Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

[Squaremaster316]

* out of *****

 

With two of the worst supporting characters in film history (Jar Jar and Anakin), horrible dialogue, Neeson's character making one stupid decision after another, and an uninspired plot with an overabundance/dependence on CGI, this film has more than earned its sour reputation.

[Killimano3]

It's been a long time since I last saw this but after watching it again I realize that there are only a few real problems. Unfortunately those couple things bleed into almost everything in the movie. Jar Jar is obviously the most glaring problem and I have no idea why George Lucas ever thought that he was a good idea to include. Jake Lloyd's acting also wasn't that great as young Anakin but i'm not going to fault him on that given he was eight.

 

People seem to complain a lot about the politics and trade route stuff but I actually was fine with that stuff since I found the politics of the prequel trilogy actually quite interesting.

 

Darth Maul should have had a larger role. The fact that he only really appeared near the end and had a single line was kind of disappointing.

 

The action and CGI was actually pretty good and helped the movie a lot. The pod racing I was not really a fan of. Could have cut that part down a lot... or removed it.

 

Overall the movie was OK. It had too much dragging it down for me to really like it all that much but it but I didn't necessarily hate it either. I just thought there were some sort of stupid writing decisions made.

[lilmac]

A 'C' and not a D/E because it's a Star Wars movie and that alone keeps it from truly being a bottom feeder film.  

[dudalb]

The pod racing sequence is far, far too long. It's like Lucas waited for all the tension to dissipate before bringing to an end.

For me,all the Pod Race scene does is remind me of how much better the Chariot Race in Ben Hur, which Lucas shamelessly steals from ,is. It has drama and tension, and everything that is lacking in the Pod race. The main is in Ben Hur director Willian Wyler kept the focus on the ract as  a duel between Ben Hur and Messala,but Lucas totally lacks a focus in the race.

[Mulder]

Despite being the worst of the SW films, it's still overall a good film. Gets way too much hate and I'd consider it highly underrated. For me it's a 7/10 or a B.

[Noctis]

One of the worst blockbusters of all time.

 

F

[4815162342]

One of the worst blockbusters of all time.

 

F

 

It doesn't feature robot testicles. So incorrect.

[Noctis]

It doesn't feature robot testicles. So incorrect.

 

I said ONE of them.

 

RoTF is easily up there with them, but at least that film was a mess. This isn't a mess. It's so dull and inept to the point of being atrocious.

 

TPM, RoTF, and TLA are the worst blockbusters of the past fifteen years.

[Squaremaster316]

I said ONE of them.

 

RoTF is easily up there with them, but at least that film was a mess. This isn't a mess. It's so dull and inept to the point of being atrocious.

 

TPM, RoTF, and TLA are the worst blockbusters of the past fifteen years.

And XMO:W

[Lordmandeep]

Duel of the Fates and the Pod Races are great and famous scenes so its not the worst blockbuster ever by any measure. 

[cookie]

Duel of Fates is a cool scene in of itself but it really has little context or build-up within the story. It just randomly happens.

Edited May 11, 2014 by C00k13zilla

[The Panda]

I watched this as part of my Star Wars marathon with a group of friends last week for Star Wars week, it reminded me why this movie sucks and is a straight F.

[ShouldIBeHere]

I was blown away by this as a 9 year old kid.

 

Did not re-watch it for over 16 years and saw it again a couple of months ago.

 

Nothing left of the magic I saw in it as a kid.

 

D+

Edited August 19, 2014 by ShouldIBeHere

[miketheavenger]

I don't think this deserves quite as much hate as it gets. The podrace and the lightsabre fight at the end are fantastic and Liam Neeson is badass as well. However, I do agree that young Anakin and Jar Jar are very annoying and that all those political things aren't interesting at all. Star Wars is supposed to be a space opera, not a political thriller.

 

C

[Goffe]

I liked the political parts

[miketheavenger]

I liked the political parts

It's just my opinion. I don't think they were necessarily bad, I just didn't care for them.

Edited August 20, 2014 by miketheavenger

[Michael Gary Scott]

Rewatched it and raise my grade to 4.5/5

[Joel M]

I found it lame and dissapointing back in 99 but it didn't ruin my love for the OT nor I was hating on it. When I watched it again last year I was shocked by how much worse it really was. It truly is one of the most terrible blockbusters in every way possible. Absolutely nothing works in this movie. And the worst part is that despite JarJar Binks, the neverending podrace, the terrible excuse of a plot about the trade federation that sends the characters from setpiece to setpiece for no reason the movie could have worked. If Lucas had maintained the light adventure spirit of the OT and the characters were at least interesting none of the above failings would have mattered so much. I'm not saying it would be a great movie but it would have been an OK movie, maybe even enjoyable. But everything is so stiff and lifeless it makes every terrible aspect of the movie even worse. 

 

 

F.

[RobinHood26]

Haven't seen them in like 2 years so I bought them all in blu-ray. My enjoyment level is huge still, but its pretty bad haha. 

 

New score.

 

B- (82)

[4815162342]

Haven't seen them in like 2 years so I bought them all in blu-ray. My enjoyment level is huge still, but its pretty bad haha. 

 

New score.

 

B- (82)

 

aka Road Warrior/10