Meanings of "The Phantom Menace"

When Episode I first came out, we were told that "Phantom Menace" referred to Darth Sidious, or the Sith in general, since they were orchestrating the events of that film without anyone knowing they were involved. At least, not until the end, and even then the Jedi didn't understand how this plot figured into their plans.

But having seen how Palpatine operates--using wars as elaborately staged political stunts--could it not also be argued that the Trade Federation Blockade was the Phantom Menace? A false threat designed to distract the people of the Republic from the real threat? Much the way "wedge issues" are used in politics today?

 

"Introducing Darth Sidious as a hologram was the way he was introduced actually in Empire Strikes Back, which was the first time we actually saw him in the first three films, so I thought it appropriate to keep that thematic device going so that we only know him as a hologram and not actually deal with him, except in one small scene as a real person, because I did want to make sure you knew that he wasn't just a hologram. Make him sort of flesh and blood."

--George Lucas, TPM DVD Commentary.

"I think it is obvious that [Qui-Gon] was wrong in Episode I and made a dangerous decision, but ultimately this decision may be correct. The 'phantom menace' refers to the force of the dark side of the universe. Anakin will be taken over by dark forces which in turn destroy the balance of the Galaxy, but the individual who kills the Emperor is Darth Vader?also Anakin. The tale meanders and both the prediction and Qui-Gon are correct?Anakin is the chosen one, and he did bring peace at last with his own sacrifice. Luke couldn't kill the Emperor himself, but he could make Anakin reflect on his life and kill the Emperor."

--George Lucas, Cut Magazine interview, 1999

That's what Lucas refers to. It's not the Trade Federation as they're not really a threat. Only in that they become controlled by the Sith.

 

Like any good title, this one works on several levels. I think you are both right.

 

could it not also be argued that the Trade Federation Blockade was the Phantom Menace? A false threat designed to distract the people of the Republic from the real threat? Much the way "wedge issues" are used in politics today?

Yes, you could argue that. You could also argue that the Phantom Menance refers to Maul or even Jar-Jar.

 

The best Star Wars title's in my opinion are:

"The Phantom Menace" Because it truely does have more than 1 meaning.

I also like:

"A new hope" Because it's nice to have hope after the darkness.

 

I agree, the other saga titles are rather obvious and boring. Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith. A New Hope, along with The Phantom Menace can also have more than one meaning.

 

"THE PHANTOM MENACE":

1) Darth Sidious / Chancellor Palpatine / The Sith Plot

2) The Trade Federation / Invasion of Naboo

3) Qui Gon Jinn / His Actions

4) Anakin Skywalker / Darth-Vader-to-Be

5) The Republic / Empire-to-Be

5) State of the Galaxy / Socio-Political-Moral Apathy

 

There have been some serious debates on the meanings of the Title "Return of the Jedi". The positions are....

A. The return of Anakin Skywalker
B. Luke Skywalker becomming a Jedi Knight
C. Sith Lose Jedi Win.

So that one has three possible meanings, too......Of course, I always believed #1.

Carnage

 

D. Return of the true values of the Jedi (peace, truth, justice, compassion, intuition)

 

Carnage said:

"There have been some serious debates on the meanings of the Title "Return of the Jedi". The positions are....

A. The return of Anakin Skywalker
B. Luke Skywalker becomming a Jedi Knight
C. Sith Lose Jedi Win.

So that one has three possible meanings, too......Of course, I always believed #1."

I believe this is one of those 'A+B' answers based on this dialog . . . . .

"Never! I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."
~ Luke to Emperor Palpatine, DSII Throne Room, ROTJ

 

To me ROTJ has always been about the return of Anakin Skywalker. But, that title (to me) is not as commanding as "The Phantom Menace" &/or "A New Hope.:

But, to each their own.

 

[immature reply] "The Phantom Menace" could also refer to the smell on the pod race starting grid from that farting camel-type creature. [/immature reply]

 

Well, with that reasoning, it could refer to George Lucas and the tidal wave of CG to come.

 

No...."The Phantom Menace" obviously refers to the true villain of the trilogy: Captain Panaka, who pretends to be Padme's loyal bodyguard, but later betrays their her wedding secret to Palpatine, eventually leading to the fall of the Republic. He then goes on to become a high-ranking official in the Empire. There's no betrayal in the Star Wars universe or in real life more outrageous and despicable than this.

Qui-Gon should have noticed this disturbance in the Force earlier and shoved Panaka out the airlock while making their escape from Naboo.

Edit: Actually, that's probably even better than he deserves. He should've been locked in a room with Jar Jar until he loses his mind and is reduced to infantile behavior.

 

Ric Olie is the phantom menace!

 

Are you sure it was Panaka? I seem to recall...


A FEW YEARS AGO, NOT FAR AWAY.....


SPACE AND FANTASY CINEMA WAS IN TURMOIL. NO LONGER WAS IT COOL TO BE A GEEK. MANY KIDS WERE BEATEN UP FOR WEARING T-SHIRTS THAT SAID "I AM NOT A GEEK, I AM A 12TH LEVEL PALADIN." TENSIONS WERE HIGH, BUT ONE MAN STEPPED UP WITH A PLAN.

WRITER AND DIRECTOR GEORGE LUCAS DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO GAURENTEE A PLACE IN HISTORY FOR THE STAR WARS SAGA. TO THIS END, HE CREATED A NEW STORYLINE AND NEW CHARACTERS TO BREED A NEW GENERATION OF GEEKS.

IN THIS LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT, GEEKS FLOCKED TO THE CINEMA, ONLY TO BE HAUNTED BY THE TRUE MENACE TO THE GENRE.

"Meesa Jar-Jar Binks. Hasbrosa isa makin a bombad line of collacables of me, most of them are intelligent and speak. Messa be on every cereal box, Burger King Sippy Cups, and Talking coloring books!"



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Carnage

 

Trade Federation = Red Herring (see Alfred Hitchcock - any film he directed)

TPM the phantom with the implication of hard to see and read. Palpatine and his extremely well-thought out plan is the poster boy of the dark side and the phantom menace.

 

The Phantom Menace is everything: Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, the discovery of Anakin Skywalker, the growing strength of the various Federations and Guilds, the inability of the Jedi to connect to the Force, and the the corruption of the Senate and the Old Republic. It all culminates in the rise of darkness and evil.

 

IN THIS LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT, GEEKS FLOCKED TO THE CINEMA, ONLY TO BE HAUNTED BY THE TRUE MENACE TO THE GENRE.

"Meesa Jar-Jar Binks. Hasbrosa isa makin a bombad line of collacables of me, most of them are intelligent and speak. Messa be on every cereal box, Burger King Sippy Cups, and Talking coloring books!"



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


Thats it for sure. In the true meaning of Menace, as in Dennis the Menace, Jar-Jar the Menace is the one.

 

You could take it on many levels. You can take what GL gives you. Or you can take it to mean Palpatine or even the TF. Me I take it more that it means the Sith are back but the Jedi don't really believe it so that the the Phantom Menace. There but in a kind of Phantom form. Sure Qui-gon said it was a Sith. But if we remember from what he told Anakin it could have just been some guy with a red lightsaber who could fight like a Jedi/Sith.

 

It's not the Trade Federation as they're not really a threat.
Hence the term "phantom" menace--as in not the legitimate one.

Anybody remember this? "To those who pit Americans against immigrants, citizens against non-citizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil. Charges of kangaroo courts and shredding the Constitution give new meaning to the term 'fog of war."

Those are the words of John Ashcroft as he pushed the PATRIOT Act through Congress. Phantom is used here to indicate almost a figment of the listener's imagination, or a scare tactic. The exact opposite of a credible, viable threat. Sidious, by being the real threat behind everything, could not be described as a phantom in that sense of the word.

 

Don't you remember, Carnage? Jar Jar made TPM a true masterpiece. How could you even think that he was in the slightest way a bit annoying. That's ban material. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. sheesh


I always thought the Phantom Menace referred to Chacellor Palpatine. The true menace was the dark side and the Sith, but the Chancellor was the actual Phantom. Kind of like the Phantom of the Opera. Very similar in that they're both hiding a wrinkled horrid face with an equally evil heart underneath their masks. However, the PotO's redemption is much like Anakin's and not Sidious'!

 

Just a bit of fun, I think.

Adding to my earlier list:

5) a) The Gungans see the human population of Naboo as a menace. But they're a "phantom" menace compared to the real army attacking and destroying their planet.

 

Alright, you're getting out of hand now!

6. The jedi see the Sando Aqua Monster as a menace, but seeing as how it eats the Colo Claw Fish right before the sub is about to get chewed apart, the Sando is really a phantom menace.

7. Jar Jar sees the chance cube as a menace, but seeing as how Qui-Gon can force push the cube around, it is really only a phantom menace.

Stop!

 

Whereas you've been out of hand for several weeks now. I honestly couldn't care if you were banned. You're heading that way. End.