why is ep I called "Phantom Menace" ?

[Overflow]

just wondering

[Figrin D'an]

There is a dualism in the title, just like with all of the Star Wars film titles...

On the surface, "The Phantom Menace" is Darth Sidious... a Sith Lord, plotting and scheming behind the scenes to take over the Republic and wipe out the Jedi. Since it is apparent that Sidious is indeed Palpatine, and Palpatine has done a good job of masking his true identity from everyone, it makes that title make even more sense.

Also, I believe as Doc Milo pointed out, "The Phantom Menace," on a deeper level, can refer to Anakin himself. An innocent, good-natured boy, believed to be the Chosen One of prophecy, whom we all know will eventually become Darth Vader, perhaps the most feared Sith Lord ever.


Hope that helps. :)

[Jedieb]

Ditto what Figrin said. The obvious answer is Palpy/Sidious. At least it's obvious to us, but to many filmgoers, especially those who are just coming into SW, it may take a while to figure out that Sidious is the the phantom menace. On a deeper level, it can be construed that Anakin is the phantom menace. You can also argue that Anakin, through his actions at the end of ROTJ, is not the true menace because he kills the Emperor and helps bring about the end of the Empire. (Let's ignore the EU for the moment.) You can say that Palpy's rise to power was inevitable, with or without Anakin becoming Darth Vader. Anakin's fall from grace was something he had to suffer in order to put him in the position to destroy the Emperor with the help of his son.

Or, you can come up with any conclusion your heart desires. :D

[Ki-Adi Kindo]

The Phantom Menace is Sidious/Palpatine. The word Phantom is usually mentioned when the villain is unknown. Also even though Anakin becomes a Sith lord, he is not the reason the Republic falls, its Palpatine. No. 1 villain!

[Doc Milo]

The dark side of the Force itself can also be construed as the "Phantom Menace." The Force is insubstantial, like a phantom, yet has a great influence on everything, the dark side is the menacing side of the Force. Thus, the Dark Side is a phantom menace. The dark side corrupts, and is embodied in the number one villian, Palpatine/Sidious. But it also takes the innocent Anakin and corrupts him to Darth Vader. So the dark side of the Force is a phantom menace that is growing in power...

[JMK]

I just subscribe to the belief that Sidious is the Phantom Menace. In a way, in the modern SW galaxy, Sidious IS the dark side, so the title can be taken in any number of ways.