Music Album Review: 'Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Ultimate Edition: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'
(C) 2000 Sony Classical and Lucasfilm Ltd. Although the 1999 single CD recording of music from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was fairly adequate, for listeners spoiled by the Special Edition soundtracks it was a disappointment. Yes, the music is good, but there is a certain wrongness to the album's arrangements; like its 1977 predecessor, the 1999 soundtrack album takes cues from different scenes and "cuts-and-pastes" them to make nice yet inaccurate arrangements. For instance, Track 1 on the single CD version is called Star Wars (Main Theme) AND The Arrival at Tatooine. The so-called "Arrival at Tatooine" is really heard when the Queen's starship lands on the Coruscant landing platform. On November 14, 2000, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your level of cynicism regarding Star Wars and merchandising practices), Sony Classical released Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace: The Ultimate Edition: Original Motion P