"THE PHANTOM" KEEPS IT'S MENACE!

An international poster for Yoda for the cinematic return of EPISODE I in 3D.

THE PHANTOM MENACE opened strong in the US with nearly 24 million dollars apparently expected to be raised by the end of its opening weekend-not bad for an unfairly derided film that's also thirteen years old. It'll be interesting to see how much it pulls in in overseas territories, too. The new CGI Yoda inserted into the movie makes an impressive debut in cinemas, and I'm sure everyone loved seeing the Pod Races and lightsaber duels again: and back on the big screen!

Here's a few features and reviews to enjoy from this week relating to EPISODE I and the saga in general:

Behind the special effects in 'Phantom Menace' 3D - YouTube

In Defense of Star Wars: Episode I - Movies Feature at IGN

'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D' review - Movies Review - Digital Spy

George Lucas talks 'Phantom Menace' in 3-D and how James Cameron and Robert Zemeckis helped to make it happen -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO | Inside Movies | EW.com

Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace 3D Review | Movie Reviews and News | Star Wars Galaxy | EW.com

The Real Force Behind 'Star Wars': How George Lucas Built an Empire - The Hollywood Reporter

Talking of Yoda, for completism, here's the recent UK VODAFONE commercial he starred in (once more ably voiced by Tom Kane). It's fun, though die-hard fans are annoyed that the series most iconic characters are being used so blatantly for commercial gain. Vodafone RED Box: No need for Jedi training - YouTube