Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

"Every saga has a beginning."

- Film tagline

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is the first chapter in the Star Wars epic. It was the fourth film released, in 1999. The film starred Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Jake Lloyd. It is the first of the prequel trilogy to the classic films and, in chronological story order, the first in what formed a six-part saga with the completion of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005. It is the fourth highest grossing film of all time, though it received a heavy backlash from both the critics and the fans.

Synopsis


It is the year 32 BBY (or, 32 years prior to A New Hope), and a trade dispute between the Trade Federation and the outlying systems of the republic has led to a blockade of the small planet of Naboo. Chancellor Finis Valorum of the Galactic Republic secretly dispatches two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, as ambassadors to Saak'ak in order to meet with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray to resolve the dispute. Unbeknownst to them, the Trade Federation is in league with the mysterious Darth Sidious, who secretly orders Gunray to invade Naboo and kill the two Jedi upon their arrival. Their ship, Radiant VII, is destroyed and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escape the assassination attempt by the Federation on a C-9979 landing craft and flee to the surface of Naboo.



On the planet's surface, the Jedi meet local native outcast Jar Jar Binks, who brings them to an underwater Gungan settlement, Otoh Gunga, to escape the Trade Federation army. Meanwhile, the Trade Federation invades Naboo and captures their leader, Queen Amidala. The Jedi meet the Gungan leader, Boss Nass, and ask him to help the people of Naboo, but Nass refuses and sends them off in a submarine. The Jedi, with Jar Jar Binks in tow, reach the capital of Naboo and rescue Queen Amidala from the Trade Federation droid army. They depart for Coruscant, the Galactic Republic's capital planet, to ask for help from the Senate. A droid named R2-D2 heroically repairs the Queen's starship as they narrowly escape an attack from the Federation base ship.



Due to the damage sustained in the attack, however, the ship is forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs. While searching for needed parts, they befriend young Anakin Skywalker, a slave boy, whose master is Watto, a Toydarian junk dealer.

Anakin is gifted with piloting and mechanics (he has built an almost-complete droid named C-3PO). Qui-Gon Jinn senses a strong presence of the Force in Anakin, and feels that he may be the Chosen One who will fulfill a prophecy by bringing balance to the Force. By entering Anakin into a podrace, Qui-Gon orchestrates a gamble in which the boy (alone, since he was unable to include the youth's mother in the bargain) will be released from slavery and they will win the needed parts for their ship. Anakin wins the race and joins the team as they head for Coruscant, where Qui-Gon plans to seek permission from the Jedi Council to train Anakin to be a Jedi. Meanwhile, Darth Sidious sends his apprentice, Darth Maul, to kill the two Jedi and capture the Queen. Maul appears just as the group is leaving the planet, and fights Qui-Gon, who then manages to escape on the ship.





On Coruscant, Qui-Gon Jinn informs the Jedi Council of the mysterious attacker he encountered on Tatooine. Because of his mastery of the Jedi arts, the Council becomes concerned that this may indicate the reappearance of the Sith, a long-gone religious order who followed the dark side of the Force. Qui-Gon also informs the Council about Anakin, hoping that he can be trained as a Jedi. After testing the boy and deliberating with one another, the Council refuses, deeming him too old for training according to Jedi Code. They are also concerned due to their sense of what seems to be a clouded future and a strong presence of fear in the boy. Meanwhile, Senator Palpatine (of Naboo) uses Queen Amidala's situation to his advantage by persuading her to call a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum so that he can get himself nominated as the new Chancellor. After doing so, the Queen decides to return to her home planet to repel the invasion of her people. She is frustrated by the Senate's deliberation and lack of action, and feels that by the time Palpatine is elected Chancellor it will be too late. The two Jedi accompany the Queen back to Naboo.



Queen Amidala, back in Naboo, forms an alliance with the Gungan people, uniting in battle against the Trade Federation. Nute Gunray is ordered by Darth Sidious to wipe out the Gungans and the Naboo as the Trade Federation prepares for battle. After much fighting against the Federation's droid army, defeat for the alliance seems imminent.



However, victory is won when young Anakin Skywalker accidentally commandeers a fighter and goes onto destroy the Federation's droid command ship, rendering the droid army useless. Meanwhile, Queen Amidala and her force fight their way back into the palace and capture Nute Gunray. At the same time, Darth Maul has been engaging in combat with the two Jedi. He hits Qui-Gon Jinn on the chin with his lightsaber handle, stunning him. Then he rams his lightsaber straight into Qui-Gon's chest, mortally wounding him. Obi-Wan fights Darth Maul with raging anger, but Darth Maul almost kills him when he pushes Obi-Wan to the edge of a hole. Obi-Wan just manages to grab onto a pipe sticking out of the wall of the pit. Darth Maul kicks his lightsaber over the edge and raises his lightsaber for the kill. Obi-Wan calms himself, uses the Force to jump out of the pit, and then summons his Master's lightsaber and slays Darth Maul, cutting him in half.



Just before passing away, Qui-Gon instructs Obi-Wan to train Anakin to become a Jedi. Obi-Wan gives his word that he will train the boy. The newly elected Chancellor Palpatine arrives to congratulate Queen Amidala on her victory, as Nute Gunray is sent to stand trial for his crimes.

After the battle, the Jedi Council names Obi-Wan a Jedi Knight. Kenobi conveys his Master's wish regarding Anakin Skywalker to Yoda, who reluctantly allows him to become Obi-Wan's apprentice. Qui-Gon is cremated, and Mace Windu and Yoda agree that his death was caused by the Sith. Being that there are only two Sith at any given time (a Master and an apprentice), both believe that there is still one alive.

The film closes with a large celebration of liberation from the Trade Federation on the planet of Naboo. Queen Amidala presents a gift of appreciation and friendship to Boss Nass.

Memorable quotes
"Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs." "Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future..." "...but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan."

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi

"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."

- Qui-Gon Jinn to Jar Jar Binks

"That is the sound of a thousand terrible things headed this way." "If they find us, they will crush us, grind us into tiny pieces and blast us into oblivion!"

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Jar Jar Binks

"No one can kill a Jedi."

- Anakin Skywalker

"[after a pod racer crashes and explodes into a billion pieces] I don't care what universe you're from, that's got to hurt."

- Fodesinbeed

"You can't stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting."

- Shmi Skywalker to Anakin Skywalker

"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge."

- Darth Maul

"How rude !"

- Jar Jar Binks

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

- Yoda to Anakin Skywalker

"Confer on you, the level of Jedi Knight the Council does. But agree on you taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not!" "Qui-Gon believed in him. I believe in Qui-Gon." "The Chosen One the boy may be; nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training." "Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin. Without the approval of the Council if I must." "Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that, you do not. Agree with you, the council does. Your apprentice, young Skywalker will be."

- Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi

"Always two there are – no more, no less – a master and an apprentice." "But which was destroyed - the master, or the apprentice?""

- Yoda and Mace Windu

"There's always a bigger fish"

- Qui-Gon Jinn

Cast

 * Qui-Gon Jinn .... Liam Neeson
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi .... Ewan McGregor
 * Queen Amidala/Padmé .... Natalie Portman
 * Anakin Skywalker .... Jake Lloyd
 * Palpatine/Darth Sidious .... Ian McDiarmid
 * Shmi Skywalker .... Pernilla August
 * Sio Bibble .... Oliver Ford Davies
 * Captain Panaka - Hugh Quarshie
 * Jar Jar Binks .... Ahmed Best
 * C-3PO .... Anthony Daniels
 * R2-D2 .... Kenny Baker
 * Yoda .... Frank Oz
 * Finis Valorum .... Terence Stamp
 * Boss Nass .... Brian Blessed
 * Watto .... Andy Secombe
 * Darth Maul .... Ray Park (Voiced by Peter Serafinowicz)
 * Sebulba .... Lewis MacLeod
 * Wald .... Warwick Davis
 * Captain Tarpals .... Steven Speirs
 * Nute Gunray .... Silas Carson
 * Rune Haako .... Jerome Blake
 * Daultay Dofine .... Alan Ruscoe
 * Ric Olié .... Ralph Brown
 * Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 .... Celia Imrie
 * Fighter Pilot Bravo 2 .... Benedict Taylor
 * Fighter Pilot Bravo 3 .... Clarence Smith
 * Mace Windu .... Samuel L. Jackson
 * Palace Guard .... Dominic West
 * Rabé .... Cristina da Silva
 * Eirtaé .... Friday (Liz) Wilson
 * Yané .... Candice Orwell
 * Saché .... Sofia Coppola
 * Sabé .... Keira Knightley
 * Republic Cruiser Captain .... Bronagh Gallagher
 * Republic Cruiser Pilot .... Silas Carson
 * TC-14 .... John Fensom
 * Fode .... Greg Proops
 * Beed .... Scott Capurro
 * Jabba the Hutt .... Himself (Voiced by uncredited actor)
 * Jira .... Margaret Towner
 * Kitster .... Dhruv Chanchani
 * Seek .... Oliver Walpole
 * Amee .... Jenna Green
 * Melee .... Megan Udall
 * Eeth Koth .... Hassani Shapi
 * Adi Gallia .... Gin
 * Saesee Tiin .... Khan Bonfils
 * Plo Koon .... Alan Ruscoe
 * Yarael Poof .... Michelle Taylor
 * Ki-Adi-Mundi .... Silas Carson
 * Even Piell .... Michaela Cottrell
 * Oppo Rancisis .... Jerome Blake
 * Depa Billaba .... Dipika O'Neill Joti
 * Yaddle .... Phil Eason
 * Mas Amedda .... Jerome Blake
 * Aks Moe .... Mark Coulier
 * Lott Dod .... Silas Carson
 * Weazel .... Warwick Davis
 * Yoda Puppeteers .... Kathy Smee, Don Austen, David Greenaway
 * Voice of TC-14 .... Lindsay Duncan
 * Voice of Darth Maul .... Peter Serafinowicz
 * Voice of Rune Haako .... James Taylor
 * Voice of Daultay Dofine .... Chris Sanders
 * Voice of Lott Dod .... Toby Longworth
 * Voice of Aks Moe .... Marc Silk
 * Voice of Tey How .... Tyger

Characters

 * 3B3-10
 * 3B3-1138
 * 3B3-1204
 * 3B3-21
 * 3B3-2761
 * 3B3-888
 * Yeb Yeb Adem'thorn
 * Yeb Yeb Ademthorn's aide
 * Agrippa Aldrete
 * the Aleena senator and aides
 * Mas Amedda
 * Amee
 * Padmé Amidala
 * Bail Antilles
 * Bok Askol
 * ASP-77
 * Kitster Banai
 * Ebenn Q3 Baobab
 * Edcel Bar Gane
 * Edcel Bar Gane's aide
 * Neesada Bari
 * Aldar Beedo
 * Been
 * Tendau Bendon
 * Tendau Bendon's aides
 * Sio Bibble
 * Depa Billaba
 * B'olba
 * Dud Bolt
 * Pax Bonkik
 * Trax Bonkik
 * Helena Brandes
 * C-3PO
 * Chamberlyn
 * Chokk
 * Murr Danod
 * Dams Denna
 * DFS-1015
 * DFS-1104
 * DFS-1138
 * DFS-1308
 * DFS-327
 * Freon Drevan
 * Lana Dobreed
 * Lott Dod
 * Lott Dod's financial officer
 * Daultay Dofine
 * Porro Dolphe
 * Tox Don
 * Pa Dua
 * DUM-4
 * DUM-9
 * Hugo Eckener
 * EG-9
 * Eirtaé
 * Ellberger
 * Ellie
 * Erdan
 * Ebe E. Endocott
 * Fanta
 * Onaconda Farr
 * Fodesinbeed
 * Diva Funquita
 * Adi Gallia
 * Phylo Gandish
 * Gardulla
 * Gasgano
 * Ann Gella
 * Tann Gella
 * Gragra
 * Graxol Kelvyyn
 * Grebleips
 * Grebleips's aides
 * Greedo the Elder
 * Nute Gunray
 * Rune Haako
 * Clegg Holdfast
 * Horox Ryyder
 * Tey How
 * Jerus Jannick
 * Jar Jar Binks
 * Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Jira
 * Augara Jowil
 * Keder the Black
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Ki-Adi-Mundi
 * Rya Kirsch
 * Plo Koon
 * Televan Koreyy
 * Eeth Koth
 * Shmi Skywalker
 * Maori Madakor
 * Mars Guo
 * Darth Maul
 * Mawhonic
 * Meddun
 * Melee
 * Liana Merian
 * Rehtul Minnau
 * Aks Moe
 * Mot Not Rab
 * Yade M'rak
 * Stretch


 * Kam Nale
 * Odin Nesloor
 * Neva Kee
 * Nobot
 * Po Nudo
 * Ody Mandrell
 * Ric Olié
 * OOM-9
 * Orr Agg R'orr
 * Orr'UrRuuR'R
 * OWO-1
 * P-59
 * P-60
 * Palpatine
 * Pampy
 * Panaka
 * Passel Argente
 * Perosei
 * Even Piell
 * PK-4
 * Yarael Poof
 * Ben Quadinaros
 * R2-A6
 * R2-B1
 * R2-D1
 * R2-D2
 * R2-D3
 * R2-R9
 * R5-A7
 * R5-X2
 * Rabé
 * Oppo Rancisis
 * Rayno Vaca
 * Mik Regrap
 * Teyora Rekab
 * Boles Roor
 * Ark Roose
 * Aehrrley Rue
 * Rugor Nass
 * Rum Sleg
 * Rushing
 * RuuR'Ur
 * Sabé
 * Saché
 * Sebulba
 * Seek
 * Jedwar Seelah
 * Shakka
 * Diva Shaliqua
 * Lufta Shif
 * Aurra Sing
 * Slarm
 * SSA-1015
 * SSA-306
 * SSA-719
 * Orn Free Taa
 * Orn Free Taa's aides
 * Orn Free Taa's protocol droid
 * Sei Taria
 * Tarpals
 * TC-14
 * TC-3
 * TC-4
 * Teemto Pagalies
 * Ainlee Teem
 * Teers
 * Teguar
 * Rango Tel
 * Reike Th'san
 * Saesee Tiin
 * Tikkes
 * Tobler Ceel
 * Toonbuck Toora
 * Tracton
 * Bogg Tyerell
 * Deland Tyerell
 * Djulla Tyerell
 * Doby Tyerell
 * Ratts Tyerell
 * Sil Unch
 * UrrOr'RuuR
 * Finis Valorum
 * Horace Vancil
 * Corix Venne
 * Vomak
 * Quinlan Vos
 * Wald
 * Wan Sandage
 * Watto
 * Watto's astromech
 * Weazel
 * Arven Wendik
 * Grotto Werribee
 * Antidar Williams
 * Mace Windu
 * the Xexto senator
 * Xizor
 * Yaddle
 * Yané
 * Yarua
 * Yarua's aides
 * Baskol Yeesrim
 * Yoda
 * Graf Zapalo

Species

 * Aleena
 * Anx
 * Cerean
 * Chagrian
 * Child of the Green Planet
 * Dug
 * Elder
 * Er'Kit
 * Falleen
 * Fluggrian
 * Glymphid
 * Gungan
 * Human
 * Iktotchi
 * Kel Dor
 * Kiffar
 * Koorivar
 * Korun
 * Lannik
 * Neimoidian
 * Nosaurian
 * Nuknog
 * Phuii
 * Poldt
 * Quermian
 * Roonan
 * Sneevel
 * Swokes Swokes
 * Sy Myrthian
 * Tarnab
 * Thisspiasian
 * Toong
 * Toydarian
 * Triffian
 * Troig
 * Ualaq
 * Veknoid
 * Vulptereen
 * Wookiee
 * Xamster
 * Xexto
 * Zabrak

Locations

 * Coruscant
 * Galactic City
 * Senate District
 * Ambassadorial Sector
 * 500 Republica
 * Legislative Borough
 * Avenue of the Core Founders
 * Senate Plaza
 * Senate Building
 * Temple Precinct
 * Jedi Temple
 * Iego
 * Malastare
 * Pixelito
 * Naboo
 * Great Grass Plains
 * Gungan sacred place
 * Lake Paonga
 * Otoh Gunga
 * Lianorm Swamp
 * Theed
 * Funeral Temple
 * Palace Plaza
 * Solleu River
 * Theed Hangar
 * Theed Royal Palace
 * Triumphal Arch
 * Nubia
 * Ohma-D'un
 * Rori
 * Toydaria
 * Tatooine
 * Mos Espa
 * Slave Quarters Row
 * Watto's Shop
 * Mos Espa Grand Arena
 * Arch Canyon
 * Beggar's Canyon
 * Bindy Bend
 * Canyon Dune Turn
 * Coil
 * Corkscrew
 * Devil's Doorknob
 * Ebe Crater Valley
 * Hutt Flats
 * Jag Crag Gorge
 * Jett's Chute
 * Laguna Caves
 * Metta Drop
 * Mushroom Mesa
 * Starlite Flats
 * Waldo Flats
 * Whip
 * Tund

Vehicles/vessels

 * Armored Assault Tank
 * C-9979 landing craft
 * Consular-class space cruiser
 * Corellian Star Shuttle
 * Coruscant air bus
 * Dusty Duck
 * EasyRide passenger airspeeder
 * Eddicus-class planetary shuttle
 * FC-20 speeder bike
 * Flare-S swoop
 * Gozanti cruiser
 * Gungan battle wagon
 * Gungan energy catapult
 * Heyblibber
 * Huulian fighter
 * J-Type 327 Nubian royal starship
 * Lucrehulk-class battleship
 * Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship
 * Multi-Troop Transport
 * N-1 starfighter
 * Podracers
 * Salon pod
 * Sandcrawler
 * Scimitar
 * Senatorial platform
 * Seraph-class urban landspeeder
 * Sheathipede-class shuttle
 * Single Trooper Aerial Platform
 * Spinner
 * Tatooine hand cart
 * Tibanna gas balloon
 * Trade Federation troop carrier
 * Tribubble bongo
 * V-19 landspeeder
 * X-34 landspeeder
 * XR12 personal use spacecraft

Creatures

 * cambylictus tree
 * Chuba
 * Colo claw fish
 * Dewback
 * Doo
 * Duck
 * Dwarf nuna
 * Eopie
 * Faa
 * Falumpaset
 * Fambaa
 * Gooba fish
 * Guarlara
 * Ikopi
 * Kaadu
 * Laa
 * Long-tailed frog
 * Mee
 * Mott
 * Nyork
 * Opee sea killer
 * Peko peko
 * Pikobi
 * Pylat bird
 * Ray
 * Ronto
 * Sando aqua monster
 * See
 * Shaak
 * Tee

Droid models

 * 3PO-series protocol droid
 * B1 battle droid
 * Command battle droid
 * DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid
 * DUM-series pit droid
 * DUM-4-series pit droid
 * GNK power droid
 * Hologlide J57 cam droid
 * Mark II reactor drone
 * mechno-chair
 * Otoga-222 repair droid
 * P-100 salvage droid
 * PK worker droid
 * PK-4 worker droid
 * P-series droideka
 * Pilot battle droid
 * R-PK surveillance droid
 * R2-series astromech droid
 * Salvage droid hover arm
 * Scrubber droid
 * Security battle droid
 * Senate hovercam
 * Stretch
 * Talking magnetite cleaner
 * TC-series protocol droid
 * Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid, Mark I
 * Welding droid

Organizations and Positions

 * Boss
 * Bravo Squadron
 * Dark Lord of the Sith
 * Galactic Republic
 * Galactic Senate
 * Gungan Grand Army
 * Jedi Order
 * Jedi Knight
 * Jedi Master
 * Order of the Sith Lords
 * Padawan
 * Queen
 * Royal Naboo Security Forces
 * Senate Guard
 * Trade Federation
 * Trade Federation Droid Army
 * Trade Federation Viceroy

Production
The budget of Menace was US$115 million. Filming was primarily done at Leavesden Studios in England, with additional location shooting in the Tunisian desert and the Italian palace Palazzo Reale, Caserta. Filming started on June 26, 1997, and ended on September 30, 1997.

Unlike the latter two films in the series which were shot on digital video, most of this film was shot in 35 mm, with a few scenes shot in digital video.



Controversy
After an enormous marketing campaign, with the distinctive artwork of Star Wars series artist Drew Struzan gracing the movie poster and other advertising, there was almost unprecedented interest amongst both fans and the wider community in the return of one of the most successful movie series of all time. However, critical and fan reaction ranged from guarded praise to outright derision.

The much-hyped special effects, while generally viewed as groundbreaking in their sheer scope, were perhaps less impressive than anticipated simply because of high expectations. This attitude was confirmed with the rival film, The Matrix, winning the visual effects Academy Award for that year over the Star Wars film. It was the first time a Star Wars film lost in that Oscar competition category. Many critics heavily criticized the direction and the acting of Portman and especially Jake Lloyd as the young Anakin Skywalker. Some aspects of the scripting were also criticized. Extra venom was directed at the character of Jar Jar Binks, who was regarded by much of the older fan community as purely a merchandising opportunity rather than a serious character in the film. It's worth noting, however, that the criticism of Jar Jar was always of his character, never of his digital integration into the movie, which was largely a success. Fan reaction was mixed, with some fans opposing the critics' views while others agreed with the negative opinions.

Another source of dissatisfaction comes from the decision to explain the Force in terms of hard science, hence the introduction of midi-chlorians. Many fans felt this was unnecessary and ruined an aspect of the saga that set it apart from other popular sci-fi titles in which religion and spirituality were of little importance or totally absent.

A number of people anonymously re-edited the film and released their edited versions over the Internet. The most popularly known of these is The Phantom Edit.

Title
This episode was also the first of the saga to be referred to primarily by its number (Episode One) by media and fans, to contrast it with the classical saga the public already knew. This reference also gave finally some sense to the riddling numbers IV-VI of the previous movies.

In contrast to the more self-explanatory titles of the other films, the title, "The Phantom Menace" is ambiguous. It is usually suggested that the title refers to Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, or the Sith in general. The title could also refer to the origin of Darth Sidious's name, which is the adjective "insidious." The Oxford Dictionary gives the following definition:

''Full of wiles or plots; lying in wait or seeking to entrap or ensnare; proceeding or operating secretly or subtly so as not to excite suspicion; sly, treacherous, deceitful, underhand, artful, cunning, crafty, wily. (Of persons and things.)''

So the "phantom" in the title of Episode I could be referring to the Dark Lord of the Sith and &#8216;menace&#8217; to the meaning of the name "Sidious". Another possible meaning of the title is a subtle indication at the ultimate outcome of the Saga&mdash;Anakin becomes Darth Vader.

A further theory is based upon the understanding that the central menace of the movie, the Neimoidian dominated Trade Federation's blockade and invasion of Naboo, is itself nothing more than a phantom, a piece of political misdirection wrought by Darth Sidious as part of the machinations designed to bring about the ultimate victory of the Sith. In this sense, the key outcome of this movie is the elevation of Palpatine to the office of Chancellor - an outcome that would have resulted had the Trade Federation's gambit succeeded or failed. The keystone of the plot is the plight of the Naboo arousing a sympathy vote in the Senate. While the heroes are focused on combating the threat to Naboo, they are unwitting pawns in a connivance of far greater scope.

However, while all these theories are possible, they are also likely too literal for such base interpretation. The "Phantom Menace" is most likely a simple allusion to future dark events that are unclear. Until the time of Episode I the galaxy has been largely at peace. The events of Episode I trigger a cascade of events that will put the galaxy under Sith rule for decades.

Therefore, the best interpretation is that "The Phantom Menace" does not refer to a single entity or event, but rather to the notion of impending evil that nobody can truly foresee. In fact, Obi-Wan even makes an allusion to it right at the beginning of the movie:

"I have a bad feeling about this." "I don't sense anything." "It's not the mission, Master. It's something&hellip;elsewhere&hellip;elusive."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi to Qui-Gon Jinn

Sources and inspirations
While Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress has often been seen as a source of inspiration for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The Phantom Menace's middle section on Tatooine, with its series of non-violent bargaining and twists of chance, demonstrates the strongest correspondence to Japanese film in the Saga. Queen Amidala's escape from an invading enemy and posing as a handmaiden while visiting the lower classes on Tatooine also echoes Kurosawa's film, especially in its emphasis on social consciousness.

The pod race sequence on Tatooine appears heavily influenced, if not lifted wholesale, from the chariot race in Ben-Hur. Other films likely to have influenced the pod race are Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause, which featured actor James Dean, a partial inspiration for the Anakin character, and John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix, which not only features the Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune but also features camerawork done by Lucas himself.

Starting with this episode, the Star Wars Saga, especially the first three episodes and even more especially the third chapter, Revenge of the Sith, deal heavily with the character type of the mastermind typical to the multiple genres Lucas's work belongs to. The dual character of Palpatine/Darth Sidious is the mastermind of the Star Wars narrative, controlling and manipulating the events of the films, such as the invasion of Naboo and the impeachment of Valorum, from afar. This character has precedent in countless comic books, movies and novels, but is especially in debt to the arch-villains of serial fiction and films of the early 20th century. The two most relevant characters are Fantomas ("The Phantom") and Norbert Jacque's Dr. Mabuse, immortalized on screen by German director Fritz Lang. Lucas implicitly labels Palpatine, who like Mabuse uses mind control and secret identities to shape events on large political and economic scales, as the film's Phantom Menace, tying him to the French villain.

Politically, this film may be the most concretely complicated of all the Star Wars films in its references. Throughout the films there are various characters whose names and actions associate them with modern political figures and movements. The name of the Trade Federation's greedy leader Nute Gunray can be seen as an amalgam of two controversial Republican politicians of the latter half of the 20th century--Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, both in their actual names and in reference to Ronald Reagan's most famous film, Knute Rockne, All American, in which he plays "The Gipper".

The key political decisions in this film revolve around the impeachment of a chief executive--Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum--in order to elect a new leader of stronger moral principles--eventual Emperor Palpatine--echoing the attempts of the Republicans to oust President Bill Clinton from office in the late 1990's. The motivations of the Trade Federation in the film, moreover, revolve around their refusal to cooperate with the Republic's taxes, tying their economic politics both to the Reaganomics of the 1980's and the World Trade Organization, famously protested in Seattle, Washington in the year of the film's release. Also, it is likely that Lucas included the satirical pun on Reagan's name as payback for the former President's use of key phrases from Star Wars to rally support for his controversial Missile Defense System, which even gained the nickname of Lucas's epic project.

Re-release
At the DVD press conference for Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars prequel trilogy animation director, Rob Coleman confirmed that the animation department at Lucasfilm has replaced the Yoda puppet from the original version of the film with a digital Yoda. This was done to better match up the look of the Yoda from The Phantom Menace with that of the other two films of the prequel trilogy, as well as with the Yoda from the original trilogy. This change has been, for the most part, welcomed by fans, in contrast to the original puppet Yoda as seen in The Phantom Menace.

A preview of these changes can be viewed on the Revenge of the Sith DVD that was released on November 1st, 2005. The clip is included as part of "The Chosen One" featurette. When Coleman announced the change, he didn't, however, specify when the revised version of The Phantom Menace will be released. It is expected to be in an upcoming prequel trilogy box set, however.

DVD release


Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released on DVD in 2001, with certain scenes and other elements edited and added in by George Lucas that make the DVD a slightly different version from its theatrical release. However, the changes made for the DVD release do not change the plot of the film in any sense. Some scenes were modified, and some scenes that were not finished by the date of release were put in the film.

Deleted scenes

 * The Waterfall Sequence - As Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar arrive in the Bongo Sub in the waterways of Theed, they surface just in front of a huge waterfall.
 * Dawn Before the Podrace - Anakin gets up early to prepare the pod for the race and has a brief chat with Padmé.
 * Complete Podrace Grid Sequence - This scene shows more of the creatures in the crowd.
 * Extended Podrace Lap Two - This is not just more high octane podrace action, although it does have plenty of that too. It also shows more of Sebulba's "creative interpretation of the rules" and more proof of just how special Anakin is.
 * Anakin's Scuffle With Greedo the Elder - This was due to be put in after the podrace just to show Anakin's dark side, but George Lucas cut it because he wanted Anakin to be shown as a 100% good kid that turned bad and was never born that way.
 * Farewell to Jira - This occurs as Qui-Gon and Anakin are leaving Mos Espa and stop to let Anakin say goodbye to Jira. One of Darth Maul's probe droids follows them for some time until Qui-Gon finally notices and destroys it before passing by the Dusty Duck.
 * The Air Taxi Sequence - The taxi ride only lasts for about ten seconds, which shows ten more seconds of Coruscant.

References to the original trilogy

 * In the beginning of the movie, young Obi-Wan tells Qui-Gon, "I have a bad feeling about this."
 * In The Phantom Menace, Nute Gunray says, "Close the blast door!" In A New Hope (post-1997 releases), an Imperial stormtrooper uses a similar line, "Open the blast doors!"
 * A Jedi Master uses the Jedi mind trick to help himself and his Padawan. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn uses the Jedi mind trick to persuade Boss Nass to help him and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to speed through Naboo's planet core. In A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi uses the Jedi mind trick to convince the Imperial stormtroopers that "These aren't the droids you're looking for" and to get past them with informal Padawan Luke Skywalker. (A New Hope)
 * Qui-Gon Jinn identifies Queen Amidala's ship as a "J-type 327 Nubian." This is the same number as the bay the Millennium Falcon lands in on the first Death Star in A New Hope, and the number of the platform the Falcon lands on at Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back.
 * Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator resembles an Imperial TIE/ln starfighter.
 * The final lap of the podrace between Anakin Skywalker and Sebulba mirrors Darth Vader's pursuit of Luke Skywalker in the Death Star's trench during the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope. Sebulba's pod racer is X shaped, resembling Luke's X-wing starfighter. Also, part of the podrace takes place in Beggar's Canyon, which is mentioned by Luke in A New Hope.
 * A Jedi uses the Jedi mind trick, but the target resists the trick. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn attempts to influence Watto to accept Republic credits as a means of purchasing a new hyperdrive, but as a Toydarian, Watto resists the trick. In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker attempts to persuade Jabba the Hutt to free Han Solo and Chewbacca from captivity, but as a Hutt, Jabba resists the trick. It is Jabba who calls this technique as "an old Jedi mind trick." Both characters happen to live on Tatooine, and both scenes take place on the same planet.
 * When Anakin assumes that Qui-Gon is a Jedi Knight, he asks "What makes you think that?" Uncle Owen asks Luke the same question in A New Hope when he assumes that R2-D2 might have been stolen some thiry-two years later.
 * Queen Amidala tells the Senate, "I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee." This is an homage to The Empire Strikes Back, where Han Solo says "No time to discuss this in committee!" and Princess Leia shouts "I am not a committee!"
 * During his Jedi testing, Anakin tells Master Yoda that he feels cold. On Dagobah, his son Luke tells Master Yoda the same thing during his Jedi training. (The Empire Strikes Back)
 * A Jedi Master is killed by a Sith Lord in front of his apprentice. Consequently, the apprentice screams "NOOO!". Qui-Gon is killed by Darth Maul in front of Obi-Wan (The Phantom Menace), and Obi-Wan is killed by Darth Vader in front of Luke (though Luke was not technically his apprentice). (A New Hope)
 * A Skywalker saves the day by destroying a much much larger, heavily-armed space station, against all odds. Anakin destroys the Trade Federation's droid command ship (The Phantom Menace), and Luke destroys the first Death Star. (A New Hope)
 * The film ends in a ceremony with the female lead giving the award. (A New Hope)
 * A Skywalker is deemed too old to begin his Jedi training. Anakin is deemed too old by the Jedi Council (The Phantom Menace), and Luke is deemed too old by Master Yoda. (The Empire Strikes Back)
 * In The Phantom Menace, Yoda says, "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." In the The Empire Strikes Back, Obi-Wan (postmortem) says, "Don't give in to hate. That leads to the dark side." while Vader himself says to Luke "You have controlled your fear. Now release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me." Both are indications of a character in an earlier made, later set film 'remembering' a conversation had in a film which has not yet been made. (The Empire Strikes Back)
 * A primitive race is involved in an elaborate battle with a technologically advanced army. (Gungans and battle droids in The Phantom Menace, and Ewoks and Imperial stormtroopers in Return of the Jedi) In fact, both Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace feature three battles taking place simultaneously: a lightsaber duel, a ground battle and a space battle. The Battle of Naboo mirrors the Battle of Endor. Both battles end with a Jedi funeral and a celebration sequence.
 * In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon's body is burned in the manner of a Jedi funeral. In Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader's life support suit gets burned by Luke Skywalker in the manner of a Jedi funeral.
 * During Qui-Gon's funeral/cremation, Mace Windu says to Yoda, regarding the death of Darth Maul, "But which was killed, the master or the apprentice?" The camera then slowly pans around the funeral, until finally settling on Palpatine. The Senator's face is in clear focus, while everyone else is blurred. The camera remains there for a few seconds, before cutting to the celebration in Theed. This alludes to Palpatine's role as the Dark Lord of the Sith in all six films.
 * At the very end of the movie's closing credits, you can briefly hear the recognizable breathing of Darth Vader, the main villain from the original trilogy.
 * After Obi-Wan tells the Jedi Council that he is ready for the Jedi Trials, Master Yoda says "our own council we will keep on who is ready". On Dagobah, when Luke tells Master Yoda that he is ready to be trained, Master Yoda says "my own council will I keep on who is to be trained". (The Empire Strikes Back)

Trivia

 * There are no words emphasized by all-caps in the opening crawl of this movie or any odd-numbered movie.
 * One of the more popular rumors was that Natalie Portman sprained her ankle while filming and her limp was corrected digitally in post-production. It is said in the audio commentary that she rolled out of bed and did in fact sprained her ankle.
 * In the scene where Queen Amidala calls for a vote of no confidence, a group of aliens that can be seen in the Galactic Senate resemble E.T.'s race from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Also visible are a group of Wookiees.  For the first time in over twenty years, the species was played by someone other than Peter Mayhew.
 * A nuna being flicked off a balcony by Jabba has the same scream as an astromech droid.
 * Famous characters from the Original Trilogy that make their first chronological appearance in this movie include C-3PO, Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Palpatine, R2-D2, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda. A scene with a character eventually known as Greedo the Elder was shot but deleted from the theatrical version of the film. The scene is included among the deleted scenes on the DVD release.
 * Jar Jar Binks' catchphrase of "How rude!", is a direct lift from C-3PO line in The Empire Strikes Back.
 * At the end of the credits, following the last notes of "Anakin's Theme", Darth Vader can be heard breathing in the background while the screen is pitch black.
 * Aside from A New Hope, this is the only Star Wars film in which the final scene contains any form of dialogue or monologue. However, it is only a single word, uttered by Boss Nass: "Peace!". The A New Hope final scene only contains R2-D2's beeping and a howl from Chewbacca.
 * Liam Neeson was so eager to be in the film, he didn't bother reading the script. Neeson, however, reportedly disliked working on the film once principal photography began. Neeson later made disparaging remarks regarding working with special effects that were linked to this film, though they were actually directed at The Haunting, which was released the same year. In addition, Neeson also reported that he was quite pleased with the final cut of the film, and wouldn't mind working with Lucas again.
 * The sound of Watto's wings flapping is a looped recording of sound designer Ben Burtt opening and closing an umbrella.
 * Darth Maul only blinks once, just after he is sliced in half by Obi-Wan.
 * The word "lightsaber" is never used. When Anakin talks to Qui-Gon, he calls it a "laser sword."
 * The film's working title was The Beginning.
 * Jar Jar Binks has been heavily criticized by members of the Afro-Caribbean community for portraying island culture as a caricature of incompetence and clumsiness. Around the turn of the millennium, a popular insult among Haitians was to call the victim a "jar-jar."
 * Natalie Portman had to miss the film's premiere to study for her high school final exams.
 * "Phantom Menace" was the name of a villain in the Flash Gordon serials.
 * The lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul took nearly a month to film. It is also the first lightsaber duel which is between two Jedi and one Sith Lord. Technically, the duel in Episode II was alike, with the only exception that the Jedi did not attack their adversary together. It was not until Episode III that two Jedi &mdash; Obi-Wan and Anakin &mdash; would fight together against a Sith Lord, and even then Obi-Wan would be knocked unconscious early on.
 * When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rescue Queen Amidala and company from the battle droids, Qui-Gon Force pushes one of the droids, and the droid lets out a yell that sounds like Homer Simpson's "D'oh!"
 * Before being cast as Queen Amidala, Natalie Portman had never seen the original trilogy.
 * The name of Mace Windu is never spoken in the film, along with most of the Jedi Council. Yoda is identified at the very end, by Obi-Wan Kenobi, regarding Anakin's training.
 * When Padmé and her guards infiltrate the palace, just before they are arrested by the droidekas, check on the top of the corridor. It's hardly visible, but there is an arch with a portrait of George Lucas on it.
 * This is the only Star Wars film in which Obi-Wan is clean-shaven.
 * Taylor Wells was second in line in the auditions process for Anakin Skywalker; he does make an uncredited appearance in the film around the first podracing scene.
 * Keira Knightley (daughter of Will Knightley) and Sofia Coppola (daughter of Francis Ford Coppola) both have small roles in the film; this movie was the former's film debut.
 * Lucy Richardson, the girl who originally inspired the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", worked in the art department for Episode I.
 * Ahmed Best was cast as Jar Jar Binks after casting director Robin Gurland saw how loose and lanky he was during a performance of musical group STOMP.
 * British actor Benedict Taylor, who plays Fighter Pilot Bravo 2 in The Phantom Menace, is the brother of actress Femi Taylor, who plays Oola the Twi'lek dancer in Return of the Jedi.
 * The first scene filmed during principal photography was Darth Sidious and Darth Maul on Coruscant. This is also the only scene in the film in which Sidious appears in the flesh and not as a hologram.
 * The sounds of the spectators at the Boonta Eve Podrace are sounds of football fans recorded by Ben Burtt at a San Francisco 49ers game.
 * All of the Gungans are based on the Jar Jar Binks CGI model.
 * During pre-production, the film's codename was Star Wars: Genesis.
 * Nathan Hamill, the son of Mark Hamill (who portrays Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy), makes an uncredited cameo appearance as a Pod Racer spectator and as a Naboo palace guard.
 * In the first shot of the planet Coruscant, immediately before Sidious and Maul are shown talking on the balcony, there are several ships flying over the planet in various directions on the screen. One of the ships is the Discovery from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is flying from left to right and leaves the screen before the shot ends.
 * When Qui-Gon and Watto are discussing the hyperdrive engine, you can see a space pod from 2001: A Space Odyssey sitting in the junk pile in the background.
 * Jabba the Hutt is credited in the film's end credits as playing himself.
 * Prince Xizor can be seen in the stands at the podrace, as the modeling crew used some toys to populate the stands.
 * In the scene on Coruscant where the Queen and company return to her ship to depart for Naboo, a spinner from Blade Runner can be briefly seen among the other various aircraft in the background of the landing platform.
 * Justin Berfield, who played Reese on Malcolm in the Middle, auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker.
 * The film contains the only on-screen evidence of Force Speed, used by Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to escape the droidekas.
 * This is the only movie where Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader does not wield a lightsaber.
 * One of the myths surrounding the film was that ILM digitally inserted the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek in Couruscant's sky traffic. Another myth was that Kyle Katarn's first ship, the Modly Crow, was inserted.
 * The evil robot used in a number of sci-fi films and made an appearance on Lost In Space, battling the good robot with the Robinson family, is also seen in Watto's store.
 * Part of the film's promotion involved the creation of a pog contest that involved several prominent restaurant chains.

Major Themes

 * Duel of the Fates
 * Anakin's Theme

Novelization
A book version of the movie was written by Terry Brooks. It includes three entire chapters of material created by Brooks and unique to the novel. The first two chapters of the book concern Anakin's next-to-last Podrace and its aftermath, while a later chapter describes an encounter between Anakin and a wounded Tusken Raider in the desert.

Brooks met with Lucas before writing the book and received his approval and guidance, including information about developments to come in Episodes II and III. This can be seen in such passages as the Tusken Raider scene, which ironically foreshadows the death of Anakin's mother in Episode II, and the passage leading up to Anakin's fight with the Rodian child (Greedo), indicating that Anakin's anger derives from his anguish at Padmé's impending departure (foreshadowing the plot of Episode III).

The novelization is especially well-known for a passage describing the history of the Sith, including Darth Bane. According to Terry Brooks' memoir, Sometimes the Magic Works, Lucas spent an hour on the telephone with him discussing the history of the Jedi and the Sith. Therefore, the information on this subject provided in Brooks' novelization can be presumed to derive from Lucas himself. The novelization is also the first mention of the Stark Hyperspace War.

Brooks devotes an entire chapter of Sometimes the Magic Works to the writing of the Episode I novelization, which was an extremely happy and fulfilling experience for him.