Review of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) by Ryan M — 16 Dec 2015

The chronological first of the episodic Star Wars films, and the first Star Wars film in quite some time, TPM had a lot riding on it. The trailer looked fantastic, we had a new lightsaber design, and the world was excited.

And then...it came out. Flat performances, a bumbling slapstick character, complicated and nonsensical plot, and trying to accomplish too much leave this movie feeling both half baked and burned at the same time.

By Lucas's own admission, he went too far in some places. Tonally it's a bit all over the shop, as we go from celebration to the death of a hero, to another odd moment with jar jar, to a funeral and then again to a celebration.

All in all, it's not the worst film I've ever seen but it is FAR from the best.