Star Wars:
Episode I, The Phantom Menace
DOWN &
DIRTY:
Sci-fi: Two Jedi knights save a
desperate queen from an evil
Trade Federation that wishes to
take over her planet.
NITTY GRITTY:
A galactic trade dispute sends
Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn (LIAM
NEESON) and his apprentice,
Obi-Wan Kenobi (EWAN MCGREGOR) on
a diplomatic mission, but they
discover that they've been set up
by Darth Sidious (IAN McDIARMID).
He's plotting to take control of
the republic.
Barely escaping, they arrive at
the planet of Naboo and find its
young ruler, Queen Amidala
(NATALIE PORTMAN), upset about
the Trade Federation's strong-arm
tactics -- a planetary blockade
and an android invasion -- to
force her to sign an unfair
treaty with them.
The Jedi also meet and save the
life of a Gungan, Jar Jar Binks
(voice of AHMED BEST), an odd
creature who's an outcast from
his subterranean world.
They all set out for the Imperial
city of Coruscant, but their ship
is damaged during a battle, and
they're forced to land on the
desert planet of Tatooine. They
try to get spare parts for their
ship, but are forced to enter
into a racing wager with their
future riding on the success of a
young boy, Anakin Skywalker (JAKE
LLOYD) in a pod race.
Qui-Gon senses a powerful force
in Anakin. Anakin wins the pod
race gaining Qui-Gon the spare
parts he needs and his own
freedom. Then they encounter
Darth Maul (RAY PARK) who's been
sent by Darth Sidious to stop
them.
Finally arriving in Coruscant,
Queen Amidala pleads her case
before the Senate while Qui-Gon
does the same before the Jedi
council about young Anakin
becoming a Jedi. The council,
including Yoda (voice of FRANK
OZ) and Mace Windu (SAMUEL L.
JACKSON), aren't so sure and
sense something unsettling about
Anakin's future.
THE ENDING:
Queen Amidala talks King Boss
Nass, the head of the Gungan,
into helping them fight the
Federation. The Gungan are
outnumbered by fighter droids,
but Anakin destroys the starship
controlling the droids which
enables the Gungan to win.
Darth Maul shows up again and
engages Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in a
light-saber fight. Qui-Gon is
killed by Maul, but Obi-Wan does
some quick division and cuts
Darth Maul in two. Pieces...that
is, sending him and him down a
vent shaft.
Queen Amidala captures the
viceroy and takes back control of
Naboo.
WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT:
Three words: Jar Jar
Binks.
Runner up: The pod race. The
greatest movie race since the Ben
Hur chariot race.
|
|
|
|
