Question: Why did the whole concept of "Midichlorians" introduced in this film anger so many Star Wars fans? I'm not a huge Star Wars fan myself, but I've heard nothing but hate for them.
Chosen answer: Because it took a magical, mystical, and mysterious concept and reduced it to a blood-borne chemical.
Question: Is the young green alien who is cheering on Anakin at the pod races the same one who confronts Han Solo in Episode 4?
Answer: Technically it wasn't, but during principal photography of the movie, it indeed was meant to be the same creature (Greedo). In one of the deleted scenes, the green alien picks a fight with Anakin, accusing him of cheating to win the pod race. Qui-gon warns young Greedo that he'll get into trouble if he keeps picking fights, and sure enough, he is blasted to pieces by Han Solo in Episode IV (again, that was the original plan). However, since the scene never made it into the movie, we are just left to assume it's an alien of the same race.
Answer: No his name is Wald, and he is of the same race. The deleted scene shows them together, but the Wald says be careful or one day you'll get yours.
Question: Had Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan been able to both survive and defeat Maul, would this mean Sidious would not be able to manipulate Anakin anymore? Or would the Sith Lord have simply tried a different plan, besides emotional manipulation, to try to trick an Anakin trained under Qui-Gon into the dark side?
Answer: I don't think his plans would change. Qui-Gon is just another Jedi Master training Anakin, nothing much different because Obi-Wan was trained by him as well, after all. Plus, Qui-Gon much more believes Anakin is the chosen one, so he would probably allow Anakin a lot more than Obi-Wan would, including his relationships with Palpatine and Padme, which both are more important for Anakin's switch to the dark side.
I (not who submitted the question) wonder if Palpatine actually wanted Darth Maul to be killed by Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, or both. It seems like he mostly trained Maul to fight. Maul seemed to know little about the plotting, scheming, and political dealings. Dooku was capable in those areas, and was skilled at fighting. He was probably more useful while Palpatine waited to turn Anakin.
Not sure about that. I think he genuinely thought Darth Maul was properly trained to defeat Jedi. I don't think Palpatine planned ahead in terms of apprentices, except Anakin. But Darth Maul was before he knew Anakin. I don't think Sith are easy to find either, so Palpatine needed Maul for a lot of things more than just kill Jedi. It is too convenient however that every apprentice he had served his plans perfectly. Because I don't see Maul lead the separatists.
I was under the impression that Palpatine knew about Anakin ever since Shmi was chosen to be Anakin's mother. I might be wrong. This is an interesting discussion, though - I appreciate your response. Some think that Maul had limited use of the Force and was more of a trained assassin. But, if that were true, why call him a Sith apprentice? As you say, it's hard to imagine him being a Separatist leader.
I do not have any knowledge regarding any books written or other sources that might be considered canon, as have been mentioned in other comments here recently. My knowledge is purely the movies. As per the movies, Palpatine only learned of Anakin after the Battle of Naboo.
Question: Why does Darth Maul have almost no dialogue?
Answer: Probably because Ray Park, who portrayed Darth Maul, was not a professional actor, but a martial arts expert and stuntman who was recruited for the film. Another actor, Peter Serafinowicz, voiced what little dialogue there was.
Answer: The comment by RayWest is a good possible behind-the-scenes reason. Also, I think Darth Maul had been raised by Palpatine/Darth Sidious from a young age, unless that is no longer canon. Unlike Vader and Tyranus, who join Sidious as adults, Maul has almost no interests nor associations with others. He is focused on serving his master because it's all he knows. This could be why he says very little to others - he has no desire, nor much knowledge, about how to interact with them. But again, I am not sure exactly what is canon now.
Question: What exactly was the Federation treaty (main subject of the movie)?
Answer: The treaty would have been an agreement between the Trade Federation and the Sovereign Planet Naboo that would have in effect legitimized the invasion of Naboo. The actual content of the treaty itself has never been elaborated upon, however it is clear that it would have given the Trade Federation substantial control over Naboo. Padme goes to the Senate to argue that the invasion of Naboo is an illegal act (it is) but the Senate is unmoved by her testimony and defers action until they can determine if an invasion has even taken place.
Question: How exactly is the level of Jedi knight different to padawan learner apart from having a padawan of their own?
Chosen answer: A padawan is an apprentice Jedi. They are still learning and haven't mastered the skills needed to go out on their own. Once a padawan has passed the trials, a series of tests designed to test the Jedi against what they will face in the universe, they can receive a promotion to knight. Knights are able to be sent out on missions alone. Padawans are not.
Question: I read that Qui-Gon was never offered a seat on the council but why? He seems old enough.
Chosen answer: Obi-Wan implies Qui Gon's idealism and rebellious nature keep him from being offered a seat on the council. Kenobi specifically brings this up when Qui Gon states that he will defy the council and train Anakin himself. Apparently not following orders is somewhat common for Qui Gon.
Question: Hypothetically speaking, if Amidala did sign the treaty, how would that affect later events eventually leading up to the establishment of the Galactic Empire?
Answer: In the long run, nothing would have changed. A war would still break out between the Republic and CIS, leading to Palpatine gaining power and subsequently becoming Emperor. The specifics may change, but the long-term outcome would not. It would, however, cause Amidala to not meet Anakin, and subsequently he would not become Darth Vader in an attempt to save her.
Question: When Darth Maul is revealed after the door opens in the final battle at Naboo, Qui-Gon says "we'll handle this", to which Padme replies back "we'll take the long way", and leaves with her royal guards. Why couldn't they just stay and help Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and just all fire at Darth Maul, killing him? This also seems to occur in Episode III, just before the droid army on Utapau fire at Obi-Wan, Grevious stops them and says "I'll deal with this Jedi side myself." Even in Episode VI, before Vader goes to fight Obi-Wan one last time, he could've just called in a squad of troopers to come help him, but decides to go do it alone. Why is it that throughout the course of the trilogy, Jedi and Sith always decide to fight their opponents alone, when they could just have an automatic kill with their backup?
Answer: Because Jedi usually want to avoid the risk of their allies/friends being injured in the course of a fight. Darth Maul and Grevious were both skilled fighters who could have easily dodged lightsaber swipes or blaster bolts, and might have taken out a few people before being defeated (or escaping). As for the incident between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan, it was very personal. Vader wanted to destroy his former teacher, who he felt had betrayed him in the past.
Question: When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arrive on Tatooine they feel a disturbance in the force. Is this due to The Sith Lord or Anakin?
Answer: Most likely it was Anakin's presence, as Darth Maul arrived on Tatooine after Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
Question: What happened to Anakin Skywalker's father?
Chosen answer: According to his mother, there was no father; Anakin was conceived through the Force itself. Expanded Universe materials suggest that this occurred either as part of or as a consequence of Sith experiments carried out by Darth Plagueis, with the intent of creating the ultimate Sith apprentice.
Question: Who/what exactly is The Phantom Menace?
Chosen answer: The return of the Sith. In this case Phantom is refering to invisibility/unseen.
Question: Does Darth Maul have any unique, personal reasons for hating the Jedi, or does he only hate them because Sidious has raised him to?
Answer: Maul was raised by Sidious since he was a young child. He only knew the Dark Side of the Force and its properties - anger, hatred, fear. He would be the equivalent of someone raised by a devoted Nazi: not knowing anything else, he would hate Jews.
Question: I noticed the number twenty thousand was mentioned twice (Anakin's midi-chlorian count and the amount of money that Qui-gon has while on Tattooine). Is there any trivia/meaning behind it?
Answer: Nope, it's just a coincidence, and not even a particularly good one as Anakin's midi-chlorian count is stated as being "over twenty thousand" rather than the exact number.
Question: I don't understand why Darth Maul talks about having revenge in this movie or why Episode III is called "Revenge of the Sith". I thought the original group of Sith all killed each other. I know that they want to destroy the Jedi, but how is that getting revenge for anything in particular?
Answer: The Sith and Jedi have been at war for millenia. Yes, there's always been infighting among the Sith as well, but the fact remains that their primary enemy has always been the Jedi. The Sith have been forced to hide away, working in the shadows, for a thousand years, because they lacked the power to eliminate the Jedi. Now, finally, they're in a position to do so. What else would you call it but revenge?
Question: What is the awesome music being played while Qui-Gon Obi-Wan and Darth Maul are fighting? It is played during lightsaber duels in Episodes 2 and 3 as well.
Chosen answer: The song is called "Duel of the Fates". Incidentally, the words being sung are Sanskrit. John Williams chose them purely for the way they sound and their meanings, whatever they are, are completely irrelevant to the song or the events.
Question: I once heard a sound file, on a website, of Darth Maul talking about fear. Was this part of a deleted scene?
Answer: "Fear. Fear attracts the fearful... the strong... the weak... the innocent... the corrupt. Fear. Fear is my ally." That was part of the promotional campaign for Episode I - there was a tone poem for the main characters, and that was Darth Maul's. They were just used for television ads, but are on the DVD.
Question: Why do Darth Sidious and Nute Gunray care about getting the queen's signature on the treaty? Nute already allowed the Trade Federation to be on the planet illegally, so why doesn't the Federation just continue their occupation whether the treaty gets signed or not?
Answer: They can continue their occupation, but, without compliance from the elected head of state of Naboo, that occupation is illegal, and thus could face opposition from the Senate, leading to potential sanctions, up to and potentially including a military response to remove them. With Amidala's signature on the treaty, bringing Naboo into the Trade Federation properly, their occupation of the planet becomes entirely legal, allowing them to continue unhindered by Senate sanctions.
Chosen answer: Obi-Wan used it until he made himself a new one. Then it was presumably turned over to the Jedi Temple.
Greg Dwyer