Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The 5 best scenes of Episode I
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., All Rights Reserved
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace premiered 20 years ago today. It had its up and downs, but there were many scenes that stood out. Here are the top five scenes from Episode I.
Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Star Wars: The Phantom Menace hit theaters?
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It’s pretty wild to consider that because so many fan were introduced to Star Wars and the likes of Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala and even Jar Jar Binks, through Episode I.
It was a movie so many Star Wars fans found themselves loving despite what many long-time fans thought of it. As the years have gone, the love for The Phantom Menace has only grown – and with good reason.
The film was filled with heartfelt moments, touching scenes, and the beginning of a backstory of one of the franchise’s favorite characters. Yes, it had its flaws, but fans have grown to love those too.
On the 20th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, we take a look at the top five moments from the film that released on May 19, 1999.
5. The Battle of Naboo
The fight between the Gungans and the battle droids is so ominous at the starts with the war trumpets blaring over the mist and then the battle droids rolling over the hills. The battle droids shoot on the shields, and once they realize it won’t be breached, the deploy others tactics — thousands of battle droids.
All the while we know that war is coming and the beautiful planet of Naboo will be wrecked because of greed.
The trade federation were fighting with machines while the Gungans were fighting with their people. It was an unfair war, but one where the Gungans held their own for longer than expected considering their enemy.
They fought well, but the scene was important because it showed the beginning of the end of the Galactic Republic. It showed just how far greed and revenge would push people.
It was all part of Darth Sidous’ master plan.
The droid scene set up much for the future too of what we saw in The Clone Wars. While the B1 battle droids wound up being a little different in the animated series – and a little funnier – it got its vision from The Phantom Menace.