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The Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic sends two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, to the planet Naboo to investigate a distress call indicating an invasion by the Neimoidian Trade Federation. When their diplomatic visit leads them into an ambush, the two Jedi stow away on the Trade Federation’s landing vessels to warn the people of Naboo themselves. The first local they encounter, Gungan misfit Jar Jar Binks, takes them to his undersea home city of Otoh Gunga for safety, but the Gungans quickly turn all three back toward the surface. Just when the Trade Federation’s battle droid army appears to have captured the young Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rescue her, convincing her to escape with them to Coruscant, where she can plea for Naboo’s freedom before the Galactic Senate. Amidala reluctantly agrees, but her personal ship is almost destroyed in the escape from Naboo, saved only by the valiant efforts of an astromech droid designated R2-D2. With her ship’s main drive unit in pieces, the Queen agrees to a brief layover on a frontier planet called Tatooine for repairs.

On Tatooine, Qui-Gon and Jar Jar try to find replacement parts, with a royal handmaiden named Padme’ in tow. As Qui-Gon tries to bargain with a no-nonsense parts trader, Padme’ becomes acquainted with a precocious nine-year-old slave boy named Anakin Skywalker. After failing to strike a deal for the parts needed to repair the Queen’s ship, Qui-Gon and his companions move on, but a run-in between Jar Jar and one of the locals reunites them with Anakin. A chance sandstorm forces Qui-Gon’s entourage to take shelter in Anakin’s slave quarters, where he lives with his mother, who is also a servant. Anakin eagerly suggests that Qui-Gon sponsor him in the Boonta Eve pod race, just a day away – a race whose prize money could allow Qui-Gon to buy parts for the Queen’s ship an escapes. Though Anakin’s mother is concerned for her son’s safety, she agrees, and Qui-Gon makes the bet. At the same time, the Jedi Knight suspects that Anakin is very strong with the Force, since no human has the reflexes necessary to race pods.

The hazardous pod race, overseen by Jabba the Hutt, results in the death or disqualification of most of the contestants – except for Anakin and an alien named Sebulba, who has no qualms about cheating. But quick thinking (and, Qui-Gon believes, the Force) not only keeps Anakin in one piece, but he beats the reigning champion. What Anakin does not know is that Qui-Gon had such confidence in his abilities that he added Anakin’s freedom to his bet. But Anakin falters at the thought of leaving Tatooine for a life of adventure when his mother will still be toiling away. Shmi Skywalker assures her son that he will be safe, and encourages him to pursue his dreams. With a new hyperdrive and a new young passenger, Qui-Gon sets out to return to Queen Amidala’s ship – a journey which is abruptly interrupted by a dark warrior who tries to use his considerable Jedi skills to kill Qui-Gon. Barely escaping with his life, Qui-Gon realizes that his attacker could only have been a Sith Lord – the evil opposite number to the valiant ranks of the Jedi, and probably an assassin in search of Queen Amidala.

On Coruscant, Qui-Gon informs the Jedi Council of the murderous Sith, though some of the members insist that the Sith are extinct. He surprises them even more by introducing them to Anakin, whose Force instincts and genetic makeup both prove to be very unique – and potentially very powerful. But the Council members, after testing Anakin’s skills and interviewing him, conclude that the boy is too old and set in his ways. Elsewhere on Coruscant, Queen Amidala’s attempts to bring the pressure of the Senate to bear are thwarted by bureaucracy. Naboo’s Senator Palpatine suggests a vote of no confidence, which is quickly passed, deposing Supreme Chancellor Valorum from leadership of the Senate. Naturally, Palpatine nominates himself as Valorum’s replacement, and the Senate’s sympathy for the plight of Naboo assures his ascension. Queen Amidala vows to return to Naboo to rally her people, calling on Jar Jar to help her make peace with the isolationist Gungans. Qui-Gon (with Anakin in tow) and Obi-Wan accompany the Queen back to Naboo to protect her.

Though Jar Jar has a difficult time convincing his people – now in hiding from the Trade Federation’s battle droids – to help defend Naboo, the Queen puts herself at the Gungans’ mercy. The Gungans commit all of their resources to the battle in an attempt to retake the Queen’s palace, a fight made more difficult by the entrenched army of droids. Anakin is forced to take shelter in a Naboo starfighter, but in trying to protect himself he accidentally launches the ship, hurling himself into the midst of the intense space battle being waged between the Naboo defense force and the Federation’s droid fighters. Darth Maul, the Sith Lord, also reappears, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan divert all of their energy and strength to preventing him from assassinating the Queen. The freedom of Naboo depends on the efforts of the Jedi, the determination of Queen Amidala, and the inquisitive Anakin . . . but not all of them will live to see the peace restored.

written by George Lucas
directed by George Lucas
music by John Williams

Cast: Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala/Padmè Naberrie), Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker), Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker), Frank Oz (Yoda), Ian McDiarmid (Senator Palpatine), Oliver Ford Davies (Sio Bibble), Hugh Quarshie (Captain Panaka), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Ray Park (Darth Maul), Peter Serafinowicz (voice of Darth Maul), Ralph Brown (Ric Olie), Terence Stamp (Chancellor Valorum), Brian Blessed (Boss Nass), Sofia Coppola (Sachè), Adrian Dunbar (Bail Antilles), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Warwick Davis (Wald), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Silas Carson (Nute Gunray), Dhruv Chanchani (Kitster), Celia Imrie (Bravo Five), Margaret Towner (Jira), Silas Carson (Ki-Adi-Mundi), Oliver Walpole (Seek), Kristina DaSilva (Rabe’), Jerome Blake (Rune Haako), Steven Speirs (Captain Tarpals), Warwick Davis (Spectator), Benedict Taylor (Bravo Two), Greg Proops (Beed), Scott Capurro (Fode), Liz Wilson (Eirtaè), Khan Bonfils (Saesee Tiin), Cin (Adi Gallia), Roman Coppola (Naboo Guard), Michaela Cottrell (Even Piell), Mark Coulier (Aks Moe), John Fensom (TC-3), Ray Griffiths (Sebulba), Warwick Davis (Grimy man), Ray Griffiths (Power Droid), Madison Lloyd (Amee), Lewis Macleod (voice of Sebulba), Geoffrey Pomeroy (General Ceel), Alan Ruscoe (Plo Koon), Hassani Shapi (Eeth Koth), Alan Ruscoe (Bib Fortuna), Christian J. Simpson (Naboo Pilot), Alan Ruscoe (Sil Unch)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Ten years after the invasion of Naboo, the Republic continues to crumble. Many star systems are leaving the Republic, flocking to the leadership of former Jedi Count Dooku. The growing tension prompts some senators to propose that the Republic create an army for itself, an unprecedented step that draws opposition from Senator Padme Amidala, the former queen of Naboo. She reluctantly returns to Coruscant to vote against the measure; her ship’s landing is met with an explosion that kills several members of her entourage. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine insists that Padme receive protection from the Jedi Knights, and assigns two Jedi who are old acquaintances with the former queen – Obi-Wan Kenobi and his padawan, Anakin Skywalker.

Eager to impress Padme, Anakin promises to uncover the identity of the would-be assassin, despite Obi-Wan’s warnings to keep his focus on their mission of protection and to stay in control of his feelings. Control does not come easily to the young Jedi – already troubled by dreams about his mother, Anakin’s affection and desire for Padme threaten to overwhelm him. He and Padme decide to take the initiative in order to lure the assassin into the open – a plan which almost succeeds too well when an assassin droid arrives at Padme’s chambers. Obi-Wan and Anakin chase the droid back to its owner, a changeling bounty hunter named Zam Wesell. Before they can interrogate her, another bounty hunter kills her with a poisoned dart. Palpatine urges Padme to return to Naboo for her own safety until Obi-Wan can complete his investigation of the bounty hunters. Reluctantly, she agrees, leaving her Gungan aide Jar Jar Binks as representative in her stead. Despite Obi-Wan’s misgivings, the Council sends Anakin to serve as Padme’s escort . . . to the approval of Palpatine, who has fulfilled his promise to pay close attention to young Skywalker’s progress.

One of Obi-Wan’s sources identifies the source of the dart as a planet named Kamino, but Obi-Wan can find no mention of it in the Jedi Archives. With help from Yoda and some young Jedi-in-training, he discovers that the records of the planet’s existence have been erased, and sets out to find the planet. Upon his arrival, he is welcomed by the Kaminoans, who seem to have been expecting a visit from a Jedi and are ready to show him the status of their latest project – an army of hundreds of thousands of clones, apparently ordered by a long-dead Jedi a decade ago. The template for the clone troopers is a bounty hunter named Jango Fett, whose evasive answers fuel Obi-Wan’s suspicions. Jango and his son Boba (actually a clone of Jango, devoid of the accelerated aging and psychological modifications of the troopers) manage to leave Kamino, despite Obi-Wan’s attempts to detain them . . . but they find the Jedi to be a most dogged pursuer.

On Naboo, Anakin and Padme retire to her lakeside retreat, momentarily out of harm’s way. The two discuss their lives and their views on the current political situation, as Anakin expresses his frustration with democratic squabbles and his wish for a strong will to force the galaxy along a better path. He also expresses his feelings for Padme, which she insists she can not return – their responsibilities as Jedi and senator make that impossible. To make matters worse, Anakin’s nightmares grow stronger, beyond the point of his endurance. Padme agrees to accompany him on his return to Tatooine.

Obi-Wan tracks Jango to the planet Geonosis, where he discovers Dooku cultivating an alliance with the Trade Federation (contingent on Dooku arranging Padme’s death) and several other crucial guilds, as well as an army of droids. Obi-Wan attempts to transmit these findings first to the Council on Coruscant, then to Anakin on Naboo, but is soon captured and brought before Dooku. The former Jedi, who once trained Obi-Wan’s master Qui-Gon Jinn, offers an invitation: the Sith have gradually been exerting their control over the Republic; the Sith Lord Darth Sidious has much of the Senate in his sway, and the Dark Side clouds the Jedi’s ability to see through the deceptions and manipulations. Join me, Dooku says, and we will defeat the Sith once and for all.

On Tatooine, Anakin discovers that Watto sold his mother years ago to a moisture farmer named Clieg Lars, who soon freed and married Shmi. Upon arrival at the Lars homestead, Anakin meets his stepbrother Owen and Owen’s girlfriend Beru and reunites with C-3P0, but also receives terrible news from Clieeg. A band of Tusken Raiders captured his mother a month ago, and repelled all attempts to rescue her. Anakin immediately sets off in pursuit, but finds his mother just in time to share her final moments. Enraged, Anakin turns his vengeance on the entire camp of Sand People, leaving no survivors. At the homestead, he bemoans his inability to save his mother, blames Obi-Wan for holding him back and declares his intention to one day be the most powerful of all Jedi. His mourning is cut short by Obi-Wan’s message, and Padme’s decision to launch a rescue attempt with 3PO and the ever-loyal R2-D2.

As the two head for Geonosis, the Jedi Council and Palpatine’s Loyalist Committee (including Alderaan’s Bail Organa) react to Obi-Wan’s news. It appears impossible to deny that the Republic needs an army, and good fortune has provided one on Kamino. But the Senate is still locked in debate over the creation of such an army, with no end in sight. Only through a granting of emergency powers to the chancellor can the situation be addressed in time, but such action would require the initiative of a senator willing to take the political risks involved. When Palpatine suggests that Padme would, if only she were present, Jar Jar takes the bait and makes the motion – to near-unanimous acclaim in the Senate. Vowing to renounce his new powers as soon as the Republic is restored, Palpatine authorizes the Grand Army of the Republic. Yoda travels to Kamino to inspect and gather the clone army, while Mace Windu and the other Jedi travel to Geonosis to aid Anakin and Padme in their rescue.

As it turns out, their assistance is very much required, as the two are captured shortly after their arrival. Sentenced to die in the Geonosian arena, Padme admits her love for Anakin . . . but their future will depend on the skills and sacrifice of many Jedi. True loyalties are revealed and plans set in motion, as the galaxy plunges into war . . .

written by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales
directed by George Lucas
music by John Williams

Cast: Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Padmè), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Frank Oz (Yoda), Ian McDiarmid (Supreme Chancellor Palpatine), Pernilla August (Shmi Skywalker), Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett), Jimmy Smits (Senator Bail Organa), Jack Thompson (Cliegg Lars), Leeanna Walsman (Zam Wesell), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Rose Byrne (Dormè), Oliver Ford Davies (Sio Bibble), Ronald Falk (Dexter Jettster), Jay Laga’aia (Captain Typho), Andrew Secombe (Watto), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Silas Carson (Ki-Adi-Mundi / Nute Gunray), Ayesha Dharker (Queen Jamillia), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett), Joel Edgerton (Owen Lars), Bonnie Maree Piesse (Beru), Anthony Phelan (voice of Lama Su), Rena Owen (voice of Taun We), Alethea McGrath (Madame Jocasta Nu), Susie Porter (Hermione Bagwa), Matt Doran (Elan Sleazebaggano), Alan Ruscoe (Lott Dod), Matt Sloan (Plo Koon), Veronica Segura (Cordè), David Bowers (Mas Amedda), Steve John Shepherd (Naboo Lieutenant), Bodie ‘Tihoi’ Taylor (Clone Trooper), Matt Rowan (Senator Orn Free Taa), Steven Boyle (Senator Ask Aak), Zachariah Jensen (Kit Fisto), Alex Knoll (J.K. Burtola), Phoebe Yiamkiati (Mari Amithest), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Jerome Blake (Oppo Rancisis), Hassani Shapi (Eeth Koth), Gin (Adi Gallia), Khan Bonfils (Saesee Tiin), Michaela Cottrell (Even Piell), Dipika O’Neill Joti (Depa Billaba)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer