Recently saw this on the big screen for the first time during the 25th Anniversary rerelease. I love this film. I have loved it as a kid. I think it is really exciting for basically all of the runtime. My least favorite part is the Gungan and Droid battle. Everything else is spectacular. This most recent viewing might have bumped it up to my favorite movie in the franchise.

With The Phantom Menace, the Star Wars prequel trilogy is off to a roaring start. Darth Maul is one of my personal favourite Star Wars villains.

A movie much more deserving of praise than it got upon release. The Phantom Menace is a good start to the Skywalker Saga's chronology, throwing viewers into a galaxy far from Lucas' original movies, and building upon it to create a compelling new era. This movie is so rich with detail, that you can always spot something new upon subsequent viewings based on the movie alone. Time has deservedly been kind to The Phantom Menace, but I have gladly celebrated this film ever since I saw it as a child, and my appreciation has only grown since.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace more than earns its divisive reputation with its ugly visuals, clunky dialogue, and annoyingly slow pacing, but the action and set pieces do a lot to sell it as a film, most notably the climactic fight against Darth Maul. It wasn't the start the Prequel Trilogy needed, but there are far worse films to watch, both in and out of the Star Wars franchise.

Ultimately, as a movie for preteens and young teens, Phantom Menace is a triumph. Its wide, visually stunning galaxy is worth seeing, and Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn nail the 'Jedi vs Sith' dynamic better than almost any other Star Wars property. There isn't enough meat on the bone for adult fans, but it certainly feels like the film is aiming younger, and it hits there.