Posted on 04/16/2019 4:14:31 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Jar Jar Binks is widely considered one of the weakest characters in the entire “Star Wars” franchise, but George Lucas doesn’t seem to care. In a pre-taped video message that aired during Star Wars Celebration ahead of the 20th anniversary panel for “The Phantom Menace,” Lucas once again surprised fans by naming the polarizing Jar Jar as his favorite “Star Wars” character of all time. A source of comic relief in “The Phantom Menace,” Jar Jar was inspired by Disney’s Goofy and made history as the first fully CGI character in a live-action movie.
“Thank you for coming to the Celebration,” Lucas said his introduction video. “[‘The Phantom Menace’] is one of my favorite movies and of course Jar Jar is my favorite character. Ahmed [Best], you did a fantastic job. It was very, very hard.”
Lucas continued. “Also for John Knoll and all the guys at ILM, I made it impossible for them. We broke a lot of ground. We were using test equipment but it was the beginning of digital, even though we didn’t get to shoot the whole thing digitally, we got to shoot part of it so it was really one of the first digital features and I’m very proud of that. The fans are always such a big part of these films and obviously those of you who are here are the fans of Episode 1 and I love each and every one of you.”
Ahmed Best was starring in a production of Stomp when he auditioned for Jar Jar Binks. The character earned a lot backlash from fans and critics after his debut in “The Phantom Menace,” so much so that Best became the target of cyberbullying and death threats. In a social media post published last summer, Best revealed the blowback he received for playing the character led him to contemplate suicide.
“Twenty years next year I faced a media backlash that still affects my career today,” Best wrote as the caption to a photo of himself and his son standing by a river. “This was the place I almost ended my life. It’s still hard to talk about. I survived and now this little guy is my gift for survival.”
Best went on to reprise Jar Jar in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” albeit in a smaller capacity and with much less screen time. “Phantom Menace” officially celebrates its 20th anniversary on May 19
I thought of JarJar as a modern, disguised, politically acceptable Step’n’Fetch-It.
GL once said he saw Jar Jar as his mirror.
I actually thought the movie was pretty good. I do agree with just about everyone about Jar Jar tho. Really stupid character.
Why did Padme keep him around?
RedLetterMedia said all that there is to say about George Lucas and the Star Wars series.
OMG, they are still there! Just Google Kill Jar Jar Binks!
Since the appearance of the Ewoks, the Star Wars franchise has been in an abusive relationship with its fans. While Phantom Menace was really awful, The Last Jedi is the worst yet, and I don’t even care about gravity bombs in space. The Jar Jar character has more depth than that of Rey, and she’s the star.
George is guilty of cultural appropriation and is therefore a racist.
Goofy? Maybe. But, as ultimately developed, Jar-Jar Binks reminds me most of Gilligan.
Raw sex appeal. Alien cultures, you know.
You make a good point, but think of this: What are Lucas’ greatest customers like, the ones who not only see the movie, but buy his merchandise?
Jar Jar
I’m so glad Disney owns SW now. At least Disney gets it that Jar Jar Binks stinks.
When I realized he was a total jerk was when he got angry at David Prowse for revealing that he got to show his face in Return of the Jedi and went back and reshot the scene with a different actor, so Prowse wouldn't have his face on screen. It was so much effort to be so petty.
Most irritating character.
At least Yoda knew how to handle a light saber.
That character almost ruined the franchise.
Yup, I read this too about the leftist bastard.
Too bad his story backfires on him. None of us has any notion that The Empire resembles the US at any time in history. It further doesn’t help that he fashioned The Empire on NAZI and Jap imagery.
Read Carrie Fisher’s book.
Something has been wrong with him from the start
Mmmm... Bounty Hunter #2.
Then Jar Jar.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortes is the Jar jar of the democrat party.
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