"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" is a journey back to the beginning of the epic saga, where a momentous meeting takes place between Anakin Skywalker, a hopeful nine-year-old boy, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, a determined young Jedi, that will change the course of galactic history.

The first of three prequels to George Lucas's celebrated STAR WARS films, EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE is set some 30 years before the original STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE in the era of the Republic. Naboo, a peaceful planet governed by the young but wise Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), is being threatened by the corrupt Trade Federation, puppets of an evil Sith lord and his terrifying apprentice, Darth Maul (Ray Park). Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor, performing an amazing vocal imitation of Alec Guinness, the older Obi-Wan) are called on to intervene in the trade disputes. Along the way, they acquire an apprentice of their own in the form of young prodigy Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), or as STAR WARS fans know him, the future Darth Vader. They also encounter Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), a goofy, lizardlike creature who has been banished from his underwater world for clumsiness. When the Trade Federation launches an attack on Naboo, the queen and her allies must battle hordes of robot troopers while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan face off against the sinister Darth Maul.

One of the most anticipated films of all time, THE PHANTOM MENACE sets the stage for the tumultuous events to come. Lucas fills the screen with detailed sci-fi creatures and locations, revealing the most creative and exquisite sets, costumes, and character designs to hit the screen since the original trilogy.

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Starring: Pernilla August, Kenny Baker, Ahmed Best, Brian Blessed, Ralph Brown, Silas Carson, Anthony Daniels, Oliver Ford Davies, Warwick Davis, Adrian Dunbar, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Frank Oz, Natalie Portman, Hugh Quarshie, Terence Stamp
Directed by: George Lucas
Theatrical release: May 19, 1999.

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DVD Features:

Encoding: Region 1
Package Type: Keep Case
Number of Discs/Layers: 2-Disc Set

Disc 1
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35:1
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 EX - English
Dolby Surround - English
Dolby Surround - French
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. George Lucas - Writer/Director, Rick McCallum - Producer, Ben Burtt - Co-Editor/Sound Designer, Rob Coleman - ILM Animation Director, John Knoll - Visual Effects Supervisor, Dennis Muren - Visual Effects Supervisor, Scott Squires - Visual Effects Supervisor
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus

Disc 2
Featurettes:
1. "The Beginning"
2. Deleted Scenes Documentary with 7 Deleted Sequences with Full Visual Effects
3. Storyline
4. Design
5. Costumes
6. Visual Effects
7. Fight Sequences
8. "Star Wars: Starfighter - The Making of a Game" from LucasArts
Making-Of - 12-Part Web Documentary
Multiple Angles Storyboard-to-Animatic-to-Film Comparisons - Submarine and Podrace Lap 1
Music Video - John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra - "Duel of the Fates"
Trailers:
1. Teaser
2. Original Theatrical Trailers
3. 7 TV Spots
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/ Photo Galleries:
Stills/ Photos
Poster Art
DVD-ROM Features:
Web Links

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Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Format: DVD
DVD Release Date: 16-OCT-01
Original Release Date: 1999
UPC: 024543023876
SKU: 1874807
Language: English
Dubbed: French
Subtitles: English
Closed Captioned: No
Sound Info: Surround Sound, Digital Sound, Stereo, AC3 Sound, THX Sound
Recording Mode: Dolby Surround AC-3
Extra info: 2-Disc Set; English and French Versions
Color: Color
Rating: PG (MPAA)
Rating Reason: For sci-fi action and violence.
Unedited Version: N
Collector's Edition: N
Director's Cut: N

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