Rating: 
Summary: Smooth Operation...Maybe too Smooth
Review: I have already submited a review, however through forces that are possibly too evil to mention here, the review did not go through....Such is the fate of those who brave the review section... Anyway, SW 1 is a good movie. I've watched it several times and will probably watch on and off for the rest of my life. This, to me, is the true test of a good movie; if it can be watched multiple times and still be enjoyed, then it is good. Episode 1, while not as breath taking as 4, 5 & 6 falls into this catagory. I have my complaints...but it is always nice to have the background on your favorite galaxy. As for those complaints, and the title of this review, the digital effects were just too smooth. The action sequences were great but the aliens used in this movie were too "Disneyesque" Not that Disney is bad, I love their movies...It's just that when you go to see the Jedi battle the dark side, you don't expect Bambi and Thumper to be weilding the light sabers... Jar Jar was probably a mistake, though a major part of the plot it seemed to me. Darth Maul was not as much of a presence in the film as I expected. Darth Vadar was a menacing politcal and physical presence in the original Star Wars. Maul simply fought with a very cool weapon with a lot of grace and agility. HE DIDN'T TALK! Why? He would have been much more intimidating if he had uttered a few more words than "At last we will have our revenge." There were other areas of disapointment, but you will notice I gave this movie four stars...that is because on the whole, when the movie all comes together mixed with a prior knowledge of the Star Wars saga, this movie is a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Beginning
Review: I have always enjoyed the Star Wars universe, and The Phantom Menace is no exception. Awesome graphics! Familiar characters! And new ones to boot! The pod racing could inspire whole new videogames.I eagerly await the rest of the sequel, but I had to give this movie 4 stars because I want it on DVD, one of the best formats in existence today. I would love to see all of the Star Wars films on this medium. George Lucas, please show us DVD owners some support.
Rating: 
Summary: It's OK in some ways, but Jar-Jar......
Review: I have always loved the Star Wars trilogy, and I was hoping for this to be as good. It just isn't. Some scenes are good, and others aren't. Pros
1. I thought that Neeson and MacGregor were great. The guy who played Anakin was pretty good.
2. Natalie Portman was terrific.
3. The lightsaber battle was cool, but not as good as the one in "The Empire Strikes Back"
4. The Podrace was excellent. Very exciting. (You will probably disagree.)
5. I especially liked scenes of Anakin and the Jedi Council "interviewing" him. The battle on Naboo was okay. Cons
1.The commentators were a little too much like our time. It was sort of like NASCAR announcers.
2.Jar-Jar was a stupid character and got too much screen time. He was way too annoying, with his silly way of talking. Overall this movie was okay. I gave it three stars because you had to give the first one, and the other two are for the Podrace and the lightsaber battle. As I said it's OK, but I'm pretty sure you won't really like it as much as the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like it more
Review: I have been a fan of George Lucas and Star Wars Episodes 4-6. The production quality is fantastic as expected but the story did leave me disappointed. It looked like they were trying for special effects more than character development, so lacked much of the charm and humanity that I came to enjoy in the "original" episodes. (I would have been happy if they cut some time out of that way-too-long pod race scene and had the characters talk to each other more. If you check out the supplementary material, you see that there was even MORE of the pod race that had been cut out!)
Rating: 
Summary: Fan of Star Wars
Review: I have been a fan of Star Wars as long as I can remember. My dad showed me the first one and I fell in love with it. I saw this one and I could not stop raving about it. I liked it so much that I got my younger brother to show me how to play Pod Racing on the computer. I have waited a long time for this movie and I can't wait till the other ones come out. This movie is for people of all ages. Everyone will love it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Exceeded My Expectations
Review: I have been a fan of star wars since I was young and I have seen every movie at least 100 times, and I've read some where in the neighborhood of 30 star wars books and I believe, except for a few flaws that this movie stays true the star wars universe.
Rating:
Summary: Who are you guys?
Review: I have been a fan of the Star Wars series, for as long as I can remember. I heard that the new movie was coming out long before much of the medi driven hype began. The first thing I thought when I learned of the new movie was, can it be as good as the original. The anwser was and is no. The original Star Wars was a movie icon. It has become an important part of american pop culture. Even those who have not recently seen the movie or do not enjoy Sci-Fi Fantasy movies know who Chewie is, recognize a light saber, and know the signifigance of hair buns. So the new film is not as good as the original. In my view titanic wasn't half as good as the original Star Wars. That does not mean that it is not a good movie. Nor does it mean that all of those people who went to see the movie wasted their mony or time. Just because a movie does not measure up to one of the all time movie ledgends doesn't mean it isn't a great movie. When the movie came out I went to see it with the rest of the hords and when the theater darkend and movie began the air seemed to be charged with an electric buzz. As the movie progressed I became entwined in the plot and began to ask questions like, how does this anakin kid ever turn to the darkside, and how is the palpintine involved, and who is really behind the trade federation plots. When the movie ended I walked out of the theater feeling that it had been one of the best if not the best movies I had seen in a long time. A short time after I had seen the movie I began to notice that two camps were forming about it. A group that loved it and felt it belonged as a part of the Star Wars saga and those that clearly did not. The arguments I heard coming from the detracting crowd were that the movie had to much CGI and that it was no where near the originals. To those people I want to ask who are you guys? And what do you want? Do you want puppets? Well to those of you that said you didn't like the CGI and would prefer the puppets I must say. Stop trying to relive the past! I understand that you have fond memories of the methods used in the original Star Wars movie but those methods were used then because at the time they were state of the art. But when starting the new movie George Lucas chose to use modern techniques because they were the best way to achive the look and feel he wanted the new movie to have. Did you want the original all over again? I must admitt that it would have been nice to get another movie of the caliber of the original but lets get real. When I approached this movie I approached it with the attitude of, it's just a movie and that is all I expect, and that is what I got. For those of you that expected another cultural icon I am truly sorry that you didn't get what you want, but don't judge this movie based on the past judge it on the now. Don't judge it on the original no movie can handle that, judge it on the great movie it is. I feel that this was a great movie and probably more worthy of being purchased than the last movie you bought. So give it a try and I think you'll like it.
Rating:
Summary: An Exciting Beginning to the Star Wars Saga
Review: I have been a Star Wars Fan since the first movie came out in 1977, and The Phantom Menace upholds the great tradition set forth in the earlier films. This movie takes place 30 years before the original Star Wars. The Federation has placed a blockade around the planet of Naboo. Two Jedi knights, played by Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, are sent to negotiate a peace betwen the Naboo and the Federation, but instead the Federation tries to kill the Jedi. The Jedi, along with Queen Amidala and Jar Jar Binks are able to escape. However, their ship develops problems with its hyperdrive, and they are forced to land on the planet of Tattooine. It is here that Qui-Gon Jin, played by Neeson, discovers Anikin Skywalker. Qui-Gon is convinced that this young boy has the power to become a Jedi. However, they cannot leave Tattooine until their ship is repaired. Anikin enters the pod races to try to win a bet Qui-Gon placed with Waddo, a trader who happens to have a hyperdrive. Anikin wins the race and Waddo somewhat reluctantly releases Anikin from his slavery to the custody of Qui-gon. With their ship now repaired, the group heads to Courissant, a planet-sized city. Here, Queen Amidala pleads her case to the Senate. Also unknown to the Jedi, A Sith, Darth Maul, has followed them as well. The two Jedi eventually meet Maul in a fierce battle. In the climactic ending battle, the Naboo and Gungans join forces to repel the federation attack. As is the case with most movies, this was much better on the big screen, but the video version is still worth watching, too.
Rating:
Summary: The Force is with us!
Review: I have been dreaming, waiting, hoping, whishing - ever since I was 10 years old - that one day we could watch the STAR WARS saga at home on large TV SETS - well technology has caught up with the fantastic vision of GEORGE LUCAS from a long time ago....and now with my 54" SONY and SONY DVD - my dreams are coming true! STAR WARS on DVD - CLEAN - CRISP - CLEAR - true to the way George had meant it to be seen - A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE with a heart, mind, soul of a child looking up to the sun - searching for adventure and excitement. THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU.....ALWAYS.
Rating:
Summary: dvd please...
Review: i have been eagerly anticipating the release of the dvd since i saw it in the theater. but now as we all know the dvd won't be out until whenever so i decided to get the tape. whatever you do don't buy the pan-n-scan version. the awful job they did on this dvd-worthy movie is second only to the re-release pan-n-scan version of ghostbusters (shudder). the only options you should even consider are to either 1)buy the overpriced widescreen movie/box-o-junk or 2)borrow/rent a widescreen version. 5 stars for actual movie, 4 stars for the widescreen VHS, zero for pan-n-scan VHS. (5+4+0)/3 = 3 stars
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