Most intelligent of the series, but lacking the innovative FX of its predecessors.

Rating: 4/10 (1 June 1999)

The action isn't as fast, the visual effects not as innovative or ground breaking. But the movie, for the most part, is the most intelligent and realistic of the series.
It explains the "science" behind the force, though briefly and not very scientifically. The most impressive aspect of the movie is its depiction of the economic, social, and political structure of the Star Wars universe.
There's also a clever little mystery in determining who the villain, the phantom menace, actually is. Anybody out of junior high should be able to guess this, and it's all but given away at the end of the movie.
As for the negative aspects of the film: The Darth Maul character is made to look like a demon, which brings in unnecessary and irrelevant religious overtones. In addition, Lucas can't seem to get himself out of the good guys in white, bad guys in black clichÃ©.