Read Mixed User Reviews for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

5

DaG4mEJun 1, 2023

The Duel of the Fates is the only reason this is not lower. The story is ok at times.

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4

JesseDillingerMay 4, 2023

It's just so lifeless and boring. The plot is overly confusing and Jar Jar is the most realistic character. HOW. Qui Gon isn't too bad, but he's still meh. I don't hate the movie, but it's very very weak and not even remotely entertaining

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5

Fixer84Mar 15, 2023

Basically a film that is almost useless. If most fans consider it non-canon there will be a reason. And the reason is that to watch it or not to watch it, practically nothing of the Star Wars saga is lost.

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5

M7AMDDec 13, 2022

I always avoided anything related to Star Wars since i didnt understand it, so i decided to give it a chance and after some quick search they recommended this is the first movie to watch in order, i will be honest im quite disappointed iI always avoided anything related to Star Wars since i didnt understand it, so i decided to give it a chance and after some quick search they recommended this is the first movie to watch in order, i will be honest im quite disappointed i expected something much better than this considering all the hype people have for the Star Wars movies, these some nice visuals when you compare it to movies at that time but what i found this movie lacking is a good and strong story to keep you interested. another thing to mention is the movie is a little bit long for this story i was forcing myself to keep watching after maybe 1 hour into it, they should have ended it early and not dragged it for 2 hours!

i might give Star Wars another try but that was a bad start for me.… Expand

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5

FionanMurphyAug 14, 2022

This is a bad movie, but its not as terrible as its successor
it is boring though and the only time i watch it is whehn I am showing a friend star wars for the first time

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6

tellmikeyyJun 20, 2022

This movie isn't bad in the slightest and the hate for certain characters, although understandable, isn't warranted. Re-watching this movie for the first time in years, the CGI isn't as bas as I remember and the action sequences are stillThis movie isn't bad in the slightest and the hate for certain characters, although understandable, isn't warranted. Re-watching this movie for the first time in years, the CGI isn't as bas as I remember and the action sequences are still pretty good. I have to admit, although the movie has direction, the middle of the movie is definitely slow and there are moments you can't help but want to change. The beginning and final act are the best parts of the movie and Qui-Gon & Darth Maul carry this film.… Expand

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5

All_ButTrU4May 9, 2022

An uneven stiff start to a lauded franchise I'm only watching to satisfy my curiosity on the dedication it's amassed. I'm rarely ever affected by the anachronism of movies in terms of production, effects and scriptwriting but on this classicAn uneven stiff start to a lauded franchise I'm only watching to satisfy my curiosity on the dedication it's amassed. I'm rarely ever affected by the anachronism of movies in terms of production, effects and scriptwriting but on this classic it alienates investment . Anakin I a void of character whilst Jar jar is an eyesore. The dialogue was a trudge alongside the pacing which seems to relish not getting to the point.… Expand

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5

XathiahsFeb 11, 2022

The most boring SW movie. Poor characters and slow plot developing. The lightsaber battles and the depiction of a young Anakin are the only interesting things.

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5

JJ2FAS4UDec 30, 2021

----------------------------------4.8/10-----------------------------------

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6

TheSikvelSep 28, 2021

Although I don't like the Star Wars setting, the movie is good enough. Pretty cute movie suitable for viewers of all ages (mostly children and adolescents)

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6

Roguejedi92Sep 22, 2021

Menace is not without its merits but does come out of Lucas’ misguided view what makes Star Wars great. Lucas’ vision for Vader’s background unfortunately begins with what feels like more filler than necessary story and character development.Menace is not without its merits but does come out of Lucas’ misguided view what makes Star Wars great. Lucas’ vision for Vader’s background unfortunately begins with what feels like more filler than necessary story and character development. While TPM has a pretty straight forward plot, but it gets bogged down in stilted dialogue and some odd inclusions such as the goofy - and often loathed- Jar Jar Binks. Menace makes up for some of its lackluster writing and robot like dialogue, with spectacular and impressive visuals, , including but not limited to, lightsaber battle with Darth Maul and the Jedi as well as the exciting podracing sequence. Liam Nesson’s Qui Gon Jinn is perhaps the most charismatic out of the cast and Ewan as Obi, while competent here, was a good choice because he really gets to shine in subsequent films. However Ewan is not really given much to here but wait on a ship. The Phantom Menace isn’t without its exciting moments and stellar visuals, but too much of it is bogged down with a less than stellar story and some robotic performances.… Expand

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6

PooheadAug 27, 2021

Not as bad as I remember jar jar Binks honestly isn't that annoying still quite boring in parts and some shoddy dialogue yoosa in big doo doo

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6

ChristmasLoverAug 4, 2021

It’s pretty good I know that everyone hates this movie cause of Jar Jar but in my opinion I like him the movie is slow but it’s still pretty good

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6

Geek_In_RedJun 8, 2020

I didn't hate this movie. I didn't enjoy the movie, but I don't dislike it. This is my second time recording my thoughts about this movie, but my reactions are way different this time. The difference this time is that the movie has myI didn't hate this movie. I didn't enjoy the movie, but I don't dislike it. This is my second time recording my thoughts about this movie, but my reactions are way different this time. The difference this time is that the movie has my respect. I bashed this movie once, calling it the worst movie ever made. This time, I respect the movie because I realize that it's George Lucas' pure vision. This movie has pretty good fights, the soundtrack is amazing, and the special effects were amazing for their time. My only real problem with this movie is the passing issues.… Expand

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6

pur__0_0__Jun 24, 2021

As a kid I hated Star Wars because of the prequels, since I liked the battle droids and I didn't like seeing the Jedis kill them (I was such a child back then). I had no idea what the movies were all about so two years ago I decided to sitAs a kid I hated Star Wars because of the prequels, since I liked the battle droids and I didn't like seeing the Jedis kill them (I was such a child back then). I had no idea what the movies were all about so two years ago I decided to sit down and watch every single Star Wars movie just before the release of Episode IX. Until now I used to always think that Star Wars are all about fighting with lightsabers, shooting blasters and something something Luke I'm your father. But now that I have watched them all and learnt everything, I can finally review them. So here goes the first one.

I really like the idea behind the prequels: George Lucas wanted us to see how an innocent boy named Anakin slowly turned into Darth Vader. This is the first movie where he is introduced as a young boy, who has to work for a pingas-nosed fly whom his family owed money. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn get him freedom so that they can be Jedis. I have already forgotten why they decided to do so, because that scene has a very boring aura to it. Just remembering that scene makes me feel sleepy.

But what follows next is the very thing that took away all my sleep - The fabled Pod Racing! It was so cool to watch. Out of the 6 stars that I have given this movie, 3 alone are for the pod racing. I really wish there were some even more fun scenes throughout the movie. Sadly what we got was Jar-Jar Binks. I don't know about you but I absolutely hate seeing those annoying humanoid characters who always speak in weird manners and do random things in fight scenes (Gollum, Dobby, Gimli, Hound from Transformers etc).

So anyway, Anakin is brought to Padmé, who decides to keep him like a child (I'm gonna control my laughter since I wanna keep this review spoiler free). But the Jedi council refuses to keep Anakin since he has grown too old to be trained as a Jedi. I strongly object to this. Luke was trained as a Jedi when he was like what, in his late twenties? So where's the problem here? And it's not even like the technology developed by then so now more people could be trained. Everything is still literally the same, if not worse in future. So in all fairness Anakin should have always been allowed to be a Jedi.

The movie has many memorable characters like Mace Windu, Darth Maul, young Yoda, young Palpatine and Gunray. We also get to see the origins of C3PO, which was definitely unexpected. The movie adds a lot to the lore of Star Wars, but there is barely any world building in comparison to what the original trilogy did. Another problem is that it's very boring and campy. At least the boredom was addressed in the future movies, but by then the damage was done. The campiness stayed, however. The CGI is also very bad, with shadows and lighting reacting all wrong.

Star Wars: Episode I is one of those movies I'd put in the same categories as Batman v Superman. The first time you watch it you hate it. The second time you watch it, it gets better. But I just can't get myself to watch it the second time, remembering the Tatooine scene and Jar-Jar Binks. Although I don't think this movie is outright trash like how many haters call it, it's definitely far from being a "definitely not the worst Star Wars" movie. I really hope in future Disney remasters this movie's CGI and brings it back without any other edit from its side. This could definitely make this movie a bit better.… Expand

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5

MetaMetaXYMay 11, 2021

I don't think, it's a great film, but it's okay. Theres to much politics and to less Star Wars, but overall not the badest.

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5

Star_Wars_FanApr 28, 2021

The Phantom Menace could have been a decent movie, if it weren’t for issues such as annoying characters, awful dialogue, and *sigh*, a focus on politics.

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6

MaddoxWhiteApr 25, 2021

This is just so slow, and doesn't even have that many ironically funny moments, unlike the 3rd movie. Darth Maul scene is obviously good tho.

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5

BobbyAxelrodFeb 2, 2021

In the first half of the movie you are essentially watching a children's Star Wars movie. It was incredibly slow paced and the negatives outweighed the positives. The movie tried to be funny at various points but just came across as flat. TheIn the first half of the movie you are essentially watching a children's Star Wars movie. It was incredibly slow paced and the negatives outweighed the positives. The movie tried to be funny at various points but just came across as flat. The second half of the movie was much better but still nothing to celebrate. I have mixed thoughts on this movie.… Expand

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4

Jeebus117Jan 25, 2021

Darth Maul and Liam Neeson can't save this movie. The massive shift in tone, as well as the over-animated visuals are just some of the issues. Anakin and Jar Jar are the worst, though.

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5

Nick-ChierJan 21, 2021

The story is bloated, leaving the dialogue to be used as an explanation device then as dialogue, some actors are good, some are bad, the bad ones distract and take me out of the experience. The effects are outstanding at some points, butThe story is bloated, leaving the dialogue to be used as an explanation device then as dialogue, some actors are good, some are bad, the bad ones distract and take me out of the experience. The effects are outstanding at some points, but Lucas took big swings and he missed a few that really throw off the movie. The only emotional connection I found myself having with the movie was with the relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The rest is soured by subpar acting and even more subpar dialogue and pacing.… Expand

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6

geewahJan 8, 2021

The worst of all the Star Wars movies to date.
Was always going to be tough ask, but some wooden dialogue, bad acting and the overuse of CGI takes away from a movie that does have some great scenes.

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6

keonbreezDec 16, 2020

Not as bad as I remember it.

Pros:
Podrace scene
Multiple Final action sequences
Opening scene

Cons:
Young anakin
jar jar
bad cgi

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6

SirSplendidSep 13, 2020

not as bad as people say it is, jar jar is terrible and so is lil ani. the podrace and the politics scenes are boring but hey, it's not that bad, it's enjoyable with an okay plot and characters.

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6

Morze232Sep 12, 2020

Although the beginning of this excellent series was not a good movie, it would be better if Darth Maoul who started this beautiful series did not die.

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4

FLaaVEnAug 11, 2020

A pretty boring start for the prequels but the last act really holds the movie up.

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5

TEMP0May 30, 2020

I feel ashamed to say that Phantom Menace is the start of the Skywalker Saga when it's filled with George Lucas' brain farts after the Originals.

Are kids supposed to see a film about an intergalactic trade embargo?

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5

kiroaramaJun 29, 2020

Not the greatest star wars movie, the special effects have aged really poorly and when the majority of the movie are green screens and many characters (including some of the main characters) are CGI, there is a big disconnection between theNot the greatest star wars movie, the special effects have aged really poorly and when the majority of the movie are green screens and many characters (including some of the main characters) are CGI, there is a big disconnection between the viewer and the world their are trying to create.
The dialog is odd, almost nobody speaks like (normal) people.
Jar Jar is probably my biggest question mark in this film, I just don't understand his purpose.… Expand

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4

superbatMay 15, 2020

The Phantom Menace stands out as one of the most disappointing films of all time. The use of CGI is excessive. The story lacks the soul and conviction which made the original films great, due to wordy dialogue and bland characters. TheThe Phantom Menace stands out as one of the most disappointing films of all time. The use of CGI is excessive. The story lacks the soul and conviction which made the original films great, due to wordy dialogue and bland characters. The lengthy space race contributes little to the story. Jar Jar Binks, a comic relief character, drags the movie down and makes it nearly unwatchable. There was a lot of missed potential with this movie.… Expand

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4

MattBrady99May 4, 2020

"There's always a bigger fish."

May the 4th be with you folks.

Remember, even through this movie is extremely boring and disappointing, at least it's not your son.

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5

LoletinAlexisApr 8, 2020

The Phantom Menace, that great project wasted by the direction of a misguided George Lucas.
Less ego and more help, Georgy.

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6

patron11Apr 24, 2020

I have mixed feelings about this movie. It´s nice to see the young Anakin Skywalker being freed from his slavery and starting his first steps towards his Jedi-Path. On the other hand the movie was way too silly. Jar Jar Binks can be a funnyI have mixed feelings about this movie. It´s nice to see the young Anakin Skywalker being freed from his slavery and starting his first steps towards his Jedi-Path. On the other hand the movie was way too silly. Jar Jar Binks can be a funny character, but the huge part he has in this story was just incredibly bad placed. Overall I also thought that dialogues and the story itself were very dull and too obvious in many situations. There is also no real connection to any of the characters, they feel very boring and without a lively saga. Definitely one of the worse Star Wars movies.

6/10… Expand

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4

robertoiglesiasApr 23, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film could actually be good if it focused on just 4 things: Anakin and Obi Wan's relationship, Anakin and Padme's romance, Anakin's anger that would eventually lead him to the dark side thanks to Palpatine, and the Clone Wars.

But this film focuses on none of that! Anakin is too young and has more of a friendship with Qui-Gon than Obi-Wan (Obi-Wan barely does anything in this film). Anakin is way too young to be dating Padme. He also doesn't get that much screen time and is a side character. And there's no Clone Wars.

What we get instead is goddamn political talks that go on for way too long and serve no purpose to the story, Jar Jar making me lose my brain cells, as well as pointless moments. This film should've had the story of Attack of the Clones, and Episode 2 could be the Clone Wars!
Lucas really lost his touch with this one. 4/10, just because the sequel trilogy wasn't that good, doesn't mean these first 2 prequels are now good.… Expand

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4

jjarockiMar 24, 2020

There are times where one forgets the things that work in Phantom Menace, simply because we accept them as Star Wars. The production design here is amazing, with some real creativity. John Williams' score shines with some of his best work.There are times where one forgets the things that work in Phantom Menace, simply because we accept them as Star Wars. The production design here is amazing, with some real creativity. John Williams' score shines with some of his best work. However, this is boggled down by some awkward dialogue, mediocre cinematography, and a real lack of direction throughout the whole thing. The actors here are better than this, they just aren't allowed to show it… Expand

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6

Grizzlyfolk818Feb 8, 2020

This isn’t exactly a great Star Wars movie but I’ll admit I did think the humor this movie had in it was pretty funny not to mention a certain gungan everyone hates but me. I feel like lots of people are mean to this movie and i thought theThis isn’t exactly a great Star Wars movie but I’ll admit I did think the humor this movie had in it was pretty funny not to mention a certain gungan everyone hates but me. I feel like lots of people are mean to this movie and i thought the Darth Maul vs Qui Gon and Obi wan scene at the end was great. I feel it’s just too bad this movie is underrated.… Expand

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4

Kai82Feb 2, 2020

Honestly nothing in Episode 1 is really important to the trilogy. You can skip this movie and it would actually improve your experience. I am pointing at Jar-Jar and midichlorians (mainly). For details you can read the very good articleHonestly nothing in Episode 1 is really important to the trilogy. You can skip this movie and it would actually improve your experience. I am pointing at Jar-Jar and midichlorians (mainly). For details you can read the very good article “Absolutely no Machete Juggling” by Rod Hilton. He suggests that to get most out of the movies and to avoid spoilers you should watch the movies in the order 4, 5, 2, 3 and 6. His arguments are rock solid and he asked the question: Name something that happen in Episode 1 that enhance the other movies and can not be told in a single dialogue instead? For the movie itself it is underwhelming. The original trilogy was a team effort. George Lucas was not influential and rich enough to do everything as he wanted. He asked for help, listen for advice and made a lot of changes that improved the original movies (There are lots of articles you can read on this topic). For the prequels he had free reign for everything. No person is good at everything. I wont criticizes him for staying true to his vision. I will admit he has not enough talent at writing dialogues. There are many scenes in the prequels that are impressive / working without the dialogue or better said get drag down with it. This all might sound too negative. I really like many things in the movie. The score by John Williams is as always totally awesome. He is a legend. Then I like the new characters Darth Maul (Ray Parks), Qui Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Ian Mc Diarmid is a fantastical Palpatine. You can see the glimpse of what will come. Also the choreography of the battles is much better. I was stunned how bad the battles of the original trilogy look in comparison. Not kidding. Just rewatch them (It must be a case of nostalgia that improves the memory). Overall while not a failure it was underwhelming and can be forgotten.… Expand

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5

eva3si0nJan 30, 2020

The problem with The Phantom Menace is that many start to get to know Star Wars with it, which can deter the film series. The film itself is quite mediocre, there are few strong characters here and the film 's performance is not so activelyThe problem with The Phantom Menace is that many start to get to know Star Wars with it, which can deter the film series. The film itself is quite mediocre, there are few strong characters here and the film 's performance is not so actively developing to in the main trilogy. Strictly for fans.… Expand

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6

BorgorosJan 11, 2020

So much could have been done better, but the story holds together. Awesome scenes and characters helps also. Minus Jar Jar and too much dreary politics. Darth Maul vs Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon, pod-race, space-battles and the over all story is a great combo.

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4

TirecexDec 29, 2019

I did a rewatch of this movie some days ago and it is still as bad as it was 10 years ago the last time I saw it. At times at feels more like a comedy then like the Space opera as it is supposed to be. It is a Star Wars movie made for 7 yearI did a rewatch of this movie some days ago and it is still as bad as it was 10 years ago the last time I saw it. At times at feels more like a comedy then like the Space opera as it is supposed to be. It is a Star Wars movie made for 7 year old children.

Jar Jar Binks is easily one of the most unnecessary characters in movie history. Everything he does is talk funny and slip on things. The same goes for Anakin Skywalker. "Hey whats this funny button -> Destroys space station and saves everyone"

At least the fight between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in the end is good. And it is still better then The Last Jedi and The Fall of Skywalker.… Expand

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6

KazRockatanzkyDec 19, 2019

Nice little movie with some really weird decisions, the best about the phantom menace may be the approach at world building expanding the already known far far away galaxy, has excellent soundtrack pieces and a nice pace.
the two big flawsNice little movie with some really weird decisions, the best about the phantom menace may be the approach at world building expanding the already known far far away galaxy, has excellent soundtrack pieces and a nice pace.
the two big flaws that drag this movie down are the really bad dialogue writing and the too much coincidences through the fim.… Expand

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6

artardmosheaDec 11, 2019

The plot adds a lot to the lore, explaining the origins of important characters in the series and laying the groundwork for the galactic war.

Pod racing, awesome Darth maul, cool This movies greatest flaw is an abundance of hamfistedThe plot adds a lot to the lore, explaining the origins of important characters in the series and laying the groundwork for the galactic war.

Pod racing, awesome
Darth maul, cool

This movies greatest flaw is an abundance of hamfisted slapstick humour that doesn't land.

The cg is really looking dated now specifically Jar jar looks extremely fake, I don't remember him looking so disconnected to the scenes in previous viewings but watching it on Disney+ in 1080p he looks very fake.

I've watched this movie about ten times, It's not a terrible movie and there are some great moments, but it's always been a disappointment.… Expand

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6

faustojcsDec 10, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. É percebivel e é consideravel que o filme é bastante antigo, da década de 90 e por isso não tinha toda a tecnologia que temos hoje. Por isso, na morte do Mestre Jedi, achei muito sem emoção. Mas, o filme possui qualidades é claro, boas lutas e cenas interessantes. Consideravel para a época.… Expand

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4

Richmond95Oct 5, 2019

How do I review The Phantom Menace? I'd say it's one of those so bad its good kind of films, but the film has plenty of boring elements that really drag things down. Darth Maul is cool no doubt, but his now iconic battle with that great musicHow do I review The Phantom Menace? I'd say it's one of those so bad its good kind of films, but the film has plenty of boring elements that really drag things down. Darth Maul is cool no doubt, but his now iconic battle with that great music score, is not gripping since nothing is going on besides the fight. No drama, no character connections, just there for the spectacle. Just like the speeder race, which made a decent video game, but very dull to watch. Jar Jar Binks is yes beyond annoying, Natalie Portman's weird voice in this is well just weird. The story makes no sense and is not engaging at all. Nowadays your better off watching the Darth Maul battle clips, other than that I can't recommend you take the time to watch this film beginning to end.… Expand

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6

MarinadeJul 28, 2019

The first episode in the prequel trilogy came with a lot of high expectations, unfortunately it failed to meet those expectations. The first 3/4 of this movie is not that great, the introduction of Jar Jar Binks is not well received. TheThe first episode in the prequel trilogy came with a lot of high expectations, unfortunately it failed to meet those expectations. The first 3/4 of this movie is not that great, the introduction of Jar Jar Binks is not well received. The gungan city underwater scenes are strange and lets the story get carried away. The pod racing scene is alright, is exciting but it is just okay. What saved this movie for me is the Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul battle, this was amazing, so well done. Duel of the Fates music to go along with it was the icing on the cake.… Expand

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5

Jaredc324Jun 28, 2019

Phantom Menace is a solid combo with way too many side orders. Everything involving Anakin and Qui-Gon Jin's characters enliven the truth and splendor of this prequel kickstarter, but is surrounded by an influx of overly-compressed andPhantom Menace is a solid combo with way too many side orders. Everything involving Anakin and Qui-Gon Jin's characters enliven the truth and splendor of this prequel kickstarter, but is surrounded by an influx of overly-compressed and exaggerated imagination, that benefits nothing but its own financial marketing scheme. But aside from all the child-actor whine-cries and Jar Jar binks, holds a decent enough story to revisit from time to time.… Expand

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4

NGJ747Mar 19, 2019

The phantom menace uses potty humor annoying characters and weak acting it brings shame to the franchise.

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6

DerekReideMar 10, 2019

Now, I'm not saying this is the worst Star Wars movie, but it is better than The Last Jedi. Sorry Rian, but it's true and the fans know it. I'd rather listen to Jar Jar talk than listen to the "jokes" we had to put up with in TLJ. Anyway, theNow, I'm not saying this is the worst Star Wars movie, but it is better than The Last Jedi. Sorry Rian, but it's true and the fans know it. I'd rather listen to Jar Jar talk than listen to the "jokes" we had to put up with in TLJ. Anyway, the movie was good, but not good enough to reboot the Star Wars franchise.… Expand

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5

mecheng03Mar 9, 2019

Pretty bad but if you watch the fan edited version with Jar Jar having an alien language and no pod racing makes it actually about a 6-7.

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5

Moviecritic43Mar 2, 2019

The Phantom Menace is a very disappointing movie. It’s not a terrible movie, but it’s a dissapointing movie. There were some good scenes in the film, and Darth Maul is a compelling villain. But there’s a lot of bad acting and bad dialogue,The Phantom Menace is a very disappointing movie. It’s not a terrible movie, but it’s a dissapointing movie. There were some good scenes in the film, and Darth Maul is a compelling villain. But there’s a lot of bad acting and bad dialogue, Jar Jar binks is very annoying, there’s too much dated CGI, and this film has too much senate meetings and politics. But overall this film is a mixed bag.… Expand

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4

kman5473Feb 25, 2019

What happens when you take one of the biggest franchises of all time, its creator and his never-revised first draft script for a prequel, and then surround him by enablers? Nothing good. The aesthetics of the characters is there, certainly,What happens when you take one of the biggest franchises of all time, its creator and his never-revised first draft script for a prequel, and then surround him by enablers? Nothing good. The aesthetics of the characters is there, certainly, but every decision made is lacking precision and second, third, and fourth thoughts in its execution. Jar Jar Binks is supposed to appeal to the younger audiences, but was taken too far and became a caricature that only annoyed most. Darth Maul is a villain with with a ton of potential...but then is killed off without any further character development. These decisions, clearly, were based on merchandising statistics vs great storytelling motivations. A kid-friendly character sells better as a stuffed animal/pillow case than a villain, right? Add to this dialogue that is incredibly difficult to penetrate and understand for an audience member that is supposed to be driving the plot forward. Add to this dialogue that is really cliche and dumb that is supposed to entertain the kids. Total loss of tone in the story.… Expand

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6

DaddySakuOct 22, 2018

Although this movie gets a lot of negative response, I found there are a lot of things to love here. Even though the story is fairly boring and some of the characters are badly written, George Lucas succeded in the most important aspect ofAlthough this movie gets a lot of negative response, I found there are a lot of things to love here. Even though the story is fairly boring and some of the characters are badly written, George Lucas succeded in the most important aspect of this movie. He managed to create an original and exciting universe set before the rise of the empire in episode IV. Apart from this the movie manages to impress with, for its time, outstanding visuals. The movie may not be a masterpiece, but it held my attention to the end. It does an ok job as a standalone movie, but it excells in universe building.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

KonlinerJul 16, 2018

The Prequel movie is nowhere as brilliant as the Original Trilogy. It is poorly written with unrealistic/annoying/unnecessary dialogue, weak plot, and robotic acting performance. It is also confusing whether this movie is intended for allThe Prequel movie is nowhere as brilliant as the Original Trilogy. It is poorly written with unrealistic/annoying/unnecessary dialogue, weak plot, and robotic acting performance. It is also confusing whether this movie is intended for all ages or adults only. It contains a lot of childish humor/scenes, but it also has some complex political dialogue. Often times you will hear political words like embargo, federation, senate, etc. The political scenes, though make a great instrument for Episode 3, ruins the story. This movie also makes the Star Wars universe seem a lot smaller, such as Obi Wan's early encounter with R2D2 or the fact that Anakin created C3PO which would later, somehow, in this huge galaxy, will unite with Anakin's son. It also ruins the romanticism of the force by trying to make it more scientific and less magical. On the other hand, Darth Maul is an intimidating antagonist (too bad he was killed instead of saved for the next sequel) and the lightsaber duel, though unrealistic, is stunning to look at. Its set and prop design is also worth to be praised, alongside with Episode 2 and 3. This movie serves well as an experimental movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

AdrenelineboyJun 25, 2018

George Lucas, the once masterful director, has lost his way, and there is no-where that this is more prominent than in Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace. Coherent storytelling, memorable dialogue and technological brilliance isGeorge Lucas, the once masterful director, has lost his way, and there is no-where that this is more prominent than in Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace. Coherent storytelling, memorable dialogue and technological brilliance is replaced by a disorientating CGI whirlwind of effects driven action and wooden dialog. Great, snarky, laugh-out-loud humour, is replaced by a computer designed, rabbit eared lump of flesh that steps in a pile of poop.
And an engaging plot is replaced by tedious, boring, Government committees that no adult or child has ever shown the least bit of interest in. The few redeeming factors that stops this film from being absolutely terrible are Liam Neeson and Ewen Mcgregor's characters, Darth Maul (obviously), and the fact that John Williams made the soundtrack. Because who doesn't want to hear another score from Williams?… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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4

AntonEgoJun 1, 2018

Kind of boring and full of unnecessary humour. Bad acting, but I'm ok with the plot and CGI. I love the new planets and everything we got to know about the star wars universe (the history of the jedi order before the original trilogy)Kind of boring and full of unnecessary humour. Bad acting, but I'm ok with the plot and CGI. I love the new planets and everything we got to know about the star wars universe (the history of the jedi order before the original trilogy) throughout the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

benskylerhillMay 20, 2018

Ah, The Phantom Menace: one of the most hated movies of all time. That hate is arguably quite justified--not because it's a bad film, but because it has the structure of a fascinating prelude to a classic saga and wastes its potential-filledAh, The Phantom Menace: one of the most hated movies of all time. That hate is arguably quite justified--not because it's a bad film, but because it has the structure of a fascinating prelude to a classic saga and wastes its potential-filled premise on passive, poor execution.

Star Wars: Episode I does, in fact, have some redeeming qualities. For one thing, this is where the action sequences began to be modernized. The lightsaber fights are elegantly choreographed and the transition into CGI-powered space-battle scenes works very well most of the time. The other primary positive trait of The Phantom Menace is its plot. Many people are bothered by the fact that it focuses on slow-burning political tensions rather than fast-paced attack-and-retreat military action like the original trilogy did. This doesn't bother me at all. There are political drama-thriller films that are very entertaining, and the politics of Episode I's story are quite fascinating when it's considered that they have a massive impact on the fate of the galaxy and eventually pave the way for the rise of the Empire from the original trilogy. The sad thing is that what could have been a thoroughly engaging politically-centered war film crumbles into the pitfalls of poor storytelling. The high-stakes, desperate situation of Naboo is swept under the rug thanks to purely wooden acting and emotionless line delivery. The script doesn't articulate things as well as it should sometimes, but the real problem is the fact that pretty much every actor appears to be reading from a teleprompter. It also doesn't help that nearly all of the exposition is given through dull scenes in which people sit down and discuss things, and the combination of all of this gets old very very quickly. To engage an audience with dialogue, there must be something else happening--moving--in the scene to accompany it, and there is absolutely none of that present for the majority of Episode I.

There are some visually striking scenes (especially by the standards of 1999) but there is certainly an enormous over reliance on special effects. The original trilogy made its universe appear real through the use of tangible makeup and models and physical sets. The Phantom Menace has horrendous set design with visible gaps filled in with unnecessary CGI and some scenes entirely created with computers. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but the effects of 1999 just weren't ready to create entire worlds and the lack of anything physical in many scenes makes the world appear cartoonish and it severely weakens the believability of the galaxy far far away.

The Phantom Menace is not a train wreck, as some believe it to be. Darth Maul remains one of the best villains of the franchise and there are many visual improvements that were kickstarted with this installment. But it certainly ranks among the most disappointing movies ever made because it could have been infinitely more exciting had there been more talent involved in front of and behind the camera.

Story: 7
Acting: 2
Script: 4
Visuals/Sound: 6.5
Entertainment Value: 5.5

OVERALL SCORE: 5/10… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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4

LivingTribunalMay 18, 2018

Worst Star Wars Film.... However, it built new universe of Anakin Skywalker well with better graphic. The storyline was so boring and it's one of the biggest mistake that George Lucas had ever made

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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6

GrantD243Apr 25, 2018

The Phantom Menace is another movie that had a crazy amount of hype behind it when it came out, or so I've been told... I actually didn't see it until around 2002 as I was still a very young chap when it came out in '99. And boy, I'm glad IThe Phantom Menace is another movie that had a crazy amount of hype behind it when it came out, or so I've been told... I actually didn't see it until around 2002 as I was still a very young chap when it came out in '99. And boy, I'm glad I didn't see this movie in the theaters. I can't imagine how disappointed I would have been, and how quiet the car ride back home would have been. The characters are...okay, I guess? Darth Maul seems cool but we don't get a whole lot out of him (although his character was flushed out pretty well in the animated shows), young Anakin is...yeah, and Jar Jar is downright terrible. But hey, at least Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were pretty awesome. The plot is nothing special. It's essentially the story of how Anakin came to be trained by the Jedi (and how he met Padme), but it's not a very interesting story and honestly you could fast forward through most of this movie and you wouldn't miss much. Really, the only thing that redeems this movie for me is the duel between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan towards the end of the movie. Without that sequence, this would easily be the worst Star Wars movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

TheRussianatorApr 6, 2018

The horrifically awful characters of Jar Jar and Anakin, and the aged blue screen/green screen extravaganza are paired with the really good lightsaber battles and charisma of Liam Neeson, which makes for almost a guilty pleasure - which isThe horrifically awful characters of Jar Jar and Anakin, and the aged blue screen/green screen extravaganza are paired with the really good lightsaber battles and charisma of Liam Neeson, which makes for almost a guilty pleasure - which is not a compliment for Star Wars.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

merijnjFeb 21, 2018

(45/100)
Just not as good. The CGI was too much the humor was too much. The plot was poort and didn't make sense in many places.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

GunganFeb 12, 2018

I am re-watching all of the Star Wars movies to cleanse my palette from the most recent one.

As much as this one in particular is panned, it had a well put together script, and the story was worth telling. The production values are easily onI am re-watching all of the Star Wars movies to cleanse my palette from the most recent one.

As much as this one in particular is panned, it had a well put together script, and the story was worth telling. The production values are easily on par with any modern movie, though the cinematography and storytelling is less bombastic that modern audiences are used to. The visuals and sound are fantastic as well, and really give you a good variety of settings to look at when the Republic was at it's height.

The only real problems with this movie stem from two factors. The first is the use of a child actor for the part of Anakin. If he was aged up a bit into his early teens, I think the performance would have been more natural, less creepy when played against Natalie Portman, and more believable as a whole with other minor tweaks. The other problem was Jar Jar, because of the slapstick physical comedy. If they had toned him down instead of amping him to 11 for the kids, I don't think people would have been particularly bothered.

It's still a very coherent story that sits firmly grounded in the universe enjoyed by many fans.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

samsterJan 21, 2018

It was alright. Not enough action besides the end and to cringe.

Plot: 3.5/5
Action/ Entertainment: 3/5
Music/ Visuals: 5/5
Acting: 2/5

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

MiracSpectacJan 7, 2018

It's honestly hard to say this film is anything better or worse than "just ok". It doesn't accomplish very much, but it still has a certain level of classic Star Wars drama.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

Roger1718Dec 20, 2017

The overuse of CGI and terrible scripting and acting make this movie laughable at some points. The rest is just plain and simple, and unfortunately all lightsaber fights look terribly planned and choreographed.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

dougwiggins5Dec 15, 2017

Attempting to live up to the largest expectations imaginable and predecessors that had mythological reputations in cinema, The Phantom Menace fails miserably. However outside of the narrative of how Star Wars movies are made this movie isAttempting to live up to the largest expectations imaginable and predecessors that had mythological reputations in cinema, The Phantom Menace fails miserably. However outside of the narrative of how Star Wars movies are made this movie is more mediocre than terrible. The plot is easy to follow, the story has a sense of adventure, and the heavy use of practical effects compared to it's trilogy brethren make it feel the most like the revered OT. See this movie if you like your Star Wars happy and don't mind a bit of overly lighthearted elements.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

RobobobFeb 1, 2016

Yes, Jar Jar is an annoying character, but he was a failed attempt at comedy relief. He was also made for the kids and if you watch carefully all of the adults in this movie are annoyed by his presence, so for that, Jar Jar still gets a passYes, Jar Jar is an annoying character, but he was a failed attempt at comedy relief. He was also made for the kids and if you watch carefully all of the adults in this movie are annoyed by his presence, so for that, Jar Jar still gets a pass for me. Casting Anakin Skywalker so young and with such a poor child actor was another major mistake. Aside from these 2 negatives, there is really a lot to enjoy about this movie that people forget about.
* Laim Neeson is great as the maverick Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn.
* As always, Ewan McGregor is perfect as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
* With this movie we got one of the best villains in Darth Maul and one of the best lightsaber fights.
* Many great one-liners Star Wars is known for like, "There's always a bigger fish." "He's a local." "The ability to speak does not make you intelligent." "We'll take the long way."
* The pod race was a fun scene unlike anything we've seen in a Star Wars movie.
Unfortunately, with this movie, you see George Lucas start to lose his grasp on his movie-making abilities and his understanding of what his fans want as the next couple films get progressively worse.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

spacebear1Dec 9, 2017

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has had massive amounts of mixed reviews over the years since its release. I have a lot of nostalgia for this film but I'm going to put all that aside for the review. Even after putting aside myStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has had massive amounts of mixed reviews over the years since its release. I have a lot of nostalgia for this film but I'm going to put all that aside for the review. Even after putting aside my nostalgic feelings, I still like this movie. Yes, Jar-Jar is useless and completely retarded and the senate scenes are a bit boring and tedious, and I know that the fact that almost every scene is filled with . But I like this film. I loved the the final fight with Darth Maul, awesome character by the way. Basically, I really can't say why I love this film, I just do. My rating would be 6.1/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

Miles_SDec 9, 2017

When it's not grating and incredibly annoying, it's banal. There are somewhat positive aspects, to an extent at least. But there outweighed by all the just below mediocre aspects.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

SrPepeNov 29, 2017

Jar Jar Binks es el nuevo Dios del Universo Star Wars. Él es el comandante supremo del imperio, sith maestro, superior al canciller, Vader, Dooku y cualquier otro payaso.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

Dragonfly44Nov 28, 2017

I completely understand the disappointment from the movie and it could of been much more, but personal I loved it. It was thrilling and nice to get a backstory on Darth Vader.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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4

Bugger217Sep 9, 2017

George Lucas helped usher in a new era in filmmaking with The Phantom Menace, but he also lost track of what made Star Wars special to millions of people around the world. Make no mistake, the visual effects here were mind-blowing at the timeGeorge Lucas helped usher in a new era in filmmaking with The Phantom Menace, but he also lost track of what made Star Wars special to millions of people around the world. Make no mistake, the visual effects here were mind-blowing at the time of release, but there are so many issues plaguing the film. Empty dialogue and stilted direction lead to bad performances from actors who are typically very good, and heavy use of CGI in its infancy has result in the film aging poorly. The production design is great, and a few action sequences thrill, but everything else is either shockingly misguided or downright boring.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

MonkiReviewsJul 12, 2017

It started out very boring, and confusing. The second half improved a lot though. It had some awesome action parts. It doesn't deserve the bad reviews, but it wasn't great either. A must watch for fans though.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

FuturedirectorMar 11, 2016

While Star Wars: The Phantom Menace doesn't forget any aspect of the classic trilogy, the script is a disaster; characters fail; the direction is flawed; and the conclusion, somehow, awful.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

5

SonicHD7Jun 1, 2017

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is a young apprentice Jedi knight under the tutelage of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) ; Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who will later father Luke Skywalker and become known as Darth Vader, is just a 9-year-old boy.Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is a young apprentice Jedi knight under the tutelage of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) ; Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who will later father Luke Skywalker and become known as Darth Vader, is just a 9-year-old boy. When the Trade Federation cuts off all routes to the planet Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are assigned to settle the matter.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

yoshi8869May 23, 2017

I suppose I'll ostracize original trilogy fans far and wide by saying this, but I felt this film was a solid standalone flick. It was fun, adventurous, and had a great final duel, but it lacked in direction and writing. The story is promisingI suppose I'll ostracize original trilogy fans far and wide by saying this, but I felt this film was a solid standalone flick. It was fun, adventurous, and had a great final duel, but it lacked in direction and writing. The story is promising enough. The addition of the "Jesus-esque" theme is questionable but somewhat acceptable once you get into the surrounding lore. The plot is shaky and a little haphazard, but not altogether bad.

The story and plot suffer from a failure in the cinematography department. The film is gaudy and over-saturated in color and effects, little of which is practical. As a result, it loses novelty value.

The direction was abysmal. That's the root of everything wrong with the prequels and is most prevalent in the Phantom Menace. Lucas should not be allowed to direct alone and surround himself with yes-men. His arrogance and outlandish, unrelatable imagination can lead to his own downfall and does in this film.

The acting could've used some work, but the concepts and themes are sound. It really all came down to the fact that the good story was saturated with colors, flashy tech, obnoxious comedic relief, and cheesy dialogue. Also, midichlorians. Yeah, nope. 6.75/10 -JR… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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4

The_fantastic94May 3, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Star wars fans had to wait 16 years for another cinematic adventure to the galaxy far far away, unfortunately, the patience did not pay off. However just like with Darth Vader, there remains some good in it.
The predconditions could not have been better though: George Lucas, mastermind behind his big franchise, was back in the directing chair, John Williams composed the score and the cast had some pretty good names to offer.
Unfortunately, the movie is very disappointing. Bad dialogue, an overdose of CGI, a childish, whiny Anakin Skywalker who ought to be Darth Vader one day, and Jar Jar Binks, the probably worst movie character in history, make "The phantom menace" an unsatisfying and frankly rather terrible experience for moviegoers and Star wars fans. A badass Darth Maul, well portrayed Obi-wan Kenobi and the stunning lightsaber duel at the end prevent it to be a complete disaster like its successor, but cannot heal our wounds caused by the major flaws in the film. What a waste!… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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5

TiagoGM18Mar 27, 2017

I don't really think that Jar Jar Binks is the worst part of this movie, I really don't, if we were able to connect to some of the characters, Jar Jar would be easily overlooked, however, since Obi-Wan is the only charismatic character, theI don't really think that Jar Jar Binks is the worst part of this movie, I really don't, if we were able to connect to some of the characters, Jar Jar would be easily overlooked, however, since Obi-Wan is the only charismatic character, the movie gets really boring really fast but if you manage to sit through 2/3 of the movie, the last act will certainly pay off. P.S. betting on an 9 year old with little acting experience is always a risk, i'm sure Jake Lloyd performed as well as he could and I can't help but agreeing with Mark Hamill's take on the kid's critics… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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5

UNARMED_JORDFeb 26, 2017

More of a political negotiate movie than a star wars film, the phantom menace is a very disappointing start to the prequels that doesn't deliver in any way other than the bad ass Darth Maul

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

4

Jk9785Feb 23, 2017

A fun but incredibly flawed film, Lucas' first entry in the Star Wars prequel trilogy is a disappointment to say the least, with bland characters, computer generated effects that don't hold up well (with a few exceptions), and a characterA fun but incredibly flawed film, Lucas' first entry in the Star Wars prequel trilogy is a disappointment to say the least, with bland characters, computer generated effects that don't hold up well (with a few exceptions), and a character who, in my opinion, is the most annoying character in cinema history. The one, the only, Jar Jar Binks. Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor's performances remain the only bright spots in this film for me.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

EpicLadySpongeJan 3, 2017

For every detail that needs to be corrected in this film, it's the way how it focuses on little Anakin's trip to become a Jedi. Nevertheless, George Lucas manages to make his new start to the trilogy before the originals seem off and boring to watch.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

4

PrivataDec 16, 2016

This is a hard one.
Out of the prequels I find it to be the hardest one to watch.
However on the flip side I think it looks the most like a StarWars movie out of all the prequels. My issues with the movie is mostly the acting and jarjar (IThis is a hard one.
Out of the prequels I find it to be the hardest one to watch.

However on the flip side I think it looks the most like a StarWars movie out of all the prequels.

My issues with the movie is mostly the acting and jarjar (I mean fart jokes , walking in crap and his voice being set 300% louder than anyone else and the fact he acts dumber than anything from the SW universe)
But I like a lot of the visuals (yes the effects can be bad , but the art its self is very nice)

The plot is clever as well , but its told in a very clumsy way.
And the ''romance'' is a bit on the creepy side to me. Anyway , I dont hate it. I dont love it. I dont think I like it , but I do enjoy what it added to the StarWars lore.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

hassallNov 27, 2016

Honesty when i saw this movie i was very disappointing. the story was okay, just okay, but the very boring race, jar jar binks and the failed tries to be funny just made it a long annoying movie.Im going to give it a 4 because the lightsaberHonesty when i saw this movie i was very disappointing. the story was okay, just okay, but the very boring race, jar jar binks and the failed tries to be funny just made it a long annoying movie.Im going to give it a 4 because the lightsaber duel was good.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

MasterRileyJul 20, 2016

While its got some great sequences; such as the pod race and the light saber duel, it falls far from the acclaimed original trilogy. Cheesy dialogue, poor acting, a sloppy script, poorly executed and downright awful characters (I'm looking atWhile its got some great sequences; such as the pod race and the light saber duel, it falls far from the acclaimed original trilogy. Cheesy dialogue, poor acting, a sloppy script, poorly executed and downright awful characters (I'm looking at you Jar Jar) cause The Phantom Menace to be mediocre. Not good, but not completely awful either.… Expand

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5

TheMovieMan28Jul 12, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The trailer is better than the movie,better edited and better music the movie is boring with only ONE good fight with darth maul.The movie is filled with bad CGI and cringy acting.It kind of medeokre.The last 40 minutes is the better than the other parts of the movie and the fight with Darth Maul is badass.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

6

CriticMLTJun 5, 2016

This is probably the least pleasant star wars film. The story was quite ok but the acting in it is very bad compared to the other films. I am quite disappointed.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

Muskrat147May 31, 2016

The largely anticipated prequel of the epic saga, The Phantom Menace is definitely not what many fans expected. Though many could argue that the effects were decent, and that the Saber fights were well choreographed, the poorly writtenThe largely anticipated prequel of the epic saga, The Phantom Menace is definitely not what many fans expected. Though many could argue that the effects were decent, and that the Saber fights were well choreographed, the poorly written dialogue and heavy use of political talk made the film particularly boring. And, not to mention, Jar Jar Binks.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

4

Aaron_WassermanMay 30, 2016

I don't flat out hate this movie entirely, it does have some awesome stuff to it. The pod race, the saber duel, the score, the planet designs, and the designs in general. But what makes this film weak is its bland one dimensial characters andI don't flat out hate this movie entirely, it does have some awesome stuff to it. The pod race, the saber duel, the score, the planet designs, and the designs in general. But what makes this film weak is its bland one dimensial characters and poorly acted and directed feel to this film. A far cry from the original trilogy.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

6

CineAutoctonoMay 9, 2016

"Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Meneace " was a movie like this say, disappointing, precisely because of the very little action, and by no taste that left me, and that also left me if emotions, but it was good after completely.

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4

MovieMasterEddyApr 3, 2016

The lure of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" cannot be explained without cross-referential flow charts establishing connections among bison stampedes, impulse buying, the power of myth and humankind's pathological willingness toThe lure of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" cannot be explained without cross-referential flow charts establishing connections among bison stampedes, impulse buying, the power of myth and humankind's pathological willingness to pitch tents at the slightest hint of hot tickets.
Put more simply: The joy of "Star Wars" is going to see "Star Wars." Which is why no one will – or should – listen to the early buzz that "Phantom Menace" does not illuminate the heavens, eclipse its predecessors or affect global weather patterns as promised.

Moviegoers need to discover for themselves that the film, starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and about 15 quadrillion computer creations, is anything but the Second Coming. I'm not saying it's "Ishtar Wars," but it is likely to disappoint more people than creator George Lucas would have liked.

The story line – in which the treacherous Trade Federation's evil agenda becomes increasingly clear – is too complicated to outline. But the overall purpose of "Phantom" is to foreshadow the life of Darth Vader. The heavy breather, we discover, starts off as a sweet 9-year-old boy called Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), born into slavery on the planet Tatooine.

It is the destiny of Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) and Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson), accompanying Queen Amidala (Portman), to discover this space-age Christopher Robin, who will eventually father Luke, Leia and a whole line of armor-plated fashion wear.

Unfortunately, it is also destined that our three wayfarers must be accompanied by Jar Jar Binks, an animatronic, underwater-dwelling, floppy-eared Gungan who functions as official comic relief.

Jar Jar's "funny" business consists of bumping into things and getting caught in the thruster engine of Anakin's air racer.

Picture a computer-created mixture of Dumbo the elephant, an Egyptian Anubis and Calista Flockhart. And imagine a strangled, sputtering patois that sounds goofy and backward.

Lucas has an extremely complex undertaking before him: to show the narrative Big Bang that started Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and the whole scary, quippy, fuzzy, Muppety, warp-speeding intergalactic family.

This means much expositional roadwork, as The Creator lays down track for all the themes, plot lines and characters who will appear and reappear throughout his 12-hour symphony.

Lord Lucas has said in press notes for "The Phantom Menace" that he decided to write this movie, the first in the early trilogy, after seeing the computerized possibilities in Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park." That is precisely the problem. Lucas is so busy trying to digitally blow everyone's mind that he forgets about his characters. The sacrifice of humanity for special effects creates an unfortunate disturbance in the Force.

"Phantom Menace" is to the original "Star Wars" trilogy what Roger Moore's Bond films were to the Connery originals: a pale imitation loaded down with cutting-edge bells and whistles. And in this industrial glare, the actors are caught like cosmic deer in the headlights.

Jake Lloyd seems more like a directed kid than a force to reckon with. As Queen Amidala, the whiningly ineffective Portman seems to be mimicking Katharine Hepburn. And McGregor – who imitates Alec Guinness's accent to match that of the older Obi-Wan Kenobi – sounds uncomfortably forced and tentative.

As Qui-Gon, Neeson makes a nicely understated mentor, the one who will mistakenly consider Anakin worthy of Jedi training. But "Phantom Menace" gives him little opportunity to do more than interact with computer beings, chase the plot and show off his light saber against a deadly, hooded opponent whose orange-and-black horned face is hard to take seriously.

If there is any magic partnership between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan – at least, to rival the later link between Yoda (who makes an appearance here) and Luke in "The Empire Strikes Back" – it is in a galaxy far, far away.

The overall look and feel of the picture is always powerful. And the sound effects serenade your ears with palpable crispness. The prime scene – the real thriller, for my money – is an exhilarating spacecraft land race, in which Anakin Skywalker plays a youthful Ben Hur to Sebulba, a tentacled, cheating Messala who tries to destroy his space pod. Now that's a cool scene.

But after the movie's immediate effect has worn off, the shortcomings hover in the air. Obviously, this film will touch the lives and fantasies of millions of people. But I'd be surprised if a majority of "Phantom" fans – after sober reflection in a Jedi monastery, of course – place the movie at the top of the "Star Wars" pantheon. I think even Yoda would back me up on that.… Expand

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5

DanBurritoMar 24, 2016

With unimpressive acting, a poor script and an over-reliance on cgi, The Phantom Menace is a less-than-satisfying start to the infamous prequel trilogy. The pacing was painfully slow, and even Liam Neeson seems bored. Then of course, there'sWith unimpressive acting, a poor script and an over-reliance on cgi, The Phantom Menace is a less-than-satisfying start to the infamous prequel trilogy. The pacing was painfully slow, and even Liam Neeson seems bored. Then of course, there's the character of Jar Jar Binks, one of the most annoying characters in the history of cinema. Seriously, who thought HE was a good idea? Darth Maul was a cool villain, but he's barely even in it! The character development is practically non-existent, and much of the film is just a bunch of Jedi sitting around talking about taxation. The special effects were great, but the filmmakers seem to value them over story and characters. And just so you know, I am a HUGE Star Wars nerd. That's why this movie feels like a punch to the gut. FINAL VERDICT: This is a disappointing addition to a great franchise, and lacks the depth of previous instalments. 4.5/10.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

ReelViews94Mar 23, 2016

As the most widely anticipated and heavily hyped film of modern times, “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” can scarcely help being a letdown on some levels, but it’s too bad that it disappoints on so many. At heart a fanciful and funAs the most widely anticipated and heavily hyped film of modern times, “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” can scarcely help being a letdown on some levels, but it’s too bad that it disappoints on so many. At heart a fanciful and fun movie for young boys, the first installment of George Lucas’ three-part prequel to the original “Star Wars” trilogy is always visually diverting thanks to the technical wizardry with which it creates so many imaginative creatures, spaceships and alien worlds. But it is neither captivating nor transporting, for it lacks any emotional pull, as well as the sense of wonder and awe that marks the best works of sci-fi/fantasy.

Nonetheless, even if the film lacks the magic to endear it to audiences in the manner of the first series entries a generation ago, the Force will still be with the picture at the box office; pic will probably gross in the neighborhood of its $120 million budget in its first week of release beginning May 19, and double that by early June. Thereafter, much will depend upon repeat viewing, which will no doubt be frequent among kids but much less so with adults. In other words, though it’s an automatic blockbuster, it will become neither a classic nor the biggest moneymaker of all time — only one of the biggest.

Those most looking forward to the first new “Star Wars” installment in 16 years are mostly people — now in their 30s — who were kids when episodes four through six were released. If anything, Lucas has tilted “Phantom” away from this audience and aimed it directly at a new crop of children, who are familiar with the originals via video or the recent “Special Edition” hardtop reissues. So while the new picture may not deliver everything the original fans have been fantasizing about for most of their lives, Lucas may again assert his status as the shrewdest marketeer among filmmakers, if he can capture the new generation for his fresh trilogy while still taking the old-time fans along for the ride.

The extended layover on Tatooine includes, at roughly the film’s halfway point, what is arguably its action/effects highlight, the pod race, which is the sci-fi equivalent of “Ben-Hur’s” chariot race. Launched from an arena carved out of rock, this consists of a bunch of daredevil pilots, who are suspended in virtual buckets connected to giant jet engines, careening their rickety crafts at low altitudes through craggy landscapes, canyons and narrow spaces, anything to create a powerful visual dynamic. Effect is as comparable to a video game as to a movie sequence, but provides the best ride of the picture, even if the outcome is never in doubt.

As the story, in its maze-like way, zigzags through its second hour, even more characters and creatures are introduced, notably a villain, the red-eyed, red-and-black-faced Darth Maul (Ray Park), who doesn’t say much but proves to be a particularly dexterous opponent of the Jedis with his lightsaber dueling technique. After a series of confrontations and battles, a sense of tentative peace prevails at the end, and the young Anakin, despite some misgivings on the part of Jedi Master Yoda, is accepted as a Jedi apprentice. As the Republic’s Senator Palpatine with a wry sense of portentiouness says to the boy, “We will watch your career with great interest.”

There is certainly enough incident to keep the picture and the viewer going, but the bombardment of elements, names, worlds, creatures and dilemmas may prove somewhat daunting to casual observers unsteeped in “Star Wars” lore. Beyond that, the new CGI characters are notably lacking in charm or interest other than on the design level; they bring nothing new or special to Lucas’ universe, and in a sense overpopulate it.

This is a truly a world of extraterrestrial diversity gone berserk: There are hundreds of droid warriors, all manner of animal-like creatures, and enough spaceships, fighting machines and vehicles to supply an entire toy store. Except for the desert scenes and a few other landscapes, the world of the movie is virtually entirely artificial, and some of the more obviously fake backdrops remind one that this is just a computer-generated version of the sort of ambiance habitually created some 50 to 60 years ago by most Hollywood pictures.

Lucas places no less importance on the sound elements, and his experts in this field, in particular sound designer Ben Burtt and Skywalker Sound director and mixer Gary Rydstrom, have delivered again. John Williams’ score reprises the very familiar themes of the first trilogy while adding some new and complimentary strains.

But while the film hardly lacks for visual creativity, it lacks resonance, freshness and a sense of wonder. In a way, it suffers from there having been so many knock-offs and sci-fi imitators in the intervening years.

“Phantom” is easily consumable eye candy, but it contains no nutrients for the heart or mind.… Expand

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6

PachekoviskMar 17, 2016

MEDIOCRE
In my opinion it's not the worst in the series.
It has a terrible acting, excessive use of CGI and a dumb story.
But is better than a lot of other movies. Including the second one...

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

gameguardian21Mar 6, 2016

Why did this happen. George Lucas made the best movie trilogy of all time, how could he screw this up. We had our expectations so high, we thought we were going to have the best movie experience after many years of waiting. But we were all soWhy did this happen. George Lucas made the best movie trilogy of all time, how could he screw this up. We had our expectations so high, we thought we were going to have the best movie experience after many years of waiting. But we were all so disappointed in this mess. The acting was terrible and awkward. The characters are undeveloped. The story sucks, and the cgi is way too much. At least we got on hell of a lightsaber fight, so we could calm down for a few minutes. I was very disappointed in this film.… Expand

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4

Termin8terMar 4, 2016

It's finally here! The follow-up to Return of the Jedi! It's here, ready to blow everything else out of the water....... Just kidding, this movie is a massive flop. The acting is bad, there is far too much CGI, and Jar Jar Binks is the mostIt's finally here! The follow-up to Return of the Jedi! It's here, ready to blow everything else out of the water....... Just kidding, this movie is a massive flop. The acting is bad, there is far too much CGI, and Jar Jar Binks is the most annoying character in any movie of all time. The one redeeming quality is the awesome lightsabre battles, but they don't last that long. *sigh* Don't bother forcing yourself through this mess.… Expand

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6

koothrappaliFeb 1, 2016

Episódio I é de longe o pior e mais desnecessário filme de toda a franquia Star Wars. E quando eu falo desnecessário, eu quero dizer que: se você pular esse filme, não vai fazer a mínima diferença no entendimento da história. A única coisaEpisódio I é de longe o pior e mais desnecessário filme de toda a franquia Star Wars. E quando eu falo desnecessário, eu quero dizer que: se você pular esse filme, não vai fazer a mínima diferença no entendimento da história. A única coisa realmente importante que acontece nesse filme é a introdução do Anakin/Darth Vader e da melhor dupla de robôs que existe na história do cinema, porque de resto, o filme é uma verdadeira desgraça. E não podemos esquecer de mencionar o personagem mais chato que eu já vi em toda a minha vida: Jar Jar Binks. C-3PO e R2-D2, esse 6 são dedicados a vocês.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

JB562Jan 23, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Although the movie does have its cool moments, particularly the lightsaber duel of Darth Maul VS Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi, the majority of the film is filled with boring details and conversations. Also, Jar Jar Bins and the Gungans are unnecessary stereotypes to be in this movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

TheMasiMan1Jan 22, 2016

Ok, it isn's nearly as good as the originals, but is it really that bad? Answer is "maybe". Its boring but they do make it up by putting in action packed battles. Battle droids? They arent a threat, NO ONE has ever died from a Battle Droid.Ok, it isn's nearly as good as the originals, but is it really that bad? Answer is "maybe". Its boring but they do make it up by putting in action packed battles. Battle droids? They arent a threat, NO ONE has ever died from a Battle Droid. Liam Neeson and Samuel L Jackson? I'll give you a few points for that, I mean come on! Liam Neeson and Samuel L Jackson! Puppet Yoda dosent look good, but they replaced him with a CGI Yoda in the 2011 Blu Ray release. Politics? No thanks. Jar Jar Binks? Annoying, he didnt ruin the movie, I mean come on! One character ruins the movie? He dosent even have that much screen time.

In conclution:
Its not a bad movie, its worth seeing, even though NOTHING happens in this movie. NOTHING. Think about it: What happens here, that impacts the storyline whatsoever? Sith return? Anakin meets Obi-Wan? Thats about it.… Expand

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4

FilmMasterEdJan 5, 2016

The actors are wallpaper, the jokes are juvenile, there's no romance, and the dialogue lands with the thud of a computer-instruction manual. But it's useless to criticize the visual astonishment that is Star Wars – Episode I: The PhantomThe actors are wallpaper, the jokes are juvenile, there's no romance, and the dialogue lands with the thud of a computer-instruction manual. But it's useless to criticize the visual astonishment that is Star Wars – Episode I: The Phantom Menace. With this epic and the trilogy that preceded it, George Lucas has built a pop-culture monument that packs all of history – war, religion, myth, art, science and those old reliables, good and evil – into a mystical grab bag that plays like a kiddie cartoon. There's a less fancy explanation for why Phantom Menace will inspire fetishistic worship: It's loaded with cool stuff. And reasonable facsimiles thereof are on sale at your local Force emporium.

Episode I is set thirty years earlier than the original saga, Episode IV: A New Hope, but some things never change. A royal babe is in trouble. Not Princess Leia; this time it's Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman). The Trade Federation sends battleships to her planet, Naboo, to persuade her to sign a dodgy treaty. To her rescue come two Jedi knights: old pro Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). You'll recall that Alec Guinness played Obi-Wan the first time, and McGregor does a deft job of matching up with him vocally. ^Vhen Federation types send in droids for the kill, the Jedis link up with Anakin Sky walker (Jake Lloyd), a nine-year-old slave who will grow up to marry the queen, father the twins Luke and Leia, and turn from the Jedi cause to the dark side as Darth Vader. Got that?

Good; here's what else you should know: Phantom Menace, which cost $115 million, lacks the crude freshness that Lucas lavished on the low-budget ($10 million) original in 1977 and the fluid storytelling that director Irvin Kershner brought to The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 – still the best in the series. But Menace is light-years ahead of the uneasy mix of furry Ewoks and Freudian psychology in Richard Marquand's 1983 Return of the Jedi. As for Lucas' directing skills, his work with actors still belongs to the "Don't emote, just stand there" school. But in terms of visual sophistication, already discernible in 1973's American Graffiti, Lucas ranks with the masters. He has always been more articulate with images than with words. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo in the original, has famously chided Lucas, "You can type this **** George, but you sure can't say it."

McGregor is saddled with lines like, "I have a bad feeling about this." And Neeson must answer, "Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan." Ouch! Is it a coincidence that Phantom Menace and James Cameron's Titanic – whose box-office record ($1.8 billion worldwide) Lucas is chasing – were made by men with a poet's eyes and tin ears?

Comic relief – and, boy, does this movie need it – arrives with scene-stealer Jar Jar Binks, a gangly, floppy-eared Gungan, voiced hilariously by Ahmed Best but otherwise a fully digital creation. Jar Jar is an alien amphibian who lives in an underwater city and speaks in a pidgin English that still gets the point across. "Mesa in bombad troubles," says Jar Jar as he nabs food off plates with his long tongue and guides the Jedis in a submarine that gets chewed by a killer fish. Digital marvels abound, along with appearances by old favorites such as Jabba the Hutt and Yoda, who leads the Jedi Council on the planet Cor-uscant, along with Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson). Lucas surpasses himself in the creature department. Jar Jar's nemesis, Boss Nass, is a wonderfully odious menace. And Watto, the slave driver, is a fat-slob fly who manages to levitate on tiny hummingbird wings.

The human element is hard put to keep up. Neeson has a natural warmth but too few opportunities for humor. Portman, a beauty and a gifted actress at eighteen, is stuck with an underwritten character – at least Carrie Fisher was allowed to bring her verbal snap to Princess Leia. And McGregor, a live wire in Trainspotting and Velvet Goldmine, spends the film's first half trailing Qui-Gon like a lap dog. Happily, McGregor comes into his own in the final scenes, suggesting that the next two episodes, due in 2002 and 2005, will let him cut loose.

For now, the human focus is on Anakin, and the demands of the role – a messiah and an anti-Christ – put undue pressure on Lloyd, who was eight at the time of filming. You will search Lloyd's face in vain for the Darth Vader to come or for the agony of a boy forced to leave behind his slave mother, Shmi (Pernilla August), to begin his Jedi training. Lloyd shines in the lighter scenes, especially when Anakin enters a Podrace so perilous that ordinary humans can't tolerate the speed. The race is pure exhilaration. "Whoopee!" yells Anakin. Indeed. In this virtual universe – the video game supreme – Lucas is the king.

Still remains the most disappointing films of all time. It's rubbish.… Expand

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6

hanneguacamoleJan 4, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In what should have been a deliberate and riveting prequel to arguably one of the best trilogies, The Phantom Menace shows its age – in the CGI animation and the time since the last installment. The dots simply do not connect, and I'm not sure that Episode I would have any success if it were not for the beginnings of Darth Vader himself.

Darth Vader is obviously a vital character in the franchise, so the portrayal of Anakin Skywalker here is understandable, but feels forced. Because he is strong with the Force. Ha! With the introduction of many new characters, the same level of closeness were not attained with the likes of Jar Jar Binks and Qui Jon. Star Wars has always been innovative with its stories and locations, but at the same time it dwells too much on fighting with clones and the plot device of destroying the Death Star (on accident?)

As a Star Wars fan, I apprecaite seeing young Anakin Skywalker, but I am disappointed. I love seeing the similarities between father and son, Luke, yet Luke's journey can't help but cast a shadow over his father's. The Phantom Menace's enemy is not nearly as well developed as the original trilogy, and the film struggles with reconciling Anakin's journey through the ages. Obi-Wan pulls it out though. As the connective tissue between generations, it is good to see the Jedi teachings passed along, even without the blessing of Yoda. But why the CGI? The special effects may have been the most disappointing to me – I love the nostalgia.… Expand

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6

anichelsJan 1, 2016

Jar Jar is not necessary to the story,I didn't mind the politics in the film, and it revamped how we look at Jedi. Quigon and Obi-Wan were pretty cool.
Pod racing gave us an idea of what Anakin's youth was like. - Being an exceptionalJar Jar is not necessary to the story,I didn't mind the politics in the film, and it revamped how we look at Jedi. Quigon and Obi-Wan were pretty cool.
Pod racing gave us an idea of what Anakin's youth was like. - Being an exceptional force-sensitive child, it gives us a glimpse of what his hard skills are, as far-fetched as it is seeing a child pilot a fighter jet and successfully destroying a space station, at least there is some understandable precedent. (acting skills are not great, but it didn't kill the movie like JarJar did.)

Darth Maul is a fantastic and mysterious villain… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

NestriReviewsDec 30, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a total disappointment. It's an annoying movie, seriously. The characters, at least most of them, are totally uninteresting and underdeveloped. I thought that one of the antagonists had no personality at all (the one with a black and red skin) and was just there to look cool with his double lightsaber, fighting against the Jedi. He was so underdeveloped and forgettable. The main character, Anakin, is a little bit annoying because, you know, he's a kid. But, you know what seemed odd? This kid blows up a SPACESHIP in the end of the movie!!! What the hell was the director thinking? Also, Jar Jar gets on my nerves. I'm not a fan of his design. I'm also not a fan of the battle of Jar Jars vs droids, it's just not that good because it is rather anti climatic. None of the characters have impressed me in this movie and they can be so cringe-worthy at times. But, the story however, is not bad, it's just the execution is terrible. The same can't be said about some of the battles in this film, that are mostly appealing IMO. So, basically, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has a decent premise, but the execution of the story is poor.… Expand

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