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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Front Cover Actor
James Warwick Qui-Gon Jinn (voice)
Scott Cleverdon Obi-Wan Kenobi/Nute Gunray (voice)
Jake Lloyd Anakin Skywalker (voice)
Ahmed Best Jar Jar Binks (voice)
Andrew Secombe Watto (voice) (as Andy Secombe)
Grey DeLisle Queen Amidala/Padme` Naberrie/Gungan Child (voice) (as Grey Delisle)
Jeff Coopwood Captain Panaka/Neimoidian Controller (voice)
Tom Kane C-3PO/Barbo/Jym Lang/Prisoner/Thug Leader (voice)
Greg Proops Beed (voice)
Nick Jameson Senator Palpatine/BC-55/Gungan Male/Injured Soldier #2/Rodian Thug/Tense Soldier (voice)
Liam Neeson
Ewan McGregor
Natalie Portman
Movie Details
Genre Action; Adventure; Sci-Fi
Director George Lucas
Language English
Audience Rating T
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
"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 Nelson

Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 349
Collection Status In Collection
Links IMDB
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
UPC 024543023913
Release Date 2001
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Color Closed-captioned THX Widescreen Dolby