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		Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom menace Sci-Fi - Fox 1999 - PG - Widescreen 2.35:1 - 2 Hr 13 Min.
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		Starring:			Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Ray Park.
		Directed by:			George Lucas
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		Making Of:	YES	XX	Too many to mention
		Commentary:	YES	XX	George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
		Trailer:	YES	XX	Teaser, Trailer and TV campaign
		Supplements:	YES	*	Deleted Scenes
				*	17 Making of Documentaries including "the Begining"
				*	Multi-angle storyboard-to-animatic-to-film
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		Fave Scene Niub:		XX	Pod Race
		Fave Bite Niub:		XX	"Exqueeze me"
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NiubNiub says worth the Purchase Repeat Viewing: YES The FX scenes alone will leave you drooling
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WHAT I LIKE
I started with Disc 2 because that's the main reason I bought the DVD. The movie has it's moments but it's far from a classic like Empire or A New Hope. XX OOOH All the Extra Features - Drool - LOL. The Deleted Scenes were a delight to see and well worth waiting a year after the VHS. The extra Pod Lap and Grid sequence were awesome. I also liked the inclusion of the 12 Web Diary videos since I had never downloaded those before. The featurettes were ok but not very indepth. The main making of "The Begining" has NO interviews, NO commentary, NO butt kissing :) it was...PERFECT...except for it's length ;) I cannot wait to see this same documentary for Episode 2. XX I also listened to the Lucas Audio Commentary. We learn some fun facts (working in FX myself, my jaw dropped learning how some shots were made, I know how long and tedious these techniques can be, and how long it took for just 1 scene - 5 months for a 6 second shot - Oh my god!!!) but having George be interupted for the others to come in is sometimes anoying. I would have prefered 2 commentary tracks without edited interuptions. But I am happy that it was included. A great addition to the disc. XX I think my alltime favourite part was seeing R2-D2 crash into all the furniture, that was funny!!!. It's not easy being an Astromech - :) XX Ok, I watched the movie on Sunday. it had been some time since I saw it. I think 1 year almost. (I got the VHS and watched that then plopped it away to rot on the shelf (Yukky VHS - LOL)). It's not Empire or A new Hope but it's still a fun movie. XX Sound is where it's at!!! If you are lucky enough to have a 5.1 surround in your home, this is one of the most amazing DVD's I have heard in my collection. Starting with the cool new THX logo that really puts sound everywhere (I hit reverse 4 times and watched it over and over - hee hee) the soundtrack is excellent. Almost better then hearing it in the theater as you can adjust the volume to a level of Jedi proportions :) The pod race is definetaly the hilight of Ben Burt's work in the movie. Truly Amazing!!! XX The picture is way far better then the PooPoo VHS - no surprise there, but alas it doesn't really help the story. I know, I know, Episode 1 has to introduce us to all the characters in the next 2 movies, but I think the childish tone is what still gives me a tooth ache. XX The Original Star Wars had A LOT of humour using witty dialogue. "Can anybody get this walking carpet out of my way" for instance. Episode 1 has much to much slapstick. I wind up rolling my eyes more then laughing. I don't know if that's because I am older then the 13 I was when I saw Episode 4 in 1977 (I doubt that's the reason :) or because the magic of the cast and script is not quite there. XX I don't think I am alone at wishing George would have discovered Haley Joel Osment instead of Jake Llyod (Just watch his screen test - what were they thinking?) On the other side of the fence, I am not one who HATED Jar Jar with a passion like many out there, he did make me laugh like when he said "exqueese me" or when Qui Gon grabs his tongue at the dinner table. But there are other times where he made me groan...like why does he have to do olympic diving to go to Gungan Underwater city? I know we are to think he is clumbsy but no need to exagerate to that point. XX What's weird is that with every showing, I seem to enjoy it more and more!!! Pod Race, Gungan Battle and Lightsaber Duels ROCK, but I rank it Number 4. Definetaly worth the purchase. It is only sad that we must wait another 10 years before all 6 will be on our shelves. At least we know Episode 2 DVD will be released same day as VHS next Fall and won't have to wait another year for that :) XX XX
WHAT I DON'T LIKE
Wish the dialogue had more of an serious witty feel to it like Star Wars or Empire. Jedi in my opinion started wandering towards kiddy humour (Chewbacca yelling like tarzan when swinging in the Endor forrest - Puhleaaase) and Epsode 1 goes even further :( XX We are never happy :) Although "The Begining" fly on the wall was amazing, I wanted more. It started out at a great pace with lots of details to the process of making Episode 1, then it got the "Star Trek Next Generation Virus" Oops we only have 5 minutes left...hurry we have to end the show. The pacing speeds up way too dast and we get to see choped up versions of special effects, music, editing and film reaction. Would have been fun to see more. But we as fans, will always say that no? :) XX I would have prefered the Audio Commentary to not be edited together and have Lucas and his associates record the track together in one room, bouncing anecdotes off each other like on the Goonies commentary. XX And of course...No Episode 2 trailer :( XXXX
YOUR VIEWS - EPISODE 1 ROCKS Send in your vote		YOUR VIEWS - EPISODE 1 SUCKS Send in your vote
Biff Facho Kris Van de Sande Farley Kachiu		Carl J.
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