Roger Ebert Reviews - Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace

[@fakereality96]

Siskel and Ebert. Now those are names I've not heard in a long time. Long time.

[@ryanloftis1125]

A book about them called "Opposable Thumbs" came out last fall. I'd love to read it since they're two of my heroes but haven't had the time.

[@ryanloftis1125]

A book about them called "Opposable Thumbs" came out last fall. I'd love to read it since they're two of my heroes but haven't had the time.

[@ct6852]

A lot of their old reviews are here on KZbin. I still watch a few every month. Used to watch every episode when it was on TV.

[@rawdangle1985]

Always two thumbs, there are.

[@KevyNova]

I was always sad that Gene didn’t live long enough to see Episode I, so that really hit me when Roger said he was going to make good on his promise to Gene and take his young son to see it. 🥺

[@MrYib]

Poor kid

[@vanhornpictures4350]

He's lucky to have missed it.

[@scoutart1508]

@@vanhornpictures4350 on the contrary

[@SpeccyHorace]

​@@darkpatchesCheer up

[@WheresPoochie]

5:00 Sad how he’s gesturing to his right like he’s expecting Gene to be reacting to him

[@ViktorBiohazard]

Very sad.

[@RealmMan]

The cruel trick of grief. You sometimes forget to remember.

[@steveleeart]

I remember seeing this episode when it was released… never missed their show as a kid and teenager.

[@matthewmetcalf1270]

I understand the gripes of this movie.... but that lightsaber Duel with Darth Maul along with that epic Duel of the fates music... so epic. The best light Saber Duel of the entire star wars saga imo!!

[@DV80s]

That duel shows how weak the Jedi are, two against one and Maul holds his own. Didn't he also kill Qui Gon? So, this duel shows the Jedi sucked and had to gang-up on a Sith to have a chance. If Lucas had made it a fair fight, then it would have been an even ground with two equals fighting.

[@artemvsprime]

@@DV80sor, maybe, the duel shows how menacing the “new” sith are and that you’d need two Jedi to defeat one sith? 🙂

[@zacharycaruso2935]

I mean, it's cool, but it's not THAT cool, especially when it's spliced together with the Gungan battle.

[@Tirgo69]

I think the movie is overhated, I enjoy it for what it's trying to be and like the slower pace. The part where it has issues is how the final battle splits off into too many different perspectives simultaneously.

[@artemvsprime]

Ebert was not just a critic but more of a theoretical philosopher, I love his takes and he’s sorely missed these days.

[@uyeda]

R.I.P Ebert.

[@leftyfourguns]

Even if I didn't agree with everything these two said, I always watched them because of how much they appreciated imagination, creativity, and just being different and unafraid to avoid conventions, which directors like Lucas made a career of doing. Even if movies didn't meet their full potential, Ebert was always willing to praise their risks and boundary pushing. This sort of passion for filmmaking is pretty much nonexistent in modern media. All the outlets now are just glorified advertisers and paid sponsors.

[@TheMovieDoctorful]

The people accusing Ebert of being a paid shill for liking The Phantom Menace are as pathetic as the DC fanboys who accused critics who hated Batman v. Superman of being paid off by Marvel. And it's hilarious that they don't see it, they have the self awareness of children.

[@sw3aty_forte]

How dare he enjoy things!

[@artemvsprime]

If I ever get a chance, I’d give George a big hug and tell him how much what he’s created had meant to me. What a legendary human being!

[@irottaalfurinn2539]

if only Siskel got to see it

[@scoutart1508]

@F. Murphy i dont think so

[@emperorsean1]

He did see it

[@ryanloftis1125]

​@@emperorsean1No, he died 3 months before it came out.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

I remember ebert saying that qui gon was wrong...anakin isnt the chosen one...luke is...but it was actually anakin after all

[@toonyard2421]

10:08 Liam Nieson rushes home quickly to google John the Baptist.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*Every Catholic knows who John is.*

[@xjhintonx]

I guess one of the conditions of Lucas appearing on the show was that Roger Ebert not be too straightforward about how awful this movie was.

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

Apparently, I'm one of the few people who saw The Phantom Menace in theaters several times, not because I was hoping it would get better, but because I unironically enjoyed it. Was it as "magical" as the OT? No. I'm not blind to its flaws but I loved it in spite of them. For 2 hours. I was taken back to a world I loved. One I didn't think I'd ever see again in movies. Siskel and Evert didn't judge movies the same way an average film goer does. Their main criteria was in judging it on what it was trying to do. That's why Anaconda got 2 thumbs up.

[@trekkiejunk]

And while i think the Prequels were super flawed, and borderline unwatchable, i respect your opinion. I won't call insult you for liking it. We all get different things out of film, and there's plenty of film and music that i love that others would roll their eyes at. Now please tell some of your 'friends' that it's ok to disagree with you, and not just be a 'man baby.' LOL

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

@trekkiejunk if I could convince the internet about anything I'd start my own channel and rack in the views.

[@KentKaliber]

I eagerly ran into the theater for The Phantom Menace and my whole family left hating it.

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

@KentKaliber I respect that. A lot more than the "Retroactive" haters. I had a friend who saw it 4 times in theaters, and he loved it as well. By the time Attack of the Clones came out, though, he couldn't say enough bad things about it. The movie gets a lot of genuine criticism, but there's also a large number of people who started hating it after internet interactions.

[@LukeLovesRose]

I remember waiting in line for over 7 hours to see this. I remember walking out of the theater with my mom. We were STUNNED by how lame it is. This movie had none of the magic we had expected from Star Wars

[@sandal_thong8631]

No reason to wait in line that long, unless that's your kind of nostalgia party. There were a lot more screens in 1999 than 1977 or 1983. I saw it opening day no problem with my cousin who had stayed home from school to go to the dentist.

[@joehenry9546]

I still enjoyed it. Saw it three times in the theater.

[@thepoeticbutcher3370]

@@joehenry9546….it was good; my drawback was lack of Darth Maul, then ending him.

[@michwashington]

May 1999 I got to watch this twice and I literally remember my friend saying to me wake me up when the fight scenes are on

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@thepoeticbutcher3370 Yeah, killing Darth Maul off was so stupid. What happened to the genius that decided to make Darth Vader survive the Death Star battle for the sequel? There are so many things wrong it's hard to say what might have saved _The Phantom Menace._ But maybe the characters should have shown they liked each other and wanted to help them improve themselves? Perhaps that's where Marcia Lucas might have helped? In an early script it was Obi-Wan's story where Qui-Gon shows up to help in the end. They took it away from him.

[@harveytherobot]

Ugh, why does the video only take up 40% of the screen?

[@RealmMan]

The poster is trying to avoid a copyright strike because he doesn't own the episode.

[@fabioj2353]

The Phantom Menace is criminally underrated!!! Establishing the dogmatic and narrow view of the Jedi council perfectly set up why they would fall victim to their own arrogance two movies later. The visuals were also entirely revolutionary for the time! The pod race, exploration of the Gungan homeworld on Naboo, underwater chase sequence, and the ending battles are all spectacular! Although it’s not perfect, it’s a cohesive and effective story and, as Ebert said at 5:06, this film was a remarkable achievement. Wish modern movies and directors had an ounce of the creativity and inspiration that Lucas did. Can’t believe how fans treated him after the prequels. It’s a disgrace!

[@Moviefan2k4]

I've loved all the prequels ever since they came out, and have defended them to the naysayers for years. They just don't seem to appreciate or care about how much of a revolutionary Lucas was, with his regard for imagination and storytelling as well as special effects.

[@KentKaliber]

The Phantom Menace was the origin of the term CRINGE. It was so awful from start to finish. I CRINGED so hard in that theater I had to get botox.

[@therecalcitrantseditionist3613]

I love that his first criticism of the film is something the franchise still has a problem with. The promise of great future story, in place of actually good story in what you're watching now.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

That's the Force Awakens in a nutshell. Even when I walked out of the theater to that in 2015, my exact thoughts to my friend were: "The movie was okay, I guess. But it felt like a two hour trailer for the next film. I paid for a story, not potential good ideas to get expanded in the next films." And now that we have the context of the whole trilogy, I feel vindicated. TFA is textbook definition of "kick the can" JJ was like "eh, maybe someone else will actually give a solid conclusion to these questions, but it wont be me!"

[@jstewlly4747]

Whats crazy a guy in 2015 was about to die so Jj Abrams showed him Force Awakens before anybody........why didnt they let Gene see it before his passing???? Why?????? Smh that coulda been his last review

[@RealmMan]

Gene didn't think he was about to die. The tumor was out, recovery was going well. And then he was gone.

[@Moviefan2k4]

I'm glad that Ebert and Neeson recognized Lucas' intention, to mirror Anakin as a reversed Christ kind of figure. George said for a long time that when Anakin becomes Vader, he basically becomes what Jesus would have been if he turned the wrong way. That's why he gave Anakin the line, "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy".

[@jnnx]

No, he used that line because George W Bush said during his presidency, in light of the events of 9/11, “You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists”.

[@HiddenHandMedia]

He was quoting George Bush not Christ

[@TednGilbertAZ]

@@HiddenHandMediaI think you mean Donald Trump with his Trumpianity followers.

[@mathiasbartl9393]

@@TednGilbertAZ Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html

[@KentKaliber]

@@TednGilbertAZ Quit trying to pull Trump into things he has nothing to do with. Super silly of you.

[@mark11967AD]

Star Wars and The Empire Strikes back were both amazing films. And that’s about it.

[@DV80s]

@@gregoryhamptons Or maybe the prequels were just not good. That's seem the most likely reason to me.

[@artemvsprime]

George’s closing statement had never sounded more true. So much cynicism and not enough optimism, even back then. 19:08. He gets us as a species.

[@freedone.]

Boy, the newest Star Wars had little of the sweetness and fun of the originals. The Empire became the studio making the new films...

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

The irony.

[@sandal_thong8631]

And Lucas became the Emperor. Instead of Skywalker Ranch, he should have called his compound The Death Star, or Imperial Palace.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

​@@sandal_thong8631How is Lucas the Emperor?

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@bilbobaggins9451 He became the boss of a big corporation, Lucasfilm.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

@@sandal_thong8631 Was Lucasfilm nearly as contemptible and corrupt as Disney? Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

[@indiecinemaster4699]

I love this movie, but I didn't think Ebert would like it, let alone this much!!!

[@sandal_thong8631]

It did have a sense of wonder that he picked up on. He's correct there was something off about the characters though.

[@KentKaliber]

I think at this point Ebert had developed a close relationship with Lucas, so he went easy on it.

[@Socogames-q4s]

Did Ebert say the ps2 is more powerful than last generations mainframe?? It’s crazy to see how much things have changed since 1999. They mention that actors are safe about not being replaced by computer animation… now 20 odd years later they are literally bringing dead people back with CGI and making 80 year old actors look the same as they did 40 years ago.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

The technology is still not there imo. It's better, but not perfect.

[@darkcoeficient]

For the dead actors, you still need another actor to do the acting.

[@aztro4010]

Damn the fact that this was the most hyped movie at the time, people even got tickets to see Meet Joe Black (1999) just for The Phantom Menace trailer. Then the movie came out, audiences expectations were full incorrect, hell the kid who played Anakin was bullied because of the role.

[@MetFansince]

This isn't a review. Thus is a promotional piece. Gee...Jar Jar and interesting character. Yeah, right.

[@hv3115]

No kidding. The movie was awful and had none of the magic, energy and good storytelling that the first 2 Star Wars movies had. I think Gene Siskel would have seen through the hype and been more critical than Ebert here.

[@ViktorBiohazard]

Ebert was a Star Wars fan.

[@hitfan2000]

Ebert would give a thumbs down to Attack of the Clones (which was even more horrible than Phantom) and a thumbs up to Revenge of the Sith (which is legitimately a good movie). But this entire episode is quite dishonest, because Phantom was just bad.

[@michwashington]

Are you rotoscoping the video into the CRT television set?

[@Recoil816]

The interview with George Lucas is honestly heartbreaking. He points out how it had become "hip", or popular to make fun of people, to put people down, etc. That was in 1999. Society has become so, so, *so* much worse since then. It isn't just popular... it's almost a prerequisite to be hateful, petty, insulting to anyone different than you, particularly if that person doesn't fall in line with what is trendy. Bullying never left. It just shifted from being an outlying character trait of a small minority of people, to being absolutely mainstream among most everyone. This world is doomed. (yeah, I know... "Sir, this is a Wendy's")

[@SubxZeroGamer]

Yes, in the past they always treating people that were different with great respect! There was never racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any kind of prejudice back in the good old days! RIght? lmao

[@zenzin7725]

Entropy is real. It would serve you best to accept it and come to peace with it bc struggling against it makes the tranquility you may have evaporate.

[@Recoil816]

@@zenzin7725Speaking about the entropy of social order isn't denying it. I fully accept it. It doesn't make it any less depressing to the majority of people.

[@zenzin7725]

@Recoil816 good luck with the time you have and the experience you set for yourself.

[@haydnsamuels73]

I thought I hated the prequels, and then I saw the Abrams' ones. Turns out the prequels were bearable after all

[@swirvinbirds1971]

That's a problem. Just because the new ones were worse doesn't mean the prequels were not bad.

[@genetenz]

They aren't

[@hitfan2000]

Well in fairness, Revenge of the Sith is actually a good movie. But "Rise of Skywalker" is such a mess that it is actually worse than Phantom and Attack of the Clones. The first two prequels may have been bad in terms of creative choices, but they at least had a sense of story structure and were coherent.

[@hitfan2000]

@@swirvinbirds1971 Well, I'd say that all we really need as Star Wars fans is the Original Trilogy. Everything else after that is just fan fiction as far as I am concerned.

[@KentKaliber]

Abrams didn't make The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson did. and the Last Jedi is the WORST Star Wars film of all time.

[@darthmauldds]

It is a time of uncertainty. The empire's ambiguous tariff statutes mandate close reexamination of galactic export quotas. Interim Princess Agoomba has co-chaired a subcommittee to draft amendments to existing trade policies.Meanwhile, regulatory agencies are being heavily lobbied by a consortium of mercantile interest groups and their suppliers to streamline loading restrictions for class-C cargo vessels. The shipping unions have remained conspicuously silent.

[@hv3115]

Lol. One of the many early signs of how George Lucas had completely lost the magic touch he had when he made the first Star Wars trilogy snd Indiana Jones movies.

[@ajzeg01]

Refreshing to see some good-old-fashion Phantom Menace disappointment in this comment section. The prequel fanboys haven’t found it yet. It’s like a campfire that keeps the animals away.

[@EagleLeader1]

This feels more like a making of than a review. Watched the whole thing and maybe I missed it but I didn't get a critique of the film.

[@DV80s]

It was Ebert kissing Lucas' behind.

[@kevinbirge2130]

I enjoyed Phantom Menace.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

It's my second favorite Star Wars film behind Empire.

[@RealmMan]

Somehow they didn't have a Trekkie on staff, because how else do you have a clip from Star Trek Generations labeled as The Motion Picture?

[@schakj]

Not a fan of Phantom. But I’m glad Ebert did a special episode - really fascinating discussion w/ Lucas. Graphics “replacing humans.” If only they know what would be possible a mere 2 decades later.

[@matthewche]

My big brother and I saw Star Wars in 1977 together as kids. We saw Phantom Menace as adults and 20 min is we both were bored and hugely disappointed.

[@emperorsean1]

Well I wasn't and neither was my brother

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*I'm sure your parents told you that only boring people get bored.*

[@DV80s]

@@hulkhatepunybanner Only stupid people can't see a bad film for what it is.

[@demoskunk]

Anyone else crave some pizza rolls right now?

[@nicemarmot.5353]

This seems more like an advertisement than a review 🤔

[@bijibadness]

hey, whoa. 9:12 that's really interesting. that's REALLY interesting. you may note that Ebert's showing the NOT Special Edition version of the Greedo scene ... how did he get _that_ cleared by George Lucas? the Special Edition with Greedo shooting first and terribly was released in 1997, so how is Ebert showing it otherwise here? was that not canon in 1999? when did Greedo Shooting First And Missing Despite Being A Trained Assassin And Shooting A Foot Away become official (and officially horrid) Star Wars Canon???

[@lloydshanahan154]

That's because video stores and TV stations still had access to the original versions. Video stores like Block Buster and Hollywood Video were still offering those versions as an option for both rent and purchase. The DVD versions were not released yet until 2004, and DVD itself wasn't mainstream until a year after 9/11. it wasn't until the early 2000s when the original versions started to get replaced.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*Greedo died.* That's how history will see it. A Han Solo that will shoot a guy under the table in mid sentence is a Han Solo who will slap a Princess around, give up his "friends" for reward money, and would not have been rescued from the clutches of a crime boss.

[@TheMovieDoctorful]

Holy shit, get a life.

[@WilliamHerlihy-p4g]

The magic of the original trilogy was the chemistry and charm of Hamill, Fisher and especially Harrison Ford. Without them its just another sci-fi space opus.

[@SkankHunt3000]

I was let down by this movie ..but I was betrayed after the last Jedi

[@Dave-gk6si]

f u phantom menace didn’t let you down…you let urself down.

[@joehenry9546]

It’s one thing to be let down. It’s another to be completely insulted and disrespected as a fan like after watching The Last Jedi.

[@artemvsprime]

It’s a strangely polarising film. I don’t think I hate it at all, it has incredible cinematography, there’s nothing quite like it, maybe only the fifth element is close to this type of sci-fi. I actually really like Jar-Jar, I think he’s a good guy but he’s clumsy, which he discloses upfront. I don’t think he’s horrible and he’s used for comedic relief, which you kinda need, think about the droids in the original. Also, Jar-Jar’s character was an extremely impressive technical achievement to pull off, I think he’s the first mocapped cgi character that interacts with real life actors. Anyway, I’ve always appreciated TPM, don’t know why people hated it so much when it came out.

[@hv3115]

It's an awful movie with terrible acting, poor storytelling and lacks the magic and energy of the first 2 Star Wars movies.

[@KentKaliber]

Jar JAr looked stupid, he was obviously CGI and his every movement is so unrealistic.

[@artemvsprime]

@@KentKaliber what is realistic for an amphibian alien from Naboo? 😂

[@KentKaliber]

@@artemvsprime Many aliens in Star Wars look realistic b/c they are costumes and practical effects. Jar Jar looks intangible, more like a video game than an actual creature.

[@artemvsprime]

@@KentKaliber I dunno man, could’ve looked even worse as a practical mask/puppet/whatever; you remember that abomination of Yoda in original Phantom Menace cut before they’ve replaced that puppet with CGI model from Episode 2?

[@rthomas1031]

Theres so much awesomeness in this movie, mixed with just a few REALLY lame things that could have easily been edited out.

[@chessthecat]

No. There is MAYBE one or two sorta cool things maybe and the rest is garbage.

[@sw3aty_forte]

I agree. The novelization is even better (I thought it was great) and it still suffered from Jar Jar and bad Anakin lines.

[@michaelleone9931]

I wish Ebert was around to see the new trilogy. I’m sure he would have had a better take than “it’s sucked!”

[@jimliu2560]

@1:00 Intra-galactic trade war Not Intergalactic…..

[@chadnani]

1:13 "the movies most interesting new character, an alien named Jar Jar Binks" when did you find out ebert had trash taste?

[@chessthecat]

Ebert can be wrong. Not sure why he was so taken in by this but I wonder where Lucas flew him to for this junket.

[@DV80s]

He's doing an interview with Lucas... do you think that wouldn't influence what he said about the movie? These people can make or break a movie, well, at least hurt them with their reviews, so a little bribery here and there, access to important people like Lucas to make Ebert feel important and you got yourself a soft review of the movie. That's why crapholes like Rotten Tomatoes are owned by Hollywood, so they can rig the audience numbers to make people think a movie is actually better than it is. We're talking billions in dollars worldwide. You think Hollywood is above using corruption to protect their trash films?

[@fabioj2353]

The Phantom Menace was phenomenal and extremely underrated especially due to RLM’s horrible and biased reviews. Same people who said TFA is phenomenal lmao. Ebert is not wrong here whatsoever. The movie had a few character issues but the story was cohesive, set the sequels up well, and was revolutionary for the advancement of special effects.

[@shmeagol]

“Zhar-Zhar Binks”?

[@NomeIndeciso]

Yes I thought it was funny how he's making Jar Jar sound so exotic, like he's saying Zsa Zsa Gabor.

[@ashman187]

Put the poison in the tea...!

[@sandal_thong8631]

"A Special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing" -George Lucas during or after the OT. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYKlg32IqNuBfbc Sadly, he forgot that and a lot of other stuff. Like having a key villain survive to fight again (Darth Maul) like Darth Vader did. Roger Ebert is right about something wrong with the characters: they don't like each other. The one we know even calls two of them "pathetic life forms." He's wrong about the Pod race though: you can go to the bathroom without missing anything. It's just fake drama: we know he won't get hurt; and there's no subtlety like if he wins he and his mother are free, but if he comes in 2nd place she doesn't go free.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

Ebert was so ahead of the curve with this review and he hit the nail on the head when it came to his review of this film. I somewhat disagree with the idea that theres no character depth and that its JUST setup. It did have its own little story while setting up the universe of star wars. Call me what you want, but I honestly believe that the phantom menace is one of the most misunderstood blockbusters of all time. Its the perfect tribute to the classic serials and old fashioned romps of the 30s and 40s. Star wars fans continuously forget that the franchise is a space opera. Not some gritty and overly serious drama like Rogue one. Its supposed to be grand, but also fantasy escapism. George was definitely correct when he addressed the cynicism of the general public, and its even more true today. Its gotten so bad that people are just so eager to be bitter towards anyone and everyone, its just sad. No community, no empathy, no companionship, just anger and endless rage towards our neighbors.

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

I think some people want Star Wars to be more like Firefly or Battlestar Galactica. I prefer the grander, more mythic aspects of Star Wars but I suppose everyone takes something different from it.

[@emperorsean1]

I enjoyed the prequels fuck the haters. It wasnt a disappointment.

[@LuisSanchezLouieLouie]

Was very dismayed after seeing it for the first time in theaters. I have come to appreciate it more over time. Still light years better than Disney Star Wars

[@DV80s]

Doing a "review" of the movie while also interviewing Lucas? Nothing unethical here, just cause he kissed Lucas' butt with this soft review of a crappy "star wars" movie.

[@thegreatinterpreter8382]

Any time I have a chance to watch this movie... I clean my tub instead.

[@Darbobski]

I imagine you're filthy.

[@fredh1720]

​@@DarbobskiDoes that make any sense whatsoever?

[@Darbobski]

@@fredh1720 He would have to be filthy if he thinks it needs cleaning every time an opportunity to Watch Phanom Menace comes up. It's not like we are talking about a once-a-year midnight showing of Plan 9 from Outerspace.

[@larry-ludwig]

Star Wars, when Lucas owned it, was such an event, even for the later movies. Today with Disney owning it... not so much.

[@larrybremer4930]

IDK, I still feel the first 6 movies were Darth Vader's story arc, and he is the chosen one who brought balance when he defeated the Emperor.

[@ajzeg01]

I agree with Roger, Luke being the chosen one always made more sense to me.

[@fabioj2353]

In what way? Vader spent 23 years in the light and 23 years in the dark. Luke was simply the catalyst to bring Vader back to being Anakin to defeat the emperor. Luke was laying on the ground in pain when Vader tossed Palpatine down the pit.

[@eduardorivera4343]

The STAR WARS prequels aged well.

[@blondiemancojoe1066]

Vader was always the chosen one guy what r u on about he ended up stopping the empire at the end by killing sidious.

[@adamw116]

So much to look forward to the possibilities because of advancements in technology. Now so many years later, what is the result of those advances, the cgi being overused to the point of being boring and obnoxious, an industry which can't even impress its audience anymore. Deep fakes can be done by the average Joe at home and most people don't have the attention span these days to concentrate on a good story with practical effects or even no effects at all. 20th Century Fox the studio that once proudlly introduced us to this wonderful original scifi universe has been dissolved by a much bigger souless, conglomerate which these days only seems to churn out unwatchable garbage instead of well made, fun family entertainment entertainment that was the originally that company's promise. Our favorite franchises have been greedily purchased by the mouse house and their newest installments contain mostly bad plotting, horrible acting, and an over use of suprisingly cheaply done special effects. Which is ridiculous considering the obscene budgets of these films. Of course I am talking about the Marvel and of course Star Wars franchises. Add now with the insulting filmmaking in general horribly forced activism and woke messaging to satisfy executives looking to earn ESG financing many people are becoming cynical about the idea of going to the movies. It's a shame, unforgiveable reall, how something as treasured as Star Wars is not only being destroyed by to much of a dependence on technology and incompetent storytelling. But also very recently the hubris of bad writers injecting their politics into whatever flimsy and by the way often repetitive storylines Disney committees approve of.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*There's nothing "practical" about SPECIAL effects.* The word "practical" is Abrams biggest tell that he knows little about movies. No such thing as "practical effects."

[@Clatakesalook]

“I think that actors will be safe “

[@HiddenHandMedia]

I haven't as good a sleep in my life since I went to see this boring movie.

[@kali3665]

Truly sad that Gene never got to see the film. I wonder what he would have thought. Still, I kinda believe that the prequels are already aging very poorly, in effects and storyline. I don't think 20 years down the line, the millennial generation will be thinking as fondly of the prequels as we do Episodes 4-6. They were OUR Star Wars films. And I will NEVER accept the sequels. No, NEVER.

[@hyena3346]

This is the the most boomer take I've ever read. Millennials & their counterparts created prequel memes, which vindicate the prequels in ways boomers can't understand unless a pseudofascist talking head scares them into it.

[@ericfelds6291]

I think it’s a blessing he never got to see it. He left this world with ‘Return of the Jedi’ being the definitive conclusion. In some ways in envy him.

[@ericfelds6291]

@@hyena3346 are you sincerely making the argument that memes have somehow improved the quality of a film that’s over 20 years old. What?

[@kali3665]

@@ericfelds6291 Besides, all the memes do is emphasize the flaws in the prequels!

[@josephjoe4180]

Im a millennial and heavily disagree with this take. The prequels still have better effects and imagination than 95 percent of Hollywood films these days. The Marvel films themselves can't even match the special effects of the prequels. Fun fact, the prequels used more models than the original trilogy, but you will never be able to convince old fans that. They have their hate goggles on and are unable to appreciate the magic of the prequel trilogy. I feel very fortunate to have grown up with all six star wars films and I love them all.

[@phenomeninja1855]

Phantom Anus .

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

The prequels attempted to answer questions that nobody was asking.

[@hyena3346]

How did anakin turn to evil? Who was Luke & Leia's mother? How did the republic become the empire? What were the clone wars? Nah nobody cared.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

@@hyena3346 After I was done watching "Return of the Jedi" in 1983 I never once thought about any of that. To me prequels are anti-climactic and redundant.

[@knownpleasures]

Brilliant prequel, the best Star Wars movie

[@ericfelds6291]

@@knownpleasures if you’re either trolling or being sarcastic that’s funny, because it’s witty. If you’re in any way even remotely earnest, it’s also hilarious because it reminds us of the bottomless depths of human stupidity and bad taste.

[@Dave-gk6si]

OT elitist are becoming more and more extinct

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

The hysterical bed wetting over the sequel movies do not make the prequel movies any better.

[@thepoeticbutcher3370]

…..you’re correct, Disney wet the bed & dropped a deuce on the floor…

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

THIS EXACTLY. Say what you want about George Lucas-he pooped the bed, but he pooped his OWN bed.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

​@@littlekingtrashmouth9219I disagree, but that's a funny analogy.

[@drewstinson3901]

I take the controversial stance that the sequel trilogy faltered with the revelation of Rey being a Palpatine and the anti-climactic conclusion of TROS. Other than that, it had promise but couldn't deliver fully in the end.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

@@drewstinson3901 it delivered NOTHING in the end.

[@makaup22]

I can't believe Ebert didn't flush this turd down the drain.

[@ei3170]

I wonder why jaja is cgi but yoda is a puppet

[@reinforcedpenisstem]

A puppet Jar Jar would look too phony

[@azach5288]

George Lucas created Star Wars, and George Lucas ruined Star Wars!

[@humanbeing2420]

Wow - Ebert was way off on this. The Phantom Menace is an awful film. It was terrible when it premiered, and it has aged just as terribly.

[@DV80s]

Ebert got to interview Lucas. You can bet he didn't get that by being a real critic who would be critical of Lucas's trash prequels.

[@PhilWMovies]

To each is own.

[@Stevesautopartsify]

I've NEVER watched any of the first three movies more then once.... Unlike the countless times I've seen the first three that were released!

[@4rcgv]

This movie was great. Loved it.

[@trekkiejunk]

Star Wars was one of those properties where its artistic success happens despite its creator. Lucas is an incredible world-builder. Ideas for aliens, ships and cultures are his biggest contribution to Star Wars. But the best Star Wars always happened (until Disney anyway), when Lucas was the least involved. The Empire Strikes Back always tops the list of best Star War films, because Irvin Kirschner was a fine director, who pushed back on Lucas's input constantly, giving Lucas the least control in any of the first 6 movies. -- That's why the 3 Indiana Jones films were so great. Lucas's world-building, and a stellar director in Spielberg to set the ship assail. Without trusting someone else to tell his stories, all that can happen is disaster.

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

Liam Neeson couldn’t care less.

[@LukeLovesRose]

He was attached before reading the script....

[@sandal_thong8631]

It was originally Obi-Wan's movie in the previous script, with Qui-Gon only showing up just at the end to help him. But Lucas changed that.

[@ComixMultiplication]

Ebert got paid off by George lol

[@mosinc7388]

I wish Siskel was around to tell everyone how bad this movie really is. Look at that Yoda, SMH.

[@hmdwgf]

Compared to the original films it was a real letdown- and that’s why I think so many people think it’s a terrible movie. But as an individual movie it wasn’t that bad- it was a real breakthrough in special effects. That’s really what I saw TPM as- a technolgical triumph.

[@killerclown2009]

Gene would've ripped it to shreds. "Roger,are you ok? Yeah visually it worked but the acting and dialogue was laughable! It was like community theatre with a budget. Didn't work for me 👎🏻"

[@hisvorpalsword]

"What's wrong with your face???"

[@agough7057]

Jar Jar Binks is one of the most annoying characters ever and ruined the movie. He should have got eaten by a rancor.

[@LukeLovesRose]

For setting up future movies with great visuals, thin characters and a thin plot, I'll take Avatar: The Way of Water over this cold, detached and silly attempt at a Star Wars movie. Jar Jar? Bah. Give me Payakan, the sentient whale or Tulkun in The Way of Water.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

The way of water was pretty mediocre compared to the phantom menace.

[@LukeLovesRose]

@@bilbobaggins9451 What?? The technical achievements alone put The Way of Water above The Phantom Menace. There has never been more photo realistic CGI put on film. But if you actually pay attention to the scripts, if you actually give Cameron the benefit of the doubt as a storyteller you'll find that both Avatar and The Way of Water are so much better, so much smarter than either the prequel trilogy or sequel trilogy.

[@bilbobaggins9451]

@@LukeLovesRose You're so wrong on this one, bud. Phantom menace was straight up revolutionary for the time. Way of water did have some revolutionary techniques for sure. Filming underwater like that was a huge achievement. But not as huge of an achievement than the first motion captured character. Avatar 1 is a great film, I'll give you that. But way of water was straight up lazy. They did the old "I've got your kids surrounded with weapons pointed at them, now you better surrender if you want them to live" cliche like 3 or 4 times in the movie. It's a movie sin you should never commit THAT many times in a film.

[@LukeLovesRose]

@@bilbobaggins9451 Get a life, troll. James Cameron is a master filmmaker. He does everything better, including the use of archetypes and cliches

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*Avatar IS a cold, detached, and silly attempt at a Star Wars movie.* _The Way of Water_ is just a silly attempt at starting a water park franchise.

[@bijibadness]

well, there it is. Roger Ebert, winner of the beyond-esteemed Pulitzer Prize for Journalism, called Jar-Jar Binks the most interesting new character of the _Phantom Men...._ actually, you know what, he WAS the most interesting new character from _Phantom Menace._ and indeed he might have been the ONLY "new" *CHARACTER* in _Phantom Menace._ see, it wasn't really that good of a movie, see.

[@DV80s]

That picture says it all about the prequels... two Jedi fighting against one Sith. That's what is wrong with the prequels. Two against one. Makes you sympathize with the bad guy. They walk around muddled and confused. They are incompetent.

[@TheMovieDoctorful]

By that logic, every slasher movie makes you sympathize with the villain, because they're outnumbered by the heroes.

[@sw3aty_forte]

That doesn’t make any sense at all.