Released: 1999
Directed By: George Lucas
Written By: George Lucas
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman.
Rating: PG
Rent or Buy?: RENT then BUY (If you are a "Star Wars" fan).
"Every Generation Has A Legend. Every Journey Has A First Step. Every Saga Has A Beginning."
Story:
The Trade Federation has made a blockade of trading for the planet Naboo. Jedis Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to resolve a solution and stop the blockade. While they are on the Trade Federations ship their ship is blown up and are attacked by battle droids. They are then forced to take a ship of battle droids to Naboo as stow-aways. On the planet they while escaping they run into Jar Jar Binks a Gungan and he brings them to his home and Qui-Gon Jinn uses the jedi mind trick to trick Boss Ness into letting them have an underwater speeder and into letting Jar Jar go. Jar Jar follows along acting as the jedi's guide to Queen Amidala's (the ruler of Naboo) castle and where she is being held captive so the Viceroy of the Trade Federation can force her to sign a treaty and make their blockade of the planet legal. The jedi's save her and escape from Naboo but in their escape the power generator is damaged and they are forced to land on the planet of Tatooine in search of a replacement generator. Qui-Gon Jinn, Padme (Amidala's bodyguard) and Jar Jar head into a local city on Tatooine and meet with Watto who has a young boy as a slave. The young boy known as Anakin Skywalker lets Qui-Gon, Padme and Jar Jar stay with him during a sand storm. Anakin then explains how if he wins a podrace Qui-Gon will get the money for the parts he needs and that Anakin can be set free. During the race it appears as though Anakin's long-time rival, Sebulba will win until on the last lap going neck and neck their pods link together and eventually Sebulba's pod breaks apart and Anakin wins his freedom. After the race Qui-Gon takes a blood sample and finds out that the young boy has a Medichlorian count higher than Jedi Master Yoda and that this boy may be part of the prophecy of the chosen one that sets balance to the force. It is then revealed that Darth Sidious knowns of the Queen's location and sends his Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, to find and capture her. Maul makes it to Tatooine and while Qui-Gon and Anakin are on their way back to the ship Maul attacks Qui-Gon but he is saved by the ship coming to pick him up. They then go to Coruscant where they orginally planned to go and take the young boy to the Jedi Council and they decide that he is too old to be trained and Qui-Gon and Anakin are given the mission to seek and find out who Darth Maul is. Qui-Gon goes against the Jedi's command and brings Anakin with him. Queen Amidala also goes back to her home planet to save the people who didnt escape and overthrow the Viceroy. On the planet the humans and Gungans have a truce and decide to help each other having the Gungans act as a distraction while the Queen and her men take back the palace. While meeting with the Gungans it is revealed the Padme is the actual Queen and the other is the actual bodyguard. While the Gungans and Battledroids are fighting, the Queen, her men and the Jedi roam through the palace trying to take it back, while in the hangar they run into Darth Maul who is waiting for the jedi. Anakin is told by Qui-Gon to stay in the cockpit of a space ship and while trying to find the trigger to shoot battledroids he accidentally turns the ship on and auto-pilot takes him to the Viceroy's ship where Naboo pilots have engaged in a space battle. The jedi then start a lightsaber fight against Darth Maul who wields a double-bladed lightsaber, while this is going on the Queen makes her way to the thrown room where she is caught. The Gungans fight heroicly but end up retreating and most are captured by battle droids. Anakin then accidentally flys into the hangar of the Trade Federation ship and fires off proton torpedoes hitting the main generator causing the entire ship to explode and make the battledroids power down allowing the Gungans to just simply push them all over. Meanwhile in the Thrown Room the Viceroy think they can now force the Queen to sign the treaty when her decoy shows up and then the Viceroy is captured. The jedi continue in their ferocious battle with Darth Maul moving from the hangar to the power generators to the main generator, Obi-Wain is knocked off the side but catches and edge of another platform and jumps back up to try and get back in the battle, while moving to the very back where the main power generator is Qui-Gon is then forced to fight Maul on his own while Obi-Wan is currently seperated from the battle by a forcefield. After Maul kills Qui-Gon the forcefield opens and Maul and Kenobi start fighting, Maul eventually uses force push and knocks Obi-Wan over the edge where he is just able to grip to a ledge. Kenobi's lightsaber is knocked far down the hole to the power generator, he then uses the force to spring up over Maul and grab Qui-Gon's lightsaber and cuts him enough and his body falls down into the hole to the power generator. Obi-Wan then promises to Qui-Gon that he will train young Anakin. At Qui-Gon's cremation Yoda allows Obi-Wan to train the young boy.
Justin Whittaker's Review:
This was a very excellent movie for the beginning of the Star Wars saga. Very memorable characters but there were some you wish that weren't there, I wont name names but it is pretty much obvious if you have seen the movie who I am talking about. Other wise the battle scenes are great and the light saber battles are amazing as usual.
3 1/2 out of 4 stars.
Hilarious/Memorable Quotes:
Qui-Gon Jinn: Beware of your feelings young Padawan. Be aware of the force at the living moment.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Yes, but it feels like something is out there. Lingering.
Darth Maul: At last we shall reveal ourselves, at last we will have our revenge.
Watto: Republic credits ?! Republic credits aren't good enough, I need something more real.
Qui-Gon Jinn: That's is all I have but credits will do fine.
Watto: No they won't.
Qui-Gon Jinn: Credits will be fine.
Watto: No they won't! What you think you are some jedi waving you'r hand around. I'm a Titarion, mind tricks dont work on me, only money. No money! No parts! No deal!
Viceroy Nute Gunray: Sir, is that legal ?
Darth Sidious: I will make it legal!
Yoda: Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate...leads to suffering.
Mace Windu: Beware of your fealings young one and may the force be with you.
Qui-Gon Jinn: (dying) Train the boy, you must train him.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Yes, master, I will.