Least of the series, but I still liked it.

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2000)

I was one of those people who stayed up until midnight on the day the movie opened, and while I still liked the Phantom Menace I can't say it measured up to the first two films. There are ten things I like about the movie, and ten things I don't. What I liked: 1. Liam Neeson. 2. Natalie Portman. She and Neeson gave the best acting performances. I am now in love with her. 3. The special effects in general were excellent. 4. The finale was one of the best I have ever seen in a movie. 5. Costume designs. 6. Darth Maul. 7. The Pod Race. 8. Pernilla August. 9. Yoda. 10. Did I mention I love Natalie Portman?
Now the ten things I didn't like: 1. Jake Lloyd. 2. Ewan Mcgreggor didn't have enough to do. 3. Jar Jar Binks. 4. The Neimoudians. 5. The movie was too long. 6. The absence of an extended space battle scene. 7. C-3PO was left behind and had little impact. 8. Not enough political background. 9. The absence of a scene where Jar Jar dies. 10. The overall plot could have been fleshed out.
I am still an eager Star Wars fan, and likely will be one the rest of my life. I hope Hayden Christiansen is a much better Anakin than Jake Lloyd and that Episode II will recapture the magic of the first two films.