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What did I think of Episode I? I was a bit disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much. Many of the effects, especially those in bright sunlight, looked computer generated, which annoyed me. I've got a graphics programming background, so maybe I just have a better eye for that than most people. Much of the movie wasn't as intense as I'd hoped. The bad guys hardly had any screen time, which really hurt their character development. Darth Maul had a great attitude, which would have helped the plot immensely if he'd gotten more than two lines. Without knowing ROTJ, it would have been impossible to understand Palpatine's motives throughout the movie. I was hoping Ep I would be able to stand on its own a little better. There were few or no good one-line quotes like those that riddled the other movies. Most of the dialog was too serious, and most of the comedy was almost slap-stick. Whenever the Gungans were talking, I kept expecting Mrs. Cleaver to walk up and say, "Excuse me, I speak jive." I really despise the whole midi-chlorin thing, and wish they'd left that out altogether. On the good side, the swordplay was excellent. The queen kicks major butt, but has to lose the accent. The (limited) interaction between R2 and 3PO was classic. After seeing it a second time, this time in a better theater with better sound, I like it much better. Most of the above complaints still apply, but I spent less time critiquing it and more time being entertained. If you enjoyed the first two movies, you should at least give this one a second shot.
Short but sweet, here's what I liked and disliked (not hated) Liked: Darth Maul Jedis Fight scenes (beautifully choreographed)Natilie Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala was hot looking when she diguised herself as her handmaiden, Padame; I'm 17 Im allowed to say that) R2-D2 and C3P0 The Skywalker family (although their love for eachother wasnt that heartwarming) The CGI characters Disliked: The amount of Jar-Jar's Screen time Too much CGI The "Disney" feel to the movie (jar-jar antics actually helping people, Anakin saying "oops" too much The stupid battle drones (the ball-like destroyer droids were cool, though) The fake accents like those trade federation guys (can't Lucas get real people with real accents to do the parts If you're making a multi-milion dollar movie at least get some real diversity into the mix) Movie went too fast for me, even with "stops in the middle" (on the positive side for George Lucas, I have to see it again to soak in all the cool scenes Well 'das my two centz reply if you disagree.
All i have to say is that little anakin skywalker was just adorable what a little doll
Now, dont come down TOO hard on Episode I. The movie was really fun and it was great to see character origins and George Lucas' vision of the beginning of the saga. Granted, some of the acting wasn't all that hot, but neither was the acting in the other Star Wars movies. And how can George Lucas ever create a film that could live up to Episodes 4, 5, and 6. It would be impossible. And remember, George has a 6 year old son. The director is definitely going to want to make a movie his son loves with fun and goofy characters. The movie starts off a little wierd with the Viceroy and their lame accents, but it picks up as it goes a long. I couldn't even really understand what was going on until Queen Amidala speaks to the senate. Before that, everything is kind of a blur. Jar Jar is fun, but after about 5 minutes, also very annoying and before long we all hope Jar Jar will die (No such luck). The comedy is much more upfront and in your face than the other movies. Delving into a Virgin Birth is kinda of lame (Hey George, some one already took that story). And the explanation of Jedi potential and midachlorians (sp?) ...uh, well...no comment. But hey, thats how it goes, and we are all stuck with it. George did one HELL of a job with the other 3, lets trust him with episodes 1 and 2 as well. So just go into the movie expecting very little and just be ready to have fun. Have NO expectations, and just have a good time routing for the goodguys and boo-ing the bad guys. Overall, its a great time and as a true Star Wars fan, I loved the movie, including all the questionable acting (lay off Jake Llyod, he's a kid), cheesy jokes, and odd characters (Baby Greedo?). Star Wars was never meant to be such a serious film with such a GIANT affect on POP Culture. Its just for fun. Ross On another note, here's a little question for ya. 1. How many times can YOU find Warwick Davis in The Phantom Menace? (PS - If you don't know who Warwick Davis is, you will NEVER be a true fan of George Lucas. Its all about Warwick Davis, my friends)
I just want to say that people expect too much of the movie and never have the sense to really appreciate it. They expect it to be the grand finale of the starwars movie, and I think that that's a really high expectation. Just go see the movie, its worth it. If you don't like it, then you're probably not a true Star Wars fan. Don't expect too much from it, its just one espisode...thanks. >: )
I personally enjoyed the Star Wars movie. I've liked Star Wars since i was little and i know that the upcoming episodes 2 and 3 will live up to the other three movies. Give Phantom Menace a break. Its just watching one episode, there are two more coming out which i cannot wait for. But anyways the movie was great and I plan on going back to see it again. Jar Jar had alot of screen time when i felt that Darth Maul and the others evil characters should have had more. I really enjoyed the fighting scenes, they were put together really really well. Queen Amidala was great and Padmewere great. It did look a bit too much digitized, but i had no problem with that at all. I would go into details about the movie but i dont want to spoil it for people who havent seen it yet. All in all, the movie was worth the money and if you havent seen it, this is one you should definitely go out to see.
I won't repeat everything that everyone else said about the movie. Yes, Jar Jar was a little too over the top. Yes, the accents sucked....BAD!!! No, DM didn't have enough time on screen. But all in all, the movie had a nice theme. All is well in the galaxy, except now a new threat to peace has arisen, Lord Sideous (sp?). He woun't be too big a character because he's just coming out. He's instigated all the turmoil. He's the phantom menace with his Sith powers. He's making his power move and until then, he'll remain a phantom. So I guess this explains the lack of time for DM. He is COOL though. There's one thing I hope Lucas keeps in mind. The true SW fans aren't kids. Please, George, don't pull that comedy crap anymore. It just doesn't fit well. "EXSQEEZE ME!!" Come on. One last thing. When the Senate starts yelling, "Vote now!!" look for the ET's in the right bottom corner. They're there.
Well,I thought it wsa a pretty good movie aftre all,bet just with a couple kinks in it. First of all,let me get this out of the way; On Obi-wan's head(Ewan McGregor) that is not a pimple,it is a syst.my friend ani lyn skywalker have debated about that and have come to that conclusion. And for Jake lloyd??? he was so adorable,i could just give him a big hug. Als,i wish Darth Maul was just a bit meaner,and had more of an attitude. (Although the last battle scene was SUPERB!!!!tHEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE BETTER) And Darth Sidious and Mace Windu were underplayed. Yoda still talks the backward talk. And I think the architecture in the film was beautiful. Overall,as i hav said,this was a pretty good film. and don't worry,it was just a little rocky start. i am positive Old Georgie still has something up his sleeve for epsodes 2&3.
I tried hard to keep my expectations low, but it didn't help! If there's one gift you can give to friends who haven't seen it, tell them it's shithouse, then they'll be impressed. I don't really have much to say that hasn't been said before, except to bag the underwater city, was was unbelievably fake-looking. On the up side, we have the ultra-cool Darth Maul, the fight scenes btw jedi (YEAH OBI-WAN!), Yoda's appearance, and the Queen with her most excellent costumes, bleeding-lip makeup, and innovative hair styles (hurrah!) - and let's not forget Jabba's girlfriend *shudder* On the down side, simply put, there aren't enough humans and real props. Watching Empire Strikes Back shortly after the Phantom Menace, I couldn't help but compare the real fur of the tauntauns (sp?) and the comfortingly solid stormtroopers to the digital killer robots and revolting jar jar (eww, someone kill him quickly!). Anyhow, I shall go see it again - maybe I'll be more impressed now that I know for sure that it doesn't match episodes 4 to 6 :(
Well, i've seen it three times so far, and this third time i just realized who Darth Sidious was, anyway... i've just got one thing to say about the movie... I can't wait for the next two!
o.k. I agree with most that the story relys heavily on the other movies to carry you through. I agree that jar-jar was placed in ther for specific reasons that he carried out perfectly.But, i do feel a little less screen time including his character was in order. I don't think a jedi knowing the risks on tatooine would have chanced a goofball like jar-jar tagging along. I do also have some questions. Why doesn't 3po/r2 know they are back on tatooine in ep4? Why doesn't 3po make the connection between the two skywalkers he has served under right away? What happened to the jedi councel in later episodes? How could they not see there destruction coming? That would be kinda like the psychic network going broke, and not seeing it coming??? There are other questions but the movie was great. I enjoy these stories a lot.Anyone who cares to share their opinion on these q's.... feel free..
Overall I'd have to say that this movie rocked. I will admit though, the mido-chlorin idea really annoyed me. I think it removed some of the mystery from the whole idea of "the force", and made it too scientific. But there is much to be said for it. The saber duels couldn't have been any better, the graphics were sweet, Darth Maul portrayed the villain very well,Ewan McGregor did an excellent job as Obi-Wan, and Amidala was hot! And for all you people out there who were dissappointed in this movie, remember two things: 1) This was designed to be the first movie, which means it's only supposed to be the setup of the entire saga. 2) This quote comes from an interview with George Lucas, taken from the Modesto Bee, "This is a Saturday afternoon serial for children...Over the years people have kind of drifted away from that and tried to make it something other than what it is." -George Lucas I think many of you were expecting too much from this movie. Besides look at it this way, if you had nothing to stack it up against (namely episodes IV, V, and VI,) what would you think of it then?
Well my view on the phantom menance was simply it was what it was meant to be. I really get a laugh from all those people out there who are trying to find all these little faults from the movie and give it a bad review and rap. Remember that this is the first of 3 new star wars movies and the movie is very similar to episode 4 (both skywalkers blowing up big space station with help from the force), very light and funny. Oh Darth Sidious is not the same character as Sentator Palpatine read the book and you will see why (could be a clone)????? In conclusion I will see star wars episode 1 again because it is SIMPLY STAR WARS not a big drama a-grade acting effect like some people expect for some reason see ya
i loved it. perhaps it could have been better, but episode I is just the 1st act in a larger play. i do not think star wars episode II: the clone wars, or episode III: i cannot think of a title as of yet... will not end on a positive note, which will be so COOL!!!! bad guys always get shafted in movies.
A movie only to be truly enjoyed by the more-than-casual fan of the series -- such as me. For anyone else, interesting only insofar as some of the better special effects.
In short the movie was great. My main complaint was that everyone who saw it was expecting more rather than waiting for it to hit them. My greates dislike was the lack of plot developement in dealing with Maul. The story was great but had been too simplified in places. The Maul Jedi fights were possibly the best part of the movie as it brought back what the orginal triology meant. An intense battle between good and evil. Basically it was an unbelievable movie, which is more appealing to the die hard fans like myself rather than the casual movie goer who is just seeing it for the hype that was created by Lucas when he was promoting it.
Just an explaination of what I think of the MIDI-CHLORINS...upon 1st watching the movie...I too was annoyed. But the 2nd time I watched it I understood that the midi-chlorins themselves were not the force...but that which makes a jedi more in tune with the force than other beings. So more midi-chlorins in the blood means one is more likely to become a jedi. The midi-chlorins understand the "force" and relay the information to the senses of the jedi, while the "force" itself..remains a separate entity. P.S - 'Sup with Jar-Jar Binks?
I must say I was blown away by the grandeur and vision of the movie. Probably that is its greatest fault. A lot of visual details and incidental pleasures were cramped into the movie. But true die-hard Star Wars fans like me should not be complaining. In fact I'm delighted that there's so much for me to re-examine in a second, third and fourth viewing of the movie! Like everyone else, I thought the Jedi fight scene was the best ever in the series. Darth Maul was absolutely cool! Qui-Gon Jinn carried the mystic of the Jedi knight very well. We'll watch with breathless attention how Gregor McEwans continues the Jedi tradition in the coming episodes. This movie whipped our appetites for the next episode. This it has successfully accomplished very well. And that is how we should treat this first episode. A starter. And a promising one indeed!
This movie made me love STAR WARS more than I ever had before. From the moment the Lucasfilm logo appeared on the screen I knew I would enjoy the movie, but I didn't expect such a brilliant piece. The cinematography is incredible; every shot is compositionally perfect. Little details that hint to the original trilogy are what make this film so delightful. For example, the way Ewan Mcgregor takes off his hood is almost identical to the way Sir Alec Guinness does. Or the way Sen. Palpatine refers to Anakin as "young Skywalker." The final seconds at the end of the credits are amazing. For those who think that this film couldn't stand on its own without the original films, it's not meant to; it is the introduction to the fantasy of STAR WARS. For those who think the Sith didn't receive enough screen time, they're not meant to; they're meant to be an evil presence, a phantom menace, which you don't see, but feel. For those who think the movie is too childish, it is meant to be. STAR WARS is a fantasy; it is what children dream about. What is an even greater accomplishment is that it manages to entertain a broad range of viewers, from the casual to the obsessed. For those who dislike Jar Jar, tough! He's here to stay and you can't do anything about him. I happen to think he's funny; you will not find a funnier scene than when the droid kicks Jar Jar in the groin. Wether you like or dislike him, he's critical to the story. My advice to the fans is to enjoy the movie, in stead of criticizing it, because this film is an example of the reasons why movies are made. As for all the hype, it only proves how talented a businessman George Lucas is. He is a pioneer in the film industry, and is still managing to expand the art form. Though many of the scenes seemed too digitized, one has to admit that they were impressive. By the time Episode II is made, I suspect that CGIs won't have
My enire review did not fit so this is the rest:that shiny look, which will make them more believable. One final statement: the last thirty minutes of the movie may be one of the most exciting and fulfilling moments in movie history, especially the final duel, which for me is the greatest battle ever filmed.
I went in expecting a huge letdown, but was very impressed and surprised. This movie did not drag, except for the excessively long pod race, and I felt the characters were developed fairly well. Many of the special effects may have looked fake, but are not noticeable if you are taking in the story and not critiquing everything about it. 8/10.
Fist of all, did anyone else notice the jawas in episode 4, when they get r2, and the leader yells "outiny!"? well during the pod race one yells it again. That just cracks me up. I think that Amidala(padme) was awesome. The end fight with Darth Maul, Obi-wan and Qui Gonn is amazing, after my forth time i still leave the theater with the jitters.When obi-wan is waiting, watching darth maul kill qui-gonn, it is truly heart stopping. The look on his face i cannot discribe. You could tell what he was feeling. Anakin is very cool, totally unpredictable ( except for the meti-clorins thing) to be darth Vader.The pod races give you a rush everytime you see them. I did not like Jar Jar all that much, Jar-Jar "comic relief" Binks' part is too big. Look at how much screen time he has, compared to darth maul. Whoever said ( it was one of these reviews) that its too Disney, you hit it right on the spot. Anyway, I liked it a lot. I thought it was awesome although in a very different style that episodes 4,5, and 6, which i may not like a lot, but it is inevitable. My congrats to Lucas.
While all of you are lucky enough to have seen the movie, I'm stuck in Britain and will have to wait until July 16th to see the movie. The closest I have got so far is watching the trailer a few thousand times and reading the comic aloud (doing all the voices) while playing John Williams' superb soundtrack. Perhaps uncle George next time you could release the movie in Britain at the same time as the US. After all, it was made here, it has British stars and the fan base here is just as strong. I have been following Episode One since July 1997 and I want to f-ing well see it. I don't care if Ahmed Best explodes with over acting - Just let me see my movie!!
Hi, It's a GREAT movie but as alot of You have to wait a few months I have made a 2-cdset of it in mpeg with the complete movie and If YOU want a copy just send me an email : funkydesign@hotmail.com Thanks, Funkydesign,
Well, I saw Episode one first. I've never seen a Star War's movie before hand, so I was pretty impressed. Then I saw the regular ones and, well, learned the difference between movies made in the 70's, and movies made in the 90's. It's my opition that Episode One was totally cool. I loved the ending (Okay, I hated the fact that Qui-gon died) becuase no one was expecting it. I cuaght a couple of people crying when Qui-gon started saying "train the boy..." I sat with a very exprssive crowd, witch really made the movie much better. I mean, the fish sceen would have been scarey but my friend had told me that the fish eat each other, taking away all the suspense. The podrace was cool, and if anyone bothers to buy the game, it's worth it.(okay, maybe 50 bucks isn't worth it, but 30 or even 40 is, and only if you got a joystick)
Ok sorry but my computer did a major F*** up anyway. I think George Lucas did an excellant job with TPM. i thought its not gonna be that good when I went but i was wrong! For those of you going on about how the character development is pretty pathetic, i have to say that in the origal series character development didn't kick in until ESB, and the character with the most development was Qui-Gon Jinn, and we all know what happened to him! The swordplay in this was a lot better in ANH the fighting was so static and I think it really has improved. The graphics were fantastic, Darth Maul looked so cool! overall it is the best movie I have seen for a longtime!!!!
(1) medi-chlorian's suck .. george don't do rip offs of the christianity faith , it cheapens your image and Star Wars cause one is real and the other is not . (2) Jar Jar ... no george , don't put him in ep2 (3) baby greedo ... no george it doesn't work (4) Darth Maul Dies ... no george , characters that good need to remain alive ! (5) Evertbody talks about thhe phantom menace being the sith , i was led to believe that it was anakin , granted yoda knew his future was clouded , i don't think yoda expected what a storm thhe clouds would bring ! -------------- Look , i spent 40 minutes reading all of your reviews and i have to say that george himself needs to read them . A lot of you make perfect sense and though i enjoyed tpm , i feel it was on an entertainment value mostly and though i was happy and overjoyed with it ... arghh , i can't explain it but trust me george is the one heading down the dark path . ep1 JUST made the cut in the story department , ep2 will be the meat on the sandwich and george can't afford to disapoint anyone or he'll stuff up the whole thing ! BOTTOM LINE - im sending this to starwars.com / if you care about star wars i suggest you do the same , we can't let george ruin what he has given us so that he can please the toddlers of this world !
Come on people. We trusted George Lucas on 3 Episodes, and he did a superb job! So why can't we just leave the story telling to George? Stop saying what he shouldn't or should have put in "The Phantom Menace." It's over and done. Now let's just wait for Episode II, and leave everything to the guy we trusted 20 years ago. Come on people.
Eu acho que o filme foi do caralho. e e muito loco e o efeito espcial da hora hehehe
Well, I have seen it 4 times now. The first time i didnt know what to think cause i was still amazed that it was finally here. I have been waiting for episode 1 for 7 years. I expected more though but you cant put 30 odd years in one movie. Jar Jar was not bad the first time but after that i think they could of done without him. For one thing I thought 3PO was the comic relief? My opinion is I would rather hear a cyborg not understand or comprehend people then a major klutz that everything Jar Jar touches he screws up. It gets old after the first time. I just heard a rumor that Jar Jar is supposed to be in the next 2, but its not written in stone yet so dont freak out yet. The podrace was so killer, and the sabre action is the best. It's amazing how Lord Maul is fighting Qui-Gon while blocking Obi-Wan behind him. Outstanding coreography. I really didnt like how the name of anakin's home town was Mos Espa. It reminds me of Mos Eisly too much cause of the letter "E". Couldnt lucas come up with something different. Only thing we know of a town thats different is AnchorHead. So why Mos Espa. I cought some flaws in the movie though. In Empire, when Luke escapes the the wompa in the cave and collapes in the snow Obi-Wan appeared. Anyone remember what he said????? I sure do "Luke, you will go to the degobah system, where you will meet yoda, the jedi master who instructed me" Ok then.....So who in the hell is Qui-Gon Jinn???? What are we supposed to believe? I also didnt like how they commended R2-D2 for saving their lives.....IT'S A ROBOT!!!!! IT HAS NO FEELINGS....ITS JUST DOIN ITS JOB AND WHAT ITS PROGRAMED TO DO!!!! What also sux's is that Maul is the last of the sith, according to the novel and dies in the first movie?? So that means Vader is created in the end of episode 2 and kills off all the jedi in episode 3. I can go on and on but
Don't get me wrong. I think that TPM kicks. But, I have to agree with most of the people here in that I believe that Jar Jar was a big mistake. Whether or not Lucas intended Star Wars to be a serious, more mature movie, that's what it is, not a saturday morning cartoon. I don't object to the young Greedo (If that's who it is). Let's now look at midi-chlorins. I'm no biology expert, but the only thing small enough to exist in large quantities such as thousands in a cell is a virus, and it can be argued both ways whether or not a virus is actually alive and sentient. So, in trying to scientifically explain the force, he has brought up scientific improbability. As far as acting, I'm not much of a critic, but I was rather upset when (In my opinion) the best actor and character is stabbed with a flashlight. By the way, if any of you have given any thought to how a light saber could theoretically be made, please let me know your ideas, because I have not yet succeeded in determining even a "remotely plausible" idea as to how that could be achieved. For all you anti-digital people out there, know that (from rumor), Lucas will be doing drastically less computer design and more plot and character development, with the marriage of Amidala and Vader. Thank you for taking the time to read my long and opinionated opinion. Please take a look at everyone else's, because they all have good points.
Hmmm, not too sure yet. I was impressed by Jake Lloyd, he portrayed a young Anikin very well. But those accents - Oh my God! How naff were they? Those trade federation guys sounded like they were doing a very bad Japanes accent. And Jar Jar Binks' accent was even worse. The special effects, however were out of this world! The final lightsabre duel was fantastic. I liked the way that the Jedi's used the force as well as the lightsabre. Senator Palpatine was brilliant, he's got something huge planned! The way that he is manipulating everyone is superb. I wasn't pleased when Darth Maul died, he was the perfect bad guy but the character didn't have chance to develop properly. And as if Anikin could detroy the Battle Droid control ship by sheer fluke! - What a load of crap! And as for Anikin having no father - Where have I heard that before?
READ THIS! READ THIS! I entered a review up there already somewhere, but I had to say this: Look for the use of a supersoaker in the cruiser, the silver one, because its there. Its up against the window, and I'm the first person to ever see it! Woohoo! Lastly, look for Luke's Landspeeder on Tatooine. It's pretty cool.
Star Wars is the greates movie ever made. I saw the old Star Wars movies when i was just 4 years old. I am tellig you that ever since it was my favorite movie. I have seen it hundret of times. I like the effects, and everything else that you can think of. I was a little dissapointed with the old ones when I compared them with Star Wars Special Edition. I really liked The Phantom Menace. I thought that its gona be better but I liked it anyway. I saw 5 times for now but I'll see it a lot more I'm tellyng you that. PS: Austin Powers Stink. I can't belive that some people can compere it with Star Wars.
1. I thought episode 1 was great 2. midi-chlorians are not the force (please watch again; and listen this time) 3. jar jar was a little annoying, but not to the extent that i want to kill him (like many of you), yet I still found myself chuckling at his weirdness 4. jar jar will be back in the next episode (get used to it) 5. you people need to remember that this episode takes place even further in the past than episodes 4, 5, and 6..... it's gonna look different; it's a time of royalty, not a time of the rebel alliance 6. even if it is a enveloping story, it's still just a movie....if this was the first star wars movie made it would be praised 7. please start talking about the frickin story and stop bitchin about the stuff that you didn't like
First, I would like to say that I'am a huge Star Wars fan, so it was really hard for me to admit I was a little disapointed in Episode 1. I would like to start off by talking about all the aspects of the movie that I loved,and enjoyed the most. The obvious is the lightsaber duels between the Jedi's and The Sith Lord. These were done to perfection,the action was non-stop and kept you at the edge of your seat. I only wish there was more to them. I feel the lack of attention that Darth Maul recived was sad, I belive so much more could have been done with his character that would have made the movie even more memmorable. Well regardless of what critics say I still belive Episode1 was awsome and I can't wait for Episode2.
Before I say anything else, I have to say that Obi-Wan Kenobi is sooooo awesome! He was my favorite character in the other movies and he is way cool in this one too. Okay, I thought that The Phantom Menace was a great movie. The best part was all the Jedi and lightsabers. Darth Maul had a very small part, but he deserved it because of what he did to Qui-Gon.(sob,sob)Jar Jar was pretty stupid but I thought he was kinda funny and if you want to kill him than you are headed straight down the path to the Dark Side and you'd better stop while there's still a chance to save yourself. The part about Anakin having no father was extremely corny and the third time I saw the movie some guy in the back totally cracked up about it and that was really funny. Another thing, Jake Lloyd sucks! He can't act and he made me sick. I saw some show about the movie and they said that he was perfect for the part and he isn't, okay? Yuck. But it was still a really great movie and I'm seeing it at least eleven times. If you don't like it, don't watch it and I pity you because you don't understand how beautiful Star Wars is.
Episode I was truely a blessing. I thought the accents were great, i don't know what movie you guys were talking about. I will agree however, that Jar-Jar is better in a barbeque than in a movie. I thought the characters were perfectly casted, especially the queen (amidala), qui-gon jin, and obiwan kenobi. And how about those names? Lucas sure knows how to name characters...could you come up with something like qui-gon jin? The jedi council was truely amazing also. I came in with little expectations and came out amazed. Episode II: I can't wait. Greg
What did I think of TPM?. I don't think I will every find anyone who agrees with me, but I think TPM is the best Star Wars yet. No matter how you look at it, Natalie Portman, Liam Niason, and Ewan McCregor were outstanding. As for Jar Jar I, liked him, a lot, he is just that guy that doesn't fit it, we've all been there. I liked this movie better than the orginally mainly because I felt the story was deeper. In the original three, its just empire bad, rebels good, thats it. The only reason why we know the empire is bad is because were are told its the EVIL GALACTIC EMPIRE. In the TPM there's politics, intrigue, and second guessing as to who the real enemy is. I have yet to find anyone who has agreed with me, and I don't think I ever will, but I think TPM is one the best movies I have ever seen.
I still don't understand why people want to bash a great movie like this. Yeah, the CGI is a little over the top but I think that for the movie to really work it needed to be. I mean how else is Lucas going to show the clone wars and what happens afterward? Jar Jar was something of a scare for me; and the worst part is that he's in the second movie for sure. I saw an interview with Lucas that confirms it. Another down side is that Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the people scripted for Ani. Say it ain't so George! But this movie was everything that I had hoped for. Sure it may not stand on it's own as a great movie but which one of the original three really does. Honestly who can say that seeing one of the movies without knowing what happens is satisfying? Personally I can't wait until the next one. And I think deep down everyone who saw this movie feels the same. And as for Warwick Davis... HE'S THE MAN!! "You are great!"
For me ep1 was not perfect but ep2 and ep3 wouldn't be worse.
I can't believe TPM reached Chile before UK, anyway the movie was great, and I think I'll made some things clear 1.I do not hate Jar Jar 2.Effects were great 3.I HATED Amidala's ship and the other ships (specially the yellow fighters), They were just too aerodinamically crafted, an Y-Wing or X-wing can't be newer than those damn flying junks, they looked just too polished. 4.The Fed Tanks were great, I loved the sequence of the instant army. 5.I want a Jedi character next time I'll play SW RPG.
When I went to see it as soon as they started playing the infamous music and "STAR WARS" was splashed across the screen, I began shaking in my seat. I loved the new CGI. But I hate Jar-Jar because of the bad humor that was added. I loved the first trilogy because of all the one-liners, but George, slapstick? Geez, I thought I was watching a Jim Carrey movie, gross! I liked the addition of the Queen.. however I did not like her little game with her servant, it was too confusing. I do not know if anybody else noticed, but when Jar-Jar first saw Anakin's pod he began working on it and dropped a wrench into the engine. But that had no effect on the performance of the engine. Anyway, good movie.
Ok, this is my opinion. as far a jar jar is concerned, you people need to grow up!! he's intented to attract little kids!! it's been twenty years since the first one was made and todays kids don't have the connection to starwars that our generation does. jar jar serves a pourpose, and does it well to attract the tykes. yeah he'll annoying but i could think of worse comody (jim carey and austin powers for example...) i think lucas made a few mistakes in the movie, which we die hard fans would only pick up and i'm dissapointed that he didn't take us into concideration.....so who really was obi-wan's teacher: qui-gon-jinn or yoda? but to the novice those mistakes aren't noticable. i think after lucas made the original three he had a brain storm and thought up qui-gon....hind sight is 20\20...... the graphics were superb...with the technology we have today...why not use it as much as possible to tell the story you invision.... just imagine what the original three could have been like with todays advacements with the same actors....wow!! the final light saber fight scene was awesome!!the best out of all the movies!!! i can't wait to see an older anikin and him being sedused to the dark side....i think the next two movies will be spectacular!! such empathy for anikin..to know his destiny...it almost breaks my heart....such a tragic figure....i can't wait to see where lucas takes us next.....
hey to all you people out there. i'm sorry that a accidentally submitted dups on this site..it was a honest mistake, this is my first time at jedi.com and i think it's pretty great!! may the forse be with you...always....
I thought it was really good. A lot of people wonder why Jar Jar was with Qui-Gon in Mos Espa. Read the book! It will answer a lot of questions that the movie didn't. Over all it is really good. It just lacks some of the human element that the first 3 movies had. Jedi Knights ROCK!
I'm a little angered by some of the reactions to Episode One. Those who have seen it with an open mind, GREAT! I applaud you! Then, you seem some of the folks, oh like a certain professor at Columbia University, that says Episode One is racist. WAKE UP YOU JOBBER (AKA LOSER)!! How DARE anyone say such a thing about George Lucas' masterpiece. This prof should go crawl back under the freakin' rock he came out of and leave the rest of the NORMAL people in the world alone!!!!!!!!!! As for the movie, I loved it. The only problem I had was the role of Darth Maul This really cool Sith Lord only had less than 10 lines in the whole movie. I would have enjoyed a little more interaction with him, but hey, GEORGE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING!!!!!!!! ;-) And that's the bottom line! Now, I wait with anticipation for Episode Two.
i think people overlook some things about this movie.. picture all 6 episodes as a 3 hour movie.. each episode representing a half hour of that movie.. is the first half hour going to be exciting? not likely.. depends upon the story.. this "beginning" is really just a foundation 'cos george has to spread this whole story over 12-15 hours.. not 3 hours.. so.. i don't think this was meant to be the greatest instalment of the star wars films.. this is just the beginning and george tried to make something that really had the potential to be not exciting at all actually exciting.. he did a good job and i don't think that even he expected it to be the best.. he knew it was just the opening chapter.. he was quoted numerous times saying that he was afraid people were going to be let down.. but, it was a very good movie.. the last 30 minutes was the best.. i was hanging out of my seat.. the last battle scene with obi-wan, qui-gon, and darth maul had so much enrgy and emotion that i'd say it ranks right up there with the last lightsaber duel between darth vader and luke skywalker in "return of the jedi." just very intense.. it did lack on tantooine (the story).. but see, that was the main part oft he movie.. that's what was sposed to be going on.. everything else in the movie, george added to try to make the movie better.. i also liked the beginning of the movie.. very good.. magazines criticized obi-wan saying, "i have a very bad feeling about this." 'cos it seemed to be a cliche'.. but isn't that phrase in all of the star wars movies? even luke says it in ROTJ.. so, c'mon.. it was a great movie and i can't wait for the 2nd and 3rd to come out.. i heard the 2nd was going to have much more of a story to it (not that this one didn't) and that it was kind of going to have a love story intertwined in it (anakin and amidala).. and the teaming up of a teen (and powerful) ana
The Phantom Menace was a great movie. Most people had expected too much for it... but... it was just sordof introducing the characters and all of that. The 2nd and 3rd ones will definatly be better than the first not that this movie sucked it was a great movie. My fovorite part was the fight at the end with Obi-Wan,Qui-Gon, and Darth Maul. I especially liked it When Obi-Wan kicked Darth Maul's ass. Thats what I think about the movie thanks bye.
I have one word that describes the Phanom Menace: Fantastic! The movie has gotten some tough reviews that no one seems to agree with(except maybe for Jar-Jar). Maybe the movie did not move hat fast or have as much action as Empire or Jedi, but neither did New Hope. Both of the first installments have to lay down the ground work for the story that develops once the movies are complete. The first time I saw the movie I had a slight problem when Jar-Jar said:"ex-squeeze me", that was pretty lame. The rest of the movie was great. One of the best movies I have ever seen. Darth Maul was geat. Although he only had 7 lines, he was still very Bobba Fett-esque. Silent, Strong, and very kick-butt. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a great, fantastic, exciting, and welcome addition to the Star Wars Saga. And I for one can not wait untill the next two movies. ------G. P.S.-- Wouldn't it be cool if they made cartoon versions of the current Star Wars books? They should do them in a japan-amation style. or Like the batman/superman cartoons.
Jar Jar Binks da Bomb!!
the movie was soo good the first time i watched it, i went for a second time. Phantom Menace was great (too bad i cant watch it a third time =P). The only thing that sorta annoyed me...Darth Maul. He had, i think, exactly five lines in the film. Not that i have something really against him, but it would have been more interesting for the plot if we knew a little more about him and his story. he made his first appearance in a sorta hologram image and i was just led to believe that...he was just...there. he was the bad guy. yea, well...i didn't care much, anyway. the costumes rocked (especially amidala's) and the fights were cool. the last scene was just really awesome... but i have to admit that the accents were somewhat...off? hmm. well, n-e-wayz, the whole movie was great. jar-jar never really totally annoyed me, maybe it's because im reallly hard to annoy (that's just the way i am, peoplz). in fact, i thought him kinda funny...and stupid. The best part, though, were the actors and the music. Im broke so i cant get the soundtrack, but i listened to my firend's cd, and i was in heaven. i thought jake lloyd did a superb job as anakin and obi-wan kenobi was soo fine... =) okie, well byes now.
THE MOVIE WAS GREAT. I MEAN YOU GOT ALL OF THE NAYSAYERS TRING TO TEAR IT DOWN , BUT WHAT THEY FAIL TO REALIZE IS THIS IS EPISODE 1!!! THE FIST INSTALLMENT. WHO DID THEY EXPECT TO SEE LUKE? THE EFFECTS WERE GREAT AND THE STORY WAS WRITTEN WELL IF YOU KNOW HOW TO LISTEN. HOWEVER I DID HAVE TWO GRIPES. JAR JAR WAS LAME. HE WAS'NT THAT FUNNY AND HE WAS IN EVERY OTHER SHOT. AND MY MAIN GRIPE IS ABOUT DARTH MAUL. THIS GUY WAS NOT USED CORRECTLY, HE COULD'VE BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST VILLAINS EVER. BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT LINES,GEORGE. PLUS THERE IS NO WAY MAUL WOULD'VE LET OBI-WAN DEFEAT HIM LIKE THAT AFTER MAUL BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF TWO OF THEM FOR 15 MIN. STRAIGHT. BUT NEVER FEAR MAUL FANS, I'VE GOT A FEELING HE'LL BE BACK IN EP.2 REMEMBER THE CLONE WARS? OVERALL IT GETS AN 8 FROM ME.
%09Episode 1 rocked! It is almost as good as Empire. I liked the pod race, the senate, the begining, the final battle, everything. Jar Jar actually WAS funny. Though most of you don't think so :( The special effects were the best! The only thing I didn't like about it was Anakin's orgins...hopefully we won't see a Southern Baptist boycott!
This was the best Star Wars i have ever seen, i went to see it with the expectation of being overwhelmed and I was. 1 hour after the movie i thought " Pretty good movie" 3 hours after the movie " ill see that again" The next day " WOW , incredible movie" it must take the brain a while to register the sensory overload No criticism apart from I want to see Epsiode II NOW Darth Maul , what an excellent character
The biggest flaw with SWEOTPM is the lack of JEEPS. Everybody, I mean EVERYBODY knows that the intergalactic Empire could not have existed without the power of a finely-tuned Jeep Wrangler. Was it not Captain Kirk, in the first Star Wars, who said, "Help me Obi-WANK Kenobi, your kick-ass jeep is my only hope!" Also, there was not enough Christ for my tastes.
After reading some newspaper reviews and a few on this website, it seems to me that everyone went to the movie not to see it, but to critique it.There hasn't been a movie made that if you tried,you couldn't find something wrong with it.Nothing or no one is perfect.My hat goes off to George Lucas.I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! I've always been a huge Star Wars fan and I couldn't wait for the movie to come out. I was not disappointed at all.My only problem is that I wish Darth Maul would've gotten more screen time. Is he not the coolest villian ever? But his death just leaves me wanting more.I say drop all of the expectations and just go in and enjoy the movie.See you at Ep2!
Personally i liked the movie very much. Jar Jar was kind of a stupid character, but i don't think he deserves to die. As for the comments about George Lucas, i feel he does whatever he feels will help the story along or just for his own personal ideas. I don't think people should bring it down hard of Lucas, 'cause he was the one who brought us the original 3 movies back in the '70's. well that's my review, May the Force be With You
Where were you when the world changed forever? I refer, of course, to the first time you saw Star Wars. Ever since I first saw Star Wars, and all its sequels (and prequels!), I have been captivated by the pure magic that George Lucas has created. In all of the Star Wars movies, the story lines have been creative and exciting, and the character developement and personalities given were truly engaging and terrific. Because of these wonderful qualities, the Star Wars movies have given the purchase of the imagination of a generation, and then the generation after that. I have no doubt in my mind that the next two prequels which come out will capture the hearts and imaginations of thousands, millions of people. Let me say that for me, the ultimate power and enthusiasm of Star Wars has opened up the possibilites of storytelling, my tastes in music and movies, and other entertainment. Since my first viewing of Star Wars, my imagination has forever been changed, widened, torn open. I have always been a HUGE Star Wars fan, and always will be. Above all, Episode One was PERFECT and deserves hardly any negative imput. If you are one of those people who endlessly complain about "something missing" or how the movie "lacked," then you are not a true fan. George Lucas has created something VERY special. I am brimmed with excitement when I think about what Lucas will give us with the next two installments.
Don't listen to the critics. I was kinda gettin worried about seein EP1 becuz the stupid critics were sayin it was stupid and dumb. But I liked Star Wars EP1. Most REAL Star Wars fans did. There is only one thing about EP1 that kinda bothers me. The original Star Wars Movies(4-6)had pretty good technology, and EP1 is suppose to be before the older movies but EP1 has better technology. In a way I think George Lucas should have done it like most directors, start at EP1 through whatever. The technology would have gotten better over the years and probably make a little more sense. Also Jar Jar Binks was O-K but not the greatest. He was too comical for a Star Wars movie, I mean look at the originals. There might have been some little funny stuff(hardly)but Jar Jar was comical throughout the movie. Here is a little EP2 Rumor: To make Jar Jar and the Gungan's leave, Naboo is suppose to be taken over by a great force and is turned into Aldraan. It's not a bad force but the Queen can't stop it. So the Gungan's have to leave and they won't ever be seen again. REMEMBER THIS IS JUST A PREDICTION AND A RUMOR, THERE ARE TONS, SO DON'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY UNLESS IT REALLY HAPPENS.
I was also rather disappointed by the movie. But in its defense. Keep in mind the A New Hope's main purpose was to introduce the story. As is with this one. If they didn't take time out to explain what was going on, people who don't follow Star Wars would have no idea what was going on. Being a Star Wars fan, I did enjoy the suttle hints to the future episodes. Like, for instance, I bet Anakin hooks up with Queen Amidala in the next Episode. As if anyone couldn't figure that one out. The part I am most interested in seeing is how the Clone Wars develop. And how Anakin is seduced by the Dark Side. In final critique, as I am sure many would agree with, Jar Jar Binks could have been left out of the movie entirely. And as for the comedy, Star Wars was never intended to have much comedy in it. Remeber the others. They had little or no comedy what so ever. It is a serious Good vs. Evil saga that has little room for comedy in my opinion. All in all, I enjoyed the movie. I saw it three times. Suprisingly, it got better every time. I am anxiously awaiting the next Episode.
:-/ erm.. The film was very good in it's own right, the effects were a bit too "Men in Black", and the midi-chlorine explanation of the force was a BIG mistake, wave goodbye to mystique. I do have one thing to ask though... in Empire Strikes Back, Obi-Wan's spirit says to Luke "You must go to Dagobah and find Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me..." have I missed something? because it seemed pretty clear to me that Obi-Wan was Qui-Gon's apprentice, and was declared a full Jedi Knight at the end of Phantom. And someone please kill Jar Jar!!! The comedy was too slap-stick, and too frequent. but I think Jake Loyd was very good. When I found out that Ewan McGregor was to play Obi-Wan, I was well pissed off, I thought "WRONG!!!", but I have to say, he was quite good. All in all, I was initially disappointed, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. But I agree... Darth Maul REALLY needed more screen time.
I just read "Tom (kosater@fuse.net) "'s msg... Leonardo di caprio as Anakin?!?!??!?! OH THE HUMANITY.... PLEASE GOD NOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I thought Ewan McGregor was a bad idea... but Di Caprio?!??!?! please don't do it... please please please don't do it... that would be a truly truly truly grave error!!!! A new actor would be the best idea, like Luke Hamill was and Harrison Ford... cheaper too, can spend more money on Special Effects then, I will even put up with Jar Jar staying and being in every other scene again, over Di sodding Caprio tainting the star wars we know and love... [collapses crying openly]
The Phantom Menace was a great movie! It fully lived up to my expectations, and I am considering watching it a fourth time. The only complaint I could possibly make about the movie is that Jake Lloyd isn't much of an actor. Even that wasn't a big problem; Lloyd's innate cuteness was more than enough to make up for his lack of experience. Other than Lloyd, though, I thought the movie was excellently acted. I've heard complaints about the inconsistency in the characters' accents, especially between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. What's wrong with that? An American and an Englishman speak with markedly different accents, and they only live several thousand miles apart. For all we know, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan may have grown up thousands of light years from each other. It only makes sense that they speak with different accents. Other complaints I've heard are, for the most part, too harsh. What's wrong with the humor? Do people have something against a movie that makes them laugh? The lightsaber duels in Episode 1 were riveting. I could watch the movie a dozen times and would still sit transfixed through its climactic finish. Kudos to the choreographer and the actors! As for Darth Maul, I think Lucas handled the character perfectly. Much of the appeal of Darth Maul lies in his mystery. If he had received much more screen time, he would have lost much of his mystery. As a final comment, I'd like to point out that many people are judging the movie unfairly. Of course Lucas left things hanging in the air at the end. If he didn't, what would be the point of producing Episodes 2 and 3? So my message to everyone is chill out, stop complaining, and enjoy the movie!
The film just released here in London and I thought it was great. The settings, though computer generated, looked amazing. There may ahve been little actual acting in the film, but for the sole purpose of entertainment, it was great. I definitely feel that expectations were way too high, to the level that people wanted to scruntinize every little thing in the film. The slap-stick comedy of Jar-Jar may not have been appealing to people of an older age, but the kids around me in the cinema were laughing their heads off, after all the film was directed towards an audience of a younger age. The effects of the film were amazing, the podrace scene was great and the light sabre fughts were choreographed beautifully. There may not have been too much of a story, but a foundation has been laid for the next two films (after all this is episode 1). People should stop criticising the film and sit back and enjoy the entertainment.
So anyway us Britts have had to hide our heads in the sand trying to keep The Phantom Menace story lines as unknown as possible and for the most part I did well (allthough buying the movie soundtrack was a bad idea, some of the track titles were a give away!) but now I have seen the film and I was pleased, yes it was a little diffrent from what I expected, but not so diffrent that it made it a bad film, of all the four movies I would place it second just behind Empire, action scenes were some of the best I have seen for a long time, Charaters were belivable (even Jar Jar who has been getting alot of bad press) and the CGI, personally I thought it was flawless, if SW only gets one Oscar it will be for Special Effects. If I had one gripe it would be at the moment of Qui-Gons death the music has stopped, Mr Lucas has a nack of putting the right tunes in at the right time. still its not a perfect world now is it. my advice to anyone is this, dont listen to the hype and ignore the critics, go and watch the film for yourself it has been 20 odd years in the making you wont be dissapointed.
When i first saw the movie, I was moved. Here I was actually seeing a brand new Star Wars movie in the theatr. TO any fan this is amazing, espeacially to those, like myself, who weren't even alive to see the first ones in the theater. When i first saw phantom menace, I spent 25% of the time thinking "yeah kick ass," 25% going "what the hell is wrong with these people," and 50% of the time thinking "oh shut the f*** up Jar-Jar and die." I mean, George Lucas turned a drama into a kids show. Maybe in episode 2, the list of guest stars will include Barney. Anikan himself was alright, but with all those little creatures and kids following him, calluing him "Annie," I was expecting him to break into song singing "tomorrow." Everybody is pissed at Jar-Jar, so why bother stating the obvious, the gungans are cool and essential to the plot of the phantom menace. So in that sense, we need Jar-jar to introduce us to the gungans. Other wise we wouldn't know about them, and Gearge would have to rewrite the script,(would that have been so bad?) So then we get into the "jesus they didn't even try,(or they pulled cheesy explanations by random out of a 2'nd grade classes "help George Lucas write a script" box." category. One word,(or two, How do you spell this word?) mito-clorians. Not essential to the plot! leave them out, we don't give a rats ass about them. Why explain the force? Its still not somthing that we in the real world can harnest? You think people are going to be going out of the theater saying, "damn i can't be a Jedi because I don't have medochlorians." I sure as heck didn't. Then ofcours the other real annoying thing, other than the accents, that i noticed, was the Virgin Mary explen...I mean virgin bir...well maybe she wasn't a virgin, I mean fatherless birth. Is Lucas trying to start his own religion? Ma
I think all you people who do nothing but diis Episode I should LAY OFF! George did his best to make it a kid movie(Jar Jar Binks) and an adult movie(the serious acting and 'drama'). You must remember that this movie is set to introduce all of the characters. After all, A New Hope wasn't the best of the Star Wars movies either you know. It was also made to introduce some of the characters. George Lucas said that he tried his best to make a good 'introduction' movie and that all you poo-pooers were and are expecting to much of the movie, and HIM. I, personally, agree with him. Give him a break. Now, the movie was very good. Jar Jar wasn't TOO bad. The accents, well... the accent were pretty fake, but not too fake. The characters were great. Queen Amidala's accent was supposed to be 'cold' for those of you who didn't like it. If she were to let her 'enemies' know that she was scared for her people, it would have givin them the advantage. She had to make her voice sound almost monotonus(sp?) so that the Viceroy wouldn't know she was getting weak with fear for her people. So GET OVER IT! Some of the acting here and their was a little faulty. Mostly is was Sam Jackson's(Mace Windu) acting that was bad. He said that was because he was 'intimidated' by all of the puppets around him, it was hard for him to act serious because he wanted to laugh. Well, I have more to say but I think I have said enough. It was a good movie so sit back and enjoy it and THANK George Lucas for doing this for US, the Star Wars fans.
Star Wars: Episode 1 TPM was EXCELLENT! First off the podrace was totally cool and Jake Lloyd was an awesome display of young Darth Vader AKA Anakin Skywalker. The excellent bad dude Darth Maul was cool. He was awesome in the lightsaber duel. Jar Jar Binks was totally funny and the humor mixed well with the suspense. My favorite part was when Obi-Wan caught DM off guard and sliced him in half. Best line: "When they find you, they will crush you into little pieces, and smash you into oblivian." I don't know if that's the correct way it was said by Obi-Wan but it was the best. A lot of you are complaining about why Darth Maul was not very developed. Well for one thing the guy that played Maul (Ray Park), was not an actual actor, but he happens to be one of the best stick fighters in the world, hence the double-bladed lightsaber. The reason he only had two lines was because the guy probably could not act so they decided he would be more effective if he just shut his trap and kill Qui-Gon and get killed by Obi-Wan. Liam Neeson plays an awesome Jedi Master and Ewan McGregor plays a young Obi-Wan well. To me The Phantom Menace was an awesome experience. Please don't put down Jar Jar Binks, he actually was funny and did have a purpose. Can't wait till Episodes II and III.
I've already done one review, which is up there somewhere. But I have GREAT news for all you Star Wars fans! Many of us have heard the rumor that Leonardo DiCrapio (did I spell that wrong? ahh well who cares) will play Anakin Skywalker in the next installment. I, like all of the other Star Wars fans out there, CRINGED at the thought of such a squish playing such a great person who is an essential character in both trilogies. I have put my faith in George Lucas' hands as to not ruin the series by putting him in there. Anyway, I have heard some good news!!! According to a friend who read this off the 'net somewhere, Leonardo doesn't want to play Anakin in the next movie due to fan reaction! Fan reaction meaning every star wars fan going bezerk (with anger) when hearing that he might be connected to the greatest movie series ever. Anyway, I hope that what I just told you will turn out to be true. Besides, it makes sense: if Leo did play Anakin, most likely he would do a horrible job, and all of his old fans would stop being his fans, and all the Star Wars fans would hold a grudge on him forever. Then less people would watch his movies, which would not be good for him. So it makes sense. STAR WARS FANS KICK ASS!!!
SOUNDS AND GRAPHICS ARE NICE BUT JAR JAR SUCKS! I HOPE THAT THEY DIDNT PUT THAT LOSER JARJAR THERE AND ALSO N. PORTMAN'S STUPID ACCENT BUT SHE WAS HOT AS PADME NABBERIE(AM I CORRECT ON SPELLING OF PADME BLAHBLAH?)FIGHTING SCENES WERE NICE BUT IT WAS TOO SHORT.THEY DIDNT EVEN LET US SEE THE CUT OF MAUL.HOPE THEY REMOVE OR KILL JAR JAR IN EP. 2 AND THE KID WHO PLAYED ANAKIN REALLY SUCKED!HE KEPT ON SAYING OOPS! QUI-GONN'S BEARD REALLY LOOKS FAKE AND DARTH MAUL DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY LINES!and that stupid boss nass! BRRRRRR!!!HOPE THAT HE DIES! THE SHIPS WERE COOL. JEDI COUNCIL WAS GREAT ONLY YODA WAS THE ONE MOSTLY TALKED..........................HOPE THAT EP2 AND 3 WILL BE AS GOOD EP 4 5 6
I have another review up there, but after seeing TPM for the ninth time, I had to add a little more. TPM kicks ass, thats all there is to it. I will have words with anyone who says otherwise. I have something to say to all those Jar-Jar haters out there. If you think he is anoying, thats one thing, I am not a big ewok fan myself, but if you are going to go through the trouble to develop a web page saying 'Jar Jar must die' or 'I hate Jar-Jar' you simply do not deserve to call yourself Star Wars fans. Shame on you. This is George's story, and If he wants to put a clumsy Gungan in it, thats his business. Jar-Jar is just that guy that doesn't fit in, lets face it, we've all been there, there is a little of Jar-Jar in everyone of us. I hope Jar-Jar turns out to be a Jedi and kicks ass in episode II and III.
The best movie ever made. Absolutely amazing. Outstanding. Spectacular. Great. Outstanding. Flawless. The best movie i've ever seen and the best movie i've ever seen 6 times in theatres. Everything about this movie is great. Great sound. Great music. Great graphics. Great screenplay. Great story. Great casting. Great directing. What more could you want in a movie. But there is one flaw. I believe they gave away toooooooooo much in the first Episode. But if you don't like Star Wars much but like good graphics, watch it for the pod racing, or if you like great acting, see it for how well-put-together it is, ot if you like fast paced action, then watch it for the final battle (Obi Wan, Qui Gon and Dart Maul). That was the most amazing thing i'd ever seen. If you're not a big Star Wars fan it's a great movie and still worth seeing (If my sister likes it, it's a great movie). And that's all i have ot say about that.
All the film was was a setup it will setup Episodes 2 and 3, everyone said it had no plot they were right. But that is because it is act one of a three act movie. Lucas originaly wrote the first trilogy as one big movie. It was too large. He made each act a movie. Same idea here.
I have to say that I have seen it 3 times(I'll probably see it once more before it's out of the theaters) and I thought it was pretty good. The best parts are the lightsabre fights, all the political stuff especially Palpantine manipulating everything and the very very best part was when the Sandpeople took the pot shots at the pod racers-that part KICKED ASS!
Well, I wasn't a Star Wars fan until recently, and I actually saw The Phantom Menace before I saw the trilogy. Of course, the person I saw it with told me that that little Anakin guy was Darth Vader, but being that I hadn't seen the trilogy, I didn't realize the true meaning of this. Nor did I know the significance of Obi-Wan Kenobi or anyone else. But when I first saw the Phantom Menace, I lost the story line a little, but was literally blown away by the special effects and such. I "stole" the original trilogy from my cousin later, and watched it. Despite the fact that Luke needed a haircut, I loved everything about the original trilogy, and came to be the ultimate Darth Vader fan. But anyway, watching the Phantom Menace is like watching just episode 4. You think "Cool Story... hmmm.." but then in the 2 episodes following it is much more to the story then meets the eye in the first one. Episode 4 and Episode 1 are just setting you up for something much more. It's not fair to compair Episode 1 to the whole trilogy, but rather compair it to just Episode 4. It's getting you ready for more.. and I've heard rumors about Episode 3 possibly being the best of the Star Wars series. I could be wrong, so don't quote me on it. But the Phantom Menace was good, take it for what it's worth. One episode of Star Wars. It's not a complete story on its own.
if the bad guys had more screen time and development they wouldn't have been a "phantom menace" now would they?
I have seen the Phantom Menace a mere eighteen times, and each time, like all true Star Wars fans, I got goosebumps when the Lucasfilm logo appeared on the screen and the opening credit fanfare started blaring. I personally, enjoyed the movie itself (obviously) and like the beginnings of what could be excellent character development overall. However, I agree with the consensus the Jar Jar Binks should be removed and beheaded. The lightsaber choreography was absolutely incredible. I really enjoyed when Darth Maul extended the second end of his dual-edged lightsaber, after rremoving his hood. Just listen to the excellent musical score as that happens. My girlfriend who has had to enjoy all eighteen with me is of the mind the Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) was the best acted character. I however, feel that she is insane. Darth Maul (Ray Park) was the best acted characted. Although, he needed more air time, which HE WILL get in Episode 2. (Clone Wars).Padme (Natalie Portman) rocks, and the nine year old Anakin (Jake Lloyd) was quite good. Go and enjoy, again, and again, and again... and May the Force Be With You
WELL WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE MOVIE I THOUGHT IT WAS A MASTERPIECE, BUT LIKE EVERY MASTERPIECE IT HAS ITS 1 FLAW. JAR JAR BINX. THAT HAS TO BE THE MOST ANNOYING AND POINTLESS CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE. I MEAN SURE HE HAD HIS FUNNY PARTS BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT HE SAYS.I MEAN THE MOVIE WAS AWESOME I THINK ITS A CLASSIC, BUT I WAS DISSAPOINTED WITH JAR JAR. LUCAS YOU STILL HAVE A LOYAL FAN HERE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Aha, you guys missed the Wookiees in the Senate. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Sorry.
This is probably best film I have ever seen at the cinema (Austin Powers 2 being the second), The Script was excellent, the casting was brilliant and everything else was brilliant, Although I thought that We would of seen alot more of Darth Maul it was cool, The Best bit I think was when Qui-Gon and Obi-wan had to battle Darth Maul and those red laser lines where seperating the three Jedi's. Overall This is a film you should see two times: once: Enjoy it.Twice: Find out the parts that link with all the other films Three. So that was my review of Star wars episode one, Well Done George Lucas Can't wait untill episodes 2 & 3.
This movie is sooooo cool. so why the heck do some of you nimrods put it down so hard. You TICK ME OFF IM TIRED OF YOU GUYS MAKING FUN OF JAR JAR YES I AM GETTING HATEFUL AINT I WELL FOR ONE THING YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW DARTH MAUL IS DEAD D-E-D DEAD YOU HEAR ME SO LAY OFF ALREADY HES NOT COMING BACK STAR WARS KIX MAJOR BUTT AND IF YOU DONT LIKE IT WELL THEN ......... UP YOURS
I'm a huge Star Wars fan and have been since i was a little kid. I went with my girlfriend and a bunch of friends to see Episode 1 the opening day. Everybody but my girlfriend and I were let down by the end of the movie. I think it has to be hard for someone to try to live up to the legacy of the original Star Wars Trilogy. I mean, back then in 1977, people really hadn't seen what went on in the movies before so it was all new to them. But nowadays, in 1999, we've all seen CGI animation and and super space battles. There was no possible way that Epidose 1 could beat that kind of power. People were expecting too much from the movie because of the hype that came out for years before the movie was released. I found some problems with the movie itself. For these questions i would appreciate it if anyone would like to explain the answers to the for me. What the hell is with the midi-chlorins or whatever? A scientific approach to the Force was a bad idea. The Force is like a religion of some sort. It takes faith, not some scientific explaination. Jar-Jar binks was supposed to be, in my opinion, a Chewbacca like character. An alien that roams with the other main characters throughout the new Trilogy. I hope this doesn't happen. Jar-Jar was unnessisary and annoying. I heard he's supposed to be in the next movie but i hope this is just a rumor. I was wondering if the Empire in Episodes 4,5,+6 is in some sort of economical decline. In Ep. 1 the trade Federation had all sorts of technology. Why wouldn't the Empire have sometihng like that? I don't know, but if you or anyone you know can answer these questions let me know. Thanx again.
Frankly, i must say that the movie felt much better then all the other movies. Don't really know why, I do think the old movies has a much higher cult rating, but I do think Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson was perfect in their roles, and Pernilla August ( go sweden, we rule ) felt very true. People who pick on Jake Lloyd have no idea what it's like to star in a movie like Star Wars. I have had the pleasure to meet people that worked on the set and they explained much how it was for Lloyd and the crew. Being a 9-year old kid he's a fantastic actor and should deserve much more credit. For us who have seen the three first movies at least 8-9 times it was very fun to see things from the other movies just running by, like the jawa who stars about two seconds when Anakin runs by him in his pod. Baby Greedo was cool too. It is small ingredients like these which make you jump up from your seat just to realize that george Lucas have casted a spell over the people who have seen and loves his movies, they're simply great. With the techniques in movie-making moving forward so fast I think Episode 1 made a much bigger impression, still for a movie made 1977 ( Star Wars Episode IV ) it is fantastich to still be so popular. I do think the actors ( except maybe Harrison Ford ) was much better in Episode 1 then the other movies, and i DO hope George Lucas changes his mind and directs at least one more of teh movies ( and another ).
WOW! I have seen TPM several times and just can%92t get enough. It had its good points and bad. Kenobi and Jinn VS Maul was out of this world. The pod-racing was awesome. I felt that C-3P0 should have had a bigger role. I do prefer 3P0s humor to Jar Jars. Jar Jar, give me a brake. Yeah he was great for little kids but I personally liked Mace Windu. The foreshadowing was all most scary to some degree. The whole Palpatine-is-Sidus thing I find is outstanding. I really hope that the other two episodes are better and we see more Jedi VS Sith and the slaughter of the Jedi Council. Thats My Opinion. %09-The JED-HEAD
I've seen EPISODE 1 eight or nine times so far (I lost count), and I will see it again as long as it stays at the theater. I have to drive 80 miles round trip, but it's worth it. I really feel it is the best one so far, as much as I loved A NEW HOPE. Qui-Gon Jinn is the heart and soul of the movie, and Liam Neeson played the part perfectly. I can't wait for EPISODE 2 and more of Obi-Wan Kenobi! I really had my doubts when they announced Ewan McGregor as the young Obi-Wan, but my fears were put to rest quickly, as he did a wonderful job playing the Jedi student. I'm dying to find out how the Clone Wars fit into things, and how things go south between Obi-Wan and Anakin, and just how he becomes Darth Vader. I hope all will be revealed in the next 2 chapters. I do not find JarJar a problem, and if you pay attention to the first sentence or two, then you can understand him just fine! From start to finish, I am glued to my seat and thrilled all the movie long.
LOVE STAR WARS Few Predictions: Palpatine=Emperor=Anykin's Father(his mom had a fling with him and knows he is evil so she didn't want to admit it) Emperor will get Anykin to hunt down the Jedi's by kidnapping his mother and threatening her life I have some others but b/c I know that I am so right, I don't want to get George pissed at me.
O.K. maybe I'm taking this too seriously but after reading half the reviews I thought I'd add a few commments which I haven't run into yet. The use of androids instead of human storm-troopers is a very clever move. Lucas would never have gotten away with the slicing, decapitating, amputating, force-catapulting, tank crushing etc. of storm-troopers. It lets you see how a sword can be used without driving the censor berserk. Also I feel Lucas wasted a rare opportunity on character development. It's not often a director has the luxury of an entire film to develop characters for subsequent episodes. Darth Maul definitely underused. Still better that way than overused. Not much else to say. Lightsaberplay (can I say that?) was inspirational and I'd pay the full movie price just to watch it again, and again, and again, and again... ahem. last thing, piece of advice: don't lose touch with reality - it's a pretty big universe and there's always a bigger fish (ha ha -sorry!) Ciao, Breff
I thought that The Phantom Menace was all that I thought it would be. It was the good guys versus the bad guys. Its a fairy tale. I liked that aspect of it because through out the movie you don't see any of those lame advertisments that you see in todays big budget movies. The Phantom Menace gives me a place to go when I dream, as do all the other movies in the saga. And as far as this kill Jar Jar Binks thing, I think that his character, and all the Gungans and clumsy droids, provided balance in the movie. Lets face it, the movie would be to serious if it wasn't for those characters. As a true Star Wars fan, from the old school, I thought the movie provided a good platform for the last,but first three movies of the saga, it was as good, but i can't say better than episodes 4,5,6,. Lets face it the first 3 will be lingering in are minds till the day we die. Thank you. Looking forward to a response.
I really enjoyed this movie. I think that it was ment to be different than the origional three, it was in an earlier time, things were better then, a golden age... for you who complaigned about the technology looking more advanced, maby it was supposed to, times were better before the empire people could spend the time to develop better looking spacecraft etc... I think it just gives more contrast to how things were under the empire having some things go down hill from the ep1 to the latter episodes
Im not good speak english,sorry my english I russian and live in Kazakstan I love all parts movie of the Star Wars good bue%FE P.S. %C8 %E4%E0 %EF%F0%E5%E1%F3%E4%E5%F2 %F1 %E2%E0%EC%E8 %F1%E8%EB%E0 Klinok
I remember when Star Wars first hit the screen in '77. I think I was in 4th or 5th grade then, and I had to be dragged to the movie because I was dead set against sci-fi movies. After all, we had stupid shows like "Lost in Space" in black and white, and very lame "Star Trek" tv shows. Sorry all you trekies, nothing personal! I had a bad attitude going in to see the movie, and WOW! I became a true fan from the opening scene. I had religiously collected the cards, saw the sequels, etc, etc, you get the picture. After seeing Episode 1, I have to admit that I liked the trailer better than the movie. This is very hard to come out and say since I've always been Star Wars biggest fan. I was dissappointed to say the least. Unimpressive opening shot of unimpressive space craft, cheesy Japanese Godzilla movie accents on the aliens, dry script, should have left Jar Jar in the core.......man that guy is annoying. The least they can do is leave him back in Episode 1, when the sequels come out. Darth Maul was the best thing to come along in the movie, and we got very little of him. I did see the movie 4 times, mostly for the sake of the last 30 min. It was true Star Wars. The Pod Race could have been a race to get off the planet or something more exciting, instead of a race just for racings sake(to win some parts). It seemed like every opportunity to thicken the plot was ignored. I was ready for new characters, but I miss the attitude that the Original Star Wars movies had. I.E. Han Solo blasting Greedo under the table...."sorry for the mess". The "flying by the seat of his pants" with a bad hyper drive......"would it help if I got out and pushed?"....Princess Lea. The ominous Darth Vader, always right in the heat of the battle, just behind the advancing stormtroopers, creating a sense of urgency to get away fast! Let me make a bold statement, Sta
I agree on one thing, that the first time you see the movie, it dissapoints you. personally, i think that the first time, i simply expected too much. but after seeing it a few more times, the movie becomes great on its own. I don't undersand the complaints of some other critics; what's the problem with the computer effects? I could tell when an item was computer genarated, but it didn't make the film any worse. As far as the acting goes...it could probably be better, Especialy Jake Lloyd's. But nevertheless, the film is fine and the acting isn'y as BAD is you might think. To tell you the truth, i think that all the critics also expected too much, and when the criticized this film, they didn't notice that what they wrote about this film, also applies to the three former films. So, if u did like the other movies, and you don't expect the MESSIAH of all movies, you should enjoy this film just fine. I know I did.
Hi. I just have to share my $.02. First thing I noticed (after 40 minutes of reading your posts) was that many of you noticed the problem with the whole who trained Obi thing. Here is an excerpt from one of the posts... "You must go to Dagobah and find Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me..." have I missed something? Well, quite possibly you have. Most everyone seems to assume that there was no contact between Yoda and Obi-Wan. Granted he was declared a Jedi Knight at the end of TPM but that doesn't mean that Yoda couldn't still instruct him or that he had not done so previously. It's kind of like saying that since I apprenticed under Joe, all the stuff Bob taught me doesn't count. Maybe there was also a reason why he wasn't mentioning Qui-Gon. Remember how Qui-Gon often seemed at odds with the whole Jedi-council etc. We just don't know enought to be sure. (At least I don't, lemme know if I am just way off here.) In addition to a few things like this I would have to say the movie was great. Yeah, Jar-Jar is kind of dumb, and I would have rather seen others with his time (Darth Maul et. al) but Lucas is in charge and I am willing to trust his judgement. This movie definately is a big setup for episodes 2 and 3. Take it as that and realize how great (oh please oh please) they will be. All in all, I give TPM a 8+ out of 10. If you haven't seen it, do it. It is well worth it. It seems to get better each time...layers and layers of good stuff once you get into it.
I think we all agree that Phantom Menace was designed to be a movie all about fun. I heard an interview with Lucas a long time ago and he said that after he did American Graffiti, he wanted to do "this little idea he had in the back of his head." Star Wars was never intended to be the heighth of film. It's not to be compared with Citizen Kane, The Godfather or even Schindler's List. Not enough character development? Give me a break. It's easy to describe Darth Maul in one word: fight. His entire personna revolves around the word "fight." His character is very well developed. His place in the movie: to fight with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. As for Jar Jar--the thorn in all our sides--he was pretty much an experiment that successfuly passed the test. ILM said, "Can we make a CG character that blends in with the live actors on screen and possesses just as much visual and storyline importance?" Their answer: Jar Jar Binks. Sure, you can get wrapped up in debates of comedy like the Three Stooges vs. Charlie Chaplin, but that means you've been suckered in. You've been fooled. ILM made you recognize Jar Jar enough as an equal to the other characters to make you criticize his acting ability. My thumbs up to Lucas and his team of movie makers for making yet another masterpiece connected to this great story we call Star Wars. To sum up my review: Star Wars, The Phantom Menace was an awesome movie. I'm saddened because I only got to see it seven times before it went out of theaters.
Yeah the movie could have been a lot better...considering, what? 16 years since the last one...you'd thought he could have written a Shakespearean play in that time. But anyways, the only thing I have to say is: NATALIE PORTMAN!!! If that ain't a good reason to see a movie, any movie, I don't know what is. And if Leonardo DiCaprio is cast as ANYONE in the next two films, a guy named George is going to find himself bleeding from several orrifices...Leo isn't getting his filthy hands on Natalie, SHE'S MINE!!!
Well, after a long long time I finally saw the Phantom Menace yesterday, 30 september that is. The Dutch premiere was on that day, so that's the reason for my delay. Anyway, the movie is great, visually. The story is also quite good, with a few small mistakes, but what the heck. But the acting was quite poor. An excellent cast doesn't mean good acting. Darth Maul should not have that little screentime. It killed the tension a bit. That's about all the criticism that I have about TPM. I'm gonna watch it over and over again. Cheers, and the force should not be taken that seriously, guys! Enjoy Starwars, but stay sober!
First off, there couldn't have been a better set-up for the three greatest movies of all time than the Phantom Menace. Second, what was George thinking with Jar Jar? I read somewhere that he was trying to recreate the loveable character thing from the first three episodes (Chewbacca, Yoda and the Ewoks, respectivly), but frankly, I'm sorry to say, it just didn't work. True, Jar Jar is one of the Force's creatures and must be respected and protected as such, but if something tried to eat him, I think I would move just a little slower than usual. We love you, George, nonetheless.
The best about Episode I is episode 4 and 5. Without them, this film would be very insignificant. Ok, some kung fu stuff and jumping in the air with lightsabre's is nice. But the scenes are very short, like in commercials or at M-tv. Lot's of abundant scenes. The inevitable love ( between a teenager and a preteen) is more a parody than realistic. The fairytale has been skipped, less Tolkien and more soap. The film never reaches the epic grandeur of part 4 and 5. But perhaps this film is great, unless of course you are older than 12 years.
I think it was a very excellent movie. The charachter development wasn't the best but it did leave good enough openings to get to know Anakin in the upcoming episode 2.
The thing i liked about the movie, was Darth Moul. He was not as evil as Vader himself, but a good one.The other's where right about the Disney creature like Jar Jar Binks, who irritated me so much that i hoped that Moul would take Binks head and .... you know what i mean. (dont you?). Anyway the movie was exellent, and as good as Episode 4, 5, 6. (Sorry about my English I'm from Norway you know)! And remeber the dark side will be with you, allways.
My whole review is not just about episode 1 but about the whole trilogy. Episode 1 was perfect... all those effects did not ruin the master piece but built the great movie. Qui-Gon Jinn is like Ben Kenobi, Obi-Wan Kenobi is like Han Solo, Anakin Skywalker is like Luke Skywalker, Queen Amidala is like Princess Leia and Jar Jar Binks is like Chewbacca. My point is that the style of episode 1 is like the style of a new hope. Episode 2 is a love story like the empire strikes back, Amidala falls in love with Anakin and Leia falls in love with Han. In episode 3 Anakin is purswaded to the dark side by Senator Palpatine and in return of the jedi Luke is purswaded to the dark side by Emperor Palpatine. So as you see the style of both sides of the trilogy are the same "In a certain point of view" -Ben Kenobi (return of the jedi)
MY REVIEW IS THE WHOLE STORY OF EPISODE 1: WHEN THE TRADE FEDERATION BLOCADES THE SMALL PLANET OF NABOO, QUEEN AMIDALA ASKS HELP FROM THE REPUBLIC. CHANCELLER VALORUM CAN'T DO MUCH SO HE SENDS TWO JEDIES, ONE JEDI MASTER NAMED QUI-GON JINN AND HIS PADAWAN APPRENTICE, OBI-WAN KENOBI. THE TWO ARRIVE AT NABOO WHERE DARTH SIDIOUS INSTRUCTS HIS VICEROY. THE VICEROY ORDER THE BATTLE DROIDS AND DESTROYER DROIDS TO DESTROY THE JEDI KNIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY THE VICEROY FAIL AND QUI-GON JINN MEETS THE CLUMSY GUNGAN, JAR JAR BINKS WHO HAS BEEN BANISHED FROM HIS HOME BY BOSS NASS AND CAPTAIN TARPALS. QUI-GON JINN FORCES BINKS TO TAKE HIM BACK TO HIS HOME WHERE THE JEDI CAN GET A RIDE TO THE CITY OF THEED. BINKS OBBEYS AND BRINGS THE AMMBASSADORS TO THE CITY OF GUNGANS. BOSS NASS GIVES THE JEDI A SMALL SUB-MARINE TO GO TO THEED. THE JEDI TAKE JAR JAR BINKS WITH THEM AND ARRIVE AT THEED. QUI-GON FORCES QUEEN AMIDALA TO COME WITH HER TO CORUSCANT THE CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC. CAPTAIN PANAKA DISAGREES BUT THE ROYAL QUEEN DECIDES TO GO WITH THE JEDI. CAPTAIN PANAKA, QUEEN AMNIDALA, QUI-GON, OBI-WAN AND JAR JAR BINKS TAKE A SHIP TO CORUSCANT, BUT THE TRADE FEDERATION ATTACKS THE SHIP JUST BEFORE IT FULLY LEAVES NABOO. THE SHIP ESCAPES THE TRADE FEDERATION'S GRASP BUT IS BADLY WOUNDED. RIC OLIE SENDS SOME DROIDS TO FIX THE WOUND, BUT THE TRADE FEDERATION'S SHIPS WIPE OUT ALL THE DROIDS BUT ONE. THE LITTLE DROID HOLDS THE DAMAGE TOGETHER AND FIXES THE WOUND. THE LITTLE DROID'S NAME R2-D2. STILL THE WOUND CAUSES THE SHIP TO LOOSE MUCH FUEL. QUEEN AMIDALA DECIDES TO LAND ON THE DESERT PLANET OF TATOONIE WHERE THE TRADE FEDERATION WON'T FOLLOW. QUEEN AMIDALA SENDS QUI-GON, JAR JAR BINKS, R2-D2 AND THE HANDMAIDEN PADME TO FIND PARTS TO FIX THE SHIP. QUI-GON FINDS A JUNK DEALER NAMED WATTO. QUI-GON FINDS THE PART HE NEEDS AND OFFERS WATTO REPUBLIC CREDITS TO BUY THE PARTS. WATTO REFUSES TO TAKE REPUBLIC CREDITS AND GIVES NO PARTS TO QUI-
What is everyones problem with Episode I? The Phantom Menace is the best movie in history. I'll tell you what, it seems to me people can only think, "Oh, it could have been better." Well, lets see you try, then we'll see how good it is.
I only saw the movie once, and now I'm a total Star Wars Nut. I think it was a great movie, and I loved it. Obi-Wan Kenobi is so cute (hey, can you blame me? I'm a teenager! I'm allowed to obsess over older guys ~.^), and Qui-Gon was cool. Anakin is the sweetest little kid. It's kinda hard to believe he's Darth Vader. Padme (Amidala) was cool, and I was surprised when I found out she was the Queen. As for those of you who don't like Jar Jar, well, that's your problem. I liked him, and found him rather amusing. I mean, we've all done something really clutzy at some point in our lives (but most people don't like to admit it), so it's easy to relate. I didn't really care much for Darth Maul, but hey, that's just my opinion. But I do think that he should have had more that twenty lines in the movie. I thought the Podrace was cool, and the graphics were kick-butt. Otoh Gunga was cool. I have no idea how you go about building a city under water, but okay. I just basically had fun with it. I mean, it's Sci-Fi people, and better yet, it's Star Wars. Just have fun with it. I can't wait for episodes 2 and 3!! ^.^
IF YOU SAY YOU'RE A FAN, THEN BE A FAN. Star Wars, Empire and Jedi all have scenes that might not have been necessary to get the story across, but they're there and you accepted them. Which is what you should do now, go and enjoy the movie, not turn into some flipped out critic. Besides, in twenty years Episodes 1, 2, and 3 will all be classics anyway. By the way, I agree with most of you about the Leonardo Dicaprio thing. Well, he isn't part of Star Wars history just yet.
The movie was amazing in my opinion.I am a true Star Wars fan to the bone.All the films have been great. The problem with some people are they don't enjoy it rather they sit down and say lets see what's wrong.Everything in the movie was perfect,it exceded my expectations.The special effects were great,action,and plot.People said Darth Maul should have had more lines.Nada, it added to his profile that he didn't talk much.The quiet ones are the deadliest ones.I mean think think about it if the bond villians didn't waste time talking he would be dead already.The only fault is that Darth Maul was killed off.He is probably my favorite character, but i learned to accept it.If you like to get out of reality and relax go see the movie.On the other hand if you only see movies to find their faults stay away from the theatre.Episode 2 will be great and 3,and remember "at last we will have our revenge".
What can I say? I sit in a theatre and watch a Star Wars movie I've never seen before! Doesn't happen every day... (-:
Star Wars Episode 1, is THE BEST MOVIE ON EARTH.....IN THE UNIVERSE!!!! IT ROCKS!! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIT IT COMES OUT!! STAR WARS RULEZ!! :-)
Episode 1 is the worst of all the Star Wars movies. The bad guys didn't get enough screen time, and Jar Jar Binks got too much. The plot was good, but the movie itself stunk.
Star Wars is the best movie on earth...in the solar system...in the galaxy...in the universe! The whole trilogy was amazing. My favourite character was the Destroyer Droids. My favourite verse was "...switch to bio..."
My review is not a review at all! It is about Star Wars Episode 2. (BIG RUMOUR) It is 15 years later since the defeat of the defeat of the trade federation. Chanceller Palpatine forces Queen Amidala to leave Naboo and go to Alderaan since danger is headed to Naboo. Queen Amidala refuses to leave her people but goes anyway. Meanwhile Anakin Skywalker returns to Tatoonie to free his mother Shimi Skwalker. However Watto tells Anakin that his mother is dead. Anakin returns to his home and finds C-3PO. Anakin takes C-3PO back to Coruscant to the Jedi Temple. The council has become weak and has lost many members including Ki-Adi Mundi and Mace Windu. Yoda sends Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to aid Queen Amidala in Alderaan. In Alderaan Queen Amidala becomes impatient and leaves back to Naboo only to find it blasted into smithereens. Queen Amidala than learns that Chanceller Palpatine has betrayed her. She than goes to Coruscant ans complains that Chanceller Palpatine has destroyed Naboo. The senate is not convinced and dismisses the case. Meanwhile Chanceller Palpatine travels to Alderaan in search of Obi-Wan and Anakin. He than forces President Ovicks to destroy the two jedies. President Ovicks disagrees and declares war against the Republic. In the war President Ovicks dies and his wife Mistress Organa takes over with the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Okay you guys let me get you straightned out. First of all spell the names correctly (Anikin??) Second of all I am sorry about the rubbish accents in episode 1. My next film comming in 2002 will have australian actors so no need to worry about that. Third of all Jar Jar Binks will appear in episode 2 and the beggining of episode 3. Fourth of all Darth Sidious is Senator Palpatine. Fifth of all it's the Kalon Wars there is no cloning or stuff like that. Sixth of all Anakin has a father "He has no father, I raised him and I was there for him," Shimi says. What I mean is that he has no father mently since his father did not raise him. But physically Anakin's father is Darth Rage who you will see in episodes 2 and 3. Sort of like "A young jedi named Vader who was seduced to the dark side killed your father"Ben says. You no what I mean? ...and seventh of all, in the Empire Strikes Back Obi-Wan says that Yoda instructed him. Yoda did instruct Obi-Wan but after a while Qui-Gon Jinn started training him. Alright...?
After seeing the movie thirteen times(13) in theaters, I'm finally satisfied. I'd been anticipating it's release for years. When it finally opened I was a bit disapointed. Jar-Jar was a big drag, there are too many lulls in the plot (tattoine dragged on, the gungan battle set-up was too much). I must say that Jar-Jar got less annoying after repeated viewings. The jedis were cool, Darth was a worthy foe. I've since re-watched eps 4,5,6 and sadly there are many continuity errors in relation to ep 1 (obi making reference to Yoda being his teacher etc..) Makes you realize that George Lucas' vision was not as detailed as fans are lead to believe. Aside from the few little things I've pointed out, the movie was great. Sure, it's not exactly what we expected, but the movie as a whole is a hell of alot better than most of the crap that we're being offered these days. I seen the film too many times it would seem, yet I need my fix until 2oo2!
Ok. I read a lot of these reviews. "Almost" everything has been said, but what about the music, ladies and gentlemen. This soundtrack by John Williams is outstanding and outdoes Episodes 4-6. Kudos to Williams and the entire London Symphony Orchestra. Outstanding! Now, I agree that Jar Jar is annoying, but for me, I actually started to understand what he was saying the second (and more) time around. He became whimsical insead of annoying. Jake Lloyd is not the greatest actor, that is for sure, but I think George Lucas knew that this kid would only be in the first movie anyway. I am also very pleased to hear that Titanic love boy won't be the next Anakin. I believe it would have hurt the movie if he was casted. The special effects were top-notched and the outfits, makeup, hair, etc. of the Queen was terrific. No wonder they have a series for the dolls. BTW, did anybody notice that FAO Schwartz is selling the white dress Amadala doll for about a grand this year! And finally the podracing is what really picked up the movie. I thought it was phenomenal along with the duel at the end! I give it a 7 out of 10. And it is nice to see some fantasy back on the silver screen with violence that is not blood-stained and guts pouring out, which is a real turn off to me. Rumor has it that TPM will be on video in April. Can anybody confirm? Also stated that Star Wars 1, 4-6 are still not available on DVD. Maybe we will get some surprise scenes when they become available.
This feeling knawed at me while watching the movie and I still feel it. As we all know, Anakin's mother claims that there was no father. Then the medachloride count was done, etc. etc. So let me share with you my thoughts on this. Is it feasible that Anakin's mother is covering up the truth? Think about it. Why would she tell a perfect stranger, Qui-Gon, her personal life. Do you want to know who "I" think the father could be. Hang onto your hats . . . Senator Palpatine (a.k.a. Darth Sidious)! That is why I feel that Anakin will get torn in Episodes 2 and 3. The "dark" side will start consuming him from within and the outside influences will just make it that much easier as the plots unfold. And I don't think that Palpatine even knows that he had a son or he would have raised and "used" him to bring "order" much quicker. I think that Palpatine had a one night stand or affair with the "slave" mother and she had his child and concealed it from him. Is it too far feteched?
Anakin's father is Darth Rage!!! (go to www.starwars.com/hiddenrumors
I thought it was GREAT!!!!!It could have maybe been a little better.How Gorge(i don't think i spelled his name right) Lucas could have mabe it better is he could have given more screen time to darth maul. or maybe give him more lines. May the force be with you all. <:::::::::::::[][]xxxxxxxxxxx[][]:::::::::::>
Let*s start with what I hated about episode-1. The begining is very lame. The seen where R2 gets annoited is laughable at best. As everyone has said there was to little Darth Maul and to much Jar-Jar. I also found the trade federation leaders to be flat and boring. Overall I did enjoy the movie. Liam Neesom was excellent . Ewan and Jacob were good, and Natalie Portman gave me wood. The speacial effects were the best I*ve seen. The light-saber dual was well crafted. The battle of naboo was unusual. On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 7. Can*t wait for episode-II.
First of all i must say Lucas disapointed me. 1) Because I still think "The Empire strikes back" is the best one. 2) Jar Jar, make a special edition where you give him just a little less screen time. Please. 3) I think Darth Maul & Sidius needs more screen time + a coupple more lines for Maul. 4) I know everyone has said this before but what the heck is up with the Nemoidians accents ? 5) That fairwell scene between Anakin & Shimi sucks. Bigtime. That's enough trash, now I'll give you the good stuff: 1) The final duel was awesome!! 2) Ewan McGregor was great as a young Obi-Wan 3) Bringing Yoda & Palpatine back was cool 4) That Anakin built C-3PO and that R2-D2 was an astromech-drid on the Royal Starship was cool 5) It's a Star Wars movie and that's the most important reason why it is so great !
No one will read this so it doesn't matter what @$*! I say. Darth Maul was hardly a character, he was all hype, 3 appearances, 2 lines and too much makeup. Same for Obi Wan, he hardly said 3 words. Anyhow the rest was pretty good, and JarJar would have been funny if you could understand half of what he said.
Star Wars Episode one is a really good movie: those lightsaber fights, the Droide Ks (Destroyers) the Naboo royal fighter are really cool! I saw the movie 10 times.
Is saw the movie like 11 times and i where never bored. I just love Starwars movies because of the story. The story of desteny and the force. The jedis are relly cool. The story is great the caracters are great it is just a great movie like any of the Starwars films. As one the biggest Starwars fab on Ice land i must say that this movie is the best movie of every time The phantom menace is the best and i cant wait for Episode 2.
Is saw the movie like 11 times and i where never bored. I just love Starwars movies because of the story. The story of desteny and the force. The jedis are relly cool. The story is great the caracters are great it is just a great movie like any of the Starwars films. As the BIGGEST Starwars fan on Iceland i must say that this is the greatest movie of all time. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are relly cool. The high jedi council very cool and because the movie is so great i have learned more than 120 names in it. I cant wait for it on tape and i am dieing for more of the story. When will Anakin become Vader and how will the movie be. I trust Lucas to do a great film. I love words of wizdom and the skills in the duels. JEDI V.S SITH. THE STARWARS WORLD IS THE GREATEST AND LUCAS IS THE BEST EVER.
I liked the movie better the second and third time that I saw it. There's just so many interwoven plots that it's hard to take it all in the first time so you really can't appreciate the movie until you've seen it a few times. I notice that everyone seems to be refering to the Sith as the Phantom Menace. I think that the Sith are a very obvious menace. I could be wrong but I believe that Anakin Skywalker is the Phantom Menace that George Lucas is refering to. After all, he does grow up to be Darth Vader and nobody (with the possible exception of Yoda)sees it coming. When all six movies are completed I think that everyone will see that what Lucas has created is a biography of Anakin Skywalker.
All of you that hated Jar Jar in TPM don't relize that in later episodes he could become the most important characters in SW history. How you ask. in ep3 he could complete Anakins journey to the dark side. how you ask again. it is rumored that anakin will kill jar jar in ep3 hence completing his journey to the dark side. as for TPM, i loved it. if you didnt like it you're not a TRUE STAR WARS FAN.
i was a little disapointed with the movie because i thought it needed alot more action and should have had a couple of lines that related to the older movies.i also think Darth Maul should have more lines than jar jar binks so the movie would be much better.i thought it should have been longer and i think that obi wan should have done more action and less obiedent to qui gon.i think they should have shone some of anakins training.anywazy i loved the movie and thought it was really great.if i had to give it a rating it would be 8.09 .
I loved the movie, and felt that it was all that would and should be expected from a movie that is the begining of a saga such as this. that's the problem with showing the middle of a story, and then showing the begining 30 years later, everyone expects the humble begings to be so much better than they really are, and they get all dissapointed when it's not EVERYTHING they they expected to see. It's like having a person that's a living legend, everyone makes him out to be such a great person with a colorful history, when the truth is that he really is just a normal person with a semi-normal past, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and did something that made him a legend. so i think that everyone should stop bitching about how the movie could have been so much better, because it couldn't have been better than it was, if it had been better, then it wouldn't have been believeable as being the begining of it all. i've seen so many reviews on this page that state that Jar-Jar is annoying and he shouldn't have been in the movie. as far as i'm concerned, he was a crutial character, and he served a purpose, so everyone should leave him alone and get tha hell over it already. I mean sure Jar-Jar is annoying, but so is Rosie O'Donnell, but she's still got a show. people also say that Darth MAul didn't have enough lines. i don't think that Maul should have had more lines, because really, who likes a bag guy that babbles? babbling bad guys dissapeared with the black and white serials of the 1920's and 30's. Maul said all that he needed to say to make his character believable as an evil entity. eveyone says there should have been more action, well this was a story about the Jedi, Jedi are not about action and fighting, they are about peace,and diplomacy, they don't like fighting,they only fig
since my system f***ed up, and put up the rest of my review, here it is...... t when all other options have been exausted, so it's not like the movie was gonna be endless secnes of Gui-Gon and Obi-Wan decapitating eveyone in sight. Pluss the simple fact remains that the lightsaber special effects have to be painted in frame by frame, i do special effects for independant films and am currently working on one that focuses around Jedi and Sith, so i know what is nessecary to do special effects for lightsabers. and what's more, if they had done more scenes, the movie wouldn't even be out yet,and none of us would be writing any of this. Well, that's my Jedi Insight on what i feel was a simply fantactic, and damned impressive film
I thought Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace was superb and so does most of my mates. I think it was the best out of the four, you may think I am crackers but I am 15 years old and did not see the first four at the cinema until The Special Edition. I thought it was great and as soon as the Music and prologue came up I was in a trance from start to end. I loved it and any true Star Wars fan would have loved it too.
Phantom Menace was definately a first rate film. It had every quality that a real good movie should have. It kept me interested from start to finish, as it should any true star wars fan. But it did seem to lack the mystique of the first trilogy. And i was disappointed at how little screen time the dark jedi got, maul and his "master". But overall it was definately a space opera worthy of the name star wars.
Many people say they were disapointed in "Star Wars - The Phantom Menace".. but you gotta understand that it is all leading up to a much bigger battle. You must understand that not all of the movie makes sense now, but will become more and more clear as the next two movies are made. But now on to the review. I think the movie was spectacular. I have been watching the trilogy over and over again for more than a decade now and when the Star Wars logo appeared and it read "Episode I - The Phantom Menace," I couldn't help but smile. Afterall, I had hoped for years that one day a new story would be added to the Star Wars name, not just a comic book or novel, but a movie.. and now It was finally there. I was a bit dissapointed in the overall plot of the movie, a bit boring.. but then again, A New Hope wasn't that exciting either. It can be said that most of the comedy was slap-stick.. and yes, something was missing without the antics of R2-D2 and C-3PO throughout the movie. As for Darth Maul, yes he only had a few lines.. maybe you didn't know this, but in the original screenplay he had lines throughout the entire final lightsaber scene.. mocking Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, but they were taken out to give the character a more mysterious feel. If you didn't like the fact Darth Maul had so few lines, think what it would have been like if he talked too much! Now, another thing.. that Queen Amidala was tough and she was high spirited, but she was a bit too proper and I was missing that Leia type of charcter with the cocky, witted attitude. Jar-Jar and the Gungans provided most of the slap stick type comedy and even though Jar-Jar was a bit of an annoying character, he was fresh and different. The Podrace scene was a CGI masterpiece and I loved all the qualities and personalities of the podracers as well as the way each podracer had different designs and engine sounds. But th
After my third time seeing this movie I've come to realize that if you leave out all the hype and and build up from the thousands of Star Wars fans, this movie really is just a "Disney" type, toddler fan pointed movie. I'm not even going to start about Jar Jar and his completely overblown screentime. Darth Maul's charecter was obviously hurt by his lack of lines and appearances. For a breif moment during the Gungan Battle scene I almost forgot that the movie real and not a cartoon. If I hadn't read the book before seeing this movie, my review would be worse than it is right now and I can't imagine how other people who didn't must feel. Basically I was dissapapointed and I will go into the next movie with my expectations as low as a Woody Harrison movie.
Well, first, my opinion, too much CGI. Needed for the pod race, and the Gungan/droid battle, but not for the space battle. I prefer stop-motion photography... (in StarTrek II the wrath of Khan... the Enterprise looked real.. now, the ships look computer generated)... They made an excellent choice for QuiGon, Liam Neeson has a stage presence, and he fit that role well. Ewan McGregor was a good choice because he resembled Alec Guiness somewhat, even in voice somewhat. QuiGon's death was a disappointment... I would have preferred him to go onto Ep.2 The midi-chlorian explanation was a logical one, a microscopic lifeform that enhances beings with telekinesis, and psychic powers. Those who are not force sensitive have mitochondria... like any other human being. We got to see how the Jedi function and what made the Jedi as they are. Qui-Gon's sabre color is also a good choice, considering that Luke Skywalker's sabre color is also green... having to do with the Unifying Force/ Living Force that was somewhat mentioned, since Qui-Gon fell out of favor with the council.. then again there was already one Human on the council. and Samual L. Jackson was so out of place there. Sidney Poitier would have made a better actor for that role... but he is old now. and the 3PO don't know where he is in EP4... I agree also, his memory was erased I bet.. I loved the movie and ordered the widescreen format. I'll watch it again and again.
Not exactly what I expected. I heard the reviews during school before I even went to see the movie that day. Everyone was hyped up and ready to see it opening day. There were people at the theaters dressed like Jedis and what-not. It was going to be big. I just knew. I came out of the theater a little disappointed. To tell you the truth I think that the idea of Jar Jar and the Gungans was the worst Idea ever to surface for Star Wars. It made the movie too much like a disney movie and not like your average LucasFilm production. The movie could definately use some cleaning up because some of those ships and action scenes like the pod-race and the space battle were just a little too fake because of the computer graphics. If they stuck to the old fashioned models on wires techniques then maybe it would look a little more real. This is because of the technilogical advances we've made over the years. We could probably have made it look real and possibly clean it up a bit with computer graphics to make a finished product. Also one really big thing bugged me. When they mention Leia's foster father's name, they say "Bail Antilles" but the guys name is actually "Bail Organa" hence the name Leia Organa. Either it's just a really big mess up or George Lucas has a pretty good explanation for it. But I can't just sit here and lay the smack down on this movie. It was an awesome movie all together and since I'm a really big star wars fan I went and saw it in theaters 4 times. Possibly the best part in the movie was the lightsaber fight. Ewan McGregor made an awesome Obi-Wan and the Pod-race was just really well done. That's my opinion.
I have seen the film 3 times and have only now formulated an opinion. I believe that TPM is a failure of a film. The film stood only to introduce the characters. This is fine for a TV mini series but for a feature motion picture you have to have a higher standard. Take for instance Episode IV, that was a complete film in itself!!! Lucas had to make a complete film and that is what he had accomplished. It disgusts me to see Episode I because of such bad story elements. It truly appears he used his old tried and true plotline of things. Liam Neeson dies. The only cool good jedi dies. Sound familiar? Yes! It copies Obi Ones death and the young fledgling is left to save the day. Obi One kills Darth Maul. Give me a break!!! It scares me as to what should I expect for the next 2 films. As a very serious film watcher I have seen outstanding films and terrible ones. I have to say, I have expected episode I for 16 years like every other die hard Star Wars fan. It was a tremendous let down and it IS Lucas' fault. You see, as a director, it is his responsibility to make a film worthy of the 5.75-10 dollars the movie goer has to pay to see the film in the theater. It is an insult to the watcher to have to sit and watch a bad film. It is an insult analagous to having the director standing in front of you as you watch the show and have the guy piss in your face!!! I hate it when that happens!!! Regardless, a film must have a self-inclusive plot and the Phantom Menace was just a expensive TV movie. The computer defects were terrible too! When you can sit and watch a show and tell it is computered. That is a failure and is a testament why more traditional methods like muppets and animatronic tech needs to be exploited still in this digitaled age of things. Computer graphics only should take a small portion of the effects used. As it is, s
We loved it! We couldn't stop talking about it! we also couldn't get over how cute anakin was! It put you on the edge of your seat making you more anixous for the next two.
The movie itself was cool. Jake Loyd's acting sucked. He had lame lines and did almost nothing exept the podrace and the space battle. The graphics were excellent. The lightsaber battles were grand. Lucas could have had more character development though. That is my opinion. I hope that you agree with me.
I wish everybody would stop complaining about Episode one. "I was disappointed" ... "I hate Jar Jar Binks" ... yada, yada, yada...it was a great first episode (hence the title) that introduces and sets the stage for the next five. relax people. it's just a movie.
Hey, one of the next two is the CLONE WARS!!!!!!! That can't POSSIBLY be anything but cool!!!!!!
This was a oarsome movie. Best of the trilogy. I mean we all know we'd love to smash open jar jar's head wit