Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning.
Country
Production
Genre
Budget
$115 000 000
Box office
$924 305 084
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Gavin Bocquet, Chuck Duke, Shawn Kelly
Audition
Robin Gurland
Editing
Short description
Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.
What's left behind the scenes
- The name "Jar Jar Binks" was coined by Lucas's son.
- The only scene in the film that does not use visual effects is the scene of filling the meeting room with gas at the beginning of the film.
- Before filming as Queen Amidala, Natalie Portman had not seen a single film from the original Star Wars trilogy.
- At a press conference dedicated to the DVD release of "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith" (2005), animation director Rob Coleman announced that an updated version of "The Phantom Menace" was in development, making the first episode the last film in the saga where puppet Yoda would be replaced with one generated using digital technology.
- The first scene shot during filming was the conversation between Darth Sidious and Darth Maul.
- The sound of Watto's fluttering wings was achieved by sound designer Ben Burtt by opening and closing a regular umbrella.
- Natalie Portman missed the world premiere of 'The Phantom Menace' due to preparing for a university session.
- During the Gungan attack on the Trade Federation troops, the game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is shown on the TF battle displays.
- 'The Phantom Menace' is the only Star Wars film that features the Jedi's unique ability of acceleration.
- In the credits, Jabba the Hutt, who opens the pod races, is listed as "Jabba the Hutt as himself." At the same time, the credits do not specify that Ian McDiarmid plays Darth Sidious.
- The scene of the lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and Obi-Wan with Qui-Gon was filmed over a month. It is the first duel of its kind to involve more than two Jedi or Sith.
- Due to Liam Neeson's height, set designers had to spend an additional $150,000 on new sets that the actor could actually fit into.
- The communicator used by Qui-Gon Jinn for communication is based on a Gillette Sensor Excel women's razor. The props team repainted the razor gray and added several metal details to it.
- Initially, Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) was supposed to be an alien.
- In the Galactic Senate session scene, several delegations can be identified, including Wookiees and a group of aliens resembling the famous E.T. from Steven Spielberg's film 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982).
- The name "Jar Jar Binks" was invented by Lucas's son.
- Originally, Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) was intended to be an alien.
- Qui-Gon Jinn's comlink is a slightly modified Gillette Sensor Excel razor.
- In the scene of the Galactic Senate meeting, one can distinguish several delegations, including Wookies and a group of aliens resembling the famous E.T. from Steven Spielberg's film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982).
- Qui-Gon Jinn's transmitter (comlink) is a slightly modified Gillette Sensor Excel razor.
- Darth Maul blinks only a couple of times throughout the entire film. This was because Ray Park, who played him, found it difficult to blink while wearing contact lenses, so Park suggested the idea of a villain who never blinks.
- After the credits have finished rolling at the end of the film, Darth Vader's ominous breathing can be heard.
- The only scene in the film that does not use visual effects is the scene where the meeting room is filled with gas at the beginning of the movie.
- During the battle between the Gungans and the Federation forces, a droid with the serial number '1138' on its back flashes by; this number was part of the title of George Lucas's first feature film, titled 'THX 1138' (1971). One of the ships flying over Coruscant just before the conversation between Darth Sidious and Darth Maul is identical to the 'Discovery' from the film '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968). The escape pod of that same ship is visible in the background among other rusty parts in Watto's shop on Tatooine during the scene where Qui-Gon and Watto speak.
- During the filming of the battles, Ewan McGregor often involuntarily made the sound of a lightsaber.
- In early versions of the script, the planet of Queen Amidala was called Utapau, but ultimately this name was given to the planet where Obi-Wan fights General Grievous in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (2005).
- "Padmé" in Sanskrit means "lotus".
- During the battle of the Gungans with the Federation forces, a droid with serial number “1138” on its back flashes by: this number was included in the title of George Lucas's first full-length film, called “THX 1138” (1971). One of the ships flying over Coruscant just before the conversation between Darth Sidious and Darth Maul is identical to the “Discovery” from the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968). The same ship's escape pod is visible in the scene of the conversation between Qui-Gon and Watto in the background among other rusty parts in Watto’s “shop” on Tatooine.
- Before filming, Natalie Portman, in the role of Queen Amidala, had not seen a single movie from the original Star Wars trilogy.
- Sofia Coppola and Keira Knightley received short roles as Padmé's handmaidens in the film. In fact, the striking resemblance between Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley became a stepping stone for the latter's subsequent acting career.
- After all the credits have rolled at the end of the movie, Darth Vader's ominous breathing can be heard.
- The sound of the fluttering wings of Watto the merchant was achieved by sound designer Ben Burtt by opening and closing an ordinary umbrella.
- Due to Liam Neeson's height, the set decorators had to spend an additional $150,000 on new sets in which the actor could fit.
- Darth Maul blinks only a couple of times throughout the entire film. This was because Ray Park, who played him, found it difficult to blink in contact lenses, so Park suggested the idea of a villain who never blinks.
- At a press conference regarding the DVD release of 'Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith' (2005), animation director Rob Coleman announced that an updated version of 'The Phantom Menace' was in preparation, making the first episode the final film in the saga where the puppet Yoda would be replaced by a digitally generated one.
- Haley Joel Osment and Michael Angarano auditioned for the role of young Anakin Skywalker.
- "The Phantom Menace" is the only "Star Wars" film that features the unique Jedi ability to accelerate.
- "Padmé" means "lotus" in Sanskrit.
- Natalie Portman missed the world premiere of 'The Phantom Menace' because she was preparing for her university exams.
- During the filming of the battles, Ewan McGregor often involuntarily imitated the sound of a lightsaber.
- In early versions of the script, Queen Amidala's planet was called Utapau, but this name was eventually given to the planet where Obi-Wan fights General Grievous in the film 'Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith' (2005).
- In the credits, Jabba the Hutt, opening the podrace, is listed as 'Jabba the Hutt playing himself'. At the same time, it is not indicated in the credits that Ian McDiarmid plays Darth Sidious.
- Sofia Coppola and Keira Knightley were cast in short roles as Padmé's handmaidens in the film. In fact, the striking physical resemblance between Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley became the foundation for the latter's subsequent acting career.
- The images of all Gungans were created using Jar Jar Binks’ engine.
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