Rating: 
Summary: 'Xena: Warrior Princess' meets 'A Bug's Life'
Review: Well, my heading says it all. 'The Phantom Menace' is littered with faults in terms of acting, directing, scriptwriting, style and special effects, and is saved (if that term can be used in association with a lost cause) only by the blossoming talent of Natalie Portman, who has come a long way since 'Leon'. Now before you start saying that I'm criticising the film only because I'm against Star Wars, I'll confess that, though not a huge fan, the original Star Wars (Episode IV) was a darned good yarn which had class (Alec Guinness), vitality (Harrison Ford/Mark Hamill), a truly great villain (James Earl Jones) and incredible special effects (the trench sequence still puts current-day imitations to shame). Episode I, on the contrary, feels like a lazy cash-in that was given no attention to detail, no thought and no effort from the writers, directors, producers or actors. As a result, without the success of Star Wars this film is nothing.In terms of story, Episode I falls flat. Rather than being a movie, it is a 'let's-fill-in-the-blanks-that-don't-need-filling-in' piece of filmmaking, and thus, rather than telling a story, it feels like an episode of a television show, Xena: Warrior Princess, for example. And, like television, the characters have no depth whatsoever and do not develop; at least Han, Luke and Leia had 'issues', not to mention personalities. Furthermore, the special effects are diabolical. Yes, they are stunning at showing what computers are now capable of, but they DON'T LOOK REAL. At times you think it's a Pixar film, especially in the battle between the Gungans and the automated Federation soldiers, because the visuals could have been lifted from 'A Bug's Life' or 'Toy Story', which is bad when you consider that this is a live-action rather than animation film. Added to this, actors are frequently chroma-keyed into obviously computerised backgrounds, which are spotlessly clean, sterile, flat and unbelievably low-budget - whatever happened to building a set, small-scale modelling, linear rather than CGI animation? All it comes down to is that in the 1970's, with extremely limited computer technology, Lucasfilm was able to make a movie that looked and felt ten times more real than this one. Overall, this is a disappointing beginning to what was touted as the most eagerly-anticipated film series of recent years. I (perhaps naively) thought that the film was about the guy in all the film-posters, Darth Maul, but his eight-or-so minutes of film time kind-of don't satisfy. And, looking forward to Ewan McGregor's proven acting talents, the only thing I was impressed by was his English accent. And, of course, there was that much-talked-about pod-racing sequence, which looked identical to the Playstation game, so that tells you precisely how realistic it was. I can only hope that Episode II is given a slightly larger budget, a hell-of-a-lot more effort, and stacks more of the creative flair that made Lucas his name all those years ago. This does not bode well for Indiana Jones 4!
Rating:
Summary: ZERO STARS IS MORE APPROPRIATE
Review: I am ashamed that this is asscoaited with the original trilogy of Star Wars films. SWEP1 was the worst movie I had seen since "Plan 9 from Outer Space" George Lucas shoud pull this title from the shelves and make a public apology to all the adult star wars fans for putting out this G rated nonsense. Since when is jedi power controlled by microscopic organizms--well, I guess that is more PC than it being a eastern-like religion. I have to say, the computer animation was great, but you have to use it in moderation! The whole damn movie was cgi, as well as the most annoying character ever created, Jar Jar Binks. I pray to god that he dies early in episode 2. And what was with all the hype over Darth Maul? He was in the movie for all of five minutes, with just as many lines. How is it that a retarded cgi character gets second billing where a sith lord only gets five lines. I'm ranting, and I cant take anymore of this...
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite up to the original trilogy, but still very fun...
Review: Like the bulk of those out there I patiently awaited the next installment to the Star Wars Universe ever since I first learned that there were going to possibly be additional films to the original Episodes 4, 5 & 6 (I think I learned about this sometime between the release of 'Empire' and 'Jedi'). I wasn't a fanatic who waited in line for days or even weeks like some, but I WAS fortunate enough to see it the day before release and as I sat through it, I couldn't help but wonder: 'What is WRONG with the critics?! I LOVE this movie!' I really DID. I think the MAJOR problem that most people had with Episode I was after having waited for so long, many had come up with their OWN ideas of HOW the movie should go, so much so that by the time the movie came out there was NOTHING that could have possibly made them satisfied. With that said, I DID however find one very MAJOR and GLARING error with Episode I: From the earlier movies we discover that Obi Wan was trained as a Jedi BY YODA but for some odd reason George Lucas has decided to alter this established course by having Obi Wan trained by Qui Gon Jin. Now while I enjoyed the character played by Liam Neeson (one of my favorite parts of the entire movie, in fact) I found that deep down I just could not find it in my heart to forgive Lucas for taking such a HUGE departure from his OWN story! Now that being a small (but significant) complaint, I still found the movie visually stunning (how could it NOT be?) but I also feel deep down that the starships of the original trilogy were way more cool than the ones featured in Episode I (did anyone else notice that Princess Amidala's ship looked suspiciously like a silver suped-up version of the SR-71 spy plane?). I am finding myself anxiously waiting for Episode II (due the latter part of May 2002) and I don't CARE what Lucas has in store for us, I am just excited to SEE it.
Rating:
Summary: Hurry up with the DVD
Review: I saw this movie the day it was releaseed. (Had to be there all Star Wars fans were) It was a pretty good movie but not one of the best in the Star Wars saga. I think what threw it off the worst was Jar-Jar Binks!! He has got to be one of the most irratating characters in entire saga, half of the time you could not unerstand what he said and he acts like a idiot. I heard that he is going to somehow make his way to Episode II. Personally I think that they should bring in Chewie and let him slap him around for awhile. The 2 best scenes in this movie have got to be the Jedi duel and the pod racing scene. The dogfight in space is alright but I still say that Return of the Jedi has the best space dogfight. You do get to see a little bit more of the Star Wars universe in this one but not much. All and all this was a good movie but if you are not into Star Wars that much then you may not like it at all.
Rating:
Summary: They blew it
Review: For anyone who has seen the other star wars movies, this movie was a huge disappointment. It felt more like a made for tv movie than the most anticipated Movie ever. I lost a lot of respect for George Lucas for using [poor] computer generated special effects instead of using miniatures as they had done in the past. He probably saw 'the matrix' and said, yea I can do that. But he could not. The plot was thin, the characters not even close to being engaging. Darth Maul (only exciting character) did not have enough presence to be anything close to Darth Vader. George please let someone else direct the next episodes. Don't let your ego destroy this legacy.
Rating:
Summary: Not what it ought to be
Review: Coming after (well, actually before...) 3 more or less great episodes in the saga, my expectation were very high. And were sadly disappointed. Episode 1 complitely miss the point. Star Wars is an objet of cult, is a mithology. Used to have humour style and class. Non e of which can be found here. It's hollow. Empty, no soul. And finally we are explained what the force is. The result of I don't want to know what process happening in tiny organism inside our blood. I though you needed a jedi master to control the force. I was obvously wrong. Better resort to an emathologist.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Set Up For A Great Saga
Review: I don't get why people don't get this film.... They say that it didn't live up to expectations but it did. All this film was about was to set up a story for the next two upcoming films. We meet all the characters that are so important to the ulimate fall of Anakin Skywalker at the rise of Darth Vader. We see how Senator Palpatine begins to take over the senate and turn it into the mighty Empire. Even if you go back to Star Wars: A New Hope you can hear one of the officers mention of the total disbandenment of the old Senate. People expected Star Wars all over again but its not. That was about the redemtion of Anakin this is about his fall. And to think that the best is yet to come gives me goose bumps ... Way to go George you did it again.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Beginning to the Saga - Why do SW fans hate it?
Review: I became a Star Wars fan in the summer of 1999. I saw Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace before viewing the original trilogy. At first, I didn't get it. I was brought into this galaxy with no since of what was going on. But later, I rented the other movies and began to really appreciate the saga that is Star Wars. Although I'm sure everyone has seen this movie, I will give the basic plot just in case someone hasn't seen it. The Trade Federation controls the trade routes of many planets; yet they want to gain more power. When the Galactic Senate refuses to give them more control, Darth Sidious makes a deal with the Federation to start an invasion of the peaceful planet of Naboo, in order to force the Senate into giving them power. But it is really part of a plan to give more power to Sidious himself, so he can finally get revenge on the Jedi and begin a new form of government - The Empire, which already exists in the original trilogy. When all this happens, the Jedi Knights get involved to save Naboo. That's all I will say; I don't want to spoil the experience. Many people dislike this movie for not having as much character development as in the original trilogy. I agree to that, but I still don't dislike it. We explore the plot much more in this film, since it is so complex. But the simple "good vs. " plot in the trilogy left so much room to know the characters inside and out. This movie is just different from the others, making it a fresh new way to look at the Star Wars universe. Everybody hates Jar Jar. He irritates me too. But lets really look at it from Lucas's standpoint. He wants his movies to appeal to everyone. I can clearly understand that. Around the time Return of the Jedi rolled around, he probably thought, "Gee, I should put something in here that little kids would like." So he added the ewoks. I think everyone has a certain pressure put on them to say they "hate" the ewoks and Jar Jar as well. But I must say that they didn't ruin the movies for me at all. Star Wars has recently become a bigger hit with little kids as a result of these creatures, and I think that is just fine. Everyone wants this movie as well as the others on DVD. I want them too, but don't sweat it. Everybody waits until they can sell the most of their movies on VHS until they release them on DVD. Lucas is doing the same thing. And I am sure that when they come out, it will be best DVDs ever made, with tons of extras and featurettes. Everyone should own Episode I and the original trilogy - the entire saga. Lucas has made it possible for everyone to own his mythological, timeless tales - especially with re-releasing the Star Wars Trilogy again. Don't wait, go out and buy every one of these movies. It won't be regretted. All I can say is that the saga gives me a fantastic world to visit when I want great entertainment! Bring on Episodes II and III!
Rating: 
Summary: A good movie on VHS = 3 stars
Review: Like the movie or not, I was very disappointed with a VHS copy. Even though I only paid $5.00 for it, the scratchy soundtrack and grainy video is exactly why VHS needs to be retired. Instead of taking the initiative Mr. Lucas continues to milk a dying format for more money. I am saddened that Mr. Lucas chooses to showcase his work in this manner and I can only hope that the DVD's will be seen sometime in the next few years.
Rating:
Summary: STAR WARS ALWAYS GETS * * * * * IN MY BOOK
Review: STAR WARS does something to me, no other movie does. Just seeing the Lucasfilm logo at the bigging gives me goosebumps. The trailer in the theatre did the same. Seeing the Phrase "A long time ago......in a galaxy far, far, away gets me soo excited. The same feeling occured for this film. The magic is back, however the lack of human characters lessen the magic a bit. The movie could use more space scenes however the plot and the special effects do it for this one. The added technology make it look cheesy. I wish they could have used the old technology from the prior films. Then it would be perfect.
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