26 years after Palpatine was reintroduced as a duplicitous Senator in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, he still functions as the franchise’s “Phantom Menace.” Emperor Palpatine’s role in ...

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Works Best When Seen Through a Child’s Eyes: ’99 Rewind Liz Shannon Miller and Paolo Ragusa. ... Star Wars Episode 1 Phantom Menace Palpatine Padme.

Yes, we get examples of Palpatine’s knack for long-range strategy in the other Star Wars films, however, The Phantom Menace sees his evil genius in full flight.

Phantom Menace appeared to refer to Palpatine at first. However, a more thorough explanation was provided by the Star Wars Expanded Universe, or “Legends.” In Darth Plagueis, James Luceno’s ...

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the release of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace this month, the film has returned to theaters. And at the behest of the editors of this magazine ...

The Phantom Menace also leaps to life in its handful of action set-pieces. Sure, maybe the pod-race goes on a bit too long, but the sense of speed, scale and bombastic sound throughout is still ...

The teeth-gnashing aspects of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” have been chewed upon for a quarter century, from Watto to Anakin Skywalker’s Midi-chlorian count (and miracle birth) to almost ...

However, “The Phantom Menace” is not a perfect film. ... of Palpatine’s election as supreme chancellor echo Hitler’s real-life appointment as chancellor of the Weimar Republic in 1933.

George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is getting a 25th anniversary re-release by Disney on May 3. That’s in time to celebrate Star Wars day, May the 4th.

For the 25th anniversary of "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," three Variety staffers discuss Anakin, Darth Maul, Jar Jar Binks and lightsaber battles.