Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

All Critics (191) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (117) | Rotten (81) | DVD (52)

"Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace" got dismissive reviews in 1999, and it deserves the same today. But you probably know that.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (55)

John Anderson

Newsday

Top Critic

You realize how much humor Harrison Ford brought to things; without him, at times the movie itself feels frozen in Carbonite.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (17)

Stephen Whitty

Newark Star-Ledger

Top Critic

Charmless, sexless, passionless and robot-humoured, it's preposterously uninvolving.

June 24, 2006 Full Review | Comments (5)

Time Out

Top Critic

There are no romance, no humor, ultimately nobody to care about in this oddly sterile movie.

November 15, 2002 Full Review | Comments (27)

Paul Clinton (CNN.com)

CNN.com

Top Critic

It does the job just fine. That job, as director George Lucas freely admits, is quite simply to thrill the beating hearts and the inquiring minds of 12-year-old boys.

March 22, 2002 Full Review | Comments (22)

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

There is nothing in this noisy, overdesigned bore to equal the excitement generated by the mere idea of the trailer.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

J. Hoberman

Village Voice

Top Critic

Anyone hoping the 3D would make-up for the film's many shortcomings, will probably continue to feel cheated by the first Star Wars prequel.

September 30, 2012 Full Review

Ben Kendrick

ScreenRant

We don't want to remember it's pretty bad. Then we do.

March 23, 2012 Full Review | Comments (9)

Roger Moore

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Has a film director ever induced such terrible performances from such great actors? Liam Neeson - wooden, Ewan McGregor - monotone and the Oscar winning Natalie Portman - a speaking alarm clock!

March 8, 2012 Full Review | Comments (2)

Brian Henry Martin

UTV

It hardly needs to be said that the 3D conversion here is nothing more than proficient, that it adds nothing and actually takes away some of the clarity and vividness of the film's varied colour palette.

March 1, 2012 Full Review

Martin Roberts

Fan The Fire

Darth Maul is back, this time waving his wand in 3D. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" was poorly received by critics when it debuted, so does it fare any better with its new up-conversion? Not really. Paul Chambers, CNN.

February 27, 2012 Full Review

Paul Chambers

CNNRadio

It's a nifty enough film that's entertaining but not comparable to the original 'Star Wars.'

February 11, 2012 Full Review

Linda Cook

KWQC-TV (Iowa)

It's cinematic junk food, the pernicious effect of which had already set in long before this film came out.

February 11, 2012 Full Review | Comment (1)

Philip French

Observer [UK]

The Phantom Menace is, at best and worst, a mediocre film-a boring adventure undermined by anemic political theatrics and the rusty artistic tastes of its maker.

February 11, 2012 Full Review | Comments (4)

Todd Gilchrist

Boxoffice Magazine

The 3D conversion on this film is one of the best I've ever seen... and that's what makes it worth paying some extra money to see it again in the theater.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (9)

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

The Phantom Menace, in any number of dimensions, is an exercise in disappointment, a film filled with enough callbacks to the first trilogy to remind you about what you loved about them without adding much of note in all the new material.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comment (1)

Alison Willmore

Movieline

Naturally, if you already despise everything George Lucas touches, well, these aren't the droids you're looking for. It's more of a 3D party for fans and admirers, playing to the convinced with a conversion.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comment (1)

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

You may never experience this or any Star Wars movie as a cinematic experience ever again. Especially not in theater.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (5)

Matt Patches

Hollywood.com

The 3D conversion isn't going to change your opinion on the movie or give you a whole new moviegoing experience, but it's not bad either.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comment (1)

Katey Rich

CinemaBlend.com

You'll be surprised at how well its assets hold up and how much easier its liabilities slide away as a result. But $15 a ticket? Please George. Some of us have kids to feed... and yours don't need the money.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (7)

Rob Vaux

Mania.com

Oh George, why?

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (19)

Ed Whitfield

The Ooh Tray

The special effects are something to see in 3D, but don't listen too closely to the screenplay or try to work out who is who.

February 10, 2012 Full Review | Comments (6)

This is London

• 1. Anakin Skywalker: You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?
  2. Qui-Gon Jinn: What makes you think that?
  3. Anakin Skywalker: I saw your lasersword. Only Jedis carry that kind of weapon.
  4. Qui-Gon Jinn: Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him.
  5. Anakin Skywalker: That's not true. No one can kill a Jedi.
  6. Qui-Gon Jinn: I wish that were so.
  – Submitted by Magnus G (2 months ago)
• 1. Queen Amidala / Padmé Naberrie: You've never won a race? Not even finished?
  – Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
• 1. Obi-Wan Kenobi: You will become a Jedi, I promise.
  – Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
• 1. Qui-Gon Jinn: Train the boy, he will bring balance to the force.
  – Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
• 1. Yoda: Remember, there are two Sith Lords: a master and an apprentice.
  2. Mace Windu: But which was destroyed? The master or the apprentice?
  – Submitted by Aaron S (5 months ago)
• 1. Darth Maul: At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last, we will have revenge.
  – Submitted by Magnus G (7 months ago)