Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).

Coming Out at 16 May 1999 in theaters

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is epic space-opera film written and directed by George Lucas, produced by Lucasfilm, distributed by 20th Century Fox and stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Pernilla August, and Frank Oz. It is the first installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and begins the “Skywalker saga”, though it was the fourth film to be produced chronologically. The Phantom Menace is set 32 years before the original film and follows Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi as they protect Queen Amidala in hopes of securing a peaceful end to an interplanetary trade dispute. Joined by Anakin Skywalker—a young slave with unusually strong natural powers of the Force—they simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith.

Lucas began production of this film after he determined that computer-generated imagery (CGI) had advanced to the level he wanted for the prequel trilogy’s visual effects. Filming started on June 26, 1997, at locations including Leavesden Film Studios and the Tunisian desert. The film was Lucas’ first directorial effort after a 22-year hiatus following Star Wars in 1977.

The Trade Federation upsets order in the Galactic Republic by blockading the planet Naboo in preparation for a full-scale invasion. The Republic’s leader, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, dispatches Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to negotiate with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray. Darth Sidious, a Sith Lord and the Trade Federation’s secret benefactor, orders the Viceroy to kill the Jedi and begin their invasion with an army of battle droids. The Jedi escape and flee to Naboo. During the invasion, Qui-Gon saves the life of a Gungan outcast, Jar Jar Binks, from being run over by a droid transport. Indebted to Qui-Gon, Jar Jar leads the Jedi to Otoh Gunga, an underwater city of Naboo. The Jedi try to persuade the Gungan leader, Boss Rugor Nass, to help the planet’s surface dwellers but are unsuccessful. However, the Jedi manage to obtain Jar Jar’s guidance and underwater transport to Theed, the capital city of Naboo. They rescue Naboo’s queen, Padmé Amidala, and escape from the blockaded planet on her Royal Starship, intending to reach the Republic capital planet of Coruscant.

Director: George Lucas

Writer: George Lucas

Stars: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Oliver Ford Davies

Cast:

Liam Neeson	…	Qui-Gon Jinn
Ewan McGregor	…	Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman	…	Queen Amidala / Padmé
Jake Lloyd	…	Anakin Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid	…	Senator Palpatine
Pernilla August	…	Shmi Skywalker
Oliver Ford Davies	…	Sio Bibble
Hugh Quarshie	…	Captain Panaka
Ahmed Best	…	Jar Jar Binks
Anthony Daniels	…	C-3PO (voice)
Kenny Baker	…	R2-D2
Frank Oz	…	Yoda (voice)
Terence Stamp	…	Chancellor Valorum
Brian Blessed	…	Boss Nass (voice)
Andy Secombe	…	Watto (voice)
Ray Park	…	Darth Maul
Lewis Macleod	…	Sebulba (voice)
Warwick Davis	…	Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen
Steve Speirs	…	Captain Tarpals
Silas Carson	…	Nute Gunray / Ki-Adi-Mundi / Lott Dodd / Republic Cruiser Pilot
Jerome St. John Blake	…	Mas Amedda / Orn Free Taa / Oppo Rancisis / Rune Haako / Horox Ryyder / Graxol Kelvynn / Mik Regrap
Alan Ruscoe	…	Daultay Dofine / Plo Koon / Bib Fortuna
Ralph Brown	…	Ric Olié
Celia Imrie	…	Fighter Pilot Bravo 5
Benedict Taylor	…	Fighter Pilot Bravo 2
Clarence Smith	…	Fighter Pilot Bravo 3
Samuel L. Jackson	…	Mace Windu
Dominic West	…	Palace Guard
Karol Cristina da Silva	…	Rabé
Liz Wilson	…	Eirtaé
Candice Orwell	…	Yané
Sofia Coppola	…	Saché
Keira Knightley	…	Sabé
Bronagh Gallagher	…	Republic Cruiser Captain
John Fensom	…	TC-14
Greg Proops	…	Fode (voice)
Scott Capurro	…	Beed (voice)
Margaret Towner	…	Jira
Dhruv Chanchani	…	Kitster
Oliver Walpole	…	Seek
Katie Lucas	…	Amee
Megan Udall	…	Melee
Hassani Shapi	…	Eeth Koth
Gin Clarke	…	Adi Gallia
Khan Bonfils	…	Saesee Tiin
Michelle Taylor	…	Yarael Poof
Michaela Cottrell	…	Even Piell
Dipika O’Neill Joti	…	Depa Billaba
Phil Eason	…	Yaddle
Mark Coulier	…	Aks Moe
Lindsay Duncan	…	TC-14 (voice)
Peter Serafinowicz	…	Darth Maul / Battle Droid Commander / Gungan Scout (voice)
James Taylor	…	Rune Haako (voice)
Chris Sanders	…	Daultay Dofine (voice)
Marc Silk	…	Aks Moe / Sil Unch (voice)
Toby Longworth	…	Sen. Lott Dodd / Gragra (voice)
Amanda Lucas	…	Tey How / Diva Funquita (voice)
Sacha Alexander	…	Graf Zapalo – Advisor to Queen Amidala
Simon Allen	…	Flag Bearer
Richard Armitage	…	Naboo Fighter Pilot
Paul Bannon	…	Pod Racer Mechanic
Don Bies	…	Pod Race Mechanic
Trisha Biggar	…	Orn Free Taa’s Aide
Michonne Bourriague	…	Aurra Sing
Douglas Bunn	…	Naboo Guard
Ben Burtt	…	Naboo Courier
Doug Chiang	…	Flag Bearer
Rob Coleman	…	Pod Race Spectator in Jabba’s Private Box
Roman Coppola	…	Senate Guard
Sean Cronin	…	Coruscant Senate Guard
Zsuzsanna Cseh	…	Pod Race Spectator
Matt Daniel-Baker	…	Naboo Foot Soldier
Russell Darling	…	Naboo Royal Security Guard
Philip Delancy	…	Naboo Starship Pilot
Sebastian Dewing	…	Senate Guard
Andrew Doucette	…	Pod Race Spectator
C. Michael Easton	…	Pod Race Spectator
Andrew Elias	…	Naboo Royal Guard
John Ellis	…	Pod race spectator
Catherine Ernster	…	Naboo Civilian
Salo Gardner	…
Andrew Gersh	…	Pod Race Spectator
Patrice Girod	…	Naboo Citizen
Ned Gorman	…	Naboo Citizen
Joss Gower	…	Naboo Fighter Pilot
Raymond Griffiths	…	GONK Droid
Nathan Hamill	…	Pod Race Spectator / Naboo Palace Guard
Tim Harrington	…	Naboo Security Guard
Sally Hawkins	…	Villager
Jack Haye	…	Pod Race Spectator in Jabba’s Private Box
Nifa Hindes	…	Ann Gella
Nishan Hindes	…	Tann Gella
Frank Huseyin	…	Jenn Smeel
Alexi Kaye Campbell	…	Naboo Guard
David Knight	…	Aqualish Alian
John Knoll	…	Lt. Rya Kirsch – Bravo 4 / Flag Bearer
Kamay Lau	…	Sei Taria – Senators Aide
Andrew Lawden	…	Naboo Foot Soldier
John M. Levin	…	Naboo Fighter Pilot / Naboo Citizen / Senator
Dan Madsen	…	Kaadu Handler
Iain McCaig	…	Orn Free Taa’s Aide
Rick McCallum	…	Naboo Courier
João Costa Menezes	…	Naboo Fighter Pilot
Arnold Montey	…	Naboo Royal Security Guard
Taylor Murphy	…	Battle Droid
Jeff Olson	…	Pod Race Spectator in Jabba’s Private Box
Lorne Peterson	…	Mos Espa Citizen
Andrew Raven	…	Naboo Soldier
Neil Riddaway	…	Gungan Guard
Robby the Robot	…	Robot In Wald’s Parts
Steve Sansweet	…	Naboo Courier
Mike Savva	…	Naboo Royal Guard
Christopher Scarabosio	…	Neumodian Senator (voice)
Jeff Shay	…	Pod race spectator
Christian Simpson	…	Lt. Gavyn Sykes – Bravo 6
Paul Martin Smith	…	Naboo Courier
Scott Squires	…	Naboo Speeder Driver
Tom Sylla	…	Battle Droid (voice)
Bill Tlusty	…	Chokk, Jabba’s Bodyguard
Danny Wagner	…	Mawhonic
Matthew Wood	…	Bib Fortuna / Ody Mandrell (voice)

Sources: imdb & wikipedia