OK, I will say it was OK

Rating: 7/10 (23 April 2000)

I have to admit to not thinking this movie was much when I saw it in the theater last summer. I thought the characters were weak and uninteresting, and the one I seemed to like the most was Jar-Jar Binks. I remember thinking that I was more impressed with a computer-generated character than the ones played by live actors.
Seeing the movie now on video, I liked it more. Sure, I still think it is the lowest of the Star Wars films, but it has plenty of segments that make it worth watching (and buying).
"Phantom Menace" is not up to the same level of the original trilogy. I thought the politics in the story are laid on too heavily and are very confusing. That made it impossible for me to care about that. To see Queen Amidala speak to a committee about people dying is emotionally unconvincing.
Also, in a battle scene, I thought it was a little ridiculous that an entire droid army could not shoot through a shield, BUT THEY COULD WALK THROUGH IT!!!! How??? Then, they are defeated SIMPLY BY BLOWING UP THE CONTROL SHIP IN SPACE!!!!!!!
These are not the kind of plot errors I noticed after repeated viewings of the picture. I had these thoughts the first time, as I was sitting in the theater. My kids are young and did not care about these things. They were thoroughly entertained.
I was entertained as well, but hoped for more. I just hope that George Lucas did not "dumb-down" all of the rest of this new trilogy.