Don't listen to the critics, here or elsewhere

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 1999)

After all, we want to see space opera when walking into Phantom Menace - NOT (snicker) Fellini, Hitchcock or Kubrick. We want to see a sci-fi thrillride and learn what leads us to the events of the original trilogy.
Admittedly, the first @15 minutes are pretty juvenile, and had me groaning - but once they leave the goofy-looking city (you'll know it when you see it) and head for the Core, it gets really entertaining. The effects, the battle scenes are all great fun, and the Pod Race is not to be missed. It's Star Wars meets Ben Hur.
And if you're OBSESSING over the fact that the dialogue seems geared to the younger members of the audience, I suggest you re-watch the originals. They're not exactly Truffaut themselves.
Those of you wanting a dour, serious experience and brilliant Thespian writing and plot elements better not have one word of complaint leaving the theater, because if you expected these things from a Star Wars movie, you might actually want to SEE one first (they're readily available in video stores across the land).
For those who are going to see the movie for all the RIGHT reasons (you know who you are), don't listen to the amateur Eberts around here - it's well worth the price of admission!