Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace ushered in a brand new period of Star Wars for a era of followers. The Prequel Trilogy formed tales many years later, equivalent to The Clone Wars, The Unhealthy Batch, Andor, Star Wars Rebels, and extra.
Trying on the film that kicked off so many tales within the franchise, listed here are 25 issues to like about The Phantom Menace.
1. Qui-Gon Jinn
The Prequel Period launched a slew of latest Jedi, and one of many extra fascinating characters was Qui-Gon Jinn. The unorthodox grasp of Obi-Wan Kenobi walked a distinct path than most round him.
He could possibly be as whimsical as he was daring, filled with riddles however brash. Qui-Gon was an fascinating Jedi including to the individuality of the Prequels.
2. Obi-Wan Kenobi
One common settlement amongst followers is Ewan McGregor was sensible as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Channeling the efficiency of Alec Guinness, McGregor’s portrayal of the nice Jedi as a younger and keen padawan was a brand new tackle a traditional character.
He shouldered the duty of taking up Anakin Skywalker, grieved his fallen grasp, and have become the primary Jedi in a whole lot of years to defeat a Sith Lord. McGregor introduced each little bit of his expertise to the position, making it one of the crucial memorable within the franchise.
3. Naboo
Naboo is a beautiful new location launched to the Star Wars universe. The capital metropolis of Theed shines with its mixture of Italian and Turkish designs.
The tranquil world is revisited all through the Prequel Trilogy as it’s the homeworld of Padmé Amidala and Emperor Palpatine.
4. Otoh Gunga
Theed isn’t the one location on Naboo that’s breathtaking. The capital metropolis of the Gungans, Otoh Gunga, is a wonderful underwater design for the aquatic warriors.
5. Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is the whole bundle. She is extremely artful, hiding amongst her handmaidens to seek out the reality. She’s not afraid to get her fingers soiled. She is an elected queen at sixteen, and her politically pushed thoughts will information her to be a senator within the subsequent film.
Padmé is empathetic in direction of Shmi and Anakin’s plight as enslaved individuals. She holds her personal in opposition to the Jedi, the Commerce Federation, and the scum and villainy of Tatooine. Padmé Amidala is a drive to be reckoned with.
6. Sabé and The Handmaidens
Probably the greatest reveals of the movie is for a superb portion of the film, who the viewers thinks is Queen Amidala is definitely her handmaiden, Sabé. The handmaidens of Naboo are hand-picked to have the ability to change roles at any second with Padmé for her safety.
The style of Queen Amidala is an important a part of the ruse, as explored in E.Okay. Johnston’s guide Queen’s Shadow.
7. R2-D2’s Rescue
Introducing one among Star Wars’ biggest heroes is a comparatively mundane scene, however that makes it a improbable introduction. R2-D2 enters the film with a bunch of droids to restore the ship the heroes are escaping Naboo on. He’s the final droid standing and will get mounted to affix the crew.
There’s nothing grandiose concerning the entrance, giving R2 humble origins for the legendary droid.
8. Jar Jar Binks
This author was ten years previous when the film debuted and was the target market for Jar Jar Binks. Created for teenagers and piloted by the ever-talented Ahmed Greatest, the character was beloved by younger audiences who grew to cherish him regardless of the backlash the character and actor confronted. Ahmed Greatest’s story is one among tragedy and triumph, making him a beloved actor within the franchise.
Jar Jar was additionally historic, being the primary absolutely CGI character. He broke floor for different characters like Gollum in Lord of the Rings and the Na’vi in Avatar to be created.
9. Anakin Skywalker
This author is a supporter and defender of Anakin Skywalker on this film. He’s the very embodiment of being a child making the very best of a horrible scenario. He’s so extremely candy, going out of his technique to construct a droid from scratch to assist his mom.
Anakin welcome the Jedi into his house and is enamored with them. He’s crammed with pleasure, similar to another youngster his age. His coronary heart breaks when he has to go away his mom, as he misses her dearly. He’s afraid when standing earlier than a bunch of Jedi strangers, judging whether or not or not he’s ok to affix their ranks. Anakin is every part a baby must be on this film, which makes his eventual downfall to the Darkish Facet much more heartbreaking.
10. Shmi Skywalker
The mom of all Skywalkers is the very illustration of the Mild Facet of the Power. Regardless of being enslaved, Shmi affords what little she has to feed the friends in her house. She advises Anakin that the galaxy can be a greater place if individuals cared extra about one another.
Shmi loves her son to the purpose of working towards the Jedi lesson of letting him go so he can observe the trail he’s meant to. Shmi deserves all of the love and extra for her position within the Skywalker Saga.
11. Coruscant
Created within the novel Inheritor to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, the city-planet is the capital of the Republic and, ultimately, the Empire. With hundreds of layers to enterprise into, Coruscant is a location that all the time has one thing new to discover.
12. The Senate
A part of the Republic is the significance of the Senate, and it’s a altering location explored from the Prequel Trilogy by means of the Clone Wars, Andor, and the Unique Trilogy. The evolution of the Senate is a cautionary story of how corruption breaks down democracy for fascism to invade.
13. The Jedi Council
Coming from the Unique Trilogy, the place solely a handful of Jedi survived, the Prequel Trilogy showcases the Jedi Order with over 10,000 beings in its ranks.
The Jedi Council, specifically, is a menagerie of varied Jedi from totally different planets, ages, and abilities portraying the very best the Order can supply in its management.
14. Mace Windu
Samuel L. Jackson brings a gravitas to Mace Windu as he balances the load of his responsibility. As a member of the Jedi Council, Mace should be a pacesetter and a pillar of energy to these round him. Mace’s unwavering agency nature made him typically appear blunt and chilly.
However in actuality, the rising menace of darkness that he and Yoda senses with the reveal of a Sith Lord implies that Mace usually has to make powerful selections to guard the larger good. Samuel L. Jackson shines within the position, showcasing his vary.
15. Yoda
When a personality is 800 years previous, it was a on condition that Yoda can be within the movie. In comparison with his position in Empire Strikes Again and Return of the Jedi, the place he’s extra of a trickster, Yoda is way extra severe within the Prequel Trilogy. The looming menace of the Darkish Facet worries him, displaying a brand new aspect of the character to discover.
16. Tatooine
Tatooine is an iconic location within the Unique Trilogy. It’s enjoyable to revisit the planet as soon as once more. Nostalgia is on show, displaying what the planet was like years earlier than the adventures of Luke, Leia, and Han.
17. Jabba the Hutt
No journey to Tatooine is full with out some look of the Hutts, significantly Jabba, who remains to be ruling. Overseeing the Boonta Eve Basic, the gangster slug makes a enjoyable cameo.
18. Podracing
The spotlight of the center a part of the movie is the podracing. The motion set piece has every part that makes Star Wars nice, mixing high-octane motion with comedy and coronary heart.
Your entire sequence was one among George Lucas’ most bold visions to tug off on the time, one thing he succeeded at.
19. Sebulba
For the podrace, Anakin’s rival is the delightfully deceitful Sebulba. The mustache-twirling racer is the right quantity of cartoon-like villain to face off in opposition to a baby.
Slimy in nature from his introduction, it’s pleasant watching him get his comeuppance as Anakin wins the race.
20. Warwick Davis Cameo
After his look as Wicket in Return of the Jedi and the 2 Ewok movies, Warwick Davis started his ongoing profession showing in numerous Star Wars initiatives as totally different characters. In The Phantom Menace, Warwick portrays Weazel, who’s a part of Jabba the Hutt’s entourage.
He would reprise Weazel as a redeemed character working because the Lieutenant for Enfys Nest in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
21. New Alien Species
The Phantom Menace expanded the Star Wars universe by introducing a couple of dozen new alien species. These aliens embrace Zabraks, Dugs, Chagrians, Tholothians, Aleena, Toydarians, and lots of extra. New aliens add to the wealthy visible tapestry of Star Wars, making the worldbuilding extra fascinating.
22. Battle of Naboo
The Battle of Naboo is a improbable climatic multi-faceted brawl. From the battle above the planet to Padmé main the bottom troops in opposition to the backdrop of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan dealing with off in opposition to Darth Maul, there’s something right here for each Star Wars fan.
23. Darth Maul
Darth Maul turned a fan-favorite character because of his introduction within the movie. The design of the Sith Lord is exclusive and hanging, and his lightsaber abilities are unimaginable as he fends off two Jedi.
The character can be explored in books, comics, and sequence to change into one of the crucial advanced people within the franchise, however his nice story started in The Phantom Menace.
24. Duel of the Fates
If there may be one factor that Star Wars followers agree on, “Duel of the Fates” is one among John Williams’ excellent items of Star Wars music. The theme is used once more all through the Prequel Trilogy, and components of it may be heard within the franchise, like in Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Clone Wars, and a number of Star Wars video video games.
25. Senator Palpatine
Because the titular character, Palpatine is extremely crafty all through the film. As a Republic senator, Palpatine fools all the galaxy making these round him imagine he’s on the aspect of peace. In actuality, the Sith Lord performs a plodding and affected person recreation as he rigorously strikes the mandatory items into place. One enjoyable truth is that the ultimate music on The Phantom Menace soundtrack through the parade on Theed is “Augie’s Nice Municipal Band.”
The music is a reworked model of “The Emperor’s Theme” from the Unique Trilogy, sped up and in a serious key, symbolizing that the tip of The Phantom Menace is a victory for Palpatine.
This text was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.