Adventure; Science Fiction; Fantasy; Coming of Age

Adventure

Like other entries in the Star Wars saga, The Phantom Menace is a family-friendly adventure story. We watch our heroes travel to various locations performing feats of bravado and battling villains that are card-carrying members of the Bad Guy Guild, proudly providing antagonists since time immemorial.

Since this a family film for all ages, there's never a sense that the heroes are in any real danger. Anakin races at speeds that should leave his podracer as a scorch mark on the canyon wall. And no matter how good Darth Maul is with a lightsaber, you know he'll never best Obi-Wan.

That's because, like any good adventure film, The Phantom Menace is a form of escapism. The obstacles and setbacks build the suspense, but ultimately you are free to enjoy the excitement because you know the heroes will be fine and everything will come up Milhouse.

Well… unless you were rooting for Qui-Gon, of course. Judging by the expression on his face, even he thought he was safe for the sequels.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

The film isn't really fantasy or science fiction. Instead, it's kind of like an edutainment game. You think you're playing a video game but then you realize it's really just gussied up homework. In the same way, you think Star Wars is science fiction… but dig a little deeper and you'll find the heart of a fantasy.

The setting is filled with space ships, sophisticated technology, and alien species, all the trappings of the science fiction genre. But the story doesn't target the typical tropes and themes of a science fiction film.

While brimming with technological advances and futuristic societies, it doesn't focus on the inner workings of either… nor does it use them to explore aspects of our own world. It also doesn't showcase human faculties like logic, reason, and inventiveness as the positive traits that the heroes use to win the day, all of which is typical in science fiction.

At its heart, The Phantom Menace is a fantasy. The story follows familiar fantasy plot points and tropes: a young man destined to be the chosen one, chivalrous knights protecting peace and justice, a series of adventures in foreign lands, and a dark presence that threatens the world. The story also focuses on concepts like destiny and belief in a supernatural force that is turning the wheels of fate. All themes and tropes more at home in the fantasy section.

As such, we're going to dub The Phantom Menace as "science fantasy," a genre that blends elements of science fiction and fantasy. Beneath an outer layer of science fiction makeup, you'll find a fantasy core.

Coming-of-Age

The Phantom Menace is also a coming-of-age story. Rather than focus on a single character's journey from childhood to adulthood, such as The Catcher in the Rye, the film focuses on the transition from one generation to the other. Obi-Wan grows from his experiences and his lessons under Qui-Gon, and at the film's conclusion, he's become a worthy successor to the Jedi knight.

Padmé has her own coming-of age-story, too. Inexperienced in politics, she naively trusts the political system to solve her problem, but it proves inefficient—largely thanks to the political scheming of one Mr. Evil Senator Palpatine. But through her experiences, she grows into a competent, capable ruler who personally leads the battle to free her people.

Finally, we have Anakin. Although his coming-of-age story isn't complete by the film's conclusion, we do see him begin to take the first steps toward his ultimate fate. He becomes a Padawan to Obi-Wan Kenobi and proves his courage in the Battle for Naboo… but his fear over losing his mother remains a potential danger for his future Jedi training.