Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Thought the video quality was very good, for this being from '99 anyway... Fun (and funny) movie! (If you look verrrrry closely at the cover, you can see JarJar on it).

The Phantom Menace is a great beginning to the story of Skywalker. The Star Wars universe is one of the richest worlds that have been created. The story includes all the great hallmarks of a Lucas Film Star Wars story. Comedy, suspense, and the best (in my opinion) light saber duel in all of the movies. Darth Maul is an absolutely fantastic villain. I wish that he would have had a larger role in the overall Skywalker Saga.

Roger-RogerNow this is pod racing

The Phantom Menace is an amazing entry in the franchise, vastly underrated, it has Liam Neesen, young Obi-Wan, Duel of Fates music, Darth Maul, and the double bladed lightsaber. Amazing. Now this limited edition version of the DVD is the best version, you should get all 6 movies in the 2005 limited edition versions, they don't make the interactive disc menus like they used to.

Following a 16-year hiatus from the original "Star Wars" trilogy, writer/director/producer George Lucas returned with the beginning of a new "Star Wars" trilogy set years before the events that take place in the first trilogy. This set of "prequels" (as the term was coined) begins with the 1999 film "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace". In this film, the Empire does not yet exist. Instead, the galaxy is governed by the Republic, whose main political body is a large, elected assembly of representatives known as the Senate. The chief executive, known as the Chancellor, has very limited powers and is elected by the Senate. Unfortunately, due in part to its size and countless political interests, the Senate operates extremely slowly and is incapable of making quick decisions when necessary.Such is the case with the planet of Naboo, which is headed by an elected queen, Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Naboo is under threat of invasion by a group calling itself the Trade Federation, which is headed by Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson), because Queen Amidala has refused to sign a peace treaty with it that would ultimately deprive Naboo of its sovereignty. Naboo's senatorial representative, Senator Palpatine (the returning Ian McDiarmid), is able to have Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terence Stamp, who played "Bernadette" in the 1994 Australian film "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert") send two Jedi to Naboo to broker a peace agreement. Upon the advice of a cloaked individual known as Darth Sidious (also Ian McDiarmid), the Viceroy orders that the two Jedi, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his teacher Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), be ambushed upon their arrival to the Federation starship. However, they barely escape to Naboo's surface along with the Federation's invading droid army. On Naboo's surface, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon meet an irritating, non-human Naboo native named Jar Jar Binks (voice done by Ahmed Best) who helps them obtain transportation to Queen Amidala's palace without being noticed by the invading droid army. Once there, they help the resistant Queen escape the planet's surface (along with Jar Jar), but damage to their ship forces them to travel to the desert planet of Tattooine instead of the Republic's primary planet known as Coruscant. On Tattooine, their search for replacement parts leads them to a winged individual known as Watto (voice done by Andrew Secombe), his very young slave, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) and Anakin's mother who is also enslaved, Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August).As with any previous "Star Wars" film, the cinematography and special effects used in "The Phantom Menace" are excellent; but sadly, the writing and dialog are pallid. The film's two biggest problems are the character Jar Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd's portrayal of Anakin. When George Lucas released the previous "Star Wars" film in 1983 ("Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi"), he introduced a bunch of furry little creatures known as Ewoks. Many people found them endearing, but some found them annoying. In similar fashion, Lucas created an underwater species on Naboo known as the Gungan, of which Jar Jar Binks is part. Unfortuneately, the Gungan's Jamaican accents and immature vocabulary made them (especially Jar Jar) far more annoying than endearing. As for Jake Lloyd, it is very strange that with so many fine, young talented actors, that Lucas would select a highly animated and unconvincing actor to portray one of the film's most important characters.There are, however, many memorable scenes in the film that partially make up for the film's inadequacies including Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon on the Federation starship, views of Naboo, the pod race, Qui-Gon's first encounter with Darth Maul (played by Ray Park, voice by Peter Serafinowicz), Queen Amidala's address to the Senate, Anakin standing before the Jedi Council that is headed by Yoda (voice done by Frank Oz), the Gungan/droid battle, the Naboo castle invasion, and the final battle between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon with Obi-Wan. Other memorable characters include C-3PO (the returning Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (the returning Kenny Baker), Sebulba (voice done by Lewis Macleod), Captain Panaka (Hugh Quarshie), Jabba the Hut and Boss Nass (Brian Blessed).Overall, I rate the double-DVD version of "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace" with 4 out of 5 stars. The additional DVD includes many fascinating clips of how the film was made, including the creation of Darth Maul and the choreography of his fights.

What is so awful about this movie? All I've seen at this site is DISTURBINGLY negative reviews of it, calling for the torture and death of Jar Jar Binks and calling the movie a "steaming heap of refuse" or words to that effect. Are you people SERIOUS?! Qui Conn Jinn I have to wonder about, granted, but Natalie Portman, for her young years, is an excellent actress....She seems much more mature than the 20 or so solar cycles she's seen.Yes, granted, Jar Jar Binks is a pain in the [...], but for my money, C3PO is STILL the most irritating character in the Star Wars pantheon. Why is he even THERE? R2D2 is the robot that usually pulls everybody's fat out of the fire at the last minute...what has 3PO done? Saved Luke and Han from the Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi"? I think they and Chewbacca could have eventually handled them.Anyway, back to "Phantom". While I take pains to defend the film, there ARE a few things wrong with it, some MAJOR things, not the least of which is Qui Conn Jinn's fawning interest in little Annakin! For instance, a little too much of it is reminiscent of "The Empire Strikes Back" in the beginning, especially as Qui Conn, Jar Jar and Obi Wan leave Gungan.Speaking of Gungan, I like Boss Nass as a character, with his odd speech pattern and facial tics. Very original character concept, if you ask me. Schmi Skywalker is also a great character, ("Schmi"?! Why was she named after a villain in "Peter Pan"?) She exudes a tranquil persona that permeates every scene she's in. Pernilla August handles this part beautifully. WHY was she killed off in "Attack of the Clones"??The art direction....? Nonpareil! Though not the equal of "Attack of the Clones", if "Phantom" didn't win the 1999 Oscar(r) for art direction or visual effects, a fix was in for the actual winner, because few movies can equal this or its sequel for pure visual mastery. (Or pure cheek!)The plot? What was wrong with the plot? Granted the pathos and strong feelings from "New Hope" aren't there because THIS IS NOT "NEW HOPE"!! This movie didn't have the luxury or inherent specialness of being the founder of a film dynasty and institution, and it does put some light on the beginnings of Annakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and what made him so special in the eyes of the Jedi and the Empire. Sorry, but we will never again see the image of the remains of Beru and Owen amongst the ruins of their smoking residence, or Luke's stunned reaction to it. Never see Luke blow up Deathstar with the spirit of justice guiding his every move. Never see him shreik in outrage as his own father kills Obi Wan Kenobi right in front of his eyes. Never see Princess Leia surprise Han and Luke by firing a gun like a pro that first time. Nope...never. Deal with it.This movie could have been garbage, like "Return of the Jedi", which is, as far as I'm concerned, the REAL stinker amongst the Star Wars films! Lucas certainly didn't have to exert himself for the bucks, now did he? However, I will put this up against "2010: The Year We Make Contact", "Ghostbusters II" "Alien Resurrection", "Batman & Robin", "Star Trek: Insurrection" and any ONE of Spielberg's little money factory originals or sequels any day of the week for quality!About the only other thing that bugs me about this movie and "Clones" together is that Ewan McGregor is NOT a convincing young Obi Wan. Forty-five, fifty years ago, Alec Guiness pretty much looked, sounded and acted as he did in "New Hope" to "Jedi". It's impossible to imagine McGregor developing Guiness' distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms along the way to his dotage. Where's the nasal tone? The smirk? Believe me, nobody changes that much over the course of a lifetime, I don't care HOW much they age! All in all, NOTHING should prevent you from buying this movie...not the condemnations of fanboys, not the homicidal sentiments toward Jar Jar Binks or anything ELSE! Buy this for what it is...another great addition to THE Royal Family of popcorn movies!THEN...analyze it!

I have all nine of this set excluding Rogue One, the performances are first rate, from the sadly underused apprentice, the non explanation as to how the Sith Order, once as numerous as the Jedi, but given it radically extreme introspection precipitating internecine strife and leadership battles in an order where everyone was already only out for their own personal advancement and the construction and acquisition of dangerous powers, before the Jedi swept in and wiped them out to a single master and his apprentice. It would not be until episode III that Palpatine's revelry of reciting the tragedy of Darth Plageus the Wise - witch king - by the apprentice who,from a smile of what might possibly just have been prideful reminiscence, might possibly have been, arguably, Palpatine himself who slew Darth Plageus in his sleep after learning all the mysteries of both the Sith AND the Jedi from him. Ah well, all's well that ends well(?).x

I was very impressed to find how good, in terms of quality this particular DVD is. Given its price I thought it would be okay and no more than that. I was really surprised therefore, to find how good a quality these discs are. I am, like most people, aware of everything that is available nowadays..downloading etc... I am not an avid Starwars fan, I just enjoy watching the films. I remember when it was first released in the 1990s it received unfair and unkind comments from some quarters but not from me. Happily, I watched it again and can say I really enjoyed it.

People who actually form thier own independant opinions on things must objectively rate this as one of the most entertaining movies of all time--if they can be honest with themselves. The Special FX were great--the story was fresh without having to add gratuitous sex or gory violence(the jaded can't seem to live without this sort of thing). At the theatre I was on the edge of my seat during the whole pod racer sequence, and during Aniken's hair raising trip in the fighter craft. My whole family loved Jar Jar Binks and talked about him all the way home. I think Alien Intolerence should be the next target of the Civil Rights movement.

This was a great story the best Sci Fi set of 6 films. I love star wars from when I first went to the Cinema back in 1977 to start seeing the 1st trilogy & this was the start of the 2nd trilogy bringing it up to date to show how it all came together. I love it.

Having owned this when it was first released- I expected the same box and liner notes- it doesn’t have those. Same discs tho. The filmIs excellent- I got dvd rather that blu ray as I wanted the puppet yoda- in subsequent blu rays they have changed to a digital yoda. Great film- very underrated coz of the hype.