A good movie, but like Return of the Jedi, too much expectation.

Rating: Null/10 (22 June 2001)

There's little doubt that this movie did not meet the expectations of most fans. It clearly lacks the likeable, quirky characters of the original trilogy. It also lacks a villain that we can really enjoy hating. Yes, I know it's "the phantom menace". I genuinely enjoy the idea of Senator Palpatine/Darth Sidious pulling the strings behind the scenes. However, a great opportunity was lost by making Darth Maul such a one-note villain. I remember fans (and myself) just gasping with awe when we first saw the trailer for the movie in the fall of '98. That tattooed face, and the double-bladed lightsaber! Such possibilities. Who knew that he'd have more lines in the "tone poem" commercial than in the entire film? What the original trilogy lacked in fight choreography, it made up for with dramatic intrigue. Luke being taunted and enticed to come over to the dark side, minus one hand. Vader threatening to corrupt Leia....In "Phantom Menace", wonderful fight choreography, but no drama to connect the characters to each other. Why wouldn't Qui-Gonn ask Maul about who he is or what he wants?
Another sad reality is that, as others have stated, it seems as though the actors didn't quite know the nature of what they were acting and reacting to. George Lucas is certainly a master storyteller. However, we can only hope that in Episode II, he'll provide the players with a greater understanding of the true nature of what will be filling in the bluescreen spaces that the actors have to work around.
And though I'm loathe to admit it, the storyline could have used tightening. Loathe because I'd hate to send a message to Lucas that his audience can't really grasp or embrace complex storylines and situations. However, the review that heads up this section illustrates how many fans just didn't get it. The "phantom menace" IS NOT the trade federation. They are the puppets of the true menace, which I thought was pretty clear anyway--Darth Sidious/Senator Palpatine. The true menace is the one that represents the real danger, not the seeming threat easily identified right in front of you...
My only wish for the next "film" in the series is that a greater effort will be made to give the characters some weight and depth...and humor. At the same time, that humor can exist within the structure of a very serious and intense story, more philosophically aligned with "The Empire Strikes Back" than with the more teen/kid targeted efforts in "The Phantom Menace" and "ROTJ".
In summary, "TPM" is a good movie and is useful in that it introduces our favorite galaxy far, far away and the situations that will shape that galaxy. I would imagine that when all the films are done, it will stand out
as the one film in the series that didn't quite capture the magic like II-VI did.........Scott Wallace.