Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Name: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Released: May 19, 1999
Duration: 136 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman

1999

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Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 2017 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 2017 Ratings

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Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: May 19, 1999 | PG

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman

Summary: Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker, a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home toStranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker, a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith.… Expand

Director: George Lucas

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 136 min

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Critic Reviews

Shawn Levy

Phantom may not be the best entry in the series, but it's the most technically accomplished, and it makes you as hungry for the next film as you've been for this one.

James Berardinelli

Not a masterpiece, but it's an example of how imagination, craftsmanship, and technological bravura can fashion superior entertainment out of something that is far from flawless. Read full review

Susan Wloszczyna

Let the killjoys squawk. Lucas has proved he has the Naboos to pull it off again. And again. And again. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Phantom is easily consumable eye candy, but it contains no nutrients for the heart or mind. Read full review

Film.com Sean Means

It earns an "Incomplete'' -- because we won't know the results until we see Lucas' next chapter.

Film.com John Hartl

Story. Character. They used to mean something to George Lucas. Read full review

Calum Marsh

It's difficult to discern precisely where this all went wrong, and even more difficult to speculate about possible improvements. Read full review

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User Reviews

MovieLonely94

Nov 1, 2010

George Lucas's epic masterpiece before the dark times.

50 of 122 users found this helpful5072

Sidious58

Mar 8, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un ottimo film con ottimi effetti speciali per l'epoca. Probabilmente è il film meno drammatico della saga data l'assenza di una guerra vera propria.Gli unici veri problemi sono una corsa degli sgusci tirata troppo per le lunghe e una battaglia su Naboo non troppo eccezionale… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Epik_Ninnja

May 22, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So the movie isn't as golden as the original trilogy. So Jar-Jar binks is annoying. This movie is still very enjoyable to watch and it's still a great entry to the saga, in my opinion. I don't care if Anakin is annoying, he's a little kid who will grow up to be evil! Is he supposed to be completely loveable? I think that the backstory on the original films is great and the lightsaber duel at the end (Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs. Darth Maul) was one of the best fihgt scenes in the saga. Ultimately, I find this movie to be rather entertaining not only as a piece of backstory to the original films but also as its own movie. The ending is massive-scale, the CGI was great at the time,a dn it's just a pretty fun movie all-around.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DerekReide

Mar 10, 2019

Now, I'm not saying this is the worst Star Wars movie, but it is better than The Last Jedi. Sorry Rian, but it's true and the fans know it. I'd rather listen to Jar Jar talk than listen to the "jokes" we had to put up with in TLJ. Anyway, the movie was good, but not good enough to reboot theNow, I'm not saying this is the worst Star Wars movie, but it is better than The Last Jedi. Sorry Rian, but it's true and the fans know it. I'd rather listen to Jar Jar talk than listen to the "jokes" we had to put up with in TLJ. Anyway, the movie was good, but not good enough to reboot the Star Wars franchise.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Halfwelshman

Oct 9, 2011

Cast your mind back to May 1999. You may remember quite a buzz of excitement in the air. The world was awaiting the release of a new edition to the Star Wars saga, 16 years after it ended. To put it mildly, The Phantom Menace had a lot to live up to. It may yet go down in history as the mostCast your mind back to May 1999. You may remember quite a buzz of excitement in the air. The world was awaiting the release of a new edition to the Star Wars saga, 16 years after it ended. To put it mildly, The Phantom Menace had a lot to live up to. It may yet go down in history as the most divisive film of all time. As often parodied, it split Star Wars fans down the middle. No one could deny that the effects were superb, flawless even. But what bothered many was the clunky dialogue, the wooden acting and the fact that it didn't seem to belong in quite the same world as the series which shares its name. My main problem with the Phantom Menace is that I'm relatively indifferent to it. It's not awful by any means, in fact it has many redeeming features (but no where near enough to make it a great film). The visuals were the best in the world at the time of the film's release, and still hold up today. The realisation of Coruscant, the "capital of the galaxy" in the form of a planet-wide city is an interesting idea, as is the Gungan's underwater "bubble city" and both look sensational. The film also has two stand-out action sequences - the pod-race, a creative, heart-thumping Ben-Hur tribute, and the "duel of the fates" which forms the finale of the film. This three-way lightsabre battle between a young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) against the formidable Darth Maul (Ray Park) wielding an iconic double-bladed lightsabre. This has to be among the finest fight scenes of all time - the choreography is extremely creative and the execution flawless - it's a real testement to the stunt crew working on the film. Brilliant visuals and two memorable scenes cannot save a film, however. The story isn't up to much, and you don't have the high stakes of the original films - you know who's going to survive, it being a prequel to the original series. Lucas has never been great at dialogue, but during his Star Wars prequels, he seems to become worse at it over time. In the Phantom Menace you can look forward to such gems as Obi-Wan's "do not defy the council master, not again", young Anakin's "Are you an Angel?" speech, Yoda's classic "how feel you?" and pretty much everything said by Jar-Jar Binks. Ah Jar-Jar Binks - no other three words send shivers down the spine of a Star Wars fan so effectively (accept maybe a debate into who shot first). He's a truly irradeemable character - narratively unnecessary, insulting, and very, very annoying. The other actors and their characters are either unremarkable (MacGregor, Lloyd and Portman) or look thoroughly embarrassed to be on screen (I'm talking about you, Mr Neason). The Phantom Meanace is a disappointment, but in truth, it could never live up to Star Wars fans' high expectations, but it's good for providing the odd cheap thrill. And John Williams' scoring for the series is still great.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

gameguardian21

Mar 6, 2016

Why did this happen. George Lucas made the best movie trilogy of all time, how could he screw this up. We had our expectations so high, we thought we were going to have the best movie experience after many years of waiting. But we were all so disappointed in this mess. The acting wasWhy did this happen. George Lucas made the best movie trilogy of all time, how could he screw this up. We had our expectations so high, we thought we were going to have the best movie experience after many years of waiting. But we were all so disappointed in this mess. The acting was terrible and awkward. The characters are undeveloped. The story sucks, and the cgi is way too much. At least we got on hell of a lightsaber fight, so we could calm down for a few minutes. I was very disappointed in this film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Bigmouth123

Jan 4, 2020

Horrible. Horrendous acting, dont get me started on Anakins horrible acting. Jar jar was even better than him tbh.

0 of 13 users found this helpful013

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1	#1 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
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