Advantages: It's still Star Wars... Disadvantages: Pretty much the weakest of both trilogies...
...what seemed like forever... MORE STAR WARS!!! The problem is that when it arrived, the anticipation of the original trilogy had given us too much to hope for.
For some, The Phantom Menace was more of the escapism magic that Lucas had conjured up for us in our younger years... and for others it was a vast, vast disappointment. I personally liked it though it certainly wasn't on par as a whole as the other three films that had preceded it... but then... ... ...the right ways for a Star Wars film. There is still more than enough in this installment to make us feel comfortable and familiar in a galaxy that we already know:
-------------------------
Disc 1:
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
The Plot:
There are certainly lots of familiar faces and names in this film to remind us we are still in Lucas's domain... and it's pretty interesting to find out a little more of some character's origins.
Of course, ...
ultrafrosty 02.09.2006 (03.09.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: It's Star Wars! Disadvantages: Jar Jar Bin, some overly long scenes, some FX
...In 1999, twenty years after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was first released at the cinema amidst a wave of fanatical behaviour, followed by episodes V and VI, George Lucas' considerable enterprise starts off the prequel trilogy with Episode I: A Phantom Menace. The film was eagerly anticipated for so long, with die hard Star Wars fans queuing, sometimes for days, to be one of the first to get a glimpse of the new film. This was to set the scene ... ...of them, would tell a chronological tale. Phantom Menace was met with much excitement, and raving reviews. It also met with criticism, and there was disappointment amidst all the eagerness.
The Plot
A dispute between the Trade Federation and the Galactic Republic has led to a blockade on the planet Naboo. Two Jedi, Master Qui-Gon Jin and his fully trained apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, are attempting to resolve the dispute with Viceroy Nate Gunroy ...
pmcds 26.03.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: Stunning presentaion, quality extras - and plenty of them, DVD identical the world over. Disadvantages: Frickin' Jar Jar!
...big one, this is a Star Wars movie.
Maybe not THE Star Wars movie, and certainly not the BEST Star Wars movie, but a Star Wars movie nonetheless, and arguably the most anticipated movie of all time.
Whether the film actually lived up to its enormous expectations is, of course, another matter, and for many the answer to that would be a resounding 'no', but I'm not here to discuss the artistic merits of the movie - that has been done already (and ... ...in Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, Star Wars - Episode 1 will give you an audio adventure like no other movie. Even the benchmark standards set by previous discs such as The Matrix and Terminator 2, pale in comparison to what is on offer here. All of the sequences that you would expect to sound good, do, with obvious highlights being the space battles, the much-touted pod-race and the astonishing three-way lightsabre battle at the end, but even during Phantom's ...
Howiemon 19.10.2001 (12.12.2002)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: Some very good scenes, as a standalone film it's pretty good Disadvantages: Some bad decisions made in the build up to this, overhyped and up against the best sci-fi films ever.
...a great fan of the Star Wars saga I, like most others, was eagerly awaiting the new film.
I’ll step back first to give you the idea (if you were on mars for the last 5 years.) The Phantom Menace is the (poorly titled) prequel to the original Star Wars Trilogy (now when the first film says Episode IV we all get it.) Set some 30 years before Han Solo, Chewie and the rest got mixed up with Darth Vader, this film focuses on Vader as a young boy, ... ...Some 30 years before Star Wars, the trade federation takes control of the planet Naboo by force, the chancellor of the republic sends 2 Jedi Knights to negotiate a treaty. However they will discover a more sinister force at work, and a young boy who could change the future of the galaxy.
Reasonably standard sci-fi stuff with the Star Wars logo emblazoned on it. The action moves swiftly around the galaxy, from Naboo to the Republic’s home planet ...
Nameless 27.07.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: the name 'Star Wars', great actors, music Disadvantages: it's not as good as it could be!
...30 years before the old Star Wars
movies.
The old republic is weakened. The commercial federation besieges the weak planet Naboo. Unfortunately the senate cannot undertake anything against it. As last way out it transmits the Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and its
young apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to the commercial federation, in order to
hold peace conversations.
But one tries to kill them, but they can flee and land on Naboo. There the commercial ... ...Now, many people, particularly Star Wars Fan, think that Episode 1 is really bad!
I follow this opinion only reduced. Episode 1 isn't that bad! No, the film is even really good! But as a Star Wars film it is rather bad only.
Which is probably because of the fact that the three original movies put
the measuring pole condemned highly!
The problem of this film is, that one notices too often that the film tries to come forceful on the level of the ...
VulcanRaven 11.10.2001 (29.11.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: Good Disc and despite it all it IS star wars Disadvantages: Three words...JAR JAR BINKS
...bad (at least on a Star Wars level) but thankfully it only seemed to strengthen my admiration and love of the original three….
I suppose that’s something good to come out of it!
The film begins with the Trade Federation setting up a blockade against the planet of Naboo. Don’t ask me why this is, either it isn’t explained very well or I just didn’t care to pay much attention.
Two Jedi – Qui Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) ... ...good stuff is the true Star Wars stuff.
What’s wrong with it?
Everything else!!!!! Annakin Skywalker, as we all know, is destined to become Darth Vader. He is portrayed as the most sweet and innocent child in the world. Ok fine but surly Darth Vader, even at this age should have some sort of dark cloud over him? It’s too sickly for words as he runs around shouting ‘Yippeeee’ and everyone calls him ‘Annie’….Ugh! ...
Staggly 24.10.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
...as much of surprise when Star Wars appears in those Top Films of All Time lists that all too frequently get released. Yes the original trilogy are amazing films (and The Empire Strikes Back is my joint personal top film of all time) and we've all been witness to the excitement generated when George Lucas announced the filming of the first three films in his 9 film epic. Star Wars is coming back. We'll all be able to relive those childhood moments ... ...is very much in the Star Wars tradition and underneath all of the hyperdrive and lightsaber technology, it's a simple tale. Yes there are darker overtones and plot seeds that are obviously being planted so that they can be exploited later, but this is nothing complex. In fact it's very much the same story as Star Wars itself: Young boy/man 'rescued' by a Jedi, something/one being oppressed, good versus evil, a royal Princess (or Queen in this case), ...
TheNeil 17.10.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastical CGI, keeps the Star Wars spirit and magic intact, the plain and simple joy of having a fresh adventure to enjoy after all these years Disadvantages: Non-believers will find nothing here to alter their view, and it could have been a little less episodic and kiddie-oriented at times.
...it comes across on paper, Star Wars - any Episode, be it 1 or 6 - has to be seen to be appreciated. Even reviewing them is rather pointless, but then where would that leave me?
Thirty years prior to the events catalogued in Episodes IV, V and VI - with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker et al - we find some familiar names in vaguely familar surroundings. A youthful Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor with an odd delivery that could be excused as an approximation ... ...Tattoine (scene of the first Star Wars Film). Sensing something afoot within the Force, Qui-Gon Jinn encounters a precocious and wide-eyed young boy. His name is Annakin Skywalker......later to become Darth Vader. Fate is about to be set in motion, although how such an innocent soul could ever mutate into the most deadly and dark of all Sith Lords only time (and Epiodes 2 and 3, of course) will tell.
"Every Saga has a beginning"...the accompanying ...
EnglishPatient 10.02.2001 (20.02.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
...first episode of the epic Star Wars history. Star Wars, The Empire Stikes Back and Return Of The Jedi now all seem very long ago, and they were oddly episodes 4, 5 and 6 of the history. The Phantom Menace is where the whole story actually begins and kicks off with the young Obi Won Kenobi (played by Ewan McGegor) and Qui-Gon Jin (Liam Neeson), two Jedi knights entering a star ship. The forces of the Empire are keen on destroying them and an odd looking ... ...The computer trickery used in generating the soldiers is pretty damn neat and is only one small example of some of the marvellous camera and computer tricks employed in the making of this blockbuster epic.
The replacement for Princess Leia is a somewhat more sombre character and goes in for a very Japanese appearance, with deathly white face, very reminiscent also of Elizabeth I. Another new character is the EXTREMELY IRRITATING Jah Jah Binks, a ...
dave27 08.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
...AWAY NOW! The Star Wars phenomenon of the late 1970's was awe inspiring in its depth and range - it touched an entire generation in a very special way and even prompted those poor unfortunates who had revered Star Trek to consider trying to register the Jedi as an official religion in the census of 2001 - only time will tell whether their goal was achieved. But no time whatsoever is needed to assess the revival of the Star Wars craze, because 1999 ... ...films in the SW history, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and The Revenge Of The Jedi, were actually episodes 4, 5 and 6 in what was intended to be an epic history. In 1999, as well as revised versions of the first three films, Lucas released the prequel, Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the first part of the history. There was an absolute deluge of pre-release publicity designed to whet the appetite of an expectant army of fans and most of it surrounded ...
dave27 23.03.2001 (07.10.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: It's Star Wars, filling in the history of the Skywalkers Disadvantages: Over hyped, couldn't hope to compare with originals
...to reserve judgement. Even hardcore Star Wars fans seemed to be knocking it in one way or another.
First a little bit of personal history. When Star Wars was released I was 7 years old and the cinema in Doncaster where I was going to see it ran a special offer for kids (it was the school holidays) so I ended up seeing this film 10 times in 10 days. It hooked me from the opening bars of the now famous theme music. I was spellbound. Droids, spaceships, ... ...and I became a true Star Wars fan, reading every book I could lay my hands on, even now.
Therefore, The Phantom Menace could never really disppoint me, but then I was going in with my eyes open. I already knew the general storyline for Episode One (and the next two), because I have seen the original three. I knew I would be meeting a young Obi-Wan, see the development of Darth Vader and the rising of Emperor Palpatine. It was the handling of the ...
cjkace 07.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
...outcome.
The first three Star Wars films (or last three, if you believe George Lucas' bizarre Episode numbering system and arrangement of prequels), dating back to the late 1970's, were a really enjoyable case of masterpieces out of their time, harking back to a prior time when such wonderful and corny adventure films were the staple diet of kids and big kids everywhere.
They were so stunning and exciting and very, very different at the time, but ... ...really Star Wars was never quite as excellent as we seemed to remember. The long awaited Episode I then wasn't really bad by comparison, it was just that it had that gloriously cock eyed memory to live up to, and could never quite manage it.
So judge it not too harshly, folks, for Episode I is a pretty enjoyable film, even if it does suffer a couple of pretty painful wounds - a cutesy pie, precocious child actor, a bland and frankly silly animated ...
thehud 04.11.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: I bought it on video, so I can fast forward Disadvantages: I bought it on video, so I wasted $16.95.
I am a huge Star Wars fan. When I saw Episode IV as a young girl, I admired Princess Leia and drooled over Luke Skywalker. The music stirred my spirits, the pace kept me riveted, the chemistry between the characters made me want to step in and take part in the rebellion. What happened to that human spirit in Episode I? There is no banter, no communal humor. Nobody has a crush on anybody; nobody seems torn by duty and family. They are all acting as ... ...to be moved by a Star Wars installment. One can go on and on easily criticizing major chunks of this poorly written screenplay. The only good portions of the whole movie were Darth Maul and the Pod Race. Ray Park's Darth Maul barely spoke, but his presence was strong. Even through all his make-up, he had a sinister look that spoke volumes. There was no doubt he was wrapped up in his job. Neeson and MacGregor seemed simply to be punching in, slinging ...
wivabef 28.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: It's Star Wars! Disadvantages: slightly weaker plot
Star Wars is one of the most popular films ever. It is renowned for its special effects way beyond its time, excellent story line, well acted characters, and the whole atmosphere it creates. Now some may call it strange, but George Lucas conceived 9 Star Wars Episodes, but he wrote episodes four, five and six first - known to us as Star Wars, the Empire strikes back and Return of the Jedi.
Oh, the first thing you need to know about this film is ... ...story begins in the classic Star Wars fashion, with the text fading off into space. The greedy Trade Federation, following the taxation of trade routes to remote planets, has created a blockade of deadly battleships, stopping all trade to the small Planet of Nabboo. In an attempt to resolve the matter, the Galactic Senate sends two Jedi, posing as ambassadors, to the Trade Federation's blockade.
The film begins with the Jedi being found out by the ...
Danbuckley5 20.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Advantages: Not enought space to tell you, great film Disadvantages: dated now i guess, old storyline but thats it
...walking carpet (Chewie!!!! YAY!!).
Star Wars WOW-ed me from the first moment he corilian covette (Leias ship) flew out over the camara, then when the star destroyer flew out i was ... i have know idea how to describe it, i was 4 years old and had never before in my life seen anything like it, its just one of those things that will stay with you for life.
I was hooked on this as soon as it started and have been ever since, it was defently Georgey ... ...If you have never seen Star Wars, i pity you, go to the video shop now, go on, what are you waiting for? you still here GO!!!! Oh you want to know what it is about then?
The film is set in a galaxy far far away, a long time ago, it is a space based movie (with name like start wars you were expexting what?) Mark Hamil plays Luke Skywalker (our young hero), a young aolecent, he lives with his aunt and uncle on a mostiure farm on a desert planet named ...
stew_b 01.05.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Star Wars - Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (DVD)
Begin your STAR WARS collection with STAR WARS : Episode 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE. Packed with ... more
over six hours of additional material, including exclusive documentaries and never-before-seen deleted scenes, this 2-disc set provides the perfect showcase for ...
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
|
