Star Wars: The Phantom Menace [4K UHD]

This is episode I, meaning it relies heavily on the five later chapters to fill in the gaps. I know lots of people were confused by all that was happening and to be honest, there were more things going on than we're used to in Star Wars films. The writing, which came under the heaviest criticism, was very similar in tone and nature to the three previous films. The difference is that we were all younger and more forgiving of the simple innocence. It seems out of place in today's cynical atmosphere, but it's to his credit that he kept the tone similar to those that came before. He kept it 'all-ages' rather than marketing it to 13 year olds the way they did with the inferior Matrix. How easily grown-ups forget the way they saw the world as children. This film explores more than we're used to seeing and that can be confusing, especially to the unimaginative. All the 'disappointed' people seemed to be saying they wanted the same thing served up again rather than treading new ground. This galaxy is populated by a mix of aliens, droids and humans. As humans we tend to think of droids and aliens as puppets rather than characters. Again, this is a shortcoming of the audience. The ideas Lucas brings up are also not popular, this probably hurt the film the most. Greed is a terrible thing in Star Wars, but in America we swear by it. Naboo, a beautiful artistic is beyond the realm of Earthlings who litter their environment. The style of this film is beautiful and shows us that film can be art when crafted by visionary directors. The design, the photography, the palette and scope of the film are truly magnificent. There are so many spectacular scenes, places, characters and events in this film, you must see them for yourself. The podrace, though exciting and stunning, is the only part that detracts from the flow of the story. There are so many strong points that more than make up for this. The lightsabre duel between the three warriors is fierce, magnificent and thankfully silent - most directors would fill such a sequence with pointless dialogue to enhance the adversarial relationship. The ground battle between droids and aliens is beautifully done and briefly returns us to the glory days of epic films. When it comes down to it, who are we to say this is not OUR Star Wars? It is George Lucas' Star Wars, always has been and always will be. This chapter fits in to the whole, though we are two more films from realizing that. The Phantom Menace is most like Return of the Jedi in color scheme, mood and atmosphere and I think it'll be part of the story turning full circle. For everyone who said it's 'not what I expected', try opening your mind and not limiting the film to the scope of your own personal vision, and don't make the opinions of others your own. Maybe you'll start to enjoy it.

The Phantom Menace (1999) marks the long-awaited return of Star Wars to the big screen, serving as the first chapter in George Lucas’s prequel trilogy. While the film delivers stunning visuals, groundbreaking CGI (especially for its time), and an unforgettable pod-racing sequence, its storytelling can feel uneven. The political intrigue of the Galactic Senate often overshadows the human drama, and some characters—most notoriously Jar Jar Binks—haven’t aged well in fans’ eyes. Still, the film introduces iconic elements like Darth Maul, Qui-Gon Jinn, and the young Anakin Skywalker, laying important groundwork for the saga’s larger story. Despite its flaws in dialogue and pacing, The Phantom Menace remains a visually rich and ambitious start to the prequels—one that’s best appreciated for its world-building and its role in reigniting Star Wars for a new generation.

Its' Star Wars ! Need I sat more ?

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!

Lucas managed to make such an event out of the release of The Phantom Menace that I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I must have read ten articles, watched adverts and trailers and I even caught a part of the "making of" on TV. Talk about building expectations, how could anything, barring the second coming, live up to it all. I suppose that was the question going through my mind as I approached the cinema. Would you believe I was even a little nervous? Yes the cinematography was breathtaking, the effects were cutting edge, the design was first class, blah blah blah. But that's not what makes a good film. Does it have a decent story, interesting characters, suspense, action? In short, does it pack enough emotional content? Well, in this case... Yes, it does. How could I think George Lucas might let me down. I happen to think Natalie Portman stole the show entirely, but maybe her beauty and the fabulous costumes had something to do with it. And, as much as the first Star Wars was cast with relatively unknown actors, Liam Neeson added just the right touch of weight to the ensemble. Of course I wouldn't be the first to suggest Ewan McGregor is going to be giving us memorable performances for years to come and I'm not talking about the Star Wars prequels. All in all, a stand out cast were able to make what could have been a light sci-fi romp, into another classic. During the early moments of the story, we join two Jedi, only this time they are set amid a backdrop where Jedi are thick on the ground and are given routine tasks, like diplomatic negotiation. Obi-Wan is familiar to us but not as a young man yet to be promoted to Jedi knight. His friend and master, Qui-Gon Jinn, is the other Jedi and it is this duo that teaches us the true nature of a Jedi's role. In the first films the Jedi culture was all but extinct. In The Phantom Menace it is in full flower and we can watch in awe as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan defy poison gas, blast shielding and military robots. In fact it isn't until they come up against another, albeit darker, proponent of the Jedi arts, that they are forced to pause. I have to say, Darth Maul was wonderful. I suppose it was always going to be a tough job coming up with a "bad guy" concept to match Darth Vader but wow! Ray Park was and is a stunt-man rather than an actor but during the final fight scene where force fields temporarily separate the combatants, his frustrated strides brought to mind a caged tiger. I certainly didn't envy our heroes, waiting to face such an animalistic warrior. There are quite a few set piece scenes in the film, all of them memorable. The journey through the center of the earth was fabulous; talk about your perfect fishing hole. The pod race was probably a little over cooked but fun none the less. And it did contain a nice homage to the locked fenders in "Return of the Jedi". But for me, it was the little things which won my heart. Like the moment when Padme, "Hand-maiden to the Queen", is scrubbing the heroic R2-D2 but takes a moment to comfort the young Anakin who's just coming to terms with a potentially permanent separation from his mother. It's all the more poignant after we learn more about Padme's true role. So, as much as I was anticipating the release of Episode One, I am now left with the distressing feeling that the true test of my patience is still to come. I have two years to wait for Episode two and who knows when "three" will appear. We're waiting George, we're waiting.

Probably my fav star wars movie of all time. Love the story line and the technical wizardry.

It's easy to argue over whether Jar-Jar was worse than Ewoks in 'contrived cuteness' or whether his accent detracted from the value of the movie. And yes, some of the rich "you're deep in the middle of a story" feeling of the other movies is lost here, since this of course is the beginning. Still, the Star Wars series has had an incredible impact on most people - from references to it showing up *everywhere*, to use of its terms in standard news broadcasts, even to many young women realizing, through Leia and Amidala, that women *can* be wielding laser pistols right alongside the men. I got the VHS version immediately, and there was no question in my mind that I would order this DVD as soon as humanly possible, and sit and explore its NUMEROUS special features. The commentary, storyboards, documentaries, features on design, and rest are all fascinating. To me, this movie wasn't of epic, sweeping moments, although there were a few of those. Perhaps THE favorite scene of mine is when Qui-Gon and Darth Maul are face to face with the energy barrier between them. They both realize that they temporarily are "stuck". Qui-Gon uses this time in the best possible way he can - he sits and recharges, storing all of his energy for the fierce battle that is about to come. Darth Maul is incapable of any thought but getting at Qui-Gon - and paces back and forth, burning his energy and impatient to get at it. This one scene symbolizes to me the huge difference between the sides of the force. Yes, the graphics are incredible, but the light saber battles to me are far more impressive, the amazing choreography that outshine any previous fight scenes. The pod racing scenes ended up getting me addicted to the pod racer game for a solid month, if not more. It's a movie that gets into you and has implications on the things we aspire to and the way in which we talk to each other. That's pretty impressive for a sci-fi tale. I highly recommend getting this, if only because it is a piece of our cultural history.

Very happy to have found this dvd. I was missing thos one for my collection. It works great. Now my collection is complete

Awesome deal!

"Star Wars Episode 1 - Die dunkle Bedrohung" auf DVD ist ein absolutes Meisterwerk und entführt den Zuschauer zurück in die faszinierende Welt der weit, weit entfernten Galaxis. Mit grandiosen Darstellern wie Liam Neeson und Ewan McGregor, inszeniert von Regie-Legende George Lucas, bietet der Film packende Action, unvergessliche Charaktere und spektakuläre Effekte. Ein absoluter Meilenstein der Filmgeschichte und ein Pflichtkauf für jede Sammlung

Parece que es original

L'impression sur le boitier est superbe, le texte "Star Wars" est en relief ce qui ajoute du cachet, le film excellent et l'écriture du titre sur le côté est à la française (il faut pencher la tête sur la gauche pour le lire). Détail important si vous voulez avoir de l'organisation dans vos films ! Deux (tout) petits défauts : - La partie cartonnée arrière (qui donne le synopsis, les bonus, les acteurs et tout ça) est tenue par deux petits morceaux de scotch, dont un sur le dessus qui empêche d'ouvrir le boitier. Il faut donc décoller le scotch pour ouvrir, ce qui décroche la partie cartonnée et on perd donc les infos si on l'enlève. Mais ce problème n'est pas propre à ce cas-là, je crois que c'est pour de nombreuses versions steelbook. - Concernant les sous-titres français, l'écriture de la ponctuation est à l'américaine c'est dommage. Cela signifie qu'il n'y a pas d'espace entre le mot et les signes comme les points d'exclamations ou d'interrogations : "blablabla? blablabla!". Et il me semble avoir vu, à un moment, une petite faute d'orthographe, mais je ne peux rien certifier. N'étant pas un fan au sens premier du terme mais appréciant beaucoup la saga, je suis très satisfait de l'achat (j'ai d'ailleurs pris en même temps le deuxième volet). 5 étoiles sans hésiter.

Brilliant