PT Who is the main character of The Phantom Menace?

Amen, brother , he will be with us, always.

 

I think there are two ways of looking at it:

1) Padme is the main character, but Qui-Gon takes us on her journey. It's similar to ANH - to me, Leia is the main character, with Luke taking us on her journey.

2) It's more of an ensemble piece. In this regard I liken it to Tolkien's The Silmarillion. TPM lays a lot of world-building - the state of the galaxy, the deeper mechanisms of the Force - while also following a host of characters important to the plot of the saga as a whole. Qui-Gon (leader of the Jedi in the Naboo crisis), Obi-Wan, Padme (queen of Naboo), Jar Jar (we see him evolve into a leader of the Gungans and brings 2 people together), Palpatine (who leads Naboo at the galactic level), Darth Maul (the face of the Sith), Nute Gunray (the symbol of greed) and of course, Anakin Skywalker.

This is much like The Silmarillion. In it, Tolkien has us follow Feanor, Fingolfin, Thingol, and Earendil among others, all of whom lead important groups of people in the ancient society of Middle-eath. TPM is pretty similar in that regard. We see these mythic figures (Jedi, queens, Senators, CEOs, etc) have their squabbles and duke it out, all the while explaining essential features of the galaxy like the Force and the political scene (The Sil does this with the Valar and explaining the different houses of the Noldor). Both are fantastic examples of world-building through telling the stories of legends of their respective universes.

For that reason, I am partial to option #2.

 

Ensemble piece. Padme and Qui-Gon are the main characters, for sure.
Overall, Anakin is the most important character, for obvious reasons. He has quite a bit of screen time too. Yes, an ensemble.

 

For TPM it's Padme and Qui Gon...

For LOTR, it's the ring itself

 

For George's saga, it's also the ring!

http://www.starwarsringtheory.com/

 

It has three. Qui-Gon, Padmé and Anakin.
AOTC and ROTS have Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan.
ANH, TESB and ROTJ have Luke, Leia and Han.

 

Really, the only way to truly tell who the main character is you must look for the person who has the Jedi mullet.

 

Anakin. The story still manages to weave itself around him despite that the character is not the most frequent point of focus. Reminiscent of the Gormenghast novels, where the main character Titus Groan is an infant through most of the first book.

 

Yup, I am a very familiar with ring theory. It's a very very well written and detailed explanation of what a lot of us have picked up on for years, that Lucas uses mirroring in his movies. The essay goes on well past that basic idea, and it is terrifically written! However, it being the main character? Tis a stretch me thinks...

Anyway, one of my favorite sentences in that essay:

Very relevant thought when thinking about the current Star Wars movie set to come out...

 

Qui Gon Jinn is the main character of TPM, followed by Obi wan then the rest.
As is Luke Skywalker the main character in the OT, followed by Han Solo then the rest.

 

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/character


char·ac·ter

(kăr′ək-tər)
n.
1.
a. The combination of mental characteristics and behavior that distinguishes a person or group. See Synonyms at disposition.
b. The distinguishing nature of something. See Synonyms at quality.

 

Easy. Palpatine. He's referred to in the title!

 

The answer is Qui-Gon Jinn

 

Your question assumes there could or should only be one. Why do you think so?

 

Mesa is agree'n wit yousa point also

 

I'd probably say Obi-Wan. Because I think we're meant to see the story through his eyes. Similar to how the Droids were ANH.

 

I feel the PT was more about what happened prior to the Original trilogy in the way its telling a story of what happened to the Galaxy. While the OT tells a story in the eyes of two droids also the main three characters. More Luke. The PT took a different approaching telling a more larger story, focusing on multiple story's happening around the universe.

The PT is different and that's why i enjoy it. BUT! i love all Six Films

 

Ensemble, but with Qui-Gon being a focal point. On the other hand AotC and RotS are all Anakin.

 

But Obi is not at the podracing... "he was the best starpilot on the galaxy"

 

Isn't it obvious that the main character is Panaka?

His home is invaded, he's protecting the Queen, fighting to save his home.

He's in a lot of scenes in the movie, more than Watto, Maul or even Palpatine manage to get. He's appears all throughout the film, from the first scene on Naboo to the final parade.

 

I believe it's Palpatine, I think that's whom the title of the film is referring to.

 

Does that mean that The Last Crusade is the main character of the 3rd Indiana Jones film?

 

Qui-Gon Jinn, for sure. Padme, Anakin and Obi-Wan never became lead characters until AOTC.

 

Its Padme Amidala, god i hate jedi characters i swear, how is Qui Gon even winning this? Padme, Padme, Padme man. She is the star of this movie. Are people really this sexist? Wow the whole movie is about saving Padme. From the beginning to the end the plot is connected to Padme. Qui Gon is cool and all but the star? The featured character? Its Padme Amidala.