Star Wars:
The Phantom Menace
Episode I
This
storyline is probably not going to be as in depth as the rest, mainly because
I haven't seen this movie as many times. When it's released on video
I will be able to give a more in depth layout of the events. Basically,
the main thing you need to know is that even though episodes IV, V, and
VI were released before this movie, this is the prequel to all three of
those. There will be two more movies before the end of this decade
and then the saga will be complete. George Lucas, the creator of
Star Wars, said that he doesn't want to make any movies after Episode VI.
I think that this is because he allowed authors to write about what happens
after Return of the Jedi. It would nearly impossible to incorporate
all of the event portrayed in all the books in just three movies.
Anyway, onto the storyline of Episode I.
The episode begins with a Republic cruiser heading for a Trade Federation
ship. The two ships are over the planet Naboo where the Trade Federation
is supposedly negotiating with the new queen of Naboo, Queen Amidala.
The Jedi know that they are really trying to gain control of Naboo and
are going to try and negotiate themselves. Unfortunately, the two
Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn and a young Obi-Wan Kenobi are discovered to
be Jedi Knights, not negotiators. Fearing they will be killed, the
leaders of the Trade Federation lock up the Jedi and try to kill them with
some sort of toxic gas. Of course, that's not enough to stop a Jedi
and the two escape. The leaders answer with some battle droids which
are easily taken down with the Jedi's lightsabers. The two Jedi eventually
reach their ship and find out that the Trade Federation is loading an attack
force of battle droids to go to the planet Naboo. The try to get
to their ship but it is destroyed by the battle droids. Fortunately,
the Jedi manage to make it to Naboo on one of the transport ships.
The arrive with the attack force and while trying to out run the ships,
which are plowing through a forest, they meet a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks.
They learn about the aquatic race of Gungans that live deep under the sea
and dive down to speak with their leader, Boss Nass.
Boss Nass is not to happy to find Jar Jar there because he was banished
from the city of Otah Gunga for his clumsiness and habit of getting into
trouble. The Jedis manage to get a submarine from Boss Nass and head
for the capital city of Naboo. After a frightening journey through
the planet's core, they finally make it to the city and warn Amidala about
the on coming invasion. The Queen reluctantly decides to leave the
planet and the group barely makes it past the Trade Federation ships.
The ship is damaged and the ship is forced to land on the planet of Tatooine.
There they meet a little slave boy named Anakin (you guessed it) Skywalker.
Although none of them know it, this will boy will one day be the legendary
Darth Vader, the ultimate evil. For the time being, the Jedis just
need parts to be able to get back Coruscant and negotiate with the government
there. Watto, the owner of a junkyard refuses to sell them the part
unless they pay him more money than they have. So, Anakin volunteers
to participate in the Boonta Eve podrace. Qui-Gon Jinn makes a little
wager with Watto and tells him that if he loses Qui-Gon Jinn will get to
take Anakin and free him and they will get the parts they need. If
Qui-Gon Jinn loses, than Watto gets their ship.
Anakin races against the favorite Subulba who has never lost. Amazingly,
Anakin comes away as the victor and the Jedi prepare to head for Coruscant.
While they had met Anakin, a large ship landed outside of Mos Espa, the
city where Anakin lives, and a dark figure known as Dart Maul released
some probe droids to find the queen and Jedis. As they prepare to
board he queen's starship, Darth Maul attacks Qui-Gon Jinn and he barely
escapes he Darth Maul and the ship heads for Coruscant.
They reach Coruscant safely and Amidala tries to negotiate with the government
to punish the Trade Federation. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon Jinn has discovered
that Anakin had an incredibly large midi-chlorian count. This means
that he is strong in the Force. Qui-Gon Jinn believes that Anakin
is the legendary being who will balance both sides of the Force and bring
peace to the galaxy. Anakin is brought before the Jedi Council who
includes Yoda and Mace Windu. They find that Anakin is not who Qui-Gon
Jinn believes him to be and forbids that he be trained. Qui-Gon Jinn
still believes Anakin is the one and tells Obi-Wan to train Anakin.
The negotiations with the Trade Federation are not going well and so the
whole party returns to the planet Naboo.
There they conceive a plan to take over the capital city that the Trade
Federation now controls. They enlist the help of the Gungans to stop
the Federation's army of battle droids and while they head for the capital
city. There, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi engage in a battle with
Darth Maul while the rest of the group heads for the Viceroy of the Trade
Federation. They manage to gain control but the battle droid are
still under control by the Trade Federations ship. Some fighters
are sent to destroy the ship and Anakin is accidentally brought in to battle
by one of the ships on auto pilot. Anakin and the droid in the ship,
R2-D2 head for the Trade Federation ship and by another accident, Anakin
destroys the ship.
Back on Naboo, all the battle droids suddenly fall to the ground.
Without the control ship, they are unable to move and shut down.
The Gungans have won the battle and Queen Amidala is back on the thrown
where she belongs. Unfortunately, Qui-Gon Jinn was killed in the
battle with Darth Maul. After his death, Ob-Wan viciously attacks
Darth Maul and ends up slicing him in half. A funeral is held fro
the Jedi master Jinn, and Obi-Wan vows to continue training Anakin as a
Jedi. A great parade follows in celebration and this episode comes
to a close.
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