Every generation has a legend.....  

Every journey has a first step......  

Every saga has a beginning.........

PLOT SUMMARY

The evil Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray (Carson) is planning to take over the peaceful world of Naboo. Jedi's Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) are sent to confront the leaders. But not everything goes to plan. The two Jedis escape, and along with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks (Best) head to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala (Portman), but droids have already started to capture Naboo and the Queen is not safe there. Eventually they land on Tatooine, where they become friends with a young boy known as Anakin Skywalker (Lloyd). Qui-Gon is curious about the boy, and sees a bright future for him. The group must now find a way of getting to Coruscant and to finally solve this trade dispute, but there is someone else hiding in the shadows. Are the sith really extinct? Is the Queen who she really says she is? and what's so special about this young boy? All these questions and more in the first chapter of the epic Star Wars saga.

CAST

	Liam Neeson	...	Qui-Gon Jinn
	Ewan McGregor	...	Obi-Wan Kenobi
	Natalie Portman	...	Queen Padmé Amidala
	Jake Lloyd	...	Anakin Skywalker
	Pernilla August	...	Shmi Skywalker
	Frank Oz	...	Yoda (voice)
	Ian McDiarmid	...	Senator Palpatine
	Oliver Ford Davies	...	Gov. Sio Bibble
	Ray Park	...	Darth Maul
	Hugh Quarshie	...	Capt. Panaka
	Ahmed Best	...	Jar Jar Binks (voice)
	Anthony Daniels	...	C-3PO
	Kenny Baker	...	R2-D2
	Terence Stamp	...	Supreme Chancellor Valorum

PRODUCTION AND RELEASE
George Lucas began writing the new Star Wars trilogy on November 1, 1994. The screenplay for The Phantom Menace was adapted from Lucas' 15-page outline that was written in 1976. The early outline was originally designed to help Lucas track the character backstories and what events had taken place before the original trilogy.[4] While the working title for the film was The Beginning,[4] Lucas later revealed the true title to be The Phantom Menace; a nod to Senator Palpatine's true nature as seemingly good and just in public, but in private a manipulative Sith Lord.

The release of the film on May 19, 1999 came almost sixteen years after the previous film in the series, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Lucas began production when he felt special effects had advanced to the level of what he had envisioned for the film. Shooting took place during 1997 at various locations including Leavesden Studios and the Tunisian desert. The release was accompanied by extensive media coverage and great anticipation. Despite mixed reviews by critics, it grossed US$924.3 million worldwide,[1] making it the highest grossing Star Wars film in the series (fourth when adjusted for inflation).

AWARDS

Among them, the prequels did not receive any Academy Awards. Episode I was nominated for three Academy Awards: Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort received the nomination for Best Sound Effects; John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, and Rob Coleman received the nomination for Best Visual Effects; Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, and John Midgley received the nomination for Best Sound.