The Meaning of Phantom Menace

What is the meaning of Phantom Menace? I mean first of all, New Hope means that someone (Luke) would be their new hope. Empire Strikes is too obvious to explain. Return of the Jedi means the ressurection of the Jedi and AotC means well, you know. But what does Phantom Menace mean?

 

That there is some hidden evil, a threat that the Jedi cannot see. In other words, Senator Palpatine's rise to evil.
Also, it has been theorized, that the title refers to little Annie, who is going to turn into a Sith Lord - I don't buy this one, however.

My personal theory is that it refers to the Trade Federation and the Battle Droids. they are very uninteresting and boring, and do not seem to pose a threat at all - but they do have weapons - thus, a phantom menace.

 

I believe that Lucas stated in an interview that the Menace is the Sith in general.

 

The title does indeed refer to the Trade Federation, a seeming menace that in truth is only an illusion, a phantom. The real menace is Sidious, pulling the strings behind the scenes. This in itself is rather phantom-like, so Sidious/Palpatine could also be said to be the PM in question!

 

Here are some people who are not the Phantom Menace.

 

The Phantom Menace = The Sith (Darth Sidious and Darth Maul at the time)

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My belief to this title is that it refers to the coming of alot of hell. Including Anakin and Palpatine. Its kinda stating that this is where it begins.