Re-watching Star Wars: Episode I
I’m re-watching Star Wars in chronological order (story not release date). Here is just an overview of my thoughts about Episode One: The Phantom Menace.
After all is said and done, and the years go by since it’s release, I like The Phantom Menace more and more. As annoying as Jar-Jar Binks might be, he doesn’t ruin this episode for me as he has others. Put simply, I appreciate the genius of the Senator turned Chancellor Palpatine in The Phantom Menace much more than I would find any single character annoying.
So here are my thoughts on Episode I - The Phantom Menace: Senator Palpatine, who represents the system of Naboo in the Senate and is also the Sith Lord Sidious in disguise, creates an incredible plan to take over control of the Senate legally. His plan is to use the Trade Federation to create a blockade of Naboo which will cause Queen Amidala to question the abilities of the current Chancellor, so as to put himself in prime position to be the new one. How is this plan genius?
First, the Trade Federation is led by cowardly, yet devious, business men. Their prime objective is not power, it is money. Unfortunately you need a little bit of one, in most cases, to get lots of the other. Palpatine uses the Trade Federation with a combination of fear and promise of better trade deals under his being Chancellor. It is unclear, to me at least, if the Trade Federation guys know that Palpatine is Sidious but I don’t believe that it matters too much. If anyone can refer me to something that shows solid evidence I’d be appreciative.
Second, Palpatine knows that Amidala is a newly elected official (since Naboo goes through Queens like underwear), and that she’d be easy to influence into “voting no confidence” for a number of reasons. First off, as I said, she’s inexperienced. However, she has a strong loyalty to her people which are protected only by a volunteer “army”. If she doesn’t have the Senate backing her, and protecting Naboo, than her people will “suffer and die”. Also, Palpatine knew that the current Chancellor Valorum was “bound by procedure” and when asked to investigate the accusations would not move immediate towards protecting Naboo unless “an investigation” takes place.
Palpatine plays The Trade Federation, Amidala, and the Senate like a fiddle and everything lines up beautifully.
What about the Jedi? They can’t see this all going down, or having some sort of Sith backing? Somehow Palpatine is able to cloud the abilities of the Jedi Council. As we’ll learn later in the first three movies, the Jedi are unable to see the future with any clarity during these times, and much of their abilities are in a “fog” of sorts. You can sort of see this in Episode One with Yoda and the crew only being able to see the “fear” that Anakin has in him, and not his future. Partially because of this cloud Palpatine has over him, and partially because free will. This might be just my opinion but the Jedi are only able to see things that are certain to occur in the future (like Jedi reflexes during a Pod Race), but they are unable to see the future very clearly when it comes to free will (like whether or not Anakin will turn into Vader or whether Luke will save “his friends” in Empire).
These are my thoughts on the general plot and the main points that happen in this episode. But I must say that the Pod Race is enjoyable every time I see it, as is the fight with Qui-Gonn, Obi-Wan, and Darth Maul. I’ll have more thoughts on Maul as I compare him to Dooku and Anakin around Episode III.
Anyone else like Episode I as much as I do, Jar-Jar Binks notwithstanding?
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Å couple of points:
1)The leaders of the Trade Federation had no clue that Palpatine was Sidious. Palpatine came to them as Sidious and proposed the blockade to them. They had no clue what the total end effects of the blockade would be.
2)Palpatine was not made aware of Anakin until the end of the movie. Hence his comment “We’ll be watching your career very closely…”.
3)The Jedi were not able to “see” the future due to the propheseized inbalance that was affecting the Force at that time. When Qui-Gon talks about Anakin being the person to restore balance to the Force, he actually does do this. During this period of the Galaxy, the Jedi had grown large and complacent especially with no threats from the Sith, which everyone believed have been extinct for over a millinia. Not remaining vigilant to a possible threat from the Sith (in whatever form) allowed Palpatine and his masters before him (remember there can only be two: Master and Apprentice. Someone was Palpatines Master….) to plan and operate in relative safety without having to worry about the Jedi. Even Yoda, possibly the wisest and most powerful of the Jedi, was crippled in his abilities. This was all due to the effects of the inbalance affecting the Force.
Episode I was indeed a great movie and didn’t deserve a lot of the flack that it recieved. Like any first part of a trilogy it allowd Lucas to set the stage for the coming events without solely focusing on Anakin throughout the whole movie.
Frank 'viperteq' Young on December 4th, 2006 3:55 pm
Frank Young: I disagree about him not knowing about Anakin. I believe he was instrumental in the actual creation of Anakin (see Episode III chat that he has with Anakin). Though my thoughts on that matter will be coming once I re-watch that episode.
Thanks for dropping in your .2
Colin D. Devroe on December 4th, 2006 4:03 pm
After getting a lot of IMs and emails about this post, I might do a part 2 tonight or in the morning. Stay tuned.
Colin D. Devroe on December 4th, 2006 5:40 pm
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I’m an episodes IV to VI man myself (yeah, that’s a euphemism for old guy, I know) but I have to agree that I (one) was definitely the better one of the three (new ones - how confusing). After this I kept postponing to see II and I (me) didn’t see III until actually very recently. Good choice and a nice review. Thanks.
(and what hell to write this comment with all the I’s)
Nils on December 5th, 2006 12:39 am
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I have always thought that Episode I was unjustly criticized due to the ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it. Over time this movie will be seen with great affection. The entire prequel trilogy was very good in my opinion.
David Babylon on December 17th, 2006 3:09 pm