Rating: 
Summary: NOT WHAT I EXPECTED BUT A WORTHY TALE SHARED!
Review: I have to admit that I am a die hard Star Wars fan, I grew up with those well known phrases such as Live long and prosper! (just kidding! ) MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! etc, and when I heard this movie was coming out, I was in Star Wars Nirvana! So much anticipation and expectation, to experience again the wonder of your first time, like being a virgin again! It was however not to be. I gave this movie 5 stars because of what I had originally hoped it would be, but wasnt, I found instead an appreciating for what it is meant to be, which is a thoroughly enjoyable tale, a begining of the original Star Wars classic! There are instances within the movie that people have found disappointing, certain characters like Jar Jar binks, our young anakin (could you imagine a child less like Darth Vada! ) and Queen Amidala, or the lack of Darth Maul scenes that had so whetted our appetites from previews (WHY DID HE HAVE TO ..... SO SOON! ) and I must admit I aggreed with some of it. But I have discovered that I can enjoy this movie on a different level, and perhaps it is best not to have such high expectations but go with the flow of the movie! All that aside, I feel that you may find in this first installment something worthwhile. This is our view of the universe before the Empire before Darth Vada, one whose story I will eagerly be following! There is much to enjoy and to find exciting, new characters to share an incredible journey with, I wish George Lucas the absolute best, So keep it coming Ill be standing in a really long queue waiting to watch the next episode like everyone else!
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible--nice special effects though
Review: I have to admit that I enjoyed the old Star Wars a lot. It was an epic set in space and added greatly to the science fiction genre. And it appealed to all ages.
I thought Episode 1 was cool when I saw it in the theatres, but after thinking about the plot and how it compared with the old ones, this is a piece of trash and a disgrace to the Star Wars films. This Star Wars isn't an awesome space epic (that even makes you think it really could happen) that appeals to people of all ages, like the the original trilogy, but more like a stupid action packed film for small kids. Perhaps Star Wars is used up, or maybe george Lucas doesn't care about it much more and doesn't put as much effort in it as in the old ones.
For one thing, it is very babyish and superficial. The whole thing might appeal a lot to 7-9 year olds. I don't know what George Lucas was thinking when he put Jar-Jar Binks ( a comical and mentally retarded Gungan, one of the stupidest things about the movie-perhaps to make extremely small children laugh and like it better) in there, ,who along with the lame jokes turned it into an unbelievably ridiculous comedy. This is fiction and I know that of course this is a different galaxy and all, but I also thought that many things in it were way too unrealistic: the utter invincibility of the Jedi (except to other users of the force), the 15-year old girl solely ruling the planet, Anakin in the pod race thing, (although it was neat to watch), the force being re-defined as a concrete biological phenomenon which makes no biological sense, how Anakin goes into a fighter, has no idea how to use it and manages to become a sort of war hero and destroy the enemy's mother ship, and the whole plot line from the start about how the aliens want to capture Queen Amidala to force her to sign a treaty. Almost as if to make up for the stupid plot, there are way overdone special effects, and computerized aliens that give a feeling of fakeness to the film.
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars: Episode WON!
Review: I have to admit that I went into this movie with a great amount of skepticism. Could Lucas pull it off again, or would this be another one of his later debacles like American Graffitti or Hey There, Georgie Girl? And Laim Neeson as a Jedi? And please don't get me started about JarJar Binks. But on the whole I was pleasantly surprised. Casting Ewan Macgregor as a young (old?) Obe Wan was brilliant, and Liaim Neeson made me believe that a lone Jedi could actually defeat an entire solar system of evil entitties with just a fancy sword. I was, however, a bit troubled by the character of Darth Maul. His face was so prominent in the teaser posters that I thought he'd have a much bigger role in the movie. However, his duel with Obe Wan and Liem Neeson at the end more than made up for the fact that he wasn't in the movie much. I liked it, but he simply and, I must say unequivicalily, wasn't in the movie hardly at all, and this kind of disturbed me, as the teaser posters led me to believe that his role would be much bigger. But actually, his role in the movie was quite limited, which perplexed me, as his prominence in the pre-advertisments had me believing that this was to be a big player in the Star Wars universe (omniverse). Alas, this was not to be, as the character's role was much smaller than I anticipated, which was a bit of a let down, as I felt the ads emphisized the character of Darth Maul to be a major player in the story, but it was not to be, as he turned out to be only a minor henchmen, which seemed confusing as I was led to believe, through all the pre-release hoopla, that this particular character was to be an important player in the new movie, but it was not the case. His role was quite diminished, and yet his visage was quite large in the pre-hype publicity. However, this turned out to be all show and no go, as the character of Darth Maul was reduced to that of a second rate supporting character, which was surprising given that his face was the dominaant feature in the SWE1 advertising. So, in the end I found the movie to be quite sassifying, despite the fact that the character of Darth Maul was conspicuously absent through out most of the movie, which was unusual given his featured presence in the movie's advertising. He wasn't in it much. I though he was going to be. But he wasn't.
Rating: 
Summary: It grew on me.
Review: I have to admit that the first time I saw Phantom Menace, I hated it. Jar-Jar was irritating, and young Anakin was sickeningly sweet. It definately was not the Star Wars that I remembered from my childhood without Luke, Leia, and Han (who I still think is a very nice looking man).
I've gotten to where I like Phantom Menace. It no longer irritates me to the point of exasperation, and Jar-Jar has actually grown on me. I think that it sets the stage well for the next two episodes and I am looking forward to seeing Attack of the Clowns..oops, Clones...when it hits the theatres this spring. I still miss the old cast, but it'll be interesting to see how the characters are developed.
Rating:
Summary: A new classic! A great installment to the legenday series!
Review: I have to admit there are some things in this movie they make sorta dumb, primarily Jar Jar Binks. But I just put that factor out of my mind and enjoy the ride. I believe this movie is just as classic as the original triligoy. As we all know this is a prequel to the original trilogy, taking place 30 or so years before the orignal Star Wars, Episode 4. This is of course episode 1 which features young Anakin Skywalker(Jake Lloyd) and a planet in danger with a trade federation situation. Among our cast we have Jedi master Qui-Gon Jin(Liam Neeson), Obi-Wan Kenobi(Ewan MacGregor), Princess Amidala/Padme(Natalie Portman), Yoda, and Mace Window(Samuel L. Jackson). People who appear younger who are older in the later episodes include Anakin who later is Darth Vader, Darth Sidous/Senator Palpatine who later becomes the evil emporer, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Jabba The Hut just to point out a few. Its a great movie and I can't wait for Episode II due sometime in 2002! Rated PG(suprisingly not PG-13)for violence.
Rating:
Summary: The Saga Continues... er... rather, begins!
Review: I have to admit, it was kind of strange to see Episode I after already knowing what happens later on. It was a truly unique way of doing things admittedly. I have seen the Star Wars trilogy dozens of times (Episodes 4-6). I must say, what a way to start out the series. Truly wonderful special effects are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat for the Phantom Menace, but the characters and story line cannot be beat. George Lucas just keeps outdoing himself with each new feature. The only thing that worries me is that he will not live long enough to get all 9 movies done. Hurry up, George! We are all dying to know what is going to happen before Star Wars and after Return of the Jedi!
Rating:
Summary: Love it! Love it! Love it!
Review: I have to be honest I was not to keen on this movie at first but after watch it two times it was fantastic sure it had it problems but that only leaves room for imporvment I must have seen seen it 5 times when I got It. I think to many people act like crtics when it comes to this movie I think they should just sit back and enjoy it for what it is not what it can be.
Rating:
Summary: Why this film deserves 5 stars:
Review: I have to say that The Phantom Menace does not deserve the wave of complaint it has received lately. Now, when I read some movie reviews, I see lines like, "This film, unlike Episode One, meets all the hype." TPM has become a symbol of the disappointing movie! But I'm here to say that it was not disappointing at all. The Phantom Menace is an experience to behold, a marvel in storytelling, and worthy of the name Star Wars. It's a completely enthralling continuation of one of film's greatest tales. It must be seen. It has some of the best, most intense action you will ever see in a film. It is a rich, detailed epic of the rise of evil, with the themes, symbolism, and roots in mythology that keep the story going while the thrills keep it exciting. This film should be commended for the visual richness it has. It is a masterwork of effects and images. So much detail is crammed into almost every scene; settings are populated with aliens, robots, and other things going on. George Lucas takes care to make the movie's sceneries, characters, aliens, and ships very detailed and turns it into an art. Thanks to the development of the effects and the attention to the aliens' bodies' own physics, the life-forms interact (and, to an extent, act) with the real human actors as if they were humans themselves. Wondrous settings like Gungan City and Coruscant each have their own characteristic traits. The costumes of Amidala, Maul, and others are likewise very detailed and impressive. All this makes the galaxy seem so real and convincing. The action and thrill-factor are the most important elements of this film. Make no mistake about it. The excitement one gets from watching this film, through the action, is unbelievable. It is the type of action standard to Star Wars, but by no means standard. It's one of the fastest and most unrelenting action films ever, and it's ages beyond the previous films in terms of its intensity. The pod-racing scene is extremely fast and there's always a sense of constant motion one feels during this scene; not just from the velocity of the racers, but via details like the screeching engines and the hulls buckling under pressure from wind sheer. There are classic shootouts within palace halls, and even war-scale battles on the surface of Naboo. But the best example to illustrate the amazing thrills in this movie is the final lightsaber duel sequence. Not only is it better than all the previous duels, it is the perfect action scene overall. The duel itself is a complicated (a two-on-one) and incredibly fast masterpiece. The choreography is amazing, as we see the fighters compete with complex movements with swiftness and grace. John Williams composes the score for this film, and it shines. It's a brilliant score, with many nuances and memorable anthems and themes, one of them being the powerful and classic choral track Duel of the Fates, which plays during this scene. It is amazing how well all these elements converge in this scene, as in all the other action scenes in the film, to create awe-inspiring thrills. The music, the great action, and the dramatic camera movements combine to create a fight that seems symbolic in importance. The Phantom Menace stands on its own as also having a grand, epic, and multi-layered story. Many aspects of the story can be overlooked or missed, probably because there's so much action and FX used on the surface that it may be hard to go down beneath the surface and realize that there is a good plot going on. But in reality the film actually contains many themes. There are the ideas of unity (episode one, the origin) and duality (the dual identities of Palpatine and Amidala, the twin forces within Anakin). The film is full of mythology: Darth Maul is as terrifying as any classic mythological figure; Anakin has the elements of the Chosen One in him; the final duel scene is a "Duel of the Fates", and it's no coincidence that the title of that part of the score has that name. (The Fates were three Greek gods in charge of human life; three gods, and three fighters in this duel, with Anakin's life in the balance.) Also, the prequels are eventually going to be about the triumph of evil, and how that happens. We know that because in this episode we see our first look at it, through Palpatine and the introduction of Anakin. The foreshadowing at the end, when it comes, is brilliant. The heroes don't even know that they've just been defeated. All of the above is why Episode One is superb. With the originality to chronicle the three-part Fall From Grace of one of the most fascinating characters in cinema history, the creativity that's represented in details like Darth Maul's face-of-evil makeup design, some of the greatest action scenes of all time, and the visual brilliance which takes us back to that galaxy far away, this film actually deserved to make as much money at the box office as it did; and this film does NOT deserve the recent trend of public backlash it's been getting. No film should be allowed to make money based solely on a name. But Star Wars: Episode One is indeed a genuinely excellent film, and does live up to that name. We are so extremely fortunate that we're here right when Lucas has begun the next SW trilogy. It's quite fascinating when one thinks about it. I am giddy over the fact that there are still two more movies to come. And if they are as great as this one was (although I expect Episodes II and III to focus more on story and a little less on action), they'll become instant classics.
Rating:
Summary: Natalie Portman was Outstanding!
Review: I have to say, I'm the huggest Natalie Portman fan and when I found out that she was going to be playing the role of Queen Amidala, I flipped out! This movie was outstanding! I loved it everytime I saw it in theatres! This movie captured the essence of Star Wars and the special effects made the film even better! I just want to say that this movie is well worth buying because it is part of the legend of Star Wars! Anyway this is the video to get! Buy it now!
Rating:
Summary: BETTER THAN GIVEN CREDIT FOR
Review: I HAVE TO WRITE THIS AFTER READING THE BAD REVIEWS. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH THIS MOVIE IS SCRIPT AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. I CHALLENGE THESE PEOPLE THEN TO FORGET THE CLASSIC MOVIES. ITS IMPOSSSIBLE ISN'T IT. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO DIVIDE WHAT WE KNOW OF THE CHARACTERS INTO THEIR TWO HOUR SEGMENTS. IF YOU TRUELY LOOK AT A NEW HOPE YOU WILL SEE THAT THE CHARACTERS ARE ABOUT AS DEVELOPED HERE AS THEY ARE IN TPM. AS FOR SCRIPT, ONLY EMPIRE HAD A REALLY GOOD SCRIPT. I FOUND THE FORSHADOWING AND THE PLOT ENJOYABLE. TPM HAS THE SAME PREMISE AND TIMING AS A NEW HOPE. ALSO LAY OFF JAR JAR. HE HAS THE ROLE OF 3P0 R2 AND CHEWBACCA ROLED INTO ONE. YES HE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES AND THIS DOES TAKE AWAY FROM THE FOCUS OF THE FILM. PERSONALLY I THINK IT IS THE EDITING THAT IS THE PROBLEM. IF YOU READ THE BOOK YOU WILL FIND VERY INTERSTING THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THE FILM. THESE SCENES WERE FILMED AND WE SEE PART OF THEM START IN THE FILM BUT THEY ARE NOT ACTUALIZED COMPLETELY AND LEAVES THAT VOID OUT THERE. PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS THEY WOULD A BOOK. THE FIRST CHAPTER IS ALWAYS THE WEEKEST. IT HAS TO BE. IT SETS EVERYTHING ELSE UP THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. ITS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BUILD. WATCH THE MOVIE WITH THAT IN MIND. LEAVE YOUR EXPECTATIONS BEHIND. SIT BACK AND ENJOY. I DO MANY MANY TIMES.
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