Review of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (2 Discs)

Introduction

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...that tagline is infamous, it makes cinema goers run to the nearest movieplex, and then spend a hell of a lot of money on re-watching it. But why? Because of a galaxy that is so totally immerseful and delectable, that`s why. Ever since the release of the original movie in 1977, people have been counting down for the release of this prequel, setting the scene for the ongoing saga. Every saga has a beginning indeed...

Video

This disc is THX mastered, and it shows. The visuals are deep and absorbing, the palette is used excellently and there are no compression signs whatsoever. It is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, unlike the poor VHS 4:3 standard print.

Audio

An ear-shattering DD 5.1 track. The surround are used for every subtle effect, and are cranked up for the numerous action scenes. The pod race is presented excellently both in the visual and audio fields, and the other events such as the lightsaber battles are incredibly crisp. The dialogue is also constantly crisp (annoyingly so in the case of a certain Mr Binks...).

Features

A hell of a lot to put it bluntly. They are:

Documentary: `The Beginning` - an immersive and full of good insight into every aspect of the production. It is 60 minutes long, and is shot very well.

Deleted Scenes Documentary - this is a collection of the 7 scenes not included in the final cut, which have been re-mastered for the DVD. They give more character development and some extended sequences.

Web Documentaries - 12 mini-documentaries originally shown on starwars.com chronicling the production of The Phantom Menace. They are again informative, and don`t cover the same ground that the documentary did.

Featurettes - a collection of featurettes going even more in-depth into the production process.

Trailers/Promo Material - it does what it says on the tin, but it does it well.

Commentary - a commetary from George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum et al.

Featurette: `The Making of A Gane` - a featurette focusing on the making of a computer game based on The Phantom Menace.

Music Video - the `Duel of The Fates` video.

Excellent!

Conclusion

People have said the movie is crap, a weak, kid-friendly entry into the acclaimed saga. I diagree. This is kid friendly, but the other two statements are wrong. It is supposed to be a light entry, as things get darker and heavier from here on in. The acting is quite good considering it was shot mostly on a blue screen, and the CGI is seamlessly branched into the movie. The script is good, if a little predictable. This is the first tantalising glimpse into the Star Wars universe, and apart from the fact that Jar Jar does get annoying after a while, The Phantom Menace is a competent, and enjoyable movie. As for the disc, it is excellent in all areas.