Terrific new start to Star Wars franchise

Rating: 8/10 (31 March 2005)

"Phantom Menace" gave a glorious new start to the legendary "Star Wars" series. It is a prequel to the old movies, but still the viewer doesn't know what will happen while watching the film and, honestly, he doesn't have time to wonder - "Episode I" is full with gorgeous action-scenes such as fight with lightsabers - here much better than in the old movies, race with supersonic machines, space battles etc., etc. The characters are well made even if younger Obi-Wan is slightly irritating and Padme is very annoying. Quan-gon is however a very interesting and charismatic character, little Anacin is cute and likable and Jar-Jar is hilarious. The villains are even cooler, from the devious racer Sebulba through the merciless killing machine Darth Maul to the cunning and ruthless Darth Sidious. The plot is well made, the special effects are still stunning, after so many years and the story moves with good pace, neither too fast, nor too slow. Overall, one of the best scifi movies, ever.