**BIG NEWS** First Episode 1 Viewing Tonight - Reviews
Posted By Paul on May 5, 1999
We've been hearing rumors for a while now, and on Entertainment Tonight Leonard Maltin announced he'd be seeing the film tonight. We've now received over a dozen reports from people who attended a showing tonight. Here's some of what we know.
(First, a personal warning from Ghent... It is my opinion that reading a review is a BIGGER SPOILER than reading the screenplay or novel. With the later, you are at least forming your own images and your own opinions. The minute you read a review, your own opinion is colored as you experience it... whether you agree with the review or not. Please consider this carefully before you go and read or listen to any Phantom Menace review. Enough said...)
We have reports of viewings from Toronto, Manhattan (44th Street and Broadway), Chicago (Old Orchard Theatre), Boston and Los Angeles. The showings were for local theater owners (exhibitors). The prints will reportedly be destroyed and were not guaranteed to be the final version. Entertainment Tonight was outside the door at the New York showing. The comments we received about the film ran the full spectrum, so we can't form a consensus just yet.
We have also received numerous reports of press screenings to take place on Tuesday, May 11th around the country. Starting on the 12th, you might want to disconnect your TV and cancel the newspaper.