Rating: 
Summary: The Star Wars saga begins....
Review: George Lucas lives up to all of the wild expectations with the "The Phantom Menace", and has me counting down the days until the release of episode ii. The only thing that kept me from giving the movie 5 stars was some of the silly humor. Also, I thought John Williams' score was exceptional - a highlight of the movie for me - I would highly recommend the CD. Speaking of the music - for those of you with keen hearing, listen carefully to the very end when the last of the credits are rolling - you'll hear an ominous yet familiar sound. . . .
Rating: 
Summary: A Fond Childhood Memory Destroyed.
Review: George Lucas must have known that he could put out a stinker and that die-hard Star Wars fans would still call it a masterpiece. However, for the average fan like myself, "The Phantom Menace" was mediocre at best. Let's face it, Lucas had over 14 years to come up with a solid script for Episode I. Instead we got a bad episode of "Lost In Space".(My apologies to Dr. Smith!) Hollywood once again created a beautiful fantasy world but not any interesting characters to inhabit it(Jake Lloyd played Anakin as a little twit). The story raised more questions that it answered(the characters refered to events that happened before this movie; Episode I). Great actors were given some truly awful lines(from the look on Natalie Portman's face she wanted off this leaky Lucasfilm ship). And as a final insult to fans, George decided to release it in VHS only (Mr. Lucas have you no shame sir?)... There are 20 seconds of promos before the movie when there could have been some additional footage or interviews. I will say that credit is due to Ray Park for doing a fantastic job with Darth Maul. As the final light sabre battle is well choreographed and actually pretty exciting. Buy it used for that reason but don't buy it new. And before anybody e-mails me saying what a genius George Lucas is, look up the other Lucasfilm turkey, 1978's "Star Wars Holiday Special". Let's hope Episode II is a lot better!
Rating: 
Summary: Star Wars: Episode 1
Review: George Lucas realy nows how to make a good movie. He has done well with his star wars movies. This movie is one of his best. All of the star wars movies are great no dought about it. I seen this movie in the show about two times and I loved it. Now I own it on dvd and I watch it alout sence I have a surround sound system. This Movie is one of the best. I am not nocking the first three star wars movies at all because they are all good.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Way to Start the Star Wars Saga
Review: George Lucas returns to his Star Wars galaxy, and craetes Episode I: The Phantom Menace.This film goes back 45 years before A New Hope, back to the days of the Old Republic and Jedi Knights. Obi Wan Kenobi is a Jedi apprentie, and Darth Vader is a 9 year old boy who is believed to be a the Chosen One. You must see it, and once you do, Episodes II and III will be on your "want to see" list!
Rating: 
Summary: The Phantom Mockery aka A Star Wars Parody
Review: George Lucas should be horse-whipped! Yes, you heard me correctly. I,like zillions of fans,eagerly went to theater in the summer of'99 hoping for more of that old Star Wars magic. What I got instead was a cheesy, trite, in parts boring, in parts painfully annoying, 2 hour commercial. Sigh...I knew this movie was in trouble when, a half hour in a main character said "Exsqueeze me"..??? I think I grimaced and gasped when I heard this; Thats when I knew "The Force no longer with George is".Now, let me just say that I had no overblown expectations of this movie..I just wanted a good movie that continued( or rather) initiated the star wars saga story. The only things I expected were the things that made me love the first star wars, charcter development, good plot, witty dialogue(that yes, was sometimes cheesy)but most of all, a basic respect for the story and the characters in it. I received none of these things. Simply put, Mr. Lucas took us for granted and got lazy on the script, expecting the audiences prior emotions for the past trilogy to 'carry them thru' this movie. Well, Im sorry George, but you have to work harder than that. You can't just throw out ill conceived barely developed characters, trite dialogue, threadbare plotlines and contrived battle sequences and expect me to hollah. Really George...what were you thinking??? George failed to make me give a darn about many of the characters in this story, no honest human emotion for me to identify with, nothing, nothing to get me engaged with the character. You would think that George would have worked extra hard at character development...esp considering that..err...WE ALREADY KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS!!!!! ....with that fact in mind ,one would think you would work extra hard to make characters the audience can relate to and want to share the crazy wild ride with. But no..what do we get? Jar Jar Binks. Well I have one thing to say "Peeeeeee uuuuuuuu.....that smells stinkofish!" Now..the reason I give the DVD 3 stars is well..b/c it was a good package..The extras are the real prize in this box set. Others have complained of the DVD transfer..but since I have a bad tv I dont really notice it so I give the optics a good rating. The sound is good too, but the gems are the extras ..the music video however is very bad..lifted right from the TPH video game(classy George)..and the visuals for the video are really crude. But overall, the extras are what make this dvd worth it. Back to movie bashing. I hope, I really do, hope and pray that George takes some of this criticism to heart and goes back to the thinsg that made the first trilogy so great(namely...getting all those great wrtiers who worked on the first trilogy to write for him again) Visually, the movie was arresting, but not groundbreakingly stunning. I still feel more a sense of wonder and world-immersion from watching Star WArs than I do Menace...go figure?. So, I guess my point here George is , more plot, more characterization, lets CGI crud...The Cell proved..you can have all the smoke and mirrors in the world, (...)..-A.N.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but could have been so much more...
Review: George Lucas should recognize his limitations as a director and a writer, and hand over the next two Star Wars movies over to other people. The Empire Strikes Back was neither written nor directed by Lucas, and that is why I think it is the best of all the movies thus far. Lucas needs to limit himself to the role of a consultant. I think the way he is worshipped by the fans has caused him to lose his ability to be critical of his won work. I also think he has been hurt by his years away from the camera. He should have followed Spielberg's lead and took time out from building his empire to hone his filmaking craft with a few non-sf movies before attempting TPM. The movie just doesn't have the heart that I thought it needed. Also, the chemistry between the characters was almost non-existent. Also, I wish Lucas had not turned down the kid from the Sixth Sense who auditioned for the Anakin part. He would have been so much better, and he would have been old enough for there to have been a enough of a spark between him and the queen to foreshadow their eventual romance. Also, he could have given enough of an edge to Anakin to lay the groundwork for the darkness coming in the later chapters. (on the other hand, if he had made TMP he might not have gotten the chance to make the Sixth Sense - which would have been a far greater tragedy). I just hope the next two episodes don't disappoint as much as this did.
Rating:
Summary: Zombie Wars (but what about the boring special effects!!!!)
Review: George Lucas wrote and directed the very funny 'American Graffiti' and the very imaginative 'Star Wars'. So what happend, George. What happened to 'Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace'??? The reason I bring this ancient movie (1999) up now is because Lucas' new film, 'Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones' is arriving in theaters in May of this year. I have a feeling this next film will be better than the last. I hope to GOD it is for everyone's sake. It really IS a good series (all except for the last atrocity - I give it two stars for its special effects and Ewan McGregor). There was a rumor going around: some of the actors, especially star Liam Neeson, noticed that Lucas was more interested in the technical aspects of the film rather than the actors. No wonder the acting was so wooden. Neeson, Natalie Portman (most of the time) and the boy (the one who played 'Anakin Walker - the future 'Darth Vader' - give me a break) all came across as wooden heads, and the boy is especially bad. Sorry. Sorry. I shouldn't blame the boy. I blame Lucas for not working with this kid, and for allowing such brilliant actors as Neeson to stroll through the role like the lobotomized Jedi Knight he was. McGregor at least 'tried' to add something extra, but when you have a director (Lucas again) who cares absolutely nothing for the actor, the script, the story, etc., 'The Phantom Menace' is bound to become not only one of the worst movies in 1999, but one of the worst science fiction movies I have ever seen. I have read some reviews commenting on the red-faced Darth Maul. What a clown. He was one millionth what Darth Vader (James Earl Jones - remember him???) was. Maybe Lucas shouldn't direct these movies. Like in 'The Empire Strikes Back' (easily the best of the films) and 'Return of the Jedi', Lucas hired others. Maybe he has lost 'touch' with humanity. Maybe he himself, like his numbing creation 'Jar Jar Binks', has also turned into some kind of dull alien whose only interests lie in boring audiences with the latest in super-technology. I know at one time Steven Spielberg had expressed interest in directing one of them. Maybe Lucas should remain 'behind the scenes' (and I do mean WAY behind the scenes). The real talent is always in the writers (good writers, George), the actors, and the hundreds of craftsmen who put together such an eventful science fiction film. Sooooooo, 'Phantom Menace' was a real dud. Will I see the next film??? Even though I am not happy with the title 'Attack of the Clones'???. Another hour and they have come up with a MUCH better title, guarenteed. But remember this, Lucas doesn't care about titles or scripts or actors - afterall he is truly a cyborg with no emotions, something his fans didn't know I bet. Still, I look forward to watching the 'newer' Star Wars saga. It features actors like Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor (I loved him in 'Moulin Rouge' - you should see that if you haven't already), Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Lee (I LOVE Mr. Lee). I also heard that Hayden Christensen is a HUGE improvement over that 'kid' (I don't blame the kid - I blame the director). And the special effects should be masterful no doubt (afterall, Lucas OWNS ILM up north). 'Attack of the Clones' (WHAT a title), I can only wish upon a midnight star, will be a VAST improvement over the disappointing 'Phantom Menace' which took the series to an all-time low. Please, George Lucas, move to the planet Endor or at least wake up and smell the Wookies. A meaningful story, good writing, attention to the actors is what makes a film GREAT. The special effects can only enhance a film's quality, and we know Lucas is an expert at F/X. Well, I am crossing my fingers that May's 'Attack of the Clones' is indeed memorable and falls into line with 'The Empire Strikes Back'. Hey, one can only wish, can't they.
Rating:
Summary: Is it the best "Star Wars"? Not by a longshot.
Review: George Lucas' attempt at a comeback for directing is a rough one. The movie has its bad points, but it has some redeeming qualities that save it from being terrible. The script is pretty slow and lunky, with lots of dialouge about things the audience didn't really care about. Whether Anakin was concieved by the midi-chlorians isn't important to us. We want the things Star Wars was famous for. Naturally, the FX are great...for 1999. After seeing "The Matrix," it doesn't look as good. Huh. The actors are basically reduced to playing action figures. Liam Neeson brings in a good performance, as does Ewan McGregor, but Natalie Portman and Jake Lloyd seemed a bit stiff. Pernilla August somehow gave the best showing of them all. She was truly wonderful. Now for the good stuff. First of all, John Williams proves once again why he is a genius. His score for Episode I was the best work he has ever done. (When I first heard 'Duel of the Fates' I was in shock for 15 minutes.) Buy the soundtrack. The music may have been the best part of the movie. Also, Lucas brings us back to the good old good-vs-evil battle we're accustomed to in the first trilogy. The ending battle sequence is spectacular. Forget all this Jedi and Sith stuff; the battle is spectacular. The lightsaber battle between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul is great. The other two battles, I felt, just got in the way. While watching the space battle or land battle, I felt myself yearning for the sword combat. With the aforementioned musical score in the background, this is the scene that is truly worthy of the name "Star Wars." So is it a good movie? Yes. A masterpiece? No. Is it the best movie of all time? Not by a longshot. Is it the best of the four movies? No. But should you buy it? I know all you Star Wars freaks will buy it anyway, but be warned: this is not a movie for everyone. If you want classic Star Wars, go with "Return of the Jedi." If you want a movie that will surely be a collector's item in the future, buy it. But if you're just looking for a good time on a lonely Saturday, consider renting it first. Then see what you think. Oh, and watch out for Jar-Jar.
Rating:
Summary: A generally well-done prequel to the ongoing saga
Review: George Lucas' vision is another step complete with this excellent saga. Though not a heavy duty sci-fi nut, I do own all the Star Wars videos, in cluding this one. My recommendation is for this widescreen edition, so that none of the spectacular scenes and effects are lost. This film is kept from a 5 star rating simply by the kid-appeal accent on the silly Jar-Jar character, which adds too much slapstick to an otherwise extraordinary sci-fi entry. The widescreen presen tation is especially effective in the panoramic shots, the intense laser sabre fights, and the near-legendary pod race. Should one view the latter scene in pan-n-scan, the quick action and editing would prove too claustrophobic. This film is well worth the limited edition purchase price. Featuring a "making of" documentary of appx. 20 minutes preceding the main show.
Rating:
Summary: The Beginning...
Review: George Lucas's original "Star Wars" trilogy is a brilliant, if incomplete, contribution to the world of film. With the prequel trilogy the story will finally be completed -- as the original trilogy told of the fall of the Empire, here at last is the story of its rising. ... I am immensly pleased with this beginning episode in the miniseries that "Star Wars" really is. It is my hope that someday not only the original half of "Star Wars," but the entire six-part movie, will go down in film history with the word "classic" attached to it. It certianly is one in my mind. Episode I is set a long time ago in the same galexy far, far away as the original three movies, but unlike the originals the galexy we see here is pretty much at peace. Instead of an all-out war, we see the evil Sith making their first subtle moves to bring down the Jedi Order and this said peace with it: The Trade Federation's blockade of the remote planet Naboo allows Senator Palpatine (Darth Siduos) to become Suprime Chancellor and by doing so sets a series of events into motion which will ultumately bring the fall of the Jedi, setting the stage for the original trilogy's story of rebellion and the return of peace, and it will be very interesting to see how exactly the Empire continues to rise in Episodes II and III. Episode I is indeed a very light, nonwar film, focusing instead on the arena of polotics, but the lightness here is needed to contrast the darkness that lies ahead, and I was expecting something of this sort. It is a thrilling, if different, beginning to "Star Wars," and one that I highly reccomend. As for the DVD edition itself - all I can say about it is wow. The film's presentation is flawless, and contains a previously unreleased deleted scene "The Air Taxi Sequence" which was completed and reincuperated into the film just for the DVD release. The audio commentary track is genius, and even the menus are fun. The second disc contains a wealth of bonus materials including more completed deleted sequences, a 66-minute new making-of doccumentary as well as five featurettes focusing on certian aspects of the film and the 12-part web doccumentary series that debuted on starwars.com during the movie's production. Also included are trailers, TV spots, the "Duel of the Fates" music video, footage on the making of the popular videogame "Star Wars: Starfighter," and more. The only better DVD I've seen out there yet is "Snow White" from Disney. This set will go a long way towards making it up to people who unlike me are a bit disappointed in the film. A great film made even better by a great DVD set. If this is any indication of what the original trilogy's DVDs will be like, they too will be amazing. Great job, Lucasfilm!
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