakdown of the cut waterfall scene. When they show you how they made the waterfall itself, its really cool to see. Theres also great additional bloopers (CG ones akin to those from Pixar's movies) at the end of the deleted scenes documentary. This is one of if not the best special feature discs out there and it might've been worth buying on its own for the same price. Final score for features: 6 out of 5 Overall, if you liked Episode 1, you need to buy this DVD. If you kinda liked it, rent it. It's certainly worth seeing even just for the special features. Final score for the DVD release of Star Wars: Episode 1-The Phantom Menace: 4 out of 5
Rating: 
Summary: A Lot of fun But no DTS?
Review: Much about this movie has been already said. Episode 1 is fun pure and simple. But why can't the DVD be released with DTS? I lowered my opinion from 4 stars to 3 for no other reason. I've been waiting for this release to hear the Pod Race and final llight sabre battle in all its glory in DTS. Maybe the second or third special edition release will have it.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect ...
Review: Much has been said about how this movie lacks the certain Ôsense of wonderÕ that the first Star Wars movies had, and many are the reasons that have been cited for this: canÕt bond with the characters, too much reliance on computer effects, poor story, etc. All of those reasons may have some degree or other of validityÑbut letÕs face it, the fact that many of us were some twenty years younger back then may have something to do with it as well. The movie is impressive enough, it shows us magnificent fairy tale vistas and dazzling special effects, and the story is sufficiently decent for any blockbuster. Last but not least, the light saber battles were never anywhere near as glorious and brimming with martial arts skill as the ones we witness in The Phantom Menace! If you can take a back seat to the inner child (or any other children you may have with you) for a while, youÕll enjoy what you see. And yet there is something seriously wrong with the movieÑwhile it may not bring back to all of us the Ôsense of wonderÕ we felt two decades ago, it does resurrect some Hollywood staples reminiscent of 40Õs or earlier movies: the bumbling, bulgy-eyed minstrel, the scheming Oriental with his coarse accent, and the sleazy, moneygrubbing Middle Eastern type (Watto bears a disturbing resemblance to Third Reich anti-semitic propaganda caricatures). This peculiar anachronism may not ruin your enjoyment of Episode I, but for many African-, Asian-, Arab- or simply critically aware Americans, it cannot but lend a bitter aftertaste to all the eye candy. I am sure JarJar could have been just as comical, the Trade Federation just as wicked and conniving, and Watto just as lovably grumpy without invoking easily identifiable stereotypes from a bygone Hollywood era (does Sesame Street ring a bell? Big Bird was a lanky doofus and Oscar, well, a grouch, but both offensive to no one). Hence, alas, only four stars for what could otherwise have been an utterly enjoyable movie.
Rating:
Summary: Expectations and reality
Review: Much has been said, both praise and criticism, of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. I will address elements of both arguments, in an attempt to give an objective review. First, I feel expectations cause problems for any movie. After 26 years since the last picture, the expectations for this 1st installment of the Star Wars saga were ridiculuous. George Lucas could have told any story at all and it would be a letdown. Twenty years of hype is quite a lot to unload in the course of two hours. Second, people have no concrete example of this type of a prequel concept. The closest example is Godfather II, but even that "flashback" was bookended by a modern-day setting. In the Phantom Menace, we are seeing the beginning of an epic tale. This story SHOULD BE a pale shadow of the other films. It should also be a bright beacon. The Phantom Menace is a film meant to contrast life in the galaxy as we knew it in Episodes IV-VI. It is NOT a period of civil war. It is NOT a time of dictatorial oppression. As a result, the universe appears more colorful and alive. In this film, we see the groundwork, the first suggestions, that things aren't as they have been. Many characters in this film are underdeveloped. They are left that way on purpose. We knew very little about Ben Kenobi or Han Solo either in Episode IV. Their characters grew and developed throughout the trilogy. One major problem in appreciating Episode I is the fact that in 20 years, people perceive the original trilogy much as one picture. Much of the criticism received about Episode I could be matched identically with the criticism that Episode IV received in 1977. The plot is not weak, it is simple. Like the beginnings of any myth or folktale, the story must be simple. What you find, though, are many layers to pull back. In this way, the story can apply to most people. Greek myths were shared not just to children, but adults as well. Everyone could find a valuable lesson in it. This film makes statements against racism, the separation of family, and the importance of leadership and loyalty. Characters like Jar-Jar show that even people that may seem the most incapable can accomplish great things. People I know that enjoy this movie the most tend to be people that haven't seen any of the other films. They have no bias. As Yoda said, "You must unlearn what you have learned." The visual arts and the sweeping music score draw you into a whole other reality, if you let it. The story takes you on a journey, Obi-Wan's journey, of maturity. If you are mindful of the things that happen in between, you might even learn something.
Rating:
Summary: Menace to Society
Review: Much has been written of this film, much more than it deserves. After all, its just a movie. Some people seemed to base their own personal happiness on the outcome of this bit of entertainment. Taken out of the Classic Star Wars series, I'd take this film over 90% of the action adventures we get. But place it in with THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and its weaknesses are apparent. Firstly, its hard to tell what the story is about. We know what the series is about, but this story on its own rambles between Qui Gon, Obi Wan and Young Anikan (Jake Lloyd in a slightly annoying child's performance). Plot matters. Outside of the plot, many of the set pieces are amazing. But, none will ever match up to the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AT-AT attack on the winter base on Hoth. The Pod Race is well done but looked like a "driving" video game, without INSERT COIN(S) flashing on screen. Yoda, by muppet master Frank Oz is back and is still the best special effect in the film. Jar Jar Binks, a new completely computer generated character premieres with this film and is well accomplished. But, he is focused (as is this film) on the younger set so annoyed many an adult. Evil is strongly represented by the too infrequent Darth Maul. His performance and the best light sabre battle to date stand out as high points of the film. Now, after watching Star Wars for the first time, I was immediately able to draw film elements all over my school folders. (ie Darth Vader, R2-D2, Threepio, The Tie Fighters, The Death Star, X-Wings, etc...) I have since seen Episode 1 three times and still cannot describe the robot driven ships in the final attack. Hopefully, we will be more fulfilled with EPISODE 2.
Rating:
Summary: 2 year old sat still throughout the movie
Review: my 2 year old son loved the movie that he was able to concentrate and enjoy the movie from start to finish. To think, my hyperactive little boy could not keep still or be quiet in any place or event. For the movie to have captured his attention and made him sit still and quiet in the theater was just amazing.
Rating: 
Summary: The fourth best "Star Wars" movie ever
Review: My all time favorite movies would probably be the First Star Wars Trilogy Installments and the Toy Story movies? Why? Because I have a thing for intergalactic dogma and the notion that the toys I used to play with talk behind my back and grapple with the same emotions I do? No, because the accessibility of these films are unbelieveable. Anybody with a brain can enjoy these films. They entertain children without coming off as idiotic to adults. So, how does Episode I fit into the subject? The movie doesn't know what audience it wants to pander to, and maybe Lucasfilm didn't care to decide because they knew people would see just about anything that had the words "Star" and "Wars" in close proximity. Too bad, because the only people that I think would get a real kick out of the topical nature of the film's plot, characters, and lines that at best were flat and at worst made me cringe would be kids! And there's nothing wrong with that, except that I thought that Star Wars was a FAMILY movie. When Qui-Gon Jinn knocks out Jar Jar Binks to calm him down, only kids laugh; everyone else cries tears of joy because he finally shut up. There are only a few and far between moments in the movie where the entire audience extrapolates the same emotion from a scene (Anakin's heartrending departure from Tatooine is a popluarly cited example). I was thouroughly disappointed. As for the DVD extras, who cares? The extras should complement what the main course is; here, it's like an M&M that's no chocolate and all colorful candy shell...
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