Written by George LucasDirected by George LucasRunning Time: 135 minutes (approx)Production Year: 1999Rating: U CertificateProduction Country: USAFilmed in ColourStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace represents the first piece of the Star Wars puzzle, providing the early story of the Empire and of Darth Vader. Vader was not always quite so beastly. He began life as Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a small boy very similar to Luke in Episode IV. Anakin is talent-spotted by Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), who begins to train him for his Jedi 11-plus. But whereas Luke opted for the good guys, Anakin grew up, as everybody knows, to be the Emperor's enforcer, the black-masked figure who became the bogeyman for a generation.
The precursor of the Empire, the Trade Federation, is eyeing the peaceful, prosperous planet of Naboo. Two Sith lords, the genuinely scary Darth Maul (Ray Park) and his senior partner Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), are at the forefront of the Federation's foreign policy. "Always two there are," comments Yoda (Frank Oz) inscrutably, "No more, no less. A master and an apprentice." The Siths are desperate to start mixing it with the Jedi and they don their war paint early. "At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi," whispers Darth Maul, "at last we will have revenge." Naboo's advisors capitulate, but the planet's young ruler, Queen Amidala (Nathalie Portman), is determined not to be pushed around. Although she has limited experience, she is brave and resourceful - a worthy ancestor for Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in the original movies. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) travel to Naboo to try to stop the Trade Federation's drive for lebensraum. McGregor is an unassuming Obi-wan, matching the speech patterns of Alec Guinness uncannily. His Star Wars debut did have one blemish, however. During the battle sequences, McGregor was found to be making lightsabre sounds as he duelled with Darth Maul. They were later edited out. The pod race is probably the best action sequence of all the four films. There are some tremendous stunts, back chat and dirty tricks with fantastic machines that make the vehicles in Mad Max look like Blue Peter. To top that, there's a terrific baddie, the jowl-flapping Sebulba, who nearly edges out little Anakin with a far cooler machine and bad-mouths him all the way. The race action is relayed by two commentators, who sit in the top deck of the stand and yell in English and Huttese - the pair are played by comedians Greg Proops and Scott Capurro. Cast
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is a Film programme that first aired in 1999 and has been rated U. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is a 3 star programme.
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