Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

The next film is the fourth film (but first episode) in the Star Wars saga, 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace".  We meet several key characters in the franchise as we find out about Anakin Skywalker, a boy who has the potential to change everything and bring balance to the Force, and we also learn about the beginnings of the Sith.

The film's cast includes Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Ahmed Best, Frank Oz, Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Coppola, Keira Knightley, Celia Imrie, and Brian Blessed.

Queen Amidala of the Naboo is faced with the invasion of her planet.  Negotiations with the Trade Federation (the invaders) have failed.  Nothing can be done as federation troops continue to pour into the planet.  All the Queen can do is watch helplessly.

Two members of the Jedi order, Qui-Gon Jin and Obi-Wan Kenobi, stumble upon Jar Jar Binks.  They are seeking a way to get to Naboo to help warn the Queen about events in outer space that conspire against the planet.

Jar Jar takes them to a hidden Gungan city underwater.  The Chief of the Gungans wants no part of whatever goes on at the surface.  He does, however, give the two Jedi and Jar Jar a transport through the planet core, that will get them more quickly to Naboo.

They set off in their transport.  It's a harrowing journey, in which they nearly get eaten several times.

However, they arrive safely at their destination.  "This seems luberly," says Jar Jar as he looks around.

It's anything but "luberly".  Queen Amidala and her ministers have been arrested by the Trade Viceroy.  Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan organize a rescue and convince the Queen that her only way to safety is if they go to Coruscant so she can plead their case before the Republic Senate.

Along the way, their ship is attacked.  A droid named R2-D2 saves the day, and he ears special praise from Queen Amidala.

They stop on Tatooine to get parts to repair their ship.  The commands that her handmaiden "Padme" accompany Qui-Gon and Jar Jar into town.

In town, they meet Anakin Skywalker, a bright, curious boy who is a slave in a junk shop.  He's also a pod racer.  Qui-Gon bets his boss that he can have the parts he needs for his ship if Anakin wins a race.

When Anakin takes them to his house to seek shelter from a coming sandstorm, he shows them his project, a protocol droid named C-3PO.

Meanwhile, a Sith named Darth Sidious is sending his apprentice Darth Maul to stop Qui-Gon from completing his journey.

At the pod race, we get our first glimpse of Jabba the Hutt, who seems to have brought his wife with him.

After a rough start, Anakin gets going.  His pod speeds past most of the competition.

Anakin wins the race, thereby gaining the required parts for Queen Amidala's transport.  We also find out a bit more Anakin.  It seems he was conceived by the Force.  Qui-Gon takes a midichlorian count and finds it to be higher than any life force he's encountered.

He offers to take Anakin to the Jedi Temple to be trained as a Jedi.  Although excited, he doesn't want to leave his mother.  She tells him to go.  Her place is in Tatooine.  He hugs her goodbye.

Before they can leave Tatooine, Darth Maul comes and has a lightsaber fight with Qui-Gon.  They position the plane low enough so that Qui-Gon can escape without being injured by Darth Maul.

Anakin has a growing bond with the Queen's handmaiden Padme.  He even gives her a necklace to remember him by when they're separated.

When they reach Coruscant, Senator Palpatine welcomes them.  He also wastes no time in planting doubt in the Queen's mind about the Senate Chancellor Valorum, who so far has been the Queen's closest ally.  He tells her to call for a vote of no confidence.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan go to the Jedi Council and tell them about the Sith.  They also tell them about Anakin.  Qui-Gon says he believe he is the one that will bring balance to the Force, according to an ancient prophecy.

Before going to the Jedi Temple, Anakin wants to visit Padme once more to say goodbye.  The Queen tells him that she sent Padme on an errand, and will tell her goodbye for him.

Appearing before the Senate, Queen Amidala finds that no help is coming in relation to the invasion of Naboo.  She takes Senator Palpatine's advice and calls for a vote of no confidence in the Senate Chancellor.

Anakin is tested before the Jedi Council.  Master Yoda warns him about anger and fear, which are the path to the Dark Side.

After receiving no help from the Senate, Queen Amidala decides to return to Naboo, in order that she can be with her people during the invasion.

While on the transport home, she tells Jar Jar Binks that she wishes to speak with him.

She has Jar Jar lead them to the Gungan hiding space.  There, Padme steps forward revealing herself to be the real Queen Amidala.  She begs for the Gungans help with the invasion on bended knee.  They agree to help.

Darth Maul has also arrived on Naboo.  He fights with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.  When they are separated, he kills Qui-Gon by using his lightsaber.

Queen Amidala outsmarts the Federation guards and manages to get to the Throne Room, where she organizes new terms with the Federation Viceroy.

Obi-Wan is finally able to fight Darth Maul on his own, and the two go at it head to head.

When Anakin (who was hiding in a starfighter on autopilot) successfully knocks out the Main Reactor of the Federation control ship, the invading droid army is rendered incapacitated, and the Gungans and the people of Naboo are victorious.

Obi-Wan is victorious as well.  He manages to slice Darth Maul in half with his lightsaber.

Later, Senator Palpatine comes to Queen Amidala and tells him that he's been named the new Chancellor of the Senate, and together they will bring peace and prosperity to the Republic.

At Qui-Gon's funeral/cremation, Obi-Wan tells Anakin that he has been given permission to train him in the ways of the Jedi arts.  The Jedi wonder among themselves about the appearance of the Sith, and which was killed, master or apprentice.

A victory parade is held on Naboo between the leadership and the Gungans.  The Gungan chief accepts the peace offering and proclaims an official truce between the two factions.

Anakin and Queen Amidala smile back at each other as the crowd erupts into applause.

Cast rundown:

   Liam Neeson...................................Qui-Gon Jin

   Ewan McGregor................................Obi-Wan Kenobi

   Natalie Portman...............................Queen Amidala/Padme

   Jake Lloyd.......................................Anakin Skywalker

   Ian McDiarmid.................................Senator Palpatine

   Anthony Daniels...............................C-3PO

   Kenny Baker.....................................R2-D2

   Ahmed Best.....................................Jar Jar Binks

   Frank Oz..........................................Yoda

   Terence Stamp..................................Chancellor Valorum

   Samuel L. Jackson.............................Mace Windu

   Sofia Coppola....................................Sache

   Keira Knightley...................................Sabe

   Celia Imrie........................................Fighter Pilot Bravo 5

   Brian Blessed.....................................Boss Nass

And that's all for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.  Liam Neeson wanted to be in this film so much that he reportedly signed on without ever having read the script.  This is also the only Star Wars film to never once use the word "lightsaber".  When one is mentioned, it is called a "laser sword".

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