Rewind & Review Ep 42 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

With the Skywalker Saga coming to a conclusion, let's rewind to where the saga began - the fourth movie.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, with a ninth instalment in this film’s main series arriving in December, is Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Written and directed by George Lucas, produced by Lucasfilm, and distributed by 20th Century Fox, The Phantom Menace is the first instalment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Midi-chlorians, Jar Jar Binks, and Little Ani - what's not to love? Well, we also got podracing, Darth Maul, and more John Williams.

Set thirty-two years before the original film, The Phantom Menace follows Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as they protect Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) in hopes of securing a peaceful end to an interplanetary trade dispute. Joined by Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) – a young slave with unusually strong natural powers of the Force – they simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith.