The Greatest Popcorn Story Ever Told.

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 1999)

Many have complained about juvenile humor, two-dimensional characters and a lack of story in The Phantom Menace. Then the same people (most in their early 30's by now) lambast Lucas for ruining "their vision" of what Star Wars is all about.
Psst...little secret here: Star Wars was, is, and always will be a kids' movie. Young boys saving the universe, old wizard, magical swords and evil, black-helmeted bad guys...the stuff of Saturday-morning serials. It's a shame all of us older kids have attached this bizarre pseudo-religion onto what is essentially the greatest popcorn story ever told.
What? You were expecting Citizen Kane? Well, in terms of groundbreaking special effects, The Phantom Menace is quite similar. The technology used to tell this story (that of the fall of the Old Republic and the rise of the Empire) is nothing short of breath-taking. With SW1, movies have truly entered the digital age. As for the story...it's one of the oldest in human existence. I say give George a break and give him a hand...he's crafted a beautiful movie that made me feel like I did when I was five-years old again.