Star Wars Episode I - Things to Look For

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
If you have not seen the movie yet,
you might want to skip this page.

If you have already seen Episode I: The Phantom Menace, you know you have to see it again just so that you can get some of the character interaction straight. (Yes, certain of the characters do make a lot more sense the second time.)

And then, there are also many visual surprises. You see a character and say, "Hey, wait! That's so-and-so from the movie such-and-such!!!" There's a lot of them. Finding them is like being on an Easter Egg hunt.

So if you're planning to see it again, here are some of those Episode I Easter Eggs, some of the character interaction that is worth revisiting, and some omens of the future.

Happy hunting.

Revision History
1999 Jul 26 - Grim Fandango.
1999 Jun 13 - First draft.

Cameos

There many reports of characters from other sources. Here we try to present some of the ones we feel are credible. We have not been able to check all of these out, but have heard about some from several independent sources. Perhaps we need glasses. Perhaps you will find what we have are having trouble spotting.

E.T. - The Galactic Senate of the Republic is filled with representatives from various planets and cultures. Among them is E.T., or several of him, from Steven Spielberg's film E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial. Spielberg, of course, is a good friend of George Lucas.

Grim Fandango - Manny is the lead character from the LucasArts game Grim Fandango. He reportedly is in the stands at the pod race. The game is a light-hearted detective mystery to be solved in the after-life. Manny has a tall, thin, white cylindrical head.

We had heard reports that Manny appears in the Galactic Senate. However, sources who are close to us, and know the game, looked for him and were unable to find him there.

Willow - The pod races attract various and sundry characters. Among those rooting for Sebulba the Dug is actor Warwick Davis, familiar to audiences as Willow, from the film of the same name. If you've seen Willow, he is impossible to miss. Davis is considered part of the Lucasfilm family, and played the Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi. He also has another part in Episode I as one of Anakin's young friends. But he looks like Greedo from the Mos Eisley cantina.

Rick McCallum - We have heard numerous reports of Episode I producer Rick McCallum appearing in the movie, but have yet to confirm them. The reports focus on a couple of scenes.

Many dignitaries show up at Qui-Gon's funeral, including representatives of the Jedi and officials of Naboo and the Galactic Senate. Not being of Naboo or the Senate, if McCallum is there, we have to conclude that he is really a Jedi Master. (We just don't know it yet. :-)
When the new supreme chancellor (Palpatine) lands at Naboo, he talks with the film's heroes, and walks off, passing the Jedi, then McCallum, who is hooded.

Padmé and Queen Amidala

This is the story's most unique plot twist. Given this, at least half the movie can be seen again just to figure out what is real and what isn't.

If you've seen the movie, then you know that Padmé and Queen Amidala are really the same person. One of the queen's handmaidens (Sabé) is sometimes dressed as Amidala in order to be a decoy, providing the real queen with protection. With this understood, many of the movie's scenes take on new understanding.

Call to Bravery - In making the the decision to present her case to the Galactic Senate, Queen Amidala notes that the situation presents "great risk to all of us." As she says this, she turns to her handmaidens. After a pause, one of them speaks up, "We are brave, your Highness." For the most part, Amidala is a strong character is the film. Why show indecision and weakness now? In fact, appearances are not reality here. Dressed as the queen is the decoy, one of the handmaidens. She is looking for support and confirmation from one of the handmaidens, Padmé, who is the real queen.

You Assume Too Much - At one point, on Tatooine, Qui-Gon says to Padmé, "The queen trusts my judgement, young handmaiden. So should you." Padmé frowns and retorts, "You assume too much." When you see the movie the second time, you realize that Padmé says this with incredible conviction. Of course, she does. She knows exactly how much the queen trusts Qui-Gon's judgement.

You Must Contact Us - Aboard the queen's transport, Padmé secretly views an urgent transmission for the queen. "The death toll is catastrophic. You must contact us." When the transmission ends, she looks very weary, as if the weight of a whole world is on her shoulders. Small wonder. That's because it is.

The Omen(s)

Anakin's Theme - John Williams' brilliant musical score for Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a blend of the new and old. Many of the themes from the original trilogy can clearly be heard interwoven into the music of this movie. But the most subtle of these is perhaps the final notes of Anakin's Theme. The melody for the most part fits a young boy with dreams of the future. The final notes of that melody, however, are reminiscent of The Imperial March, first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back.

End of Credits - As the movie ends, the credits scroll. The credits are very long, and of course, John Williams' music plays the whole time. As the music finishes, there is a sound which fans of the original trilogy cannot miss. It is an omen of things to come.

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