Way back when the title for Episode I was revealed, I was one of the people who went, "Huh? That's it? We waited twenty years for that?" (Ok, I didn't wait twenty years, because I was only about thirteen at the time, but you know what I mean.) It just didn't seem as Star Warsy, or as impressive, or as something than the titles of the original three films.

It grew on me, though, especially after watching the movie a few times, thinking it over, and finally seeing it in the context of the whole hexology. It captures the main point of the movie perfectly: there is an unkown, elusive threat in the galaxy. It neatly parallels the title of Episode IV: A New Hope opens a trilogy where the "hope" (probably Luke, or Luke and Leia, or the whole group of heroes) eventually saves the galaxy, and The Phantom Menace opens a trilogy where the "menace" (Palpatine, or the Sith in general, or the dark side, or maybe even Anakin) eventually plunges the galaxy into the dark times of the Empire. It also beautifully sums up the two representatives of the dark side in the movie: Darth Maul is menacing, and Darth Sidious is a phantom, almost visible and yet never quite there, as if he's a mirage, or a ghost...or doesn't exist at all...

I've completely reversed my opinion over the years: the title is very Star Warsy and plenty impressive. It's a brilliant title.