Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace was directed and written by George Lucas and it was released in 1999.
Plot/Storyline
The Trade Federation are unhappy with the taxation on trade routes, and therefore blockade the planet of Naboo. Two Jedi Knights are ordered by the Senate to resolve the problem, however the Trade Federation won't give in without a fight and attack the Jedi. The Jedi manage to escape to Naboo to worn the planet's population about the impending attack, however they are too late as the Queen has been kidnapped by the Droids. The Jedi set the Queen free and escape the planet, but there luck is shortly lived when their ship gets badly damaged and they have to land on the back water planet of Tatooime. Here, they meet the young Anakin Skywalker who battles through a high stakes pod race in order to win enough money for the parts needed to fix their ship and his own freedom. As they finally leave the planet they are attacked by an unknown enemy, Darth Maul! After a tense battle, Quin-Gon-Jin escapes with the others to the Senate, however they quickly realise that they're going to get no help from them and make the bold decision to return to Naboo and fight the battle alone. During this battle, the Droid army are destroyed and Anakin blows up the Trade Federation's ship. Quin-Gon-Jin is brutally killed by Darth Maul, but Obi-Wan kills Darth Maul in return. After the battle, the Trade Federation leaders are arrested and Obi-Wan begins Anakin's training in becoming a Jedi Knight, as he had promised Qui-Gon-Jin.
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The film pays great attention to the colours that the characters wear and what they symbolise. Darth Maul wheres all black, which could represent evil, mystery, death and power; he has red and black patterns painted all over his face and head which could represent war, angry and danger. The intense colours used for Darth Maul are in great contrast with the more neutral colours of the Jedi Knights. The colour brow represents loyalty and trust; it is a warm colour suggesting a monk's robe. The colour brown also represents how they are very grounded and stable for people to be able to lean on for help and support. Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber is green which could represent how he is very emotionally involved with saving Queen Amidala's and her people from being attacked. Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber is blue which could represent the trust and loyalty that he has for Qui-Gon Jinn; it could also represent the power and knowledge he uses when defeating Darth Maul when Qui-Gon Jinn can no longer do so.
The lightsabers are a symbol of the Jedi Order, and the uniqueness of the weapon makes them stand out from the rest of the inhabitants of the Star Wars universe. The use of colours in the lightsabers helps to identify them and who they represent. For example, colours like blue and green are used for the Jedi to show that they stand for the light side of the force (good) and red is used for the Sith who represent the dark side if the force (evil).
Motifs such as space ships and laser guns remind the audience that this is a science fiction film and that the action taking place on screen is happening in a different universe than our own. Aliens are also used in this way but they also help to drive the plot and provide convenient opponents for the more commonly human 'good' characters. This makes it easy for the audience to sympathise with the human characters and gives the film writers an easy 'bad guy'. The Aliens in the film also entertain and keep the audience interested as unusual and strange life forms help to populate the Star Wars universe.
Science fiction jargon is used at many points during the film to create a sense of futurism and out of this world technology. These technical terms such as 'hyperdrive', 'medichlorians', 'lightsabre' and 'pod racer' all serve a similar role to that of the aliens in the way that it shows we, the audience, are not in our own universe. They also serve as plot motivators as the fact that their ships hyperdrive is damaged when they escape indirectly causes them to land on Tatooine and meet Anakin, setting off the events of the Star Wars saga.
Stock Characters
Within every film genre there are stock characters where the same stereotypes will almost always appear in the films within one genre. Below are some examples of stock character within science fiction:
-The scientist
-The female(victim/love interest)
-The sceptic
-The alien
-The idiot
-The hero
-The villain
-The child
In Star Wars some of these stock characters are very much present; however there doesn't seem to be a a character that fits the scientist role. When I thought of the female/victim, I automatically thought of Queen Amidala because at the beginning of the film she is seen as a weak and vulnerable character as she failed to save her people from the Trade Federation, however she is never objectified as the love interest in the film. Although it could also be argued that Anakin Skywalker could be the victim as he is saved by the Jedi repeatedly and is seen as vulnerable because of his age.
I think that the sceptic would be Yoda, even though he has a slightly minor role, because he questions Qui-Gon Jinn's plans.
I think that Jar Jar Binks fills the role of both the alien and the idiot because he is the alien with the most dominant role and he is constantly fooling around and doing stupid things.
I think that throughout the film Qui-Gon Jinn is the hero because he is the leader of the two Jedi Knights and is the one to make the decisions, however when Qui-Gon Jinn dies, it is then Obi-Wan Kenobi who has to step up as the hero and kill Darth Maul. I think that it is common for people to assume that the hero has to be male, however it could be argued that Queen Amidala is the underlying hero after all. She starts off being very timid but her character develops throughout the film to be more determined, strong and adventurous. It is Queen Amidala who comes up with the plan to take back control of Naboo and fight against the Trade Federation and she continues to come up with many ideas to help this come into action, for example, the land battle diversion. It could also be argued that Anakin Skywalker is the hero because he is the one that blows up the Trade Federation ship.
The villain in this film is Darth Maul as he kills the character first seen as the hero, Qui-Gon Jinn.
The child in the film is Anakin Skywalker primarily because of his age but also because he has to be looked after by the Jedi. However Obi-Wan Kenobi could also be seen as the child because he is Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice and therefore looks up to him, just like a son would look up to his more knowing father.
Resources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/fullcredits
http://makingstarwars.net/2013/08/padme-is-the-hero-of-star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace/
An Introduction to Film Genres, by Lester Friedman
http://www.sparknotes.com/film/starwars/themes.html
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-brown.html
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