Just Chill

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2004)

First off, I'm definitely a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy. I'm not as die-hard as some, but I've enjoyed the movies greatly over the years. As for The Phantom Menace, it's definitely not my favorite of the films, but I definitely don't despise it.
I still feel transported into the Star Wars world when I watch Phantom Menace. I get to see what led up to the original trilogy, and truthfully, I didn't pay that much attention to Anakin in this movie. I get more intrigued about Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and the Jedi Council. Sure there are moments where there's too much talk, but Episode I displays some great sci-fi action scenes; such as the pod race with its awesome visual and sound effects, and the light saber duel between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon.
People also complain about Jar Jar, but he honestly didn't bug me too much. He's a minor character who's just a clumsy oaf. He may generate a few laughs, but he's not a character that I concentrated on. I also thought the animation used to create Jar Jar and the other digital characters wasn't too shabby either. They did stand out a little and may not have been done as well as Gollum in LOTR, but it's still a solid and groundbreaking effort by ILM.
What did annoy me the most were the Trade Federation characters. I thought their costumes just weren't well made, especially when their dialogue didn't match how their mouths were moving. They also just stood out like sore thumbs. I wish Mr. Lucas had decided whether or not to keep all his alien characters digital.
Nevertheless, I thought the visual effects were top notch. The story is good Star Wars material. It may not have been the best, and there were some awkward lines, but it didn't deter me in any way from enjoying this movie. I think moviegoers should take this movie for what it is, sit back, and just enjoy it. It's good fun!
My IMDb Rating: 8/10. My Yahoo! Grade: B+ (Memorable)