Film: The Phantom Menace When: As the Trade Federation invades Naboo's capital. No single image better sums up George Lucas' intentions for Episode I than the invasion of Theed - a classical, ornate society invaded by impersonable, mechanical robots, with imagery reminiscent of historical occupations. The sense of scale - the city stretches off into the distance and the various style of droid troops pour in from offscreen - hammer home the size of the military attack. Yes, it's from the prequels, but ignoring that it's motivated by taxation and how feebly the invading forces were ultimately defeated it's a pretty striking image.
