Better after multiple viewings

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2000)

I have to say that the movie has gotten much better after seeing it multiple times in the theater and now on Widescreen VHS (Though it really deserves DVD treatment). Many of the things that initially annoyed me such as the voice of the the ViceRoy, The Speech of all Gungans (not just Jar Jar), and the slightly slow start to the movie have become more tolerable with time allowing me to sit back and for the first time say that this movie is just as good as Men In Black and Independence Day. It may have its flaws, but the force is present in it thanks to the pod race, Darth Sideous/Senator Palpatine, The jedi, and the best light saber battle ever. It sets up things for the next two prequels and many of the plot holes will probably be filled in by the next movie. I have a feeling that this movie will grow on people by the time the last prequel is finished and that people will see that it really was necessary to set up the events of the next two prequels. Just imagine HOW GREAT the next VILLIAN in Lucas' mind must be if he had the guts to kill off such a Super Villian as Darth Maul. Also, Though the midi-chlorians are difficult to swallow now, imagine how easy it will be to accept their explination in the Phantom Menace if they are used as a way to hunt down the Jedi. Seeing Yoda alive again and knowing in the next movie or the third he'll finally show his power in battle. If we had not seen how poorly droids fight, then we would not know why living being still fight battles when they could have robots do it with no casulties. Jar Jar is annoying, but by the third movie he'll be in hiding or (gasp)in that great gungan city in the sky since there is no mention of him in the Original Triligoy. The explanation of these things will give the phantom menace that much more meaning as the future prequels unfold.
There are a couple of sore points that will never be any easier to take such as Anakin being Sooooo Young and also Destroying the Droid ship at the end of the movie. The stiffness of the acting of some of the actors is also still difficult to take during the slow moments.
So go ahead and stop succombing to the dark side. Watch the phantom menace again and discover how good it really is.