Debate: The True Menace

We all have our personal opinions on who the true Phantom Menace is...

Some say it is the hooded Sidious/ Palpatine who created the whole plan and began the entire conflict.

Others say Anakin is the Phantom for he will become Vader but that is hidden inside the innocent little boy.

A select few say Maul is the phantom.

In real life the true Menace is Jar Jar cause he tried to ruin the film.

So seriouly debate here whether the Phantom Menace is Palpatine or Anakin.

 

Well, the titles of SW movies tend to mean more than one thing at once. (For instance, Return of the Jedi = return of Luke, return of Anakin, return of Jedi in general.)

While Palpatine/Sidious is probably the true phantom menace that the title is referring to, Anakin's menace is pretty darn phantomlike (hidden) in this film.

And I also think the title refers to the dark side in general.



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

I originally thought the menace was Sidious, until I read these boards. I didn't even consider Anakin to be the phanton menace. As for Maul, there's not much phantom about him. It's pretty obvious he's the bad guy.

 

I believe that Lucas said it was both Maul and Sidious, though I do not have a quote, so I could have misheard something.

I definitely think it's Palpatine/Sidious though.

 

Agreed!

 

at first I thought it was Darth Maul, but now I agree it is either Sidious or Anakin or possibly both.

 

I actually think its all 3: Sidious, Maul and Anakin.

My reasoning for Maul is that he's hidden much of the time and the heroes don't know who he really is until the end of the film. He's, of course, the least "phantom" of the 3.

 

Others say Anakin is the Phantom for he will become Vader but that is hidden inside the innocent little boy.

Well I'll be damned....I honestly never thought of that. I just always made the easy link to it being Palpatine. The first image we see of him is in hologram (ghostly) form and he is of course manipulating everything behind the scenes...

But Anakin as the phantom menace? Very interesting.... And a good disguise he has with that simple slave outfit too

 

JAR JAR!!!

 

George Lucas.

Someone had to say it.

 

George Lucas.

Someone had to say it.

Bashers!

Someone had to say it




*note - please take above comment with grain of salt. Thank you.

 

my opinion:

GL himself, the menace that ruined star wars.

 

Oooooh boy.
RIP thread.


Rick McCallum loves you!

 

i think the computer effects are the phantom menace. GL should have had the prequels filmed where they cant have fancy equipment and bring back the realism to the films. Episode 1 should have been called, "The Rise of the Empire". and even though its the wrong room, episode two should have been called "THE CLONE WARS" not attack of the clones.........GOD that bugs me.

 

" The Phantom Menace is the Sith presence in the Galaxy..."

I understand your point, but the Sith have existed as pairs for 2,000 years. I think it could also be construed as the increased Force useand plans (and the effects thereof) of the Sith.

Remember that a "menace" need not be a person (unless your first name is Dennis .)

Menace: A possible danger; a threat: the menace of nuclear war.

Overall, though, I'd have to go with Palps/Sid.

 

Wow, people have gone from humorous remarks to serious bashing. Tisk tisk.

Palpatine/Sidious is obviously the Phantom Menace, but both Anakin and the dark side in general also fit the category. So I think it means all three. It is so far the best title, imo. It also kind of sets the mood of the PT: Mystery/subversion.

Cometgreen

 

I think, as a few herein do, that the main menace is that of Palpatine. I mean, here is a Senator, whom plotted the fall of the Jedi and the destruction of the Republic. All the while standing as a hero in a time of utter chaos.

Or you can consider him just another normal guy with way too much time on his hands!

 

I always interpreted the Phantom Menace as the Trade Federation, actually. They weren't strong enough to do what they had threatened, so their threat was incorporeal. Their strings were being held by Palpatine, so he's the puppetmaster of the performance, but not yet ready to sieze power himself.

As for JarJar... his actions in AOTC pretty much redeemed his existence in the films as far as I was concerned. He works as deus ex machina to create Palpatine's powerbase in the clone army. His clumsiness, eagerness to please, and ability to annoy everyone make him the ideal candidtae to bring about the fall of the Old Republic.

My $.02. YMMV.


*Derisa*

 

For future reference, answering "George Lucas" = off-topic and baiting.

 

I used to think It was maul.but now I think it's

Palpatine
Mual
Anakin
The sith in generel
The darkside

 

The phantom menace is Darth Sidious and just the dark side of the Force in general.

 

It seems to be a double meaning like Return of the Jedi = The Jedi Order Returns, or Anakin the Jedi Returns.

 

I think Return of the Jedi means "the return of Luke" partly because the initial title was "revenge of the Jedi" before a last minute change. Obviously Luke is the only one out for Revenge after his defeat in TESB. "Return" is a nicer version.

I consider "The Phantom Menace" to mean the "emergence of evil". That is, this is the story that shows bad guys starting trouble.

 

I'd have to say both Sidious and Anakin