I'm Defending this movie and here's why.....

Rating: 9/10 (9 April 2000)

Since this movie was way overhyped, It's no huge surprise why it has recieved so much negativity. But Let's be real now..On a George Lucas stand-point, he did his job to satisfy the STAR WARS fans with the saga's FIRST, (I'll say that again) THE FIRST!!! Episode of the whole Star Wars Legacy.
On SWEp:1-TPM, here we are invited to a different looking galaxy (NOT THE ONE THAT SO MANY OF US WERE USED TO IN THE OLD TRILOGY, you know:star wars, empire strikes back, etc,) This is a galaxy that seems to have gotten along fairly well, untill a greedy trade federation intervenes (*SPOILERS--->Headed by a mysterious leader-Darth Sidious AKA Palpatine, who happens to be the main evil character out of the whole series) It is here when we are first introduced to the Jedi characters. Not much is known about them, but we will soon get into greater depth with them..in future episodes.. And that's what my main point of this review is!
You cannot blame this film just because the previous films were so much better! Well, You do have an argument there because George Lucas CHOSE to introduce us to the STAR WARS galaxy by showing where the saga had reached at that point! Here he is showing where,how, and why those things began! (Whether it was budget problems or not)
Examples for hatred of this film:1)"The acting is wooden and terrible" - Jedis are'nt supposed to be wise-cracking Han Solo types.
2) -It's possible that Jake Loyd (Anakin) could have been played by a different, more tolerant kid, But Lucas wanted to show that the future DARTH VADER was'nt an always evil person.
3)- "Jar Jar"- a species created for comic relief, If you did'nt find him funny keep it to yourself, (personally i find Jim Carrey & Roberto Benigni more irritating)
4)-" Script?" I guess that the critics and viewers in this day & age, plus the hype, expected something more challenging & universal going for this picture. All you have to do is look at this picture UN-AWARE of what will become of the future of this imaginative saga!!!!
5)- "Too much CGI" Does Disney get a lot of flack for too many animated characters in their movies? When will we viewers realize that a motion picture is just a motion picture, despite its effects. Plain and simple.
6)- "Darth Maul" Everybody expected a successor to Darth Vader, but with Maul we get an introduction to the Dark Side of the Force, nothing more nothing less, this is where the mystery begins (That is, If you are tolerant enough!)
7)- "It did'nt seem STAR WARS enough" AGAIN, this film is supposed to take place at a different time when things were'nt as darker as they would soon be. *SPOILERS*--> Once Anakin has accepted the dark side of the force and helps lead the Emperor, AKA Palpatine to conquer all of the galaxy, then thats when we are brought into the familiar territory of the old trilogy--- YET "The Phantom Menace" is a film alone that still sparks interest into wonderous filmaking, whether you like it or not.
My whole point is that these series of films should be looked at and admired of how they will proceed in TIMELINE order. Not when they were made, but when they take place.
Because believe me, In time, when new generations view this saga, they will be appreciated with what they will see in THE PHANTOM MENACE. 'Nuff Said!