Movies - Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

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	Movies - Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is a 1999 science fantasy film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, but it is the first film by chronology of events. Among fans, it is commonly referred to simply as TPM.

Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker, a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins his freedom in a podrace and leaves home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness, known as the Sith.

Its release on May 19, 1999 came almost 16 years after the previous film released in the series, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The film's release was accompanied by extensive media coverage and high anticipation. Though given mixed reviews by critics, it was extremely financially successful, grossing US$ 924.3 million worldwide on a budget of US$115 million. The Phantom Menace was the highest grossing film of 1999, and the fourth highest grossing film of all-time after its release. It is the highest grossing Star Wars film ever, without adjustment for inflation.

Plot summary

It is the year 32 BBY (or, 32 years prior to Episode IV), and a trade dispute between the Trade Federation and the planet of Naboo has led to a blockade of the planet. Chancellor Valorum of the Galactic Republic secretly sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, to meet with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray to resolve the dispute. Unbeknownst to them, the Trade Federation is in league with the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who secretly orders Gunray to invade Naboo with their immense battle droid army and kill the two Jedi upon their arrival. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escape the assassination attempt by the Federation 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 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.

However, during the attack, the ship's hyperdrive is damaged and the party is forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine for repairs. While searching for needed parts, they befriend young Anakin Skywalker, a nine-year-old human slave, whose master is Watto, a curmudgeonly Toydarian junk dealer. Anakin is gifted in mathematics, 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. One night before the Podrace, Qui-Gon conducts a blood test on Anakin to determine his midi-chlorian count. After sending the data to Obi-Wan for an analysis, Obi-Wan found that his midi-chlorian count was higher than any other Jedi, even Yoda. The day of the race arrives. After some stiff competition, 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 him 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 the attacker's mastery of the Force, 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 the Jedi Code. They are also concerned because they feel that Anakin's future is clouded and he possesses a great deal of fear. 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 will be nominated as the new Chancellor. After doing so, the Queen decides to return to her home planet to repel the invasion of the Trade Federation. 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.

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