Is it worth the wait? Not quite. Is it a bad movie? Certainly not. Could it have been better? Yes. Is it fun? Absolutely.

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 1999)

It's been 16 years since Luke, Han, Leia and the gang boogied down in the woods with the Ewoks at the end of "Return of the Jedi". Now, finally, George Lucas has given us the first of his long awaited prequels. Unfortunately, those of us who loved Star Wars as kids have grown-up. After 16 years, is it worth the wait? Not quite. Is it a bad movie? Certainly not. Could it have been better? Yes. Is it fun? Absolutely.
The plot doesn't come together quite as easily as it should. Things are a little confusing and the editing is very choppy. At times it feels like the beginning and end of every scene was lopped off. The final battle sequence is also where the movie's inherent flaw rears its ugly head. The victory can't be cherished because we know, before long the bad guys will win out. Anakin is an adorable kid, but we know he's going to turn out to be Darth Vader.
There is some new information: the nature and mechanics of the Force is elaborated upon, but the details we're given only raise more questions. We also learn some things that seem to contradict what we know from episodes IV, V & VI, as if Lucas is changing the rules of the universe his fans know so well, or maybe he's just making it up as he goes along. The final scenes only hint at the developments to come in the next two installments. When he gets around to making those, let's hope Lucas brings in someone to help with the script the way Lawrence Kasden did for Episodes V & VI.
The special effects are a marvel to look at. The film is a stunning visual layer cake that will need several repeat viewings to truly appreciate. But the chemistry between the human elements is lacking. Not that the cast could not provide it, but Lucas' script doesn't give them a chance. No one in this film can manage to do what Harrison Ford did in the original -- rise above the material. All the actors here seem lost, as if they were given no direction at all. Neeson does the best job. McGregor isn't given much to do besides perfect his Alec Guinness impersonation; his talent is wasted. Portman is very gifted, but her performance here is erratic. I'll blame Lucas for that. (I also wondered why with all the impressive special effects, they couldn't give Neeson a better looking hairpiece.)
Without the human magic, "The Phantom Menace" can't come close to any of the original films. You'll leave the theater pleased, but die hard Star Wars fans who've been waiting for more than a decade and a half for this may feel less than fulfilled. Kids on the other hand will love it. The movie is aimed squarely at them, and they will enjoy it the most. And after all, isn't that how it should be?