Great, but I expected more...

Rating: 5/10 (20 July 2000)

Star Wars was one of the most awaited films of 1999. There are 22 years between the first movie of the saga and this brand new one. Both of them (and all the Star Wars saga) are fantastic, but because of the new technologies and more director experience (and of course a bigger budget), "Episode I" was supposed to be equal (or better) than the original "Episode IV". But, Is it better?
In my opinion, I must say NOT. "Episode I" does definitely not reach the level of richness that the first Star Wars film has. But, if you take the movie like a beginning of a new trilogy, "The Phantom Menace" is a brilliant film, full of that romantic atmosphere of the first trilogy.
What I've found in the film is the "emptyness" of the characters. I'm not saying that Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and the rest are bad actors. I think that in this new production, the special effects have been more worked on than the characters. The reason may be that in the first film, because not having the technology to produce incredible visual effects, Lucas had to focus on the characters: their life, their thoughts, their position in the story... In the "Episode I" all the story goes too fast, without giving the opportunity to explain clearly what and how the things are.
It's like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Alec Guiness did an outstanding job playing as the Jedi. Besides, Ewan McGregor does a great acting, but doesn't shine like the Obi-Wan of the first trilogy. We'll have to wait for the next two films to see how the character evolves.
In the other hand, the visual effects are spectacular, and the lightsaber fights are awesome! Of course the most commercial character of the film is Darth Maul, who's got a tremendous ability with his double lightsaber. Don't miss the final battle scene between the Jedis and the Sith.
Even though, the film does a great effort to keep alive one of the best movies ever made! Go for the Episode II! 8/10