Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace story
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas, produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is the first installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Pernilla August, and Frank Oz. The film is set 32 years before the original film, and follows Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi as they protect Queen Amidala in hopes of securing a peaceful end to a large-scale interplanetary trade dispute. Joined by Anakin Skywalker—a young slave with unusually strong natural powers of the Force—they simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith.
33 total · 6 choice · 8 major · 19 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| bureaucracy | choice | Republic bureaucrats had wrested control of the levels of power from elected officials. |
| democracy | choice | The story lead to the idea that the democracy and the senate were not up to the task of saving Naboo. |
| good vs. evil | choice | Some used the Force for good while others, like the Sith, used it for evil. |
| the merits of autocracy | choice | The story lead to the idea that the democracy and the senate were not up to the task of saving Naboo. |
| the nature of human emotions | choice | A Jedi theme is that all strong emotions lead to evil, i.e., "the dark side". |
| the supernatural | choice | The Force seemed to be a mystical energy field that pervaded the universe and could be learned to be controlled with proper training. In particular, Qui-Gon Jinn identified that Anakin could see events before they happen and that was one reason why he was such a good pod racer. |
| amphibian-like being | major | Jar Jar Binks and the Guncans. |
| attack from outer space by a powerful conquering enemy | major | Naboo struggled with invading Galactic Republic who were bent on subjection and ultimately genocide. |
| embargo | major | The Galactic Republic blockaded Naboo. |
| facing an overpowering adversary | major | The people of Naboo against the Galactic Republic. |