Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) ✦ Reaction & Review ✦ My eyes are on Darth Maul 😈

Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are the actual best. And let's talk about Darth Maul... yeah, he's hot and I will not be taking questions at this time. It was so fun getting to meet and see Little Anakin and I really adore a young Obi-Wan Kenobi with Qui-Gon Jinn. I cannot wait to see what the other prequels have in store. Thank you for checking out my first time watching movie reaction to Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
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#StarWars #ThePhantomMenace #FirstTimeWatching

[@kaiielle]

Thanks for watching! Gosh, I'm enjoying these movies so much and can't wait to continue them! ✨ ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ In between uploading this video and pushing it out to you all, I was given access to set up KZbin Memberships! I've set up one membership level at $3.99 CAD per month. You'll get access to some of my emotes to use in the live chats during premieres, as well as a loyalty badge next to your name. If/when I decide to livestream here in the future, the emotes and badges will work there too. Signing up is completely optional, of course, but just another alternative if you are not interested in Patreon. ♥ EDIT: I now have an FAQ page, answering some of the most common questions I've seen: kaiielle.com/faq

[@Jghost11]

2nd comment. I enjoy your content randomly found you through your other star wars reactions. Hope you are doing well!!

[@kaiielle]

@@Jghost11 Hi Jeremiah! Glad you're enjoying them!

[@joshuathompson2404]

Congratulations on making the partner program!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love these reactions---it's super cool that you'll be getting some monetary kickback for all the work you're putting into these videos :) I look forward to what's coming in the future.

[@joshuathompson2404]

Also, don't get too bogged down in the queen decoy stuff....it's not really a thing in future episodes. Portman is the queen---she likes to hang back as a handmaid for security reasons, dressing her handmaids up as queen and putting a giant target on their back. hahaha.. The handmaid name she uses is 'Padme,' so any time you saw Padme, it was actually Amidala. Confusing----but not really a thing you have to worry about moving forward :)

[@SWTobito0702]

@@joshuathompson2404 Well Padmé is her actual name. She was born as Padmé Naberrie and after her crowning took up the last name Amidala.

[@hansen85]

I always let out a sigh of relief when a reactor actually catches from the start of the movie that Ewan's playing Obi-Wan.

[@dirtyhawkstv1575]

Me too. A lot of times it's not until Qui Gon introduces Anakin to Obi Won that reactors catch it or when he asks for a miticlorin count of Anakin's blood.

[@GavinBollard]

@@dirtyhawkstv1575 I think that was intentional on George's part . If you missed it at the start, then it's saved as a "surprise"

[@michaelgoodyear9369]

Yea for some reason people seem to miss that even though they say his name right from the start

[@primary2630]

@@GavinBollard Idk man Qui-Gonn says "Obi-Wan" like 5 seconds into their first scene

[@QueerAF13]

Seriously, drives me insane when it takes people that long. “Don’t center on your anxieties Obi-Wan” is said in the first 5 fucking minutes of the film

[@benschultz1784]

Ewan MacGregor's casting is perfect not only does he resemble Alec Guinness but he's the nephew of Dennis Lawson (Wedge Antilles in the OT) Lucas actually had to redo a lot of the action scenes as Ewan was making lightsaber noises while filming. Can't wait to see him as Obi-Wan again this May.

[@tommytommy7535]

wasnt it hayden that did the noises? or did they both do it?

[@kashawn105]

I'd make lightsaber noises too if I was in the movie

[@BigBWolf90]

George: stop doing that! Ewan: sorry...can't help it....I'm a fan...

[@Gathbard]

I remember at the time so many kids rocking the padawan braid. It got out of hand fast. Also I think you're the first person I've ever seen enjoying JarJar. It was refreshing to see.

[@aceldamia9114]

Don't feel bad about not being able to tell Keira Knightley from Natalie Portman in this movie. While I can't find the exact quote or source right now, it's "common knowledge" that on the set, even Keira's mom couldn't always tell the two apart. And if anyone has problems with your language, just tell them to fuck off and lighten up.

[@kaiielle]

Thank you! To both things. 😂

[@StarWarsPolitics]

@@kaiielle I am not quite sure, and I don't want to spoil anything, But I believe the confusion of who Darth Maul was after can be found in the "Plageuis" Novel, I have not read it, I am just now getting into it, but if you have the chance I would highly recommend it when you get the chance or there are KZbin videos that are pretty good at summing it up. very interesting though. This is excellent! thanks for taking us on this journey with you, its really fun and I am enjoying your thoughts! 💯🤓👌🏽👍🏽

[@mikeycham3643]

Your enthusiasm for Maul is shared by many, many of us.

[@kaiielle]

I'm very glad to be the newest member of the Darth Maul fan club.

[@UTU49]

@@kaiielle As soon as I'm finished my X-rated Darth Maul fan fiction, I'll be back with a link. 😐

[@tdc3477]

@@UTU49 😕📸

[@megasauruss]

@@UTU49 where's the link, UTU? Where's the link?

[@UTU49]

@@megasauruss "As soon as I'm finished... " For $50, you can be the protagonist.

[@oneironaut420]

Padme is the queen pretending to be a handmaiden for her own protection. But she is actually in full costume as the queen whenever she needs to be herself. But the makeup and clothes make it hard to distinguish her from her handmaidens, so she can slip in and out of her role as needed. The queen also speaks in code with her handmaidens while she's in disguise as one of them. Keira Knightly's character is actually named Sabe. Near the start of the film, Sabe (dressed as the queen) says "Either choice presents great danger" and looks directly at Padme, who responds "We are brave, your highness." Sabe wasn't sure which choice to make in that situation, so she looks to the REAL queen who basically says to her, "Let's go with the Jedi to the senate".

[@Wolf_Dominic]

I always felt this movie in particular was very underrated, but it’s good to see more people enjoying it.

[@Corndog642]

It’s so refreshing to hear you appreciate the comic relief. Star Wars is meant to be fun! The fact that you appreciate the politics will be a bonus because most people did not. It’s not heavy on the politics overall but when this trilogy is dissected you see how it shapes the future.

[@kaiielle]

I like laughing! So always appreciate comic relief. Yes, I'm excited for the politics of all. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@kaiielle Glad to hear as well! One of the things I like about TPM is that it had a childlike overtone with a mature undertone. It's thus able to communicate adult ideas to children via this approach. Some people mocked Lucas for putting politics in what is ostensibly a kid's film but I think it was a great move. Even if a child doesn't fully comprehend the political scene before them they can at the very least understand the ideas being conveyed on an intuitive level or appreciate them later in life . I and many others would argue that the political lesson taught to kids across the prequels is that the very political system that is used for good can be used for evil :)

[@mem1701movies]

@@onemoreminute0543 I think George Lucas made this for his son. The problem is while STAR WARS should be fun this is such a weird mix. It’s too childishly off putting to most adults yet with political intrigue. The “jokes” are AWFUL.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

@@mem1701movies somehow I think they played off of the Ewok's in ROTJ, and it's appeal/success. And I'm sure they knew 2 & 3 would be much darker.

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@MoMoMyPup10 The thing is, by starting off more light-hearted in TPM, it allows for an actual tonal transition by the time we get to ROTS. If we started off dark in TPM and ended dark in ROTS, there would have been no proper shift. It also works well in the grand narrative of the saga. The galaxy returns to a more childlike tone with the Ewoks in Episode 6, representing how the story has tonally come full circle back to the more peaceful galactic state of episode 1:)

[@pleaseshush9800]

Padme was on Tatooine and the decoy was on the ship. When Anakin went to try see Padme and the queen said she sent her on an errand that was actually Padme, I'm pretty sure every other time it was her decoy and Padme was acting as a servant for example when they left Naboo, Padme was acting as the servant and the queen was really a decoy.

[@williamellis8593]

Amidala is a chosen royal name: the name she was elected as queen under. Her birth name is Padme` Naberrie. She served two terms as queen, as was allowed by the Naboo constitution.

[@andrewft31]

@@williamellis8593 Padmé Amidala Naberrie is her full name, she used her middle name

[@robertparker6280]

The braid in Obi-Wan's hair, means he is a Padawan. It's like when someone new at a job, and they have a badge that says "Hi I'm new in training" (or something close to that nature). That's what the braid means "Jedi In Training".

[@Kjf365]

They also have beads that go on the head if they don't have hair to braid.

[@robertparker6280]

@@Kjf365 True

[@SWTobito0702]

Natalie Portmann and Keira Knightley have reportedly said that even they themselves can't identify who is acting as the queen at times because they look so similar here. The decoy queen is only ever seen in the queen make-up and Padmé was with Qui Gon on Tatooine, which makes their interactions much funnier on a rewatch. Often, you can tell Natalie played the queen whenever it is said that Padmé isn't around anywhere (like when Anakin wanted to say goodbye to Padmé, he was talking to Padmé) or when the queen takes important actions like the vote of no confidence or deciding to return to Naboo. Lastly on Naboo when the decoy is acting as the queen, you can see Padmé standing right beside her.

[@Jelperman]

The girl's own parents had a hard time telling them apart when they were in costume. The best way to tell is that Keira Knightley is taller than Natalie Portman., like in this scene at 9:34

[@TheGohanSkywalker]

They also altered the tone of both their voices to be a middle ground between them, so it would be harder to tell them apart. Also, Keira's character actually has backstory and in canon survives into the Imperial era.

[@loganessex699]

We first see Padme Amadala (Natalie) in the red outfit with the huge headpiece. Then knowing they're about to be invaded she switches, so when we next see her it's Sabe (Keira) in the black outfit. (Note "Handmaden" Padme giving "Queen" Sabe coded instructions when escaping ("We're with you, your highness") telling her to follow the Jedi). Sabe and Padme stay switched the entire escape from Naboo through Tatooine until they make it to Courscant where they can switch back (because it's safe). Then it's Padme in all of the briefing and Senate scenes. They switch back again before returning to Naboo, where Padme eventually reveals the bodydouble to the Gungans. They use Sabe as the body double to lure the guards away when Padme reaches the throne room. Now on re-watch you can note all of the times Padme told Qui-Gon "the queen won't like this" while on Tatooine, and the looks she gives when he brushes her off. 😂

[@lavarball528]

@@TheGohanSkywalker Didn't they only alter the voices when it was the queen? Like aren't all the padme scenes just Natalie Portman?

[@BigBWolf90]

What Qui Gon was doing is a technique called Battle Meditation. It can either boost the moral & abilities of your forces or replenish yourself through the Force

[@ezekiekr8475]

When George Lucas told Iain McCaig to design Darth Maul, he told McCaig to think of his worst nightmare. When McCaig showed Lucas his design, Lucas told him to come up with something from his second worst nightmare, which ended up being the design that stuck!

[@onespeed4ever901]

Fun fact When this came out in theaters I went to see it with a girl I just started dating and I guess she got so bored she got up and left before the halfway mark but I stayed and enjoyed it It would be the first sign that our relationship wouldn't work

[@TheGreenThunder1607]

Damn that was harsh of her

[@onespeed4ever901]

@@TheGreenThunder1607 she did a lot more than that but it was good for me to stop being so slow

[@zeldangerous]

I couldn't stop grinning the entire time. I was 9 when this came out, and despite having already seen and loved the original trilogy, THIS is my "first" Star Wars Movie. I lived and breathed it when it came out with my brother and friend. We re-enacted ALL the battle scenes, all the time. Had all the toys, knew all the lines. Seeing your reaction and knowing what's to come just absolutely made my day, my week even. This is my favorite reaction so far!!!

[@kaiielle]

So glad you enjoyed it, Zel!

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

FUN FACT: The title of the movie “The Phantom Menace”, actually refers to Palpatine (aka. Darth Sidious), because when you think about it, what this movie really was was Palpatine manipulating both sides of the conflict in order to increase his own power. The Phantom Menace just another of the many names that the Dark Lord is known by. Also, of equal interest, the upbeat music that played during the Naboo victory parade in the very last scene was actually Emperor Palpatine’s theme song sped-up. This is a subtle detail to show that despite the seemingly happy ending, the only person who really won during this movie was Senator (now Supreme Chancellor) Palpatine. He’s even standing on the victory podium with everyone, smiling because he knows that his plans are going smoothly.

[@obenohnebohne]

Episode 1 was my first Star Wars movie in a movie theatre. My 10 year old brain was blown. I am glad you didn‘t hate Jar-Jar. He‘s part of Star Wars and I like his comic relief.

[@willie0376]

These movies are generational with my family, my grandma took my mom in 77, 80, and 83 to see the OT in theaters, I saw this one in 99, ep2 in 03, and ep3 in 05, all in theaters with my mom and grandma, unfortunately my grandma passed away in 09, so she wasn't able to see the new trilogy, but it was still a 3 generation experience, as my mom and I took my now 9 year old son to see ep 7, 8, and 9, to see these in theaters, it was my son's first experience in seeing a movie in theaters. Also, my step-dad skipped school with his brother to see ep 4 in theaters.

[@UTU49]

It's pretty great that you were able to see the entire prequel trilogy with your mom and grandma.

[@willie0376]

@@UTU49 yeah it's definitely one of my most cherished memories

[@xenontouchstone]

Careful, Star Wars has a habit of getting under your skin and being with you for life 😉 it's been with me since the 70s and never gets old. Same with LOTRs , I've watched so many reactors start out with" these aren't really my kind of films,but my fans want me to watch so..". And before the end they are " WOW! Why have I never watched these films ? I'm addicted,they are fantastic, give me MORE" LOL

[@paulgnsn554]

Fantastic news about your KZbin partnership! So great for any student, it takes a bit of pressure off you for sure. Amazingly positive reactions as always. The real queen (Padme Amidala) always accompanied the Jedi.

[@kaiielle]

Thank you! And thanks for clarifying for me!

[@TommygunNG]

The government contacted the studio about those underwater breathing apparatuses for real-world military use. Turns out they're just props.

[@matthewclarke4127]

You are the only reactor I have seen who recognized Palpatine as the emperor. A lot of us older fans had read the novelizations of the original trilogy and recognized the name, while a lot of viewers would be in the dark. With what is going on Ukraine, The Phantom Menace feels very close to home.

[@MalcomMcLeod]

That was my thoughts, the invasion themes, the Queen pleading for her people and for peace is hitting a lot harder during this re-watch.

[@peterrenevitz3059]

Alec Guiness was the actor who played Obi Wan in 4-6. He was a British actor with a distinguished pedigree. Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia to name just a few. Peter Cushing who played Grand Moff Tarkin on the Death Star was another famous British actor.

[@onemoreminute0543]

By the way, if you have a keen eye, you'll notice over the prequels that there are certain narrative beats that harken back to moments from the original trilogy. For this movie, Anakin blows up the Droid Control ship like how Luke blew up the Death Star in ANH. Or there's the fact that the heroes ally with the native Gungans to fight the droids, just like how the heroes ally with the native Ewoks to defeat the stormtroopers in ROTJ. This is done to show history repeating itself over the saga, inviting viewers to analyse these patterns like rhymes in a poem. The principle one is the differences and similarities in the journeys of Luke and Anakin over these two trilogies, which you'll see upon comparison push them further towards good or evil. :)

[@NewTypeDilemma01]

20:07 Ironically, in the Star Wars Legends timeline, the one who bought Anakin's podracer was none other than Sebulba himself. He'd go on to win many more races with it before temporarily retiring from racing and giving it to his own son, Hekula. Unfortunately, Hekula was an extreme rookie and destroyed the pod completely in his first race (six in-universe years after this film). Anakin would end up salvaging his old racer and racing Sebulba again after he was challenged to a rematch (eight years after the race in the film, meaning Anakin was about 17 during the rematch). The result of the race is still unknown to this day.

[@ezz_breezy]

Another wonderful reaction video!! I think this is a film you'll really be able to enjoy on a rewatch. One of the first things I did on my second rewatch of this was try to figure out when Padme was acting as the queen or not. It's actually a fun game! E.K. Johnston wrote some amazing books about Padme and her handmaidens which gave me a whole new appreciation for this

[@kaiielle]

That will def be awesome to try next time! Glad you enjoyed it Bree and thanks for your help with modding. 💛

[@BratBond1]

32:09 The fact that you were holding back tears for a character that you have only met for only a few minutes in this movie means that you are truly a Star Wars fan. Kaiielle, another great reaction by you, and the universe is just opening up to you, our young Padawan. Enjoy the rest of your journey.

[@kaiielle]

Thank you so much!

[@peterdrewer2574]

Theme for the fight with Darth Maul is called Duel of the Fates.

[@kaiielle]

It's SO GOOD. Adding it to a playlist of mine.

[@onemoreminute0543]

Ahhh... but the interesting question there is: Whose fates are being duelled over? ;)

[@peterdrewer2574]

Yes it does beg the question. Fair play to hold off persuing further discussion till after the movies have been seen.

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@peterdrewer2574 You could probably discuss the intriguing question now due to how certain characters have been established, but I agree it's better to reflect on it once Lucas's original 6 film saga has been fully viewed. :)

[@dahntalon]

Love your genuine enjoyment of the film. Especially since the prequels get so much hate. Nice to see the smiles and talkback. Looking forward to future reactions!!

[@kaiielle]

Thank you!

[@scrazzle]

Your reactions are seriously a joy to watch.

[@GavinBollard]

You're probably the first person doing a "first time watching" of TPM who has clearly figured out the title. It's pretty obvious what the Phantom (ie: fake) menace was. Most people doing a first time watch don't figure out what the real menace was. Nice positive review -- and you even liked Jar Jar.

[@kaiielle]

I honestly totally forgot about the title of the movie, while watching the movie and then recapping my thoughts. 😂

[@onemoreminute0543]

Ah, but the phantom menace isn't a 'what'..... it's a 'who' ;)

[@Daemonkryn]

A pleasure to get to see how these prequels are read by someone free from the usual biases and expectations that people who grew up with Star Wars have. I know it's ridiculous, but I kept thinking about a quote from Princess Mononoke when I was watching your reaction. "There is evil at work in the land of the [Star Wars fandom, Kaiielle]. It's your fate to go there and see what you can see with eyes unclouded by hate."

[@samc9516]

A couple things - you're referring to Lord Sidious (whoever he may be) as "the current Emperor" but remember currently there is no Emperor because there is no Empire, only the Galactic Republic. Secondly, Obi-Wan's hair and Anakin's new do at the end of the film is a Padawan haircut - Padawans (learners) have a braid to signify their position.

[@BwillsAlwight]

Loved this reaction, Really can't wait for you to get through the next 2 movies.

[@dillonlexington]

So, First I love your reactions. and to answer a couple questions or things you noticed, Obi Wan has a braid which you noticed right away, and Anakin had one at the end of the movie, this is a Jedi tradition for Padawan learners, later in their training they take a test (referred to as the trials) after passing the Jedi Master will cut the braid off with his or her lightsaber as a sign that now the trainee is a true Jedi. Also, while JAR JAR is comic relief, he serves an important role in a future film, very small but important.

[@davidhasselblad2898]

The evolution of these three movies is awesome. Can't wait to see the rest of your reactions.

[@sulosky]

It’s so nice to share this journey with you in the galaxy far far away. Thank you for making these videos.

[@Quisty]

that was a great reaction video, I loved the close up for various things as well, and congrats on PARTNER! that's so wizard! Looking forward to the next adventure with Ep 2.

[@kaiielle]

Glad you enjoyed it Quisty! ♥

[@XD152awesomeness]

The fact you were confused about the Queen decoy proves that the tactic worked

[@onemoreminute0543]

"This ones a de-coy!" ;)

[@paulgnsn554]

There was a cut scene showing Qui Gon fighting Darth Maul on the ramp of the queen's ship just after He jumped up from the desert. After a short fight, Qui Gon kicks Maul off the ramp and onto the sand. When we see Darth Maul looking at the disappearing silver ship, he'd just got up. You can see the sand blowing off him as he watches it.

[@tofersiefken]

​Yes, Padme (Natalie Portman) and Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) are the same person. (Her character is 14 years old and Anakin is 9 years old.) The Decoy Queen (Keira Knightly) is for distraction and protection but IS NOT empowered as queen.

[@christopherbrown6891]

Your journey is just beginning. May the force be with you!

[@redfivestandingbye3668]

I was 11 in 1999 when this film came out. Star Wars was absolutely EVERYWHERE! It's kinda hard to even put into words the hype this movie had. To say this film blew my 11 year old mind is understatement. This is not my favorite Star Wars film but this absolutely was the most amazing theater going experience I've ever had, period. The original trilogies perspective was down in the trenches and very personal. I love the perspective shift that The Phantom Menace brings. Suddenly following the so called "elite" of the galaxy, getting a chance to see the politics and larger universe is so interesting. I also think the special effects of this film are fantastic! They might look a little bit dated now but in 1999 this was so Impressive! No other film had ever done anything to this scale before! This film (trilogy) revolutionized special effects and filmmaking in the digital age! Which amazing because that's exactly what Star Wars did in 1977! George Lucas revolutionized and changed filmmaking twice! Jar Jar gets a lot of hate... As a kid he made me laugh so much! I LOVED him! Now I understand why people find him annoying. However I also appreciate the whole Drunken Fist thing I think Lucas was going for with his character. And you gotta appreciate that Jar Jar is the first motion capture character in a feature film! Without him we wouldn't have characters like Gollum! If you like the filmmaking process, this film in particular has a really interesting behind the scenes documentary. I'm sure you can find it online I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you get the chance!

[@onemoreminute0543]

Well... Lucas did famously say in one of those BTS documentaries that 'Jar Jar's the key to all of this ' ;)

[@coyotej4895]

Loved the reactions, Thank you for sharing.

[@fnglert]

Friendly reminder that Darth Maul had no idea who Anakin was at first, he just saw an 8 y/o kid in the desert and was like "I'ma run him over".

[@drb6771]

Hey, I love this movie, it's awesome seeing the Jedi in their prime. The final battle with Maul was epic! I will have to disagree with you on practical vs cgi. I think the effects of 4,5,6 look much more real than the cgi of 1,2,3. But I grew up with 4,5,6 so I may be a bit biased. I was never a big Jar Jar fan but to each his own lol. I'm sure others have answered this but the queen conundrum is actually easy, anytime you see Natalie Portman with normal cloths there's someone else playing queen. Natalie is always the queen, she just had someone else dress up like the queen to protect her. I hope that helps. I'm not going to comment on other things for fear of spoiling anything, so let's wait on those for now!😉 Although it looks like someone below already spoiled it.🤮 Hey grats on partner!! Great job!! You have an awesome channel here!! I am really looking forward to the next, even though it is my 2nd least favorite.😲 Btw cute puppy dog!!💖🐶

[@kaiielle]

Thank you! And yes agree to disagree on the CGI/practical stuff!

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@kaiielle The funny thing is, the prequels actually used more practical effects than the originals. The CGI just stands out more as it was a large breakthrough in technology at the time. Most of the time there was a combination of practical and digital tech used. A perfect example of this is Palpatines office, which you'll see more in the next two films. It's a practical set that was built but it has a digital view out of the window. Many of the ships you can see flying outside the office window are a mixture of practical and digital effects. :)

[@brianlafrazia8237]

Padme and Amidala is the same person (played by Portman). Amidala would dress in disguise as Padme for various reasons - mostly to be able to witness events herself without being known as the queen. When this happened one of her handmaidens (Knightley) would dress as the Queen and pretend to be Amidala.

[@roberthansen4323]

They also did that so they could make fun of Padme saying things like "the Queen wouldn't approve of this and Qui Gon says "the queen trusts me and so should you" is alot funnier when you know that it is the queen he's talking too. As a Jedi I also wonder if he knew she was doing it and was playing along when they had these interactions. That makes the scene even better for me.

[@RedLP5000S]

Your insights serve you well. Yes, Senator Palpatine is indeed Lord Sidious. AND Padme is indeed Queen Amidala when she is by herself. Both characters are playing a dual identity in this film. Quite ingenious. I look forward to seeing your further journey into the SW universe.

[@musical_lolu4811]

Yep. Politician by day, evil lord by night.

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@musical_lolu4811 And then (spoiler) those two identities merge into one by the time ROTS rolls round ... ;)

[@Murrlin27]

I had such a wonderful time watching your reactions to 4, 5, and 6. Can't wait for these (1, 2, and 3) LET'S GOOO! :)

[@bagelj]

If you’re confused on the Kiera knightly / Natalie Portman role. Don’t worry Kiera Knightly didn’t even remember she was in Star Wars at all! Seriously. She got into costume, read a few lines into the camera for three scenes and just went home. It was forgotten about until the 10th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, when she was asked what was it like to be on the set, and the character she played. Pure crickets 🦗 She was already a star after Pirates of The Caribbean, and several hit British movies.

[@chriscombest]

Did you notice that one of the locations of the celebrations pictured in the montage at the end of Return of the Jedi was Naboo? That sequence wasn’t in the original release but the updated version you saw came out after the prequels were made so audiences would’ve recognized the location immediately. Great reaction!

[@pieceofgosa]

The amount of people that don't notice Ian McDiarmid is... well Ian McDiarmid will never fail to make me chuckle 😂

[@roywilson4514]

My goodness your doggos’d ears are so cute! 😍

[@ameliawatching]

Oh man watching this just makes me so excited to see your reactions to two and three!!!

[@kaiielle]

I'm glad! Super excited to put them out.

[@Coonazz791]

I’ll make it easy for you, anytime you see Padme, the queen is the decoy. When you don’t see Padme, she is the queen. You’ll always notice that when the decoy is the queen, Padme is always by her side, except when Padme is out with the others on Tatooine.

[@terryd1608]

I second all the congrats for making it into the partner program! That's a great milestone, and the first of many more to come I'm sure. Try not to listen too much to those telling you you're doing it wrong, or how they think you should act. It's your channel. If they want to do things their way, let them start their own channel. IMHO, being genuine and true to yourself allows us/the audience to connect with you and your journey so much more. Having been a SW fan since what is now called Episode 4 came out in theaters, I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions to the rest of the movies!

[@kaiielle]

Thanks so much!

[@chadjenkins4876]

I second this. If you are totally into the things you are doing, people will enjoy. If you are trying to please everyone, that's when things fall apart

[@kaiielle]

@@chadjenkins4876 I'll always be true to myself and if anyone doesn't like it, they're free to stop watching! :)

[@bluebear1985]

During the pod racing scene, the English-speaking head of the announcer is voiced by Greg Proops, best known from the improv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Considering the nature of that show, I wouldn't be surprised if he ad-libbed some of his dialogue here.

[@kaiielle]

I thought the voice sounded familiar!

[@pleasehelp2446]

I was 5 years old when this movie came out, I saw the first 3 star wars movies when I was 6. Then my uncle showed me this movie on VHS when I was 7. I saw attack of the clones in theaters and revenge of the sith came out shortly before my 12th birthday. Whenever a star wars movie was coming out my friends and i all grabbed our plastic analog lightsabers and fought to the death with them

[@leosarmiento4823]

Keep up the honesty (including the colorful, and descriptive, language). ✌

[@cenotemirror]

Musical Easter egg: the celebratory parade music in the final scene is just an upbeat, major key version of the Emperor’s Theme from Return of the Jedi.

[@onemoreminute0543]

The characters are unwittingly celebrating a step towards the deconstruction of their democracy... ;)

[@maxhiddren3421]

You're the first girl I've seen and heard that said Darth Maul has "sex appeal" and "he's hot." You just earned another subscriber.

[@kaiielle]

😂😂😂😂 Welcome in!

[@vissenekku]

"Don't know if Liam Neeson is going to come back as Qui-Gon later as a force ghost." You might be right about that. :D It just may have taken 23 years. We'll see.

[@boqndimitrov8693]

I've always been amused by the fact that Padme-Amidala managed to fool even the Jedi, using such a simple trick as a double!

[@onemoreminute0543]

Based on the look Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan when she revealed herself to the Gungans (and previous interactions), I think he was aware of who she really was :)

[@SWTobito0702]

It is never further explained in the movies so this isn't a spoiler. Midi-chlorians are essentially the biological component that connects life to the cosmic force, creating the living force. Every living being has a certain amount of midi-chlorians, which is why the force is within every living being, however the more midi-chlorians you have, the stronger is your natural connection to the force. It displays your raw potential but is no direct indicator of your actual capabilities at any given moment. Obi-Wan for example has a relatively low Midi-chlorian count but made up for it with lots of training, which is why he is still so capable.

[@kaiielle]

Thank you!

[@onemoreminute0543]

Very well explained! Most people popularly misread midichlorians AS the Force and thus believe it demystifies it. Instead, the midichlorians act more akin to mitochondria, and instead just pass on the messages/contact of that mystical energy field :)

[@rustyragestalkinrangerspod1781]

I got recommended your rewatch of Revenge of the Sith cause I had watched someone else’s so I went back and watched your reactions to 4-6 and now I’m on 1. I can’t wait to get to Revenge it’s one of my favorites. Edit: I don't mind the swearing at all. Weird that would offend some people

[@juanforrester2283]

Queen Amidala revealed herself to the Gungan boss,very straight forward,non more simple.

[@BiasFree]

Got to say I really like you take the time to include Editor notes. not many reactors do that and it's great to know your thoughts after re-watching different scenes.

[@kaiielle]

Thanks! I try not to put too many in, but only where I think they're needed, or if it can provide some humour (like in my Ep 2 reaction).

[@BiasFree]

@@kaiielle Yeah just finished watching that one, Glad you got there in the end with these being the prequels =)

[@kaiielle]

@@BiasFree Me too. 😂

[@jennysutton7409]

I saw this in the theaters and loved it,Kira Knightly plays the decoy and Natalie Portman plays Padme/the queen. They looked so much alike that even Natalie's real life mother had trouble telling them apart when visiting the set lol. I love Darth Maul too but that's because I love the bad guys and by the way that actor was in the first x-men movie if you saw it...he plays Toad there.

[@MattSipka]

That braid in Ewan’s hair marks him as a Padawan learner. He’s still learning how to be a full Jedi from the more experienced Qui Gon Jin. You’ll see young Anakin has one in his hair at the end.

[@dcmslife3772]

34:23 --- what's that look for??? hahahahahaha 😂😂😂

[@anthonyancona2643]

The Naboo scenes were filmed in Italy at the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Villa del Balbianello.

[@Scorpion-Gamer82]

Hi KL. I loved this reaction, you're so sharp, noticing things that other reactors have missed. These prequels only get better. Looking forward to The Attack of the Clones. Well done for getting partner. I hope we're not waiting too long. 😉 Keep up the awesome work. 👍

[@kaiielle]

I don't have a set upload schedule yet, but so far it's been a video every week to week and a half. This is a good frequency for me at the moment without feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. I share when videos will be uploaded in the Community tab, though!

[@scottaznavourian3720]

'He's not gonna stay there ' Yes he is lol

[@Murrlin27]

Say what you will, I simply LOVE TO BITS the Podrace's sound design!!!

[@papaquebeck3353]

Great reaction) Also, the final celebration theme is actually Palpatine's theme from RoTJ but orchestrated in more soft and safely way

[@scottaznavourian3720]

That 'this is not good' in unison with anikin was awesome lol

[@mikeycham3643]

Apparently McGregor pored over hours of footage of Alec Guinness, and very intentionally mimicked both tone and mannerism. Impressive. Most impressive.

[@kaiielle]

That's so awesome of him!

[@TheScarecrow78]

LOL I think its hilarious that some people complained about your swearing . I honestly havent even noticed. Keep the great content coming!

[@kaiielle]

Big same! Appreciate it!

[@Norkkah]

“They’re like this trilogy’s version of the Emperor and Darth Vader,” Well yes true. Especially the Emperor part haha Warwick Davis is actually in a lot of the Star Wars movies. He played an Ewok in the Return of the Jedi.

[@dannyboylee]

Hi! Really enjoying your videos! It’s like getting to show a friend the movies for first time! Weird question, but can I ask where you got your shirt? It looks so cozy!

[@kaiielle]

Thanks! I have no idea where I got the shirt, sorry! Been a few years.

[@-gemberkoekje-5547]

This movie is so mutch more enjoyable when you know about Darth Jar Jar

[@tvdroid22]

As stated, youre yhe first I've seen speaking well of JarJar. Props to Ewan McGregor for his vocal work. He made the transition to a young Obi Wan much easier. The Chancellor played the Queen into bringing the vote of no confidence. The Queen, played by Natalie Portman, went into town pretending to be the Queen's assistant. Quigon, not Guicon.

[@snake85ok]

I wasn't so surprised Keira Knightley played such a good decoy, since she played Cable so convincingly.

[@redlee7424]

"Darth maul has sex appeal" You're right, and the truth should be spoken

[@CG_68]

People complained about your swearing? I barely even noticed it. Your statement in the end reminded me of Ice T‘s “Warning”😂. That’s definitely the way to show 'em Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let other people tell you it’s not ok.

[@swordmonkey6635]

The first actress you saw and thought was a young Natalie, was Natalie. Padmé was with them during their excursion on Tatooine disguised as a handmaiden. Padmé is the queen's real first name so was just going by her first name as a handmaiden and then using her last name and title when she wasn't. Anakin met Padmé and she's the one he was close to while she was acting as a handmaiden both in Mos Espa and the ship (she cleaned R2-D2 after he repaired the shield generator). When Anakin went to say goodby to Padmé on Coruscant, Padmé, as the queen talked to him briefly. The look Qui Gon and Obi Wan gave each other once Padmé revealed herself to the Gunguns tells the audience that they knew the entire time, but kept her secret.

[@edcliffe2988]

Glad that you're enjoying this journey. I have been enjoying it since 1978. I have been role playing Star Wars since GDW produced the first RPG back in the early 80s. I also play KotOR, but it is a weak handshake compared to role playing in the Old Republic. Completely different characters and an original story.

[@TheWindcrow]

33:00 Anakin kills 1000s to start down the dark side =P. Great reactions Kai. Thanks for the content.

[@iMarley_]

I’ve enjoyed your reactions to the originals and episode 1! Also, ignore what the internet have to say about Episode 2, 8 and 9, PLEASEEE form your own opinions it’s so good to see a fresh take

[@kaiielle]

Don't worry, I will be!

[@VergilArcanis]

the moment that second blade ignited is when we knew the prequels were going to be a different kind of beast entirely

[@bantusen7309]

The decoy was the one that stayed on the ship and "played" queen

[@scottaznavourian3720]

'I'm so nervous about this' Lol don't worry..

[@thereallyst]

You were correct, Natalie Portman is the queen. She would swap in and out. When she wanted to see things with her own eyes, she would swap to Padme. Kiera Knightly was her body guard and body double. She was not her only one though, she had many. Don't worry about being confused, Knightly's mom has stated that she would come on set and would get confused on which girl was her daughter, lol. Also, if you dive into the Disney+ shows I would suggest you watch Clone Wars and Rebels first to get the full and maximum enjoyment from them. They will bring in characters that you will have no idea who they are or the context, but will make happier when watching if you do. Keep up with the journey! It's a long and vast universe, lol

[@tektoniks_architects]

Fun fact: At the end party when they celebrate with the Supreme Chancellor present, the music you hear is a "joyful" version of the Emperor's Theme music from later episodes....foreshadowing what will come.

[@mem1701movies]

16:51 the stands were filled with Q tips painted different colors

[@magicbrownie1357]

Jar Jar is the most despised character in the Star Wars universe. But, to each, their own.

[@daltonio6001]

Jar Jar is the greatest character of all-time

[@kaiielle]

I can understand how a lot of adults would find him annoying. I appreciate some comedic relief in movies where a lot of serious things are happening. I still love 3PO more, though. 💛

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@kaiielle Jar Jar acts as a proxy character for children in the audience to help them understand the emotions and events present in the film. He's kind of fascinating actually- on the one hand he's a technological progression as he was one of the first proper digital characters in a live action film. On the other hand, he's a thematic regression that embodies childlike wonder through actions and comedy reminiscent of old Mickey mouse cartoons and Buster Keaton movies :)

[@keepinitkawaii]

@@kaiielle its sad, the actor who played Jar Jar was bullied so badly by many star wars fans that he went into hiding and even seriously contemplated suicide. I understand adults viewing him as "childish" and annoying but the fact that fans became so "sith like" with their hate and drove him into depression is pretty sad. I liked him as a kid which i think was the point of his character.

[@onemoreminute0543]

@@keepinitkawaii Yeah. I'd argue that this film was the first time the SW community had to deal with the toxicity that had become known as 'the fandom menace' :/

[@tking791]

Ah yes, time for the story of little orphan Ani. xD

[@crocdoctor7581]

Hi Kaiielle love the reactions and if you are wondering I could explain a little history between the Jedi and Sith to help you understand the backstory with those two without spoiling the movies if you are interested also remember fear leads to anger anger leads to hate hate leads to suffering and above all remember This is pod racing lol 😊

[@Juffington]

I am clearly a terrible star wars fan because I always thought Portman acted both roles and they just stitched the takes together. Oops. You mentioned Knightley and I was like "wait what? *runs off to IMDB* ....huh." I'm loving these reaction vids way too much, your engagement with the movies and the SW universe is so much fun to watch. :) Also, as an Australian: I'm sorry, you swear a lot? I....hadn't actually noticed.

[@kaiielle]

Now you learned something new!