Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Summary

Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menaceplayed a crucial persona in the Skywalker Saga , and the movie ’s ending sealed the fates of many ofStar Wars ’ most important persona . Releasing more than a decade afterReturn of the Jediinthe chronology ofStar Warsmovies and TV appearance , The Phantom Menacewas a major breaker point of connection intheStar Warstimeline . It convey together the iconic original trilogy with its prequels and then launch the franchise forward with not only the subsequence but also allStar Warsspin - off shows and pic .

The Phantom Menacealso set the stage forthe define moments in Anakin Skywalker ’s fall , which in many ways be the story of the prequel trilogy . In light of that , The Phantom Menaceis absolutely foundational to the entire enfranchisement , which makes horse sense , given it offers the origin story of so many ofStar Wars ’ principal graphic symbol . In fussy , the flick ’s ending and its role in the larger Skywalker Saga make empty the monumental impactThe Phantom Menacehad on the largerStar Warsgalaxy .

The Phantom Menace was a significant turning point for the Star Wars galaxy as the first prequel moving picture , revealing the origins of Anakin Skywalker .

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The Duel of the Fates Leaves Anakin Skywalker Without A Father-Figure

When Qui - Gon Jinn get on Tatooine , he may have just been looking for ship component part , but he leave with someone who changed the future of the Galax urceolata . As soon as he , Padmé ( disguised as a handmaiden despite being the queen ) , and Jar Jar Binks see Watto ’s junk shop for assistance and come across Anakin Skywalker , everyone ’s fates changed . Qui - Gon quickly name him as the one prophesy inthe Chosen One prophecyin the fit that followed , and he took him under his fender , eventually taking him from the major planet and his mother .

When Qui - Gon Jinn arrived on Tatooine , he may have just been looking for ship character , but he left with someone who changed the time to come of the galaxy .

However , for Anakin , Qui - Gon map something very dissimilar . While the thought of leaving Tatooine , being release from slavery , and becoming a Jedi was , of course , exciting for him , Anakin had no idea the weighting of what he was about to take on . Instead , he seemed drawn to Qui - Gon as a beginner figure . Anakin had no father , having on the face of it been created from the Force itself . When Qui - Gon take such an interest in Anakin and want to protect him , it had a heavy impact on him .

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in the Phantom Menace to the left and Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker in the Phantom Menace to the right in a combined image

Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Unfortunately for Anakin and all the people he would go on to harm , that impingement was mostly for the worse . At the terminal ofThe Phantom Menace , Qui - Gon pursue in the heroic Duel of the Fates battle with Darth Maul alongside Obi - Wan Kenobi and fall back his spirit . This was a crushing puff for Anakin . On the one handwriting , Qui - Gon had been the one soul truly advocate for him to become a Jedi , promising him training . On the other , he had now mislay two parents .

Anakin was not taken as an babe and school in the Jedi manner as nearly every other Jedi was . rather , he was conjure with a traditional family bond with his mother . When he was then slay from that family at 9 years old and taken to Coruscant , he felt that as a loss as much as an opportunity . Losing Qui - Gon , his one advocate and his father shape , left him truly alone .

Obi-Wan Becomes Anakin Skywalker’s Master Before He Is Ready

Obi - Wan Kenobi ’s life was also irrevocably deepen the bit Qui - Gon found Anakin . At the time , Obi - Wan was still Qui - Gon ’s Padawan , not yet a full Jedi Knight . When Qui - Gon became dire for Anakin to be accepted and trained as a Jedi , no matter anyone ’s opinions or the Jedi Council ’s clean concern , he insisted that Obi - Wan was also ready to face the Jedi Trials and become a Jedi Knight . While Obi - Wan probably was quick , Qui - Gon ’s goal was to liberate himself up to be Anakin ’s Jedi Master , as Masters can only have one Padawan at a meter .

This button for Obi - Wan ’s knighthood was problematical enough , but it became even more so when , as he was pop off , Qui - Gon involve Obi - Wan to promise he would train Anakin as his own Padawan . The burden of that request was huge . Of course Obi - Wan was go to accept his darling Master ’s dying wish ; however , Obi - Wan shared the Council ’s concerns about Anakin ’s age and whether he was in truth fit to become a Jedi . Moreover , this descend immediately on the heel of Obi - Wan becoming a Knight himself .

only put , Obi - Wan was n’t ready . Yes , he was an fabulously wise and brawny Jedi even when he was a Padawan , but he had only just been a Padawan when he took one on himself . He had also had that Padawan thrust upon him against his better judgment . In fact , that aspect of the arrangement , even more than Obi - Wan ’s still considerable want of experience at the time , was the most damaging . Obi - Wan had n’t been sure about Anakin ’s futurity as a Jedi , andthat uneasiness was felt and begrudge by Anakin .

Qui-Gon Jinn and Phantom Menace Star Wars Poaster Custom Image

but put , Obi - Wan was n’t quick .

Master Yoda’s Warning Sets Up Anakin Skywalker’s Dark Path

The most outspoken members of the Jedi Council with concern about Anakin were Mace Windu and Master Yoda , the latter in many ways predicting Anakin ’s fate . As Anakin resist before the Council , being tested on his Force abilities and questioned about himself , Yoda picked up on his lingering lugubriousness over his female parent . During that discussion , Yoda famously excuse that care leads to anger and ire pass to detest , and that this progression is the path to the dark side . Fascinatingly , this very progress stage the story of the prequels .

InThe Phantom Menace , Anakin was full of fear . Of course , again , having not been raised in the Jedi Temple or its ways , this made common sense ; it would be normal for a non - Jedi child to be afraid of leaving his mother , going to a novel satellite far aside , and being scrutinized . However , perhaps because of his Force abilities , those touch of fear did progress exactly as Yoda anticipate . InStar Wars : Episode II - Attack of the Clones , Anakin was full of anger .

Not only did Anakin carry out his brutal slaughter of the Tusken Raiders inAttack of the Clones , but also he pass a large part of the picture suffer gush about various thing , especially his perception that Obi - Wan ’s teachings and handling of him were unjust . at last , and tragically , inStar Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith , this transformed into full - blown hate , with Anakin ultimately embracing the dark side and aid closely root out the Jedi .

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars Return of the Jedi

Palpatine May Have Lost His Apprentice, But He Has Triumphed All The Same

While Palpatine lost his prentice inThe Phantom Menace , as Darth Maul seemingly died at Obi - Wan ’s hand after killing Qui - Gon , this convert nothing for the Emperor - to - be . In fact , as most things in the prequels were , this was all easily do by in Palpatine ’s larger plan . When Maul died , Palpatine quickly brought on Count Dooku as his next Sith prentice . Arguably , Dooku was an even better choice . Whereas Maul was powerful but unpredictable and full of rage , Dooku was disciplined and dangerous .

Whereas Maul was knock-down but irregular and full of rage , Dooku was disciplined and dangerous .

Dooku had been train as a Jedi and risen to the rank and file of Master , even training Qui - Gon as his own Padawan . This intend that he had decades of experience as a warrior who result with calm and wisdom;he posed a much more serious problem to the Jedi in that sense . Adding to that threat tier was the fact that Dooku was very familiar with their ways , having been raise with them . It made him a much more formidable adversary .

Yoda from the Phantom Menace in the foreground looking serious in front of the red lightsaber from the Acolyte trailer

Just as importantly , Palpatine had made a successful grab for power and was Chancellor of the Republic by the end ofThe Phantom Menace . Although he had already been a big senator , this changed everything . A Sith was now at the helm of the Republic , and this would ultimately shore up his raise to Emperor byRevenge of the Sith . Not only was Palpatine now start the Republic , buthe was also in meridian position to assure the Clone Wars , setting up the tragedies to derive .

A Sith was now at the helm of the Republic , and this would ultimately shore up his rise to Emperor byRevenge of the Sith .

How Star Wars Has Retconned The Phantom Menace’s Ending

Star Warsis well - known for its retcons , andThe Phantom Menacehas had at least one major change since it was released . Although Obi - Wan foreshorten off the bottom half of Darth Maul ’s body , and Darth Maul then fell down a reactor shaft , he made an dead shocking take in theStar Wars : The Clone WarsTV show . Maul then went on to have a major arc inStar Wars Rebelsand had a brief and surprising cameo inSolo : A Star Wars Story(although the latter confusingly seemed to go nowhere ) .

The Acolyte , the next Star Wars Disney+ television show , is already amount under fire for purportedly retconning The Phantom Menace - but is it really ?

Interestingly , Maul ’s retconned return was George Lucas ’ own mind . In fact , Lucas had even mulled over make General Grievous on the QT Darth Maul . Luckily , that plan was ditched , as it allowed Grievous to be his own character and Darth Maul to have hisClone WarsandRebelsarcs , dwell of taking over Mandalore and try retaliation on Obi - Wan Kenobi . In the end , that was so much good than a General Grievous plot twist .

Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of ‘A Gentleman In Moscow’

The Phantom Menacehas had few other retcons and has in many ways carry up . In fact , despite some pushback at the time , the movie attractively springboarded off the original trilogy and specify up some ofStar warfare ’ best stories . Truly , Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menaceis one ofStar Wars ’ most of import movies .

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Cast

Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace is localize in a extragalactic nebula facing political tumult , as Jedi Knights Qui - Gon Jinn and Obi - Wan Kenobi attempt peace while encountering Anakin Skywalker , a striver with swell potency in the Force . Meanwhile , the Sith commence their revitalization , peril the stability of the Republic .

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Headshot Of Liam Neeson In The UK premiere of Marlowe

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

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