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Amazon.co.uk Review
"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event ... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: sure, this is Star Wars, but it is my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breathing Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film-the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park. Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim) and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over sceptics. Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson
Product Description
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace [DVD] [1999]
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I had second thoughts about this film while watching it with my children. The flaws are obvious: Jar Jar Binks and lack of menace with the exception of Darth Maul.
However, for younger children the weaknesses are actually a plus. The CGI characters which annoy adults are pleasing to the under 10s so I would rate the film in the following way:
As a film for children: 4-5 stars
As a film for adults: 3 stars
However, for younger children the weaknesses are actually a plus. The CGI characters which annoy adults are pleasing to the under 10s so I would rate the film in the following way:
As a film for children: 4-5 stars
As a film for adults: 3 stars
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have to say that Episode I was slightly disappointing...but only slightly. The special effects are amazing, the battle outside Naboo being one of the best, and the lightsaber fight between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul is, put simply, AMAZING.
Most people I've spoken to find Jar Jar extremely irritating. I can never understand why: he adds a comic aspect that, given the slightly bad plot, is very welcome. He does get a bit annoying at times, but he's still very funny to watch.
Only one major gripe: THEY CUT SOME OF THE BEST BITS OUT!
When you watch some of the deleted scenes, and read the novel, you'll see what I mean.
The music, as usual, is unfaultable. "Duel of The Fates" has to be one of the best pieces of music in the film.
As for the plot...well, it fades in places that it shouldn't. For example, in the fights involving the Naboo and the Battle Droids...well, they don't really seem that worried about being shot at, especially not Padme Amidala, which is slightly worrying.
Nevertheless, Episode I is a worthy beginning for the Star Wars saga, and well worth viewing.
22 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a shame that after such a long wait, George Lucas failed to deliver. It's not that this is a bad film, just that it doesn't live up to the hype and expectation of 20 or so years.
Lucas evidently decided to try and win over a whole new generation of fans, hence the over the top use of CGI, the two dimensional, undeveloped characters and the annoying presence of Jar Jar Binks. Perhaps this has suceeded in winning over new fans, but I suspect he has alienated plenty of his older fans, and will really have to pull something out of the bag in the next two films to make it up to them.
The story itself is really incidental. The point of this film is to set the scene and introduce the key players. Liam Neeson is reasonable and Ewan McGregor pretty wooden as the two jedi. Plus points are the brooding menace of Palpatine and the superb acrobatic skills of Darth Maul.
Worth a view if you are one of the 5 people yet to see this film in the world, but don't expect too much if you enjoyed the first three editions.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Possibly the worst example of film making ever.
A complete travesty of a film on every level and any way you look at it. It is a complete sell out and make no sense at all on any level of film making; it was aimed at under fives... Read more
Published 1 month ago by The Truth
Phantom Pants
It's a movie of hollow, empty acting. It's a movie of idiotic religious leanings. It's a movie of missed opportunites and wasted set pieces... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Josh
At least half an hour too long and far too " Stop, Start". 2.5 Stars.
OK, let's get one thing straight. This is by no means the worst film i've ever seen, but it's by far the worst film of the six Star Wars films. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tommo 18/7 ©
High Midichlorians, Low Intelligence
WARNING!! Review May contain spoilers...
(If you have never watched a Star Wars film before, and are just randomly thinking of buying one, start with Episode IV: A New... Read more
(If you have never watched a Star Wars film before, and are just randomly thinking of buying one, start with Episode IV: A New... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dehumanizer
Star Wars: Episode 1
The 'Prequel' to the best Sci-Fi series ever.
It never quite matches the originality of the the first 3 films, but is still a good watch.
It never quite matches the originality of the the first 3 films, but is still a good watch.
Published 13 months ago by Mr. M. J. Beacham Lt
The best of the prequel, but...
I loved this film when it first came out. I think I was 6 when I first saw it at a cinema; looking back, after recently seeing it on TV, I concluded there was only one reason I... Read more
Published 14 months ago by JamesN
The force is weak
The weakest of all the Star Wars movies.
I didn't feel at home watching this until R2-D2 made an appearance.
It's a little Disney somehow. Read more
I didn't feel at home watching this until R2-D2 made an appearance.
It's a little Disney somehow. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dave
Greed can be a very powerful ally
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is written, produced and directed by George Lucas and stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and Ian McDiarmid. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Spike Owen
A triumph of technology over storytelling
As a man born in the mid seventies I grew up on Star Wars and, even though I recognise the original trilogy has its flaws, I'm of a generation for which it is totally iconic. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Phil Hattie
pitiful
This was one of the rare few films from which I've walked out of the cinema before the end.
It stinks.
The worst thing is the obvious: Jar Jar Binks. Read more
It stinks.
The worst thing is the obvious: Jar Jar Binks. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Hambletta-Maud
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