Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace [Blu-ray]

Got a good deal

my autistic daughter absolutely loved this. She is obsessed with movies.

What is so awful about this movie? All I've seen at this site is DISTURBINGLY negative reviews of it, calling for the torture and death of Jar Jar Binks and calling the movie a "steaming heap of refuse" or words to that effect. Are you people SERIOUS?! Qui Conn Jinn I have to wonder about, granted, but Natalie Portman, for her young years, is an excellent actress....She seems much more mature than the 20 or so solar cycles she's seen.Yes, granted, Jar Jar Binks is a pain in the [...], but for my money, C3PO is STILL the most irritating character in the Star Wars pantheon. Why is he even THERE? R2D2 is the robot that usually pulls everybody's fat out of the fire at the last minute...what has 3PO done? Saved Luke and Han from the Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi"? I think they and Chewbacca could have eventually handled them.Anyway, back to "Phantom". While I take pains to defend the film, there ARE a few things wrong with it, some MAJOR things, not the least of which is Qui Conn Jinn's fawning interest in little Annakin! For instance, a little too much of it is reminiscent of "The Empire Strikes Back" in the beginning, especially as Qui Conn, Jar Jar and Obi Wan leave Gungan.Speaking of Gungan, I like Boss Nass as a character, with his odd speech pattern and facial tics. Very original character concept, if you ask me. Schmi Skywalker is also a great character, ("Schmi"?! Why was she named after a villain in "Peter Pan"?) She exudes a tranquil persona that permeates every scene she's in. Pernilla August handles this part beautifully. WHY was she killed off in "Attack of the Clones"??The art direction....? Nonpareil! Though not the equal of "Attack of the Clones", if "Phantom" didn't win the 1999 Oscar(r) for art direction or visual effects, a fix was in for the actual winner, because few movies can equal this or its sequel for pure visual mastery. (Or pure cheek!)The plot? What was wrong with the plot? Granted the pathos and strong feelings from "New Hope" aren't there because THIS IS NOT "NEW HOPE"!! This movie didn't have the luxury or inherent specialness of being the founder of a film dynasty and institution, and it does put some light on the beginnings of Annakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and what made him so special in the eyes of the Jedi and the Empire. Sorry, but we will never again see the image of the remains of Beru and Owen amongst the ruins of their smoking residence, or Luke's stunned reaction to it. Never see Luke blow up Deathstar with the spirit of justice guiding his every move. Never see him shreik in outrage as his own father kills Obi Wan Kenobi right in front of his eyes. Never see Princess Leia surprise Han and Luke by firing a gun like a pro that first time. Nope...never. Deal with it.This movie could have been garbage, like "Return of the Jedi", which is, as far as I'm concerned, the REAL stinker amongst the Star Wars films! Lucas certainly didn't have to exert himself for the bucks, now did he? However, I will put this up against "2010: The Year We Make Contact", "Ghostbusters II" "Alien Resurrection", "Batman & Robin", "Star Trek: Insurrection" and any ONE of Spielberg's little money factory originals or sequels any day of the week for quality!About the only other thing that bugs me about this movie and "Clones" together is that Ewan McGregor is NOT a convincing young Obi Wan. Forty-five, fifty years ago, Alec Guiness pretty much looked, sounded and acted as he did in "New Hope" to "Jedi". It's impossible to imagine McGregor developing Guiness' distinctive speech patterns and mannerisms along the way to his dotage. Where's the nasal tone? The smirk? Believe me, nobody changes that much over the course of a lifetime, I don't care HOW much they age! All in all, NOTHING should prevent you from buying this movie...not the condemnations of fanboys, not the homicidal sentiments toward Jar Jar Binks or anything ELSE! Buy this for what it is...another great addition to THE Royal Family of popcorn movies!THEN...analyze it!

I pre-ordered and bought star wars episode 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; all the individual 4K UHD bluray titles. I chose to buy this instead of the skywalker saga boxset; because Disney is NOT going to get my money for making bantha poodoo like 7,8 and 9. These six movies in 4K will be my last copies of star wars that I will ever buy, unless they come out with 8K or 16K UHD blurays in the future.Supposedly the prequel trilogy is only upscaled 4K, but it's ok; I still loved them. And now I have the original trilogy on 4K.I am a star wars fan, and I will always be a fan until the day I die. But for me, star wars stops at Episode six. I'm not gonna be like those fans who are ranting and complaining on social media, I am gonna let my MONEY do the talking.I have stopped going to theaters for star wars movies, I have stopped buying star wars merchandise and I have stopped buying star wars toys. This is how disappointed I am in STAR WARS now.Buy the individual 4K blurays, don't waste your money on the skywalker saga boxset. Don't waste 300 bucks and get 9 crappy discs which you will never ever watch again; probably use them for coasters or frisbees.

Good quality for a used DVD - I definitely recommend this vendor.

"There's always a bigger fish." - Qui-Gon Jinn

I don't care that so many people prefer the earlier episodes of Star Wars (IV to VI) to the more recently released episodes (I to III). I'm sticking by my own opinion. I think the earlier episodes pale by comparison to the later releases. Episodes I to III comprise the REAL story of Star Wars. Who was Darth Vader? Who was the mysterious, evil, old phantom (the "master") beneath the hooded cape? You won't learn anything about that in the earlier episodes. The earlier releases were nothing but "chase and shoot". Phantom Menace is a real story with a meaningful plot, and with three-dimensional characters who had feelings and aspirations. Sure, Jar Jar Binks is goofy, actually funny at times, but these movies were made to be viewed by children too. The plot of Star Wars is, in a way, the story of our times, about an autocratic, power-driven emperor who destroys democratic rule in the galaxy.

In the beginning, it was amazing. Star wars back on the big screen. Now, it's one of the best films!