Star Wars |
The Phantom Menace |
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Star Wars |
The Phantom Menace |
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The Phantom Menace |
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Episode IThe Phantom MenaceTurmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the Congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict... Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan learner (apprentice), Obi-Wan Kenobi, arrive at the Trade Federation's blockade for Naboo. Landing aboard the fleet's command ship, they are escorted to a conference room while the Neimoidian leader, Nute Gunray, debates what course of action to take with his aides. Contacting their secret ally, Darth Sideous, the Neimoidians are instructed to kill the Jedi immediately and launch an invasion of Naboo. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan survive the poison gas attack the Neimoidians send through the vents. They fight their way to the bridge, where Obi-Wan holds off security droids and Qui-Gon begins burning through the blast doors. Destroyer droids come up and the Jedi withdraw. Discovering the invasion army in preparation, the Jedi stow away on landing craft in the hope of contacting and warning the Naboo. As the droid army deploys in the woodlands outside of Naboo's cities, the Jedi reunite and befriend Jar Jar Binks, an outcast from Naboo's native amphibian people, the Gungans. The Jedi persuade Jar Jar to take them to the Gungan leaders, who refuse to involve themselves in the war between the Naboo and the Trade Federation. Qui-Gon uses his Jedi power to persuade the Gungans to give the Jedi a transport and to release Jar Jar into their custody. Fleeing through the planet's watery core, the Jedi encounter huge undersea creatures, but they use their powers to call upon other creatures to protect them. Nonetheless, they arrive in Naboo's capital city of Theed too late. The droid army has already swept in and rounded up all the citizens, including young Queen Amidala and her court. The Jedi rescue the Queen and persuade her to return with them to Coruscant, the capital of the Republic, to speak to the Senate. Governor Bibble remains behind to organize a resistance as the Jedi overpower droid guards in the royal hangar. The refugees flee the planet but the blockade ships open fire. The Queen's ship is damaged but saved by an Astro Droid named R2-D2. The Jedi decide to land on the planet Tatooine, which lies outside the Republic and beyond the reach of the Trade Federation. Tatooine proves to be a barely hospitable desert planet controlled by the Hutts, known throughout the galaxy as gangsters. Qui-Gon leaves Obi-Wan with the Queen's ship and he takes Jar Jar into Mos Espa, one of the leading cities. Captain Panaka, leader of the Queen's bodyguard, insists that Qui-Gon take Padme, one of the handmaidens, with him. Entering Mos Espa on foot, the three refugees make their way to Watto's shop, where Watto tells them he is the only vendor with the parts they need. But he won't accept Republic money. Meanwhile, Padme meets a young boy, Anakin Skywalker, who is Watto's slave. Frustrated by Watto's intransigence, Qui-Gon leaves the shop. Watto soon releases Anakin for the day and Anakin follows the strangers. As a sand storm comes toward town, Anakin invites his new friends to stay with him. He takes them home and introduces them to his mother, Shmi. By now, Qui-Gon is beginning to suspect there is something special about Anakin, who among other accomplishments is building C-3P0, a protocol droid to help his mother. The Neimodians report to Darth Sideous that Queen Amidala has escaped their clutches. Sideous' plan requires Amidala to sign a treaty with the Trade Federation. He promises that his apprentice, Darth Maul, will find the Queen and bring her back to Tattooine. The Neimoidians begin to realize they are bargaining with the devil and regret that they have come so far, but it is too late for them to turn back. Anakin persuades Shmi and Qui-Gon that the only way they can repair the damaged ship is for Anakin to enter a pod race. Although he is only 8 years old, he is a skilled pod racer. Anakin and Shmi reluctantly agree despite Padme's growing concern and objections. But as Qui-gon puts together a plan of action, the Neimoidians use Governor Bibble to entice the Queen into revealing herself. Darth Sideous and Darth Maul trace the signal back to Tattooine and Sideous orders Maul to capture the Queen. The day of the big pod race opens. Watto has agreed to pay the entry fee, accepting the Queen's ship as collateral against the loan. In a last-minute bet, Qui-gon puts the pod up against Anakin's freedom. Qui-Gon, Shmi, Padme, Jar Jar, R2-D2, C-3P0, and some of Anakin's friends anxiously follow the race from a competitor's booth. Anakin starts late but passes the field and duels for the lead with Sebulba, the reigning champion. Sebulba's pod crashes and Anakin wins the race. Qui-Gon takes the necessary parts back to the ship and orders Obi-Wan to get repairs underway. Qui-Gon returns to Mos Espa, sells Anakin's pod, and then tells Anakin and Shmi that Watto has freed Anakin. After a tearful farewell, Anakin follows Qui-Gon to the ship. But before they reach the craft, Darth Maul arrives and attacks Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan orders the pilot to launch and fly low by Qui-Gon, who leaps aboard and leave Darth Maul behind. During the journey to Coruscant, Padme watches the message from Governor Bibble. She sees Anakin watching her and she comforts him. They talk briefly. When the ship reaches Corscant, Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine are waiting. Palpatine takes Amidala and her party (including Anakin) to his suite, where he advises her to accept the occupation of Naboo. Amidala refuses, and Palpatine says their only alternatives are to either call for a vote of no confidence in Valorum or to use the courts. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan report to the Jedi Council. When Qui-Gon speculates that the dark warrior who attacked him may have been a Sith Lord, the council members are skeptical. Qui-Gon also asks that the council test Anakin for admission to the Jedi academy, and they reluctantly agree. Later in the day, Anakin bids farewell to Queen Amidala, though he was hoping to see Padme. When Anakin goes before the council, he passes their tests easily, but they refuse to admit him to the Jedi academy. At the same time, Amidala goes before the Senate, and as Palpatine has predicted, Chancellor Valorum's support for Naboo crumbles before bureaucratic opposition. Infuiriated, Amidala calls for a vote of no confidence. In the subsequent hours, Palpatine is nominated to succeed Valorum. Amidala talks with Jar Jar, who mentions that the Gungans have a large army. Amidala, upon learning of Palpatine's nomination, realizes he won't be able to save the Naboo. She decides to return to Naboo to lead the resistance. The Jedi council informs Qui-Gon of their decision regarding Anakin. Qui-Gon offers to take Anakin as a Padawan learner, allowing Obi-Wan to take the test for full knighthood. The council defers a final decision and orders Qui-Gon to accompany Amidala back to Naboo, where they hope the dark warrior will seek her out. When the Queen's ship arrives at Naboo, it lands in the forests near the Gungan capital city. Jar Jar discovers that the Gungans have been driven from the city by the droid army. He leads the refugees to a secret refuge, the Gungans' sacred place, where Amidala reveals her true identity as Padme and pleads for help from the Gungans. Touched by her humility, Boss Nass, leader of the Gungans, pledges their aid in the war against the Trade Federation. The allies devise a complicated plan of action. The Gungan army will draw the main part of the droid army away from the city of Theed. Amidala will lead a raiding party into the city. Pilots will launch their fighters in an attack against the sole remaining control ship in orbit, and Amidala will seek to capture Nute Gunray. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin accompany Amidala's party. The plan unfolds as intended, but the overwhelming forces of the droid army soon route the Gungans. Amidala's party becomes divided while fighting in the palace, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are drawn off by Darth Maul. Anakin takes refuge in a fighter but accidentally launches it in auto-pilot mode. By the time R2-D2 disables the autopilot, they are in the midst of a heavy fire fight in space. Amidala succeeds, finally, in capturing Nute Gunray. At the same time, Anakin sets off a cascade of explosions from inside the control ship. The droid army falls apart and the Gungans seize control of the battlefield. But the battle between the Jedi and the Sith Lord does not proceed so smoothly. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan become separated by power couplings, and Darth Maul mortally wounds Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan struggles to overcome Darth Maul but is himself almost slain. With a last-minute subtrefuge, Obi-Wan takes advantage of Darth Maul's overconfidence and slays him. Chancellor Palpatine arrives with the Jedi Council, who confer full knighthood upon Obi-Wan and authorize him to take Anakin as a Padawan learner. Events wind down with a great celebration by the Gungans and the Naboo.
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