Trivia: Samuel L. Jackson wanted to be in this movie so much that he told George Lucas he would even play a Stormtrooper.
Phaneron
4th Oct 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
4th Oct 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Trivia: While appearing on a talk show in London, Samuel L. Jackson was asked if there were any directors he's never worked with, but would like to. Knowing George Lucas was on the verge of making this film, he said he'd like to be in a Star Wars film. Jackson was later in Vallejo, CA, working on Sphere, which was shooting down the street from Skywalker Ranch. He received a message that Lucas heard he was interested in being in this film and invited him to come to the ranch to discuss it.
1st Jun 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Trivia: "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of Don McLean's "American Pie" called "The Saga Begins" which outlines the plot of this film from Obi-Wan's point of view. Yankovic used leaked spoilers on the internet to write the lyrics, and then ended up paying to attend a screening of this film for charity to ensure that the lyrics accurately depicted the plot. He said he only had to make minor alterations after seeing the film.
25th Apr 2022
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Trivia: Qui-Gon Jinn's death was spoiled by the track listing of the film's soundtrack, which was released two weeks before the film.
11th Dec 2019
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Question: Why does Darth Maul just stand there and watch Obi-Wan flip over him and then bisect him? As a Sith, Maul had plenty of time to react to what Obi-Wan was doing, and his training means he shouldn't have been surprised by it either.
Answer: In the book, The Life and Legacy of Obi-wan Kenobi, it actually talks about this a little bit. Darth Maul wasn't expecting this move, and it caught him by surprise. Obi-wan was hanging on for life down below, and to Maul's mind there wasn't a way he could really get back up, much less armed. One thing to consider is the fact that Darth Maul is actually pretty weak in using the Force compared to most other notable Force users. He's mostly a martial artists, and a damn good one to, having extraordinary combat ability to the point he can fend off a Jedi Knight and a Padawan at at the same time. But his actual strength in the force is weak, where he's only able to lift/push small objects or do a Force jump. He didn't predict, or "foresee" Obi-wan's move. Nor could he sense that Obi-wan was moving the light saber on the ground next to him, and would never have guessed that not only Obi-wan would Force jump out like that so suddenly, but also grab a saber at the same time and go for a swing.
I remember at least two books - which may not be canon now - describing Maul as prideful. It seems like he was quite skilled in fighting, as you say, but he underestimated opponents.
Answer: I always saw it as Maul didn't realise Kenobi was going for the lightsaber at the same time and the whole move was suicidal from Maul's point of view. His lack of reaction is him being stunned by what he sees as Obi-Wan just jumping in front of him to be attacked.
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Answer: It was meant to be very fast. It couldn't be so fast that the audience would have no idea what was happening, so we wind up with an awkward scene where Darth Maul literally watches Obi-Wan flip over his head. He never even notices that Obi-Wan has Qui-Gonn's lightsaber. He seems quite shocked that Obi-Wan was even able to get above him at all.
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