Rating: 
Summary: A nice little bundle of joy.
Review: Well, what can be said about this movie that hasn't alreadybeen said? I really like the packaging for this widescreen edition. The box is nice, the film cel is a cool added touch and the Art of Phantom Menace preview book makes buying this package well worth the price. Very good marketing strategy, Lucasfilm!About the film itself, George Lucas definitely seems to be putting kids first in the Star Wars series, and it all started with Return of the Jedi (which is still better than Phantom Menace). He went from the darkest, most intense film, The Empire Strikes Back, to the most corny (belching, Tarzan yells, etc...), uninspired film of the original series, R.O.T.J. The trend continues in The Phantom Menace. People are very mixed over Jar Jar binks. Some hate him... and some will defend him until they're blue in the face. ...I thought Chewie doing the Tarzan yell in Jedi was bad enough, but this is even worse! Alright, enough about Jar Jar. The special effects, of course, are amazing. In fact, the pod-racing scenes are reason enough to buy this movie. Simply jaw-dropping! The space battles are great as usual and the backdrops of Naboo are absolutely beautiful! They also did a very nice job with the skeletal C3-PO. As for the acting, it is well done. Everyone does an admirable job, including Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine and Darth Sidious and young Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker. Plus, the intriguing Darth Maul had one of the best entrances I've ever seen! ...Awesome! The only thing that mars the performances is that the dialog is pretty dry, but I'm sure the next film will expand on what was said in this one. I also hope that, like Empire, the second film of this series will be much darker. All in all, this is a very enjoyable film. ...With a cool package of goodies and at this price, how can you afford not to buy this movie? END
Rating: 
Summary: The force isn't with them
Review: The only thing I can say about Star Wars, Episode 1 is "What happened?" I finally gave in and used a free rental to see the movie and was shocked at how a film so awful made so much money. The acting was terrible, the special effects average (too many computer generated images) and the plot lacking emotion and substance. Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor sleepwalk through their roles and Jake Lloyd shows how one individual can single handedly ruin a franchise. To make matters worse, the script is full of dumb plot twists and bad dialogue that weighs down the movie and neglects to provide any depth to the characters. The climactic battle between the Jedi's and Darth Maul is too short and wastes the use of a great villain. The one positive thing about the movie is that we won't have to see Jake Lloyd in any future roles. Too bad we can't say this about the other actors. Keeping with the tradition of present day Hollywood, Episode 1 is another example of a film that uses special effects to disguise a weak plot and sub par acting. As Jar Jar would say "Mr. Lucas big screw up time but him no care since money he want so badly."
Rating:
Summary: what a waste....
Review: I went to see this the first day, waited in line for an hour (like a good fan), and what did I get? Disappoinment. The kid who plays anakin is horrible, The Bad guys were 1 dimensional ( Does any one notice that darth maul doesn't even speak! ) The only part I enjoyed was the final fight scene. Lucus went a little too far with the power of the force. I hope the second one is MUCH better (sequels in trilogys are always the best...)
Rating: 
Summary: the phantom rocks the house
Review: i like all the star wars films they are all my faverite movies i like scifi movies
Rating:
Summary: Hard to Hate
Review: I can't imagine anything harder than following up a legend. But this is exactly what George Lucas charged himself with when he at last decided to undertake the creation of the prequels to Star Wars, one of the most beloved films of all time. Following the young life trials and tribulations of Anakin Skywalker (whom we know to later become Darth Vader), The Phantom Menace reintroduces us to the themes of the original trilogy, and gives us some background on themes we knew little about. One of the more interesting issues here is how Lucas ties in little bits and pieces of the Star Wars universe we know to this new, improved version (visually at least). Sorely missing from Menace are the lovable character personalities we know from the original trilogy. Qui-Gon, played by Liam Neeson, is about as cardboard-y as they come, and young Annakin proves to be more annoying than cute. His "gee-whizziness" would be more at home in a 1950's Disney flick, and I echo the sentiment of many of my friends who feel Lucas could have casted a greater young talent along the lines of Haley Joel Osment (sp?) of The Sixth Sense. Still, Ewan McGregor is excellent as a younger Obi Wan Kenobi, and even imitates the voice of the late, great Sir Alec Guiness beautifully. Natalie Portman as Queen Amadala is at once regal and beautiful to watch, if her accents are a bit on the goofy side. Visually, Menace is the most stunning movie ever to come out of Hollywood. The effects are indescribably fantastic, better even than those in The Matrix, which actually won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. Also well done were the costumes, which were all but snubbed by the Academy, despite being the most original offering for 1999. A tremendous score by John Williams rounds out a fun movie that carries the Star Wars name well, if not always faithfully. If Menace suffers from anything, it's too much frivilous humor and goofiness. Jar Jar Binks could have been a useful character if he weren't in Menace so flagrantly to sell Corn Flakes to six-year-olds. His silly antics and inane dialogue and reactions (did that camel thing actually pass gas? PLEASE!) serve only to detract from the movie as a whole, and indeed I have spoken with many people who would have liked the movie much more without this fluff. Finally, however, Menace serves well as a Star Wars film; it entertains, amazes, and carries on the legend of that incredible galaxy far, far away...
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first triology
Review: I love Star Wars movies. George Lucas caused a revolution in special effects by his movie in 1977, and after 20 years he did it again. I agree that Episode I has some failures. In my idea this movie misses some characters like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. However, I admire it and despite its failures it's a great movie. I recommand it to everyone who love special effects.
Rating: 
Summary: Bland story with beautiful special effects
Review: Phantom Menace may have had unfair expectations to live upto being the most anticipated sequel in film history, but expectations aside, this movie was mediocre. So many of the strengths of the Star Wars series, the interpersonal relationships, humor, mystique and cavalier adventure is not in this film. Every character in the film speaks in monotone except for the annoying Jar Jar Binks who has more lines than Liam Neeson's Qui Gon Jinn, the Force, once seen as an all powerful, romantic spiritual power is now reduced to phenomenon that occurs because of intracellular metaclurites. The storyline seems immature and childish. The true potential of many characters including Darth Maul and Qui Gonn are not explored to any acceptable potential. What saves the film from being truly terrible is its breathtaking cinematography, computer generated landscapes and the fabulous lightsabre duel between 2 Light Jedis and a Sith Lord (that unfortunately is chopped with intermissions of Jar Jar trying to be funny). Using George Lucas's own words, "special effects without a good storyline is boring". Maybe George forgot this, or maybe he and his company Lucasfilm have set a ball rolling that has so increased the level and breadth of film making that it even surpassed the old master's abilities. Hopefully Lucas won't let us down with Episode II.
Rating:
Summary: I have a bad feeling about this
Review: If you were like me, you thought this film would equal the Second Coming. However, the movie is a huge disapointment. Granted, the special effects and ship and creature designs are excellent, but there are just too many things wrong with the film. Can you explain to me how every single character can act as bad as they did? The young Vader couldn't act out of a paper bag, Jar Jar Binks is the most annoying character in the entire Star Wars universe, and Ben Kenobi tried too hard to live up to his name. Its too bad that Darth Maul didn't have a bigger role. His fight scenes were amazing, but we knew next to nothing about him. Maybe Lucas will take note and try a little harder on Episode II. This movie proved that he is not the absolute genius that some people think he is. How will he screw up next? Stay tuned!
Rating: 
Summary: Not that good
Review: Sorry you all but Episode I just doesn't capture the magic like the original star wars movies did. Yes, It did have dazzling special effects but besides that it wasn't to good. I look forward to Episodes 2 and 3 but I don't really expect them to match the originals. (of coarse) Still worth renting and maybe even buying just to add it to your star wars collection.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Great
Review: This movie could not have been any better, it is flawless! I am so tired of people saying there is nothing more than special effects because this couldn't be further than the truth! The characters were fun and interesting, and I doubt actors like Liam Neeson and Sam Jackson would be in a movie that had no script. True fans loved it, thats what counts! When are the Star Wars movies coming on DVD? This is the whole reason I bought my DVD player! Come on George!
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