SEE THIS MOVIE 20 TIMES SO I CAN BEAT TITANIC.

Rating: 8/10 (1 July 1999)

Hi. I'm Joan Paolo De Luca, from Venezuela here. I Just saw The Phantom Menace, after more than a month from its release, I've read about a hundred comments, as well as movie critics, and seen all the shows about the movie on E!.
Let me say that all the ones that gave this masterpiece of entertainment ,THE most expected movie in the history of Cinema a bad comment are just f...ing crazy. Some of those comments really suck: they are pointless, untruthful, exaggerated, unsensible, underrated ... etc, just plain stupid. I don't know what you guys expected from the movie, it is just another Star Wars movie, and that's it.
I couldn't believe when I read a comment from a guy saying that he couldn't stand the whole picture and left the theater before finished; man, I wanted to throw up!!, And HE calls himself a Star Wars Fan.
Some other miss a Han Solo kind of character, but what the hell, this is not a new version of A New Hope, and for all of you guys, I think that Qui-Gon is a bit like Han Solo: A guy who's always challenging the system, he's a rebel Jedi, he only follows his instinct, not a damn Jedi Counsel.
Ok, I admit it, the movie is not perfect, at the beginning the editing is too anxius to reach Tatooine and find Anakin, traduction: is goes too fast. Jar Jar Binks is cute and sometimes funny, but they focus the camera too much on him, especially at the beginning. I read he will be back in the next movie, but not as annoying.
Despite what people say, I liked that Darth Maul dies, he looks cool, and fights cool, but didn't have much of a personality, he'd only do as the emperor says, I would like him as a fulltime bad guy, as Darth Vader was, the fact that he dies leaves much ground to plant on account of bad guys. After all, the next two movies will be full with great Jedi Battles, with all the Clone Wars and all.
The acting is quite good, Not BAD as people say, but after all, Star Wars hard point was precisely in the acting. Liam Neeson is not bored as some guys say, it's just that Qui-Gon is too calm... too focus... too good a Jedi Master, more of a teacher than a fighter. Ewan McGregor is acceptable, his character doesn't do much at the beginning but at the end he becomes really important. Jake Lloyd did a great job, after all, he acted as a child, I hate when people say that kids can't act, even acting as yourself is difficult, believe it or not, try it.
I'm IN LOVE with Natalie Portman, she did a great job because she encarnated two characters, the beautiful, charming, and intelligent Padma and the Queen, a very serious and focus girl, her performance is the best in the whole movie, as well as Pernilla August's, too bad she has few scenes.
Two great things about the story: Chancellor Palpatine's dark scheme, that was awesome; and R2D2 introduction, I wanted to cry when I saw him saving all the main characters at the begininng of the film when all the droid go outside the ship to repair the shields and he alone remains safe and sound, there we get to see (or remind) how important that little droid is for the Star Wars movies.
I'm also a Huge Fan of John Williams, I own almost all of his known soundtracks, and right know my precioussss (in gollum's words) is The Phantom Menace, the song "The Duel Of Fates" (The Lightsaber Battle) is a masterpiece, I've hummed it almost every day; The "Anakin's Theme" is simply marvelous, the last four notes are from the Darth Vader Theme, that is really a genius job. All the other music establish a great atmosphere to the movie, as well as all the other three. I applaud his work, again... and again... and again.
People can't expect this one to be the best, simply because it can't be, and is NOT. This is just a come-back from Lucas, a movie with thousands of F/X, many new characters and creatures, plots and subplots. The movie prepares us for the next two, which I think will have less F/X and more story. I can't believe We have to wait for three more years, it's a sin... it's a sin (in Alexander De Large's Words).
Mark My words IMDB, this movie will be nominated for all these Oscars: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Music, Best Special Effects.
I don't know which will one will win, I'm sure about Costume Design and Sound Effects. The F/X award is going to be battled between this one and The Matrix at those Oscars.