Equal to Episode IV

Rating: Null/10 (11 August 2002)

The Phantom Menace is the punching bag of the Star Wars series. Here is the first original film in the Star Wars universe to be put on the big screen in 20 years, and apparently during that time, a lot of Star Wars fans got a lightsaber stuck in their bum. I don't know why tons of people had a problem with the film.
I personally hold this up to Episode 4, because you don't need to have seen any of the previous Episodes to fully understand it. This is the beginning of the "Anakin Trilogy" as I like to call it, since it revolves around Anakin Skywalker.
As far as the film goes, it has it's flaws, but these are flaws that ALL Star Wars films have. The acting is cheesy at times, a lot of people felt the need to attack Jake Lloyd's acting...he's a kid, there is no such thing as a good child actor...watch something other than Star Wars and you'd know and accept that. And of course the character with the worst wrap of all Jar-Jar. Now I will admit that his "kicked out of his hometown because he's clumsy" story is a little bit corny, but then again it's an alien society, grace could mean everything to them. Other than that Jar-Jar's voice could have been lowered a little, and he'd be perfect.
I recommend this Star Wars, this is the one with the biggest feeling of apending doom. The world is innocent at this time, the wheels have only begun to be put into motion the events that will take place. Plus you have a kick-butt podrace scene and a threeway lightsaber fight, who can beat that?