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Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
 
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Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor Director: George Lucas MPAA Rating: PG
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2,447 customer reviews)

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"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breathing Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.

Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.

Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson



Additional Features

The spectacular DVD release of Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace--arguably one of the best DVDs ever--will go a long way toward making it up to Star Wars fans who were disappointed by the theatrical release. (But, in case you're wondering, there's no option to delete Jar Jar.) The picture and sound are outstanding, it's loaded with bonuses, and even the menus are action-packed fun. Disc One includes the film with a commentary track by George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben Burtt, animation director Rob Coleman, and visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Murren, and Scott Squires. Rather than a group of people yelling at the screen, this commentary is a compilation of individual comments, very helpfully supplemented by supratitles that indicate who is speaking. Numerous technical details are explained, and Lucas mentions how certain scenes fit into the big picture of all six films (every time dutifully referring to the original film as "Episode IV").

Of Disc Two's cornucopia of bonus features, the most notable are the seven deleted scenes and a long documentary. The deleted scenes, which are all interesting enough to watch at least once, can be viewed individually or as a group along with discussions of why they were cut. These rough scenes were completed for the DVD and parts of them (including an introduction of the individual Podracers and a longer view of the skies over Coruscant) were reincorporated into the version of the film that appears on the DVD. The 66-minute behind-the-scenes documentary was compiled from 600 hours of footage shot during various stages of the film and includes Anakin screen tests, script-reading sessions, location shooting in Italy and Tunisia, and giddy fans on opening night. --David Horiuchi


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2,447 Reviews
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3.5 out of 5 stars (2,447 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Magic is Back!!, Mar 3 2006
By A Customer
I have waited a long time for this. When I was a young lad of 4 when the original came out, I laid witness to one of the best movies I would ever see. Unfortunately, I was too young to really appreciate it. I also don't really remember the hype of the movie back then. I feel quite privileged to have been part of the magic of Episode I.
I was in university when the trailers for Episode I came out and my brother and I would watch the trailers over and over again. We thought we would die waiting for the movie to be on the screen in front of our faces.
Fortunately, the seemingly long wait ended and I can still feel that chill running up my spine when those immortal words came upon the screen: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..
The movie hit a home run on many counts. First of all, the casting of Ewan McGregor as Obi-wan Kenobi. Anyone who has seen his movies know how much of a powerhouse he is in his roles. Obi-wan was no exception. Ewen's portrayal made me wish I was young again so I could pretend I was Obi-wan(sorry Luke, Obi-wan's a better Jedi).
Another reason this was a great entry was the special effects. George Lucas and his camp of wizards made this the most amazing Star Wars movie experience.
Now, I am not betraying the originals, they are still the best movies ever, yet, I can't turn my head away from this entry. It was simply breathtaking. The various worlds, the amazing creatures, and an important look at the Jedi and the masters of peace-keeping they once were. The only look at the Jedi we've seen was Darth Vadar picking on an old man and then a fledgling teenager. Yes, seeing the Jedi in their prime gives everyone a good look into what the old Obi-wan has gone through to be where he is and how much work Luke must have gone through to get the skills he has.
I am glad that the "real" fans stayed true and made this movie the success it deserves to be. Now, I am sure that all those "generation-X" losers found this movie to "suck".Well, I say, go back to your pot-head, "destroy the institution" movies like "8-mile" and other wastes of celluloid.
Take a bow Mr. Lucas, this movie deserves to be placed right beside your other sci-fi masterpieces. Episode II can only be as great. I can't wait!!!
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4.0 out of 5 stars A good film in the Star War's saga, Jul 21 2007
By J. Tupone (Saskatchewan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   


I've always been quite impressed by this film. It didn't have the same appeal as the original Star Wars Episode IV - but I suspect that had more to do with being 5 years old when I saw episode IV versus 22 years old when I saw episode I. Lucas did a good job with the script, as usual, and a good job picking actors and actresses who suit being immortalized into four inch action figures and comic book drawings. The special effects are amazing of course and the plot is full of interesting twists and turns. What I find so interesting is that we all ultimately know how the story is going to work out, yet you can't help but watch the movie to see what happens next; this is why it's worth watching.
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4.0 out of 5 stars It's Star Wars come on! Great DVD features., Feb 11 2007
By Maurice G. Tousignant "Gilvan Blight" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Okay this is old now I know, but re-watched it the second time.

Overall - better then I remembered and worse all at once, the DVD had some awesome special features though.

Summary: that start of the Star Wars series. Don't think I need to sumarize this one. See Anikin Skywalker as a kid, see young Obi-Wan, see Jar-Jar and a pod race.

The good: the effects are awesome. It's Star Wars, sure it's not the best Star Wars but it's still better then 90% of the movies that come out. Darth Maul rocks. Young Obi-Wan is awesome. The pod race is pretty cool. Seeing Corusant for the first time was sweet. The battles are great.

The bad: Darth Maul dies too easily (now not as easy as Dukoo or General Grevious). The pod race is cool but long. Kids can't act and Anakin is no exception. The budding love between Amidala and Anakin is creepy. Jar-Jar annoyed me. I much prefered 3P0 for comedic releif. He wouldn't have been that bad if they didn't have to slip him into every scene.

The ugly: Midicloriens and the virgin birth of Darth Vader. WTF?!? I can overlook Jar-Jar, but not the scientific explanation for The Force. Why not leave it mystical like it was. Why not leave every viewer with that faint hope that The Force does exist and if they just try enough they can use it. Why rationalize it. Argh I hated that, and still do and always will.

Overall: worth seeing if you are a Star Wars fan. There was no way in hell no matter how good it could have been that it would live up to the original series. Some people will love it, some will hate it, but its still Star Wars and it's still a good time.
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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably horrible
This movie 'The Phantom Menace' is not only the worst 'Star Wars' movie made but it is also a disgrace to cinema-lovers, it is aptly titled a Menace. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. Bird

3.0 out of 5 stars the first prequel to the original trilogy(chapter 1)
"The Phantom Menace was the most hyped movie since "Gone with the
Wind"(1939)to say it was eagerly anticipated is an understatement. Read more
Published on Sep 22 2007 by falcon

1.0 out of 5 stars "A Great Deception"
INTRO:The original Star Wars movies,IV,V and VI can only be considered as classics,those movies were fascinating and the universe that George Lucas created with those movies... Read more
Published on Aug 31 2007 by Tommy Morais

1.0 out of 5 stars A universal disappointment
I love Star Wars. I waited years and years to see the next installment. I watched PHANTOM MENACE on midnight the day it opened.

And I fell asleep. Read more

Published on Jun 23 2005 by Allan Tong

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible, Horrible, Horrible
This movie may have been watchable if they'd blown up Jar Jar in the first few minutes and made Annakin about 10 years older (i.e. Read more
Published on May 15 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars À voir dans son contexte
Ce Star Wars peu décevoir plus d'un fan mais il reste que ce film ne fait qu'introduire les personnages comme tel et il est certain que le son infernal de la respiration de Darth... Read more
Published on April 13 2005 by jonathan_hudon

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Interesting Beginning For the Story of Star Wars.....
Okay, first of all. I thought, this was a fantastic movie!!! I also think, this movie wasn't given a fair chance and the critics were too rough on this film. Read more
Published on April 13 2005 by Tara Handford

4.0 out of 5 stars The ability to speak does not make you intelligent
OK: Stars wars Episode I is an overall great movie. HOWEVER, I would say it's *not* worth waiting... 16 years for. Read more
Published on Aug 30 2004 by Jeff

5.0 out of 5 stars prequel?
in this one,there is a council of jedis who rule everything and keep the peace.yoda,ben,some black dude and on like that. Read more
Published on Jul 19 2004 by abe

2.0 out of 5 stars To Lucas: Eye of the Tiger, Man!!
To quote the famous lines by Apollo Creed from Rocky III, "You lost for all the wrong reasons, you lost your edge. Eye of the tiger, man! Read more
Published on Jul 13 2004 by M. Villalobos

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