Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #943 in VHS
• Released on: 2003-03-28
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Format: NTSC
• Original language: English
• Running time: 136 minutes

From 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-breathing 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 Nelson

Additional Features
The spectacular DVD release of Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace--arguably one of the best DVDs ever--will go a long way toward making it up to Star Wars fans who were disappointed by the theatrical release. (But, in case you're wondering, there's no option to delete Jar Jar.) The picture and sound are outstanding, it's loaded with bonuses, and even the menus are action-packed fun. Disc One includes the film with a commentary track by George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben Burtt, animation director Rob Coleman, and visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Murren, and Scott Squires. Rather than a group of people yelling at the screen, this commentary is a compilation of individual comments, very helpfully supplemented by supratitles that indicate who is speaking. Numerous technical details are explained, and Lucas mentions how certain scenes fit into the big picture of all six films (every time dutifully referring to the original film as "Episode IV").

Of Disc Two's cornucopia of bonus features, the most notable are the seven deleted scenes and a long documentary. The deleted scenes, which are all interesting enough to watch at least once, can be viewed individually or as a group along with discussions of why they were cut. These rough scenes were completed for the DVD and parts of them (including an introduction of the individual Podracers and a longer view of the skies over Coruscant) were reincorporated into the version of the film that appears on the DVD. The 66-minute behind-the-scenes documentary was compiled from 600 hours of footage shot during various stages of the film and includes Anakin screen tests, script-reading sessions, location shooting in Italy and Tunisia, and giddy fans on opening night. --David Horiuchi

Amazon.fr
Seize ans ! C'est exactement le temps qu'il aura fallu à la légendaire vague Star Wars pour déferler à nouveau sur notre galaxie. La Menace Fantôme constitue le premier volet de cette nouvelle trilogie dont l'originalité est de se placer chronologiquement avant l'épopée bien connue. Toucher à un mythe, c'est le briser ! Néanmoins, George Lucas, à nouveau aux commandes de ce premier épisode, réussit cet incroyable pari : réexplorer et relancer l'alchimie de Star Wars sans décevoir les anciens adeptes ni détourner la nouvelle génération, aux attentes et intérêts pourtant si divergents. Certes, un oeil aiguisé pourra toujours souligner l'anomalie d'avoir des équipements (vaisseaux, armes, robots…) et des effets spéciaux bien plus modernes que dans les trois autres volets, censés se dérouler postérieurement. Cependant, la force et la magie de maître Lucas tiennent justement à sa faculté d'occulter les rares objections soulevées en passionnant les foules au travers, notamment, d'un panel de personnages variés mais souvent comiques : Jar-Jar Binks, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan Mc Gregor), Anakin Skywalker et la Reine Amidala (Natalie Portman). Un grand moment de cinéma pour les jeunes et de nostalgie pour les plus grands. --Frédéric Thorens.

Customer Reviews

The Magic is Back!!
I have waited a long time for this. When I was a young lad of 4 when the original came out, I laid witness to one of the best movies I would ever see. Unfortunately, I was too young to really appreciate it. I also don't really remember the hype of the movie back then. I feel quite privileged to have been part of the magic of Episode I.
I was in university when the trailers for Episode I came out and my brother and I would watch the trailers over and over again. We thought we would die waiting for the movie to be on the screen in front of our faces.
Fortunately, the seemingly long wait ended and I can still feel that chill running up my spine when those immortal words came upon the screen: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..
The movie hit a home run on many counts. First of all, the casting of Ewan McGregor as Obi-wan Kenobi. Anyone who has seen his movies know how much of a powerhouse he is in his roles. Obi-wan was no exception. Ewen's portrayal made me wish I was young again so I could pretend I was Obi-wan(sorry Luke, Obi-wan's a better Jedi).
Another reason this was a great entry was the special effects. George Lucas and his camp of wizards made this the most amazing Star Wars movie experience.
Now, I am not betraying the originals, they are still the best movies ever, yet, I can't turn my head away from this entry. It was simply breathtaking. The various worlds, the amazing creatures, and an important look at the Jedi and the masters of peace-keeping they once were. The only look at the Jedi we've seen was Darth Vadar picking on an old man and then a fledgling teenager. Yes, seeing the Jedi in their prime gives everyone a good look into what the old Obi-wan has gone through to be where he is and how much work Luke must have gone through to get the skills he has.
I am glad that the "real" fans stayed true and made this movie the success it deserves to be. Now, I am sure that all those "generation-X" losers found this movie to "suck".Well, I say, go back to your pot-head, "destroy the institution" movies like "8-mile" and other wastes of celluloid.
Take a bow Mr. Lucas, this movie deserves to be placed right beside your other sci-fi masterpieces. Episode II can only be as great. I can't wait!!!

A good film in the Star War's saga


I've always been quite impressed by this film. It didn't have the same appeal as the original Star Wars Episode IV - but I suspect that had more to do with being 5 years old when I saw episode IV versus 22 years old when I saw episode I. Lucas did a good job with the script, as usual, and a good job picking actors and actresses who suit being immortalized into four inch action figures and comic book drawings. The special effects are amazing of course and the plot is full of interesting twists and turns. What I find so interesting is that we all ultimately know how the story is going to work out, yet you can't help but watch the movie to see what happens next; this is why it's worth watching.

It's Star Wars come on! Great DVD features.
Okay this is old now I know, but re-watched it the second time.

Overall - better then I remembered and worse all at once, the DVD had some awesome special features though.

Summary: that start of the Star Wars series. Don't think I need to sumarize this one. See Anikin Skywalker as a kid, see young Obi-Wan, see Jar-Jar and a pod race.

The good: the effects are awesome. It's Star Wars, sure it's not the best Star Wars but it's still better then 90% of the movies that come out. Darth Maul rocks. Young Obi-Wan is awesome. The pod race is pretty cool. Seeing Corusant for the first time was sweet. The battles are great.

The bad: Darth Maul dies too easily (now not as easy as Dukoo or General Grevious). The pod race is cool but long. Kids can't act and Anakin is no exception. The budding love between Amidala and Anakin is creepy. Jar-Jar annoyed me. I much prefered 3P0 for comedic releif. He wouldn't have been that bad if they didn't have to slip him into every scene.

The ugly: Midicloriens and the virgin birth of Darth Vader. WTF?!? I can overlook Jar-Jar, but not the scientific explanation for The Force. Why not leave it mystical like it was. Why not leave every viewer with that faint hope that The Force does exist and if they just try enough they can use it. Why rationalize it. Argh I hated that, and still do and always will.

Overall: worth seeing if you are a Star Wars fan. There was no way in hell no matter how good it could have been that it would live up to the original series. Some people will love it, some will hate it, but its still Star Wars and it's still a good time.