出典：スターウォーズ
The “Star Wars” series is a series of spectacular science fiction films that began with “Star Wars: A New Hope” (Episode IV), which was directed and written by George Lucas in 1977. The series has recorded the second highest box-office revenue in the world’s history, and is still loved by many fans around the world.
It is characterized by the irregular release order of the movies, with the new trilogy (Episodes 1, 2, and 3) being released 16 years after the old trilogy (Episodes 4, 5, and 6) was released. After that, the story was completed with the next trilogy (Episodes 7, 8, and 9).
In this article, I will introduce the appeal of “Star Wars” Episodes 1-3, which are said to have the most highlights of the entire series.
出典：スターウォーズ ファントムメナス
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
It was released in 1999 as the first film of a new trilogy. The story of the new trilogy revolves around Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, who was the antagonist of the main character in the old trilogy.
The time goes back to Anakin’s childhood. On the desert planet Tatooine, Anakin lives as a slave with his mother, Simi Skywalker. One day, on an unavoidable visit to Tatooine, he meets Jedi Master Qui-Gan Jinn, his future mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Amidala’s handmaiden Padmé Amidala.
There, Qui-Gan and the others are astonished and begin to take an interest in Anakin, who, despite being a human child, is able to control a high-speed machine called a pod racer.
The night before Anakin was to compete in the pod race, Qui-Gan had Anakin’s blood taken for testing, and it turned out that he was as powerful in the Force as Yoda, the legendary Jedi Master.
Convinced that Anakin was the one who would bring stability to the Force, Qui-Gan and the others freed Anakin from slavery and set him on the path to becoming a Jedi. Anakin was hesitant to leave his mother, Simi, who could not be freed from slavery, but he vowed to his mother that he would become a Jedi and come to her aid, and set out with Qui-Gan and his group.
Later, Qui-Gan’s group is attacked by Darth Maul, the Dark Lord of the Sith, and he begins to suspect the existence of someone who controls the Trade Federation in the shadows. In order to liberate the planet Naboo, which has been overrun by the Trade Federation, the battle scenes between the Jedi, the Gungans and the Battleroid army, led by Padmé, the Queen of Naboo, are the main attraction of Episode 1.
