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Post #1505022

Author
RogueLeader
Parent topic
Community Focus Thread 1: The Phantom Menace
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1505022/action/topic#1505022
Date created
22-Sep-2022, 9:37 PM

I know the Phantom Menace opening has been rewritten a thousand times on this website, but mind if I try to simplify this version a little?

It is the end of a golden age. The Galactic Republic, once under the wise rule of the Senate, has been engulfed in corruption.

While their allies in congress turn a blind eye, the greedy Trade Federation seeks to exploit the wealthy planet of Naboo with a blockade of deadly warships.

Fearing for the safety of her people, the newly-elected Queen Amidala has requested the aid of the legendary Jedi Knights, hoping that they will restore peace and justice to her kingdom….

This keeps it reminiscent to the original Star Wars opening, and the first paragraph acts as a sort of thesis statement for the theme of the entire prequel trilogy.

You don’t have to explain the details of the blockade beyond greed and exploitation, and setting these scene for the opening of the film.

And I like the last paragraph because it sends us off with a fairy tale call to action. And I think this keeps plot simple. It tells us what we need to know. Corruption. Greed. Invasion. Jedi Knights. We can be given the details in the actual body of the movie.

And Amidala doesn’t have to be a custodian of democracy at the beginning of the trilogy. Right now she is just worried about her people, but seeing the corruption of the Republic will ignite the fire inside her so she will become that in the subsequent films.