Page 1 of Is it me? Or a Phantom Menace?

I can`t be the only one who is struggling with a Phantom Menace.
It maybe the best DVD transfer ever,but the film itself is SO weak, with the exception of Darth Maul, killed off way too early, this film totally lacks the "Darkside of the force".
And that, I`m afraid is what made Star wars
IV, V and VI work.
This is definately a DVD I`ll have to see before I buy!

This item was edited on Monday, 15th October 2001, 19:09

Totally lack the dark side of the force?

Is it me or doesn`t the darkside of the force don`t really begin until NEXT epsiode? He`s only a kid then, what darkside?

And about everything else, I agree, awful plot, acting....I wonder what the heck of going on afterwards. Nothing much happened. So the Kid gets trained, don`t we know that already?

nothing happens in any of the films.

<OB>

I`d call it The Franchise Menace.
Technology killed its charm.
George Lucas should`ve never returned to direction. He`s obsessed with creating a "mark" in cinema history. He had already done it when creating the saga. But he insists on something bigger.
So... he went 100% digital. Episode II won`t have a single frame shot on film. He claims that this allows him to even use one actor`s "better" acting shot with another actor`s one faster than ever. He also believes he`s a top director. Seriously. I`ve read this and more on American Cinematographer.
I believe he`s gone nuts. He should have stayed as the saga`s father allowing those who can direct and those who can act do their jobs. Some people don`t know what to do with age and tons of dollars.
The result:
Episode I, one of the most boring movies EVER. Its budget alone would probably pay for episodes IV, V and VI. And what we got? A mediocre piece of film that, where it not dependent on the saga it would`ve been history`s greatest joke. Final Fantasy is much more an achievement than this pain in the grass.
Look at X-Men. It`s much better as an initial movie. it presents every character in a very good way and then shows what they`ve come here for. Episode one is poor even on its basic purpose.
I won`t buy it.
The Simpsons` first season seems to me a much more entertaining addiction to my DVD collection.
José Azevedo

its an animated toy catalogue:)

Is it me or did Lucas really manage to get TFM to look more animated than Toy Story?

At last I have found the other 5 people who feel the same as me about Starwars.

All the best,

Andrew.

At last I have found the other 5 people who feel the same as me about Starwars

Well here`s No 6 Starwars is the biggest hype in cinema history and it`s utter crap!!!

George (How can I milk this s*** anymore) Lucas also made a film about a duck...says it all realy!

This item was edited on Tuesday, 16th October 2001, 17:30

Ah, companionship.
We ought to start a secret society, lets call ourselves "Jedi Knights",
and tour the galaxy righting wrongs with fluorescent tubes.
Or has that been done?

The problem with George Lucas is he`s managed to turn all of us into cynics. If you watch the supplementary material on TPM, there`s a telling scene where he admits he doesn`t knock a coconut down every time - American Graffiti 2 ("took ten cents", he shrugs philosophically).

I think you have to compare the original trilogy and TPM considering that in the intervening period he`s raised a family, and his kids are the right age for the movie`s target audience. Parenthood does weird things to people. When GL made the first trilogy, he was only a couple of years on from American Graffiti. He was a young, lean, adventurous filmmaker. Now he`s middle-aged, raising a family and owns a franchise that`s as sure-fire as a printing press for $1000 bills. Of course he`s going to aim it at the demographic that buys all the merchandise. Jar Jar might be the most aggravating character in movies, but he`s supposed to be comedy relief. Those of us bright-eyed adolescents at the time of the release of the original trilogy might feel cheated by TPM, but Lucas didn`t make a film for us. He made a film for kids, and I reckon the movie works that way.

Incidentally, I thought the shot in the outtakes reel of Liam Neeson fumbling with his lightsabre was worth the price of admission.

It`s a pity with all the technology around today there isn`t an option on the dvd of The Phantom Menace to edit out Jar Jar "BLOODY" Binks nough said!!!