The Phantom Menace/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions

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* Why isn't the Naboo Queen's Cruiser Armed? Yes, the Naboo want to show they're peaceful, but in galaxy full of crooks it seems stupid. Furthermore, why didn't the fighter pilots pilot the fighters in the beginning? Why did they go in the Queen's cruiser?
* Why isn't the Naboo Queen's Cruiser Armed? Yes, the Naboo want to show they're peaceful, but in galaxy full of crooks it seems stupid. Furthermore, why didn't the fighter pilots pilot the fighters in the beginning? Why did they go in the Queen's cruiser?
** "Galaxy full of crooks"? What? The Queen's ship isn't armed because it's not a warship. Same reason Air Force One isn't armed. It's not made for fighting, it's made for transporting the queen. An armed ship is even ''more'' of a target.
** "Galaxy full of crooks"? What? The Queen's ship isn't armed because it's not a warship. Same reason Air Force One isn't armed. It's not made for fighting, it's made for transporting the queen. An armed ship is even ''more'' of a target.
** Space is huge-[[Sci Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale|even if it is a bit smaller in Star Wars.]] The #1 way of surviving a conflict is by running away, ''far'' away, not fighting back. Remember, that was almost the entire plot of ''Empire Strikes Back.'' Fighting back is only feasible when you can't run away for some reason, and the monarchs of Naboo never foresaw a situation where they, the rulers of a [[Shrinking Violet]], out-of-the-way, almost rural world would be targeted for immediate annihilation in the midst of an engine failure. You may call that shortsighted, but only hindsight is 20/20, and according to the [[Expanded Universe]], Naboo's rulers and people became much more paranoid and militant after the invasion. Notice that ''Senator'' Amidala is escorted by two fighters at the beginning of [[Aot C]]. I'm guessing that the Cruiser probably got some "upgrades" in that timeframe, too.
** Space is huge-[[Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale|even if it is a bit smaller in Star Wars.]] The #1 way of surviving a conflict is by running away, ''far'' away, not fighting back. Remember, that was almost the entire plot of ''Empire Strikes Back.'' Fighting back is only feasible when you can't run away for some reason, and the monarchs of Naboo never foresaw a situation where they, the rulers of a [[Shrinking Violet]], out-of-the-way, almost rural world would be targeted for immediate annihilation in the midst of an engine failure. You may call that shortsighted, but only hindsight is 20/20, and according to the [[Expanded Universe]], Naboo's rulers and people became much more paranoid and militant after the invasion. Notice that ''Senator'' Amidala is escorted by two fighters at the beginning of [[Aot C]]. I'm guessing that the Cruiser probably got some "upgrades" in that timeframe, too.
** Considering how good Padme was with a blaster plus the fighter pilots this troper has serious doubts on Naboo's alleged pacifism.
** Considering how good Padme was with a blaster plus the fighter pilots this troper has serious doubts on Naboo's alleged pacifism.
** Being able to defend yourself doesn't mean you're not pacifistic. Pacifism means you don't go starting fights, but a nation/planet ''needs'' an army to defend itself.
** Being able to defend yourself doesn't mean you're not pacifistic. Pacifism means you don't go starting fights, but a nation/planet ''needs'' an army to defend itself.
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** They probably don't want people asking too many questions. A large group of foreigners, most from a very high class background, looking for transport can attract the wrong sort of attention, especially in a system of planets run enitrely by an intergalactic mafia clan. Not to mention that Mos Eisley is a spaceport, but not neccesarily Mos Espa (or whatever Anakins homeplace was called). There doesn't seem to be as much evidence of space travel as there was there, and most of the ships owned are probably private. No, there are no space taxis or buses, at least not in that crime-infested desert planet in the galaxy's Outer Rim, so they would have to barter with some very unsavoury or untrustworthy people, who are probably spied on all the time. Besides all that, thats probably what they would have resorted to, but they have a chance to get away on their own ship, so why not take it?
** They probably don't want people asking too many questions. A large group of foreigners, most from a very high class background, looking for transport can attract the wrong sort of attention, especially in a system of planets run enitrely by an intergalactic mafia clan. Not to mention that Mos Eisley is a spaceport, but not neccesarily Mos Espa (or whatever Anakins homeplace was called). There doesn't seem to be as much evidence of space travel as there was there, and most of the ships owned are probably private. No, there are no space taxis or buses, at least not in that crime-infested desert planet in the galaxy's Outer Rim, so they would have to barter with some very unsavoury or untrustworthy people, who are probably spied on all the time. Besides all that, thats probably what they would have resorted to, but they have a chance to get away on their own ship, so why not take it?
* Why is the disguised Padme using her real name? In the following movies, she is referred to as "Padme" and "Senator Amidala." But she freely admits while she's supposed to be playing the handmaiden that her name is Padme. Anybody in the United States knows that "Barack" is President Obama's first name; while the Jedi and Jar Jar may or may not have known the queen's first name, it seems really stupid to just go around telling people her name is Padme.
* Why is the disguised Padme using her real name? In the following movies, she is referred to as "Padme" and "Senator Amidala." But she freely admits while she's supposed to be playing the handmaiden that her name is Padme. Anybody in the United States knows that "Barack" is President Obama's first name; while the Jedi and Jar Jar may or may not have known the queen's first name, it seems really stupid to just go around telling people her name is Padme.
** Some supplemental materials indicate that while disguised as a handmaiden, she goes by her real name, "Padme Naberrie", rather than her more widely-known royal name, "Padme Amidala" (presumably, the ceremonial title is held for life, which is why people still call her "Senator Amidala" when she isn't the Queen anymore). So, she at least made an effort to disguise her name, even if it was a pretty flimsy one. Maybe "Padme" is just a common first name in the Star Wars universe. It could be somewhat akin to President [[George W Bush]] going by the fake name "George W. Smith". Having the first name "George" wouldn't be a big cause for suspicion.
** Some supplemental materials indicate that while disguised as a handmaiden, she goes by her real name, "Padme Naberrie", rather than her more widely-known royal name, "Padme Amidala" (presumably, the ceremonial title is held for life, which is why people still call her "Senator Amidala" when she isn't the Queen anymore). So, she at least made an effort to disguise her name, even if it was a pretty flimsy one. Maybe "Padme" is just a common first name in the Star Wars universe. It could be somewhat akin to President [[George W. Bush]] going by the fake name "George W. Smith". Having the first name "George" wouldn't be a big cause for suspicion.
* So the heroes are going to the massive battle, all prepared... and they take Anakin with them... okay... why? Qui-Gon does say "watch me fight" as non-training "training" but then his first command is to hide and therefore not be able to see any of the Jedi skills. They don't send the kid Jedis out to fight do they? They can defend themselves (like in the third one) but that's no reason to bring an untrained kid into a war zone. Then again, Qui-Gon has been making odd choices throughout the whole film... but really? Nobody questioned bringing a child to a war zone!
* So the heroes are going to the massive battle, all prepared... and they take Anakin with them... okay... why? Qui-Gon does say "watch me fight" as non-training "training" but then his first command is to hide and therefore not be able to see any of the Jedi skills. They don't send the kid Jedis out to fight do they? They can defend themselves (like in the third one) but that's no reason to bring an untrained kid into a war zone. Then again, Qui-Gon has been making odd choices throughout the whole film... but really? Nobody questioned bringing a child to a war zone!
** As much as I hate to defend anything about this movie, this is probably the one thing that didn't really bother me. Think about it for a moment: What should they have done with the kid? Left him in the Jedi Temple, with a bunch of stodgy old-heads that don't want him there? With Palpatine, who is busy gearing up for his campaign to be elected chancellor (and being secretly evil)? Or on the starship, which was found within minutes of their arrival? Or maybe with the gungans, who are about to make a suicidal charge against an enemy they know full well they can't defeat?
** As much as I hate to defend anything about this movie, this is probably the one thing that didn't really bother me. Think about it for a moment: What should they have done with the kid? Left him in the Jedi Temple, with a bunch of stodgy old-heads that don't want him there? With Palpatine, who is busy gearing up for his campaign to be elected chancellor (and being secretly evil)? Or on the starship, which was found within minutes of their arrival? Or maybe with the gungans, who are about to make a suicidal charge against an enemy they know full well they can't defeat?
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