Rating: 
Summary: 5 stars for DVD quality, 3 stars for the movie
Review: I'm reviewing only the DVD, and not the movie itself, which was a bit of a stinker, in my opinion. Well produced, beautifully filmed, but very poorly written.Anyway - this is an awesome and incredibly well done DVD. Lots and lots of extras. Great commentary by Lucas, the producer, the sound man, etc. Interview with the composer. Lots and lots and LOTS of background materials on the making of the film, and the entire process of putting it together from initial writing to final production, and the making of the DVD itself. The image of the movie is *very* crisp and clean. The deleted scenes are a nice addition to the movie. I am very impressed (and surprised, to be cynical about it) that Lucas has given us the full-featured DVD the first time out, and not offered us one scaled down DVD version, only to offer us a better version in a year, and then the full-scale one a year after that, like he's constantly done with the VHS versions of his movies. Thank you, Lucas, for taking care of your fans this time, and not trying to pad your pockets a few times before giving the fans what they *really* want. Quality-wise, this is absolutely one of the most loaded, best-featured DVDs I have in my collection. (as a p.s. - after hearing Lucas' commentary, and talking about some things coming up in the next movies, I have realized that a few things I criticized about this movie actually make sense oin terms of the upcoming story-line. However, I still think that, overall, the writing for this movie was only a cut above old b-movies)
Rating: 
Summary: OK Movie, Great DVD
Review: The Phantom Menace was probably the most heavily anticipated movie in history. It was the prequel to the original Star Wars series and George Lucas was taking the helm as director for the first time since Star Wars in 1977. The film was hyped incessantly and, of course, the final product failed to live up to the expectations. The Phantom Menace is not a bad film. It actually is absolutely amazing to look at and the special effects are incredible. The problem with the film is the plot. It seems disjointed as it bounces around from scene to scene. It seems that Mr. Lucas was to preoccupied with getting the film to look right than the actual story (which is what made the first Star Wars so great). Many people weren't happy with the casting of several roles, especially Ewan MacGregor as Obi Won Kenobi, but he does a decent job in an undeveloped role. Liam Neeson is commanding as Qui Gon Jin and Natalie Portman is quite good as Queen Amadala. The biggest complaint that most people had with the film was with the character of Jar Jar Binks and I won't disagree with most of what's been said about the annoying character. Mr. Lucas has previously shunned the DVD arena (American Graffiti is the only one of his films to appear in the format), but he goes about this release with a vengeance. The extras, including seven deleted scenes, are worth buying this DVD alone. Mr. Lucas spent an additional four million dollars on them and the money is well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Jamacians in outer space?
Review: This movie is possible the worst I have ever seen ,that tried to come off as serious anyway.First of all the charecters were not the slightest bit interesting.Not to mention that the story had way to many gaps and holes big enough to fly the death star through. Since when is the indicator of having the force how many paracites you have in your blood?!?You get lice and the force is with you?I thought you had the force because you were in tune with the universe right???Evidently not. Jar Jar Binks was the stupidest part of the whole film. Reminds me of some whacked out,ganja smoking jamacian. Not to mention that they win a war with basically sticks and stones. This movie is a major sellout of the times, good old left wing america thinking that no one possible could be any smarter,stronger, or more important then another. In so many words It Sucked....
Rating:
Summary: George Lucas = Fat Elvis
Review: When Elvis got fat nobody cared because he used to be ELVIS. When Georgle Lucas's movies began to suck nobody cared because he used to be GEORGE LUCAS. As long as lucas has something to do with Star Wars sequels they will all suck.
Rating:
Summary: Far From A Masterpiece, but standard Star Wars...
Review: I really liked this film. I think that it stayed with the basic formula of star wars and is a great addition to the series. I LOVE the dvd quality. Very nice. IMO, better than Episode II in quality and movie. Characters are also great with Darth Maul, Anikin, young Obi-Wan, and Padme. I think that this movie would have been better if Jar Jar didnt have such a big of role as he had in this film, but I think that this movie had a better story and WAYYYY batter acting then found in Episode II. Nice way to kick off the prequals.
Rating:
Summary: Only Technically a Star Wars Movie
Review: If Episode 3 is as much of a dud as 1 & 2 have been, I will simply choose to ignore the existence of this "pretrilogy". Episode 1 is indifferently cast, poorly acted, incompetently scripted and directed. You can see Natalie Portman trying to be feisty and resourceful, like Princess Leia, and it it just ain't happening. Both she and Ewan MacGregor spend most of the movie just trying to keep up and even Liam Neeson, a veteran, talented actor, is obviously disconcerted by delivering his lines to a blue screen. Darth Vader as a sullen brat. We needed 2 and a half hours of this? Plotwise, Anakin's entire childhood could have and should have been less than 45 minutes of Episode 1. Poor Jake Lloyd. In the future, be easy on him folks, he was just a little boy and its not his fault George "discovered" him. Jar Jar should be euthanized.
Rating:
Summary: Very good movie. ages like fine wine.
Review: It needs to be like The Matrix. It needs to be like Lord of the Rings. These are the things I hear a lot. Well Star Wars is not Lord of the Rings nor is it The Matrix. In fact I'm glad it's not like those movies. That's not what GL was going for any ways. This is a very good movie. :)
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: The best start to the best saga in motion picure history
Rating: 
Summary: Can I get a Yub Nub?
Review: You know, I kind of miss those Ewoks now. Atleas they had spunk, but none of the characters in this movie seemed loveable or fun. They were all too serious except for that disaster bubble fish crossed Jamaican accented Jar Jar Binks. He was definitely the most annoyying. Nothing in this movie yearns for that old trilogy fling. Lucas took a great gamle. If this story was written in 6 chapters, he was right to film the last three. Those made more of a memorable story than these first two. Sadly drab.
Rating:
Summary: needs a han solo type to make it fun
Review: after seeing the first two star war movies i was naturally excited when return of the jedi was released. it was a dissapointment.
the ewok thing reeked of the next merchandising line, the actors were visually tired of making the movies and it showed in their performances, lucas and team both copped out and extended the soap opera quality by revealing lea to be lukes sister (you cant let one of the heroes go away without the girl, so we'll make the girl luke's long lost sister) and the whole conversion of vader seemed phony.
star wars and the even better empire were great fun, but return seemed to show the idea had been played out.
i was one of the few who was not excited when it was announced that a prequal trilogy was coming.
this film proved my misgivings were correct.
what makes the first 2 star wars movies nicely balanced is the presence of han solo. luke is a bit too sullen, too religious, too serious. the fun errol flynn like han solo balances this out.
but the prequals are star wars without a han type at all. its all luke; religiousley serious and a bit bland.
that said the movie does have a few decent moments, most notably the ben hur like race and the wwf type (and way too brief)darth maul.
in retrospect i recall pauline kael's review of star wars and she warned that this was a bad new trend in hollywood.
she lamented the slickness, the empty headed, overblown fx.
in many ways i agree with her. but, i also know that the first two movies, like his american grafitti, were indeed fun.
perhaps lucas had kael in mind when he made this but if he did, he certainly approached it from the least interesting angle that was in the first.
this movie is as pressed and clean as lukes white coat, it needs the dirt and roughness of han's vest
or, perhaps its just been too long since he actually directed a movie, but regardless, i havent seen the second prequal and wont bother to.
i'll cherish the memory of star wars and empire strikes back
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