Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Reviews and Ratings


  • ocsalevmot
    May 30, 2012
    ocsalevmot
    This, of course, should be the most disappointing movie of all time. We all waited fifteen years to see it. Some actually waited in line at the movie theater for an entire year, just to be among the first to catch Lucas' first new creation in a decade. How could that kind of anti... read morecipation, rooted in some of the most beloved memories of your childhood, possibly live up to expectations? And to have those expectations meet this film, borders on the tragic. From an objective standpoint, this movie is far and away the most disappointing move ever made, but I didn't put it at the top of my list for one curious reason: the first time I watched it, I loved it. I loved it so much, I immediately went back into the theater and watched it again (at 3 in the morning). I couldn't stop talking about it for a month. I watched it something like 9 times in the theater. What in the world was going on?! Why did I respond that way?! It is one of the great questions of my life that it took me so long to finally realize just how awful this movie was. I don't know...maybe I'll never know.
  • fb100000088630641
    May 25, 2012
    fb100000088630641
    Not as bad as everyone says it is, not on par with the originals at all, but I don't hate it.
  • GreenGobbie
    May 21, 2012
    GreenGobbie
    An OK film. I loved Star Wars. But this film had a lot of things that make you go "boring!"

    The plot was weird. The reason why it gets a high rating is because Liam's and Natalie's acting was very good.
  • sirjesterfreak
    May 15, 2012
    sirjesterfreak
    ....Meesa people gonna die? Yes, Jar-Jar, and I will kill them all with a wooden spoon engraved with George Lucas' portrait, because this movie blew squirell nuts.
  • lifeinrewind
    May 12, 2012
    lifeinrewind
    A lot of time went by between my last viewing of "Star Wars: Episode 1" on DVD and my latest viewing on Blu-Ray. In between, I've seen the Red Letter Media reviews of all 3 Star Wars prequels more times than I could count. And while I agree with a lot of the criticisms heaped on ... read morethis film (and the prequels as a whole), I have to defend it to a degree. I know "The Phantom Menace" gets the most disgust from fans because of how disappointing it was upon release, but I feel it's not as bad as people make it out to be. It's certainly not the worst Star Wars movie, and even with its major flaws it is still better than a lot of what passes for an epic blockbuster these days. Yes, there are lots of little plot holes, and they can be eye-rolling at times. Yes, Jar Jar is still annoying as hell. His character could have easily been made much more tolerable with a few of the most silly moments taken out. Yes, "yippee!" gets exclaimed 4 times too many by multiple characters. Don't even get me started on the damn midichlorian stuff. But if you can get passed the frustrating missteps, there are some genuinely cool moments to experience.

    The film is helped by a great score (as per usual) from John Williams, who gives us one of the best Star Wars themes in "Duel of the Fates." The best lightsaber fight of the entire saga (in my humble opinion) is also here, as the climactic clash with Obi-Wan and Darth Maul features a great balance of believable aggression and technical prowess. What it may lack in emotional context (something "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" did brilliantly) it makes up for in sheer excitement and spectacle. And unlike the later duels in the prequels, it doesn't go on too long or feature such over-choreographed movements that it doesn't seem like the characters are even trying to hit each other. In other good news, the podrace is successfully thrilling, especially in HD. There truly are many other memorable visuals over the course of the movie. Importantly, the fact that it was shot on film and made use of actual sets for many scenes makes it look more like a Star Wars movie than either of the other two prequels (which were shot on video and used CGI for just about everything). One thing I will complain about in regards to the Blu-Ray release is that it has obviously undergone DNR (digital noise reduction) to reduce the grain and film elements, probably to make it look more like the other two prequels. This unfortunately makes many distant shots look slightly blurry, and causes close ups of the actors to look unnaturally smooth, especially in comparison to the CGI characters. The special effects look fantastic, so it's a shame that everything doesn't appear as sharp.

    Another side note: As with all the prequels, far too many moments are simply rehashes (oh, I'm sorry, "homages") of well known cues from the original movies. It's these kinds of moments that ensure that if all 6 Star Wars movies must be viewed, one should certainly see them in the order they were made, NOT chronologically. There's simply too much that is ruined or won't make sense in the prequels because they assume the viewer has already seen 4-6.

    While the effects are still impressive for the most part, the main problem with Episode One is certainly the script. The dialog is passable but, other than a few good lines, unmemorable. The story is mediocre, and could have easily been edited into something of more importance and coherence. But while "The Phantom Menace" is absolutely not a great film, once one gets passed the hype and disappointment, it becomes enjoyable enough. It may not live up to the standard of the original trilogy, but it is at least entertaining.
  • philipking1
    May 12, 2012
    philipking1
    After too long a wait this was a fantastic addition to the SW family.
  • stankenk
    May 10, 2012
    stankenk
    The movie was ok and the 3D sucked!
  • ZeldaFreak603
    May 9, 2012
    ZeldaFreak603
    I started watching the original Star Wars trilogy when I was 3, and I loved it ever since. Several years later, when I was 9, I saw this film in theaters for the first time. To those who say that this film lacks the magic of the originals, I say this: when I was a child, Episode ... read more1 captured my imagination and enthralled me as much as the originals ever did. I was amazed and captivated by the podraces, Darth Maul, those freakin-awesome Destroyer Droids, and even the Gungans. The plot of this film may not be as tight as some of the others in the series, but there is so much world and creativity packed into this film...so many new species and concepts are introduced in only 2 hours that it's impossible for me not to admire George Lucas' imagination. Bottom line: I feel like a kid when I watch this, just as much as I do with the original trilogy. And though I'm in the minority, I will defend this movie until the day I die.
  • brunolot1
    May 6, 2012
    brunolot1
    After many years without a Star Wars movie been released, this one made the fans a little bit disappointed. It had no romance, no humor, not too much action. This one misses a character like the one played by Harrison Ford in the last ones.
  • elstew9
    May 3, 2012
    elstew9
    Eh ... Just not sure I ever believed that little kid could be Darth Vader. Oh ... and now I remember why: it's called "character development", Mr. Lucas. Stop playing with your cool computer graphics and write a good story; that's what makes a great movie.
  • maetthu
    May 1, 2012
    maetthu
    oh my... fail on an interplanetary scale

Summary

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Summary