25 years of The Phantom Menace

George Lucas changed the way we looked at movies when Star Wars debuted in May 1977. We released the trilogy that is known to many baby boomers, Generation X, and some millennials today that brought us characters that we know and love.

In May 1999, Lucas launched a new trilogy that was set prior to the original one. They served as a sort of origin movie of Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine, R2D2, C-3PO, and other characters. The movie would become known as, “The Phantom Menace”.

The movie introduces us to a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi mentored by Qui Gon Jinn. It also brings us Anakin Skywalker, Luke’s father, who was a ten-year-old pod racer on the planet of Tatooine.

25 years later the movie has given to us some themes of the Catholic faith ring true today. Qui Gon Jinn offers a lesson obeying or in his case disobeying authority. Senator Palpatine teaches the lesson of demonic foes and how they operate. Padme Amidala’s example of humility when she has a decoy to protect her or divert the antagonists from trapping her to quash her insurrection.

Authority
 

Qui Gon and Obi-Wan made a discovery while on Tatooine to repair the queen’s ship to get to Coruscant. When taking a sample of Anakin’s blood, they saw that his midichlorian count was higher than Yoda’s and were led to believe that they discovered who could be the “Chosen One”.

Upon returning to the Jedi Council, Qui Gon pleaded with his superiors to take on Anakin to be his apprentice. The council balks at the idea because of his age, fear, and attachment to his mother whom he left behind on Tatooine, yet he overrules them in hopes to train him. In the end, Yoda changes his mind and allows Obi Wan to train Anakin following the death of Qui Gon.

Demonic Foes
 

The film’s main antagonist is a demonic figure, literally. Darth Maul is trained by Darth Sidious (Palpatine) and is on a mission to kidnap the queen to sign the treaty legalizing the invasion of Naboo.

For years, the Jedi have thought that the Sith were extinct. It changed when Qui Gon encountered one as he was leaving Tatooine with Anakin to get to Coruscant.

Today, exorcists have warned the Catholic Church of its needed service to enlist their help. Their help is needed because society has forgotten about the devil. They even got too comfortable. Palpatine worked in the shadows which is how Satan works as well. It is a tactic commonly used to fool his enemies while infiltrating organizations, like the Catholic Church that is supposed to be fighting him.

Humility of Padme
 

St. Paul writes that “Our Lord Jesus Christ…emptied Himself, taking on the form of a slave…He humbled Himself.” This last part was exemplified by Anakin’s future wife, Padme. Padme has been seen as a handmaiden, yet she revealed herself as Queen Amidala. When the queen returns home, they seek help from the Gungans. In the scene that features a grand assembly between the citizens of Naboo and Boss Nass, the leader of the Gungans, she pleads her case for their help when first acknowledging the fact that there have been tensions in the past. They agree to help her, and it began a critical step towards reconciliation between the Gungans and Naboo.

The Phantom Menace rings true with the themes above and others that will be mentioned another time.

The movie is worth watching especially the edge of your seat action offered while also contemplating the deep lessons of faith presented throughout the film.