Rating: 
Summary: Not much to it other than what I say below:
Review: The eagerly anticipated Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is here. I must say that the special effects and creature design are both very good, especially considering the sequence of the podrace in the Boonta Eve. Then there's Ewan McGregor for the feminine audience to lust over, and Natalie Portman for the males. While the young Annakin Skywalker proved himself to be a good actor, I didn't like him, because he appeared to be too much of a conceited little brat. Don't even get me started on JarJar Binks...five consecutive minutes with him in a scene are enough to drive me crazy. I felt like getting up and walking out of the room or fast-forwarding through the scenes with him. He tries too much to be funny and doesn't succeed. It seems that Mr. Lucas has a penchant for being a great visionary of huge complex worlds and beasts and such, but that's pretty much all there is to it...I'm terribly sorry to all you Star Wars fans out there but this really didn't measure up to my expectations...
Rating: 
Summary: Where the Saga Begins...
Review: The events in The Phantom Menace seem so small in restropect by A New hope. Little did we know when The Phantom Menace was first released, that the Trade Federation was a small faction of a larger group of rebellious trade factions that would eventually become the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Nor did we know that during these events, on a far away planet, that millions of Clone Troopers were being created from a deadly bounty hunter and Jedi Master. The Phantom Menace introduces us to the characters that would shape the galaxy in years to come. Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) is the wise Queen of Naboo who is being silently manipulated by the Sith Lord, Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). She would later rise to become one of the most influential Senators in the Galactic Senate. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is the Jedi Padawan who thinks he can train the young Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) against the wishes of the wise Jedi Master, Yoda (Frank Oz). We also meet a young Jar Jar Binks(Ahmed Best), the character who later becomes an important player in the Loyalist Committee and the Clone Wars. Jar Jar is the last reminder of an innocent galaxy that is about to be gripped by the formidable Empire during the events of Episode III - VI. We also can't forget the introduction of Padme Naberrie and Anakin Skywalker - an introduction that will later have grave consequences for the Jedi and the Galaxy. Although The Phantom Menace may lack some of the more spectactular battle and characters of the later episodes, we must remember that it was all so small and insignificant back then - it was all...innocent.
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE GEORGE?
Review: The exhilarating, adrenaline rush of virtually all three of the first STAR WARS films has been replaced here by a mechanical special-effects-driven script that has all but lost the emotional core that made the saga such a rare, gorgeous feast. Only a few moments between young Anakin and his mother have the heart evident in the first few films. While the effects are breathtaking, it is hard to rev yourself up for a movie when you care little about the people/characters in it. Jar Jar was a misfire, to be sure, but the only new or old characters that are compelling are Anakin's mom and Darth Maul, who has way too little to do. And I also felt that this movie was much more of a commercial for merchandising, in other words built for a very young audience, whereas the first three appealed to all ages because of their mythic themes. Virtually all of the name stars here are wasted, though I believe that Ewan McGregor could have been powerful if he had something to do. Of course I cannot wait for the next installment, and hope against hope that the creative genius behind this saga, Mr. Lucas, can once again locate his fertile imagination and set our hearts on fire again.
Rating: 
Summary: it's about time
Review: The extra features are great on this DVD and it's just time that Lucas decided to release one... While I can't say that the movie is the best of the SW family, I do appreciate more and more with every viewing (I suppose that I internally edit out the parts that I dislike and examine the best parts more closely).
Rating: 
Summary: Why? Why? Why?
Review: The fact that the first three films were a overly simplistic is understandable because Lucas was new to film making and had a limited budget. They had potential but ultimately Lucas didn't expand the Star Wars Universe to satisfy people who want some depth in their movie experience.
So what's his excuse now? Rather than grow up with his audience and create a prequel that would stimulate some brain cells he simply created a movie as an excuse to sell more toys. I mean come on, doesn't he have enough money to get some real writers and pay for some special effects that don't look like special effects?
When I saw all the Star Wars fans getting so excited over the coming of this movie, (many of them going so far as to actually buy tickets for Meet Joe Black just to see the coming attractions for the Phantom Menace and then walk out) I was almost certain that Lucas wouldn't let them down.
At this point if the next two movies are even remotely interesting I'll be very surprised.
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars: The Phantom Beginning
Review: The familiar Fox Fanfare, followed by the eternally remembered line "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." BLAM! STAR WARS!!! Thus begins one of the greatest epics in years, "Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace". It takes everything that we love about Star Wars movies (Jedi Knights, Royal Heroines, Cute Sidekicks, Gigantic Space Battles, Stunning Special Effects, and Awesome Lightsaber Action)and brings it into a new era. The story itself is simple, a pawn/set-up for the rest of the series. On the surface it feels like an ordinary space adventure. But all Star Wars fans can sense the tragedy and doom that lurk within the unfolding events and within our hero, Anakin Skywalker (the phantom menace?). It begins with a blockade of the planet of Naboo by the corrupt Trade Federation, and the fight to free the planet by Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi and the beautiful young Queen Amidala. Also involved are a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker (destined to become the evil Darth Vader), the goofy Gungan creature Jar Jar Binks who aids the Jedi(and causes them a few headaches along the way), the two bickering droids R2-D2 and C-3P0, and an appearance by wise Jedi Master Yoda. On the other end is the sinister Senator Palpatine, who secretly manipulates the government and the Trade Federation under the guise of the shadowy Sith Lord Darth Sidious. By the end of the saga he will have become the evil Emperor, controlling everything in the galaxy. Also serving the dark side is his apprentice, the satanic figure of Darth Maul, a terrifying and formidable nemesis for the Jedi. Writer/director George Lucas takes this basic story and hides within it the seeds of the adventures to come, making it more than it seems. The actors are credible, the special effects are stunning, and the music by series composer John Williams is excellent. Even his score hints at the darkness to come. The blazing action steals most of the film. From the opening Jedi fight on the Battleship to the fast-speed Podrace, we are treated to some of the most amazing cinematic action ever. To top it all off, the raging final battle that explodes on Naboo is super-exciting. But the best action set-piece is the breath-taking three-way lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the evil Darth Maul. It is the greatest fight scene yet to be captured on film. So don't dismiss this film because of its standard plot--it's merely setting up the rest of the saga. And don't dismiss it because of the cute and cuddly stuff--this is going to be the most lighthearted Star Wars film, a contrast to the darkness of Episodes 2 and 3. Don't judge it so harshly, because nothing could ever live up to the 16-year hype of Star Wars fanatics. All in all, this is an excellent sci-fi fantasy adventure that takes us back to that magical galaxy far, far away for a slam-bang adventure story. And the adventure is just beginning!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Light Saber Fights
Review: The fight seens in this movie are awsome,the cordination took them 2 months to do the final fight with Darth Maul. Out of all of the Star Wars movies i think this is the best! Ray Park is a 2 time world champion martial artist and he played Darth Maul, so if you like fighting movies,and action movies buy this movie today!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: The film deffinately exceeded my expectations. And though, yes, it did have some overblown CGI, the actors did a fantastic job working with it. It probably wasn't *QUITE* as outstanding as the others but it sure came awfully close. The movie was a deffinate better-than-average film. My theory is; the movie was a bit dissapointing to some because it came after the other Star Wars movies. But imagine it coming out of nowhere without a reputation. It would blow everybody's mind! (It was also amazing that it could have so much intense action and exhileration and still keep a PG rating! ) I am a bit dissapointed, however, that Lucasfilm is so stubborn about not releasing the series on DVD as God intended them to be seen (next to the theaters, of course).
Rating:
Summary: A worthy entry in the greatest film series of all time!
Review: The film is not perfect, obviously. But the backlash against it has been unfair to say the least. Aside from the acting of young Jake Lloyd, the film is hugely entertaining, gorgeous to look at, and is just as mythical and deep as the original trilogy. Don't just jump on the bandwagon and mindlessly criticize it like many people have done (especially critics). Give it an honest assessment, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Rating:
Summary: A cultural low-water mark
Review: The film must be all of five years old now, but it hasn't aged well. At best it reminds us of a time when there was a booming economy and plenty of willingness to experiment with computer animation and over-the-top costumes. At worst, it shows off the side effects that nostalgia for a 1977 film creates in a movie produced more than twenty years later. Yoda and Jabba were ridiculous-looking puppets in their time, and look even more plastic in Phantom Menace. Red grease paint and horns are too juvenille for an "evil" character, even to a pre-teen. Child actors with embarrassing line delivery are juxtaposed with seasoned professionals who really could have done better. Entire digital landscapes were created from a computer paintbrush, so why'd you have to make them look just like the Hagia Sophia? We are treated to a five-minute scene in a fascinating galactic Senate chamber before a white-haired fellow mumbles some nonsense about a "strong" Chancellor, and we cut back to more antics with Jar-Jar. "Comical" battle scenes and "funny" explosions accidentally triggered by young Anakin rankle our hides in a post 9/11 world. There is no point at which this movie is not fighting for air. Natalie Portman once hoped that her role in these movies would not overshadow her future medical career and said she didn't know what she'd do if patients started calling her "Dr. Amidala". Natalie...keep your day job.
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