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intereact!Director: George Lucas
Actors: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, and Pernilla August
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Retail Price (not our price): $19.98
Release Date: 2005-03-22
Theatrical Release Date: 1999-05-19
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Run Time: 133 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Discs: 2
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
"I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mélange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park. Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics. Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson2) Description
Begin your STAR WARS DVD collection with STAR WARS: Episode 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE. Packed with over six hours of additional material, including exclusive documentaries and never-before-seen deleted scenes, this 2-disc set provides the perfect showcase for the incredible detail and breathtaking scope of George Lucas's first episode in the mythic STAR WARS saga.
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5
1) Every saga has a beginning... [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This DVD was the last part of my Star Wars DVD collection. It's a great item. Discs contain lots of features that you can't see everywhere easily. You should listen to the orchestra conducted by John Williams. It's amazing!2) Episode I on DVD [Rating: 5 out of 5]
While I think TPM was the second weakest of the 6 films it's still Star Wars and that put it well above most movies in my book. The pacing of the action is good and it had some very memorable lightsaber battles. Some people find Jar Jar Binks to be incredibly annoying, but I really did not feel this way. It doesn't have the flavor of the original trilogy, but that might have something to do with being made 16 years later. As for the DVD itself, the picture and sound quality are superb as with all the Lucasfilm releases on dvd. This is a must for any Star Wars fan.3) Star wars [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)Good movie.I am glad I bought it.4) The Phantom Menace [Rating: 3 out of 5]
The Phantom Menace was ripped to shreds by the generation which waited 16 years for the Star Wars prequel. Fortunately, I am not in that generation. Devoted fans may have learned a lesson, not to expect too much from a middle-age writer who has made his fortune. The kid who plays Anakin has no personality. He exhibits no sign of being fated to become Darth Vader. Jar Jar Binks is controversial. Some saw a racial stereotype. I saw a duckbill dinosaur crashing into Star Wars from Jurassic Park.5) One of the most disappointing films of all time! [Rating: 1 out of 5]
I was one of the thousands of fans who stood in line on opening night, having waited for 16 years for another Star Wars film. I can still recall the optimistic mood and loud chatter of the crowd as we waited, and then finally filed into the theatre. I can also recall the loud remarks of disappointment within the theatre as the movie ended, followed by near silence and murmurs of disappointment as we all filed out.This film was one of the most anticipated releases of ALL TIME. It can also be considered one of the greatest disappointments of all time. It's probably the only film ever to have achieved HUGE box office profits while actually being HATED by the majority of viewers who paid to see it. The huge box office gross was basically GUARANTEED, and does not represent HAPPY VIEWERS.I could go into all the details as to why this film basically destroyed everything that the original TWO, and a portion of the third, had accomplished.... but then, if you're an original Star Wars fan, you already know exactly what I would write.To sum up;One of the most hated and disappointing films in history, that also just happens to be a huge commercial success, for no other reason than 16 years of built-up anticipation. If they had offered a "money back, satisfaction guarantee", I imagine the true box office figures would have been a few thousand dollars profit :)I would also imagine that most people who purchase this film on DVD only do so to complete their collection. Then probably half of them regret the decision.JM