Star Wars question: Jar Jar Binks, do you love or hate the character?

[Donald Duck Family]

Hate.

 

[chickapin parterre]

son loved him and the only draw to the very complex addition to the saga...son had slippers, toys, bank, etc of binks.....I never saw a problem until I was told it was a problem ... did not know was even a social issue

 

[LuvOrlando]

When Jar Jar was toned down and given less screen time, he was fine. I agree that he wasn't a necessary character. Threepio and R2 were typically the comic relief, but I guess since Threepio was only a skinless, fledgling erector set in The Phantom Menace, they needed to fill the gaps with Binks?

Maybe Lucas thought he would keep children amused throughout? A good chunk of the prequels spent time on senate hearings, and you know how much the kids LOVE senate hearings.

I once saw some kind of film documentary discussing the making of the original Star Wars films. It struck me that Lucas and his wife during the time, Marcia Lucas, were a great team and that Marcia was really the only person who could tell the guy, "No." We just watched all the films in order and it's plain there is a cheesiness in the newer work that was obviously left of the floor in the first set. Not to say Lucas isn't amazing, he is, it's just that it seems he does better with her as his other half in creating the stories, her contribution created an authenticity. Visionaries can veer too far into their own heads and usually benefit from some down to earth criticism. No doubt, it's impossible to tell a guy like George Lucas that a thing doesn't work but his work was better with that influence. I doubt Marcia would have let the writers and film time be devoted to Jar Jar rambling on. I bet if they could rebuild a working relationship the sparks would reignite, much like Elton John and Bernie Taupin...some talent just demands it's other half.

 

[Mysterian]

I once saw some kind of film documentary discussing the making of the original Star Wars films. It struck me that Lucas and his wife during the time, Marcia Lucas, were a great team and that Marcia was really the only person who could tell the guy, "No." We just watched all the films in order and it's plain there is a cheesiness in the newer work that was obviously left of the floor in the first set. Not to say Lucas isn't amazing, he is, it's just that it seems he does better with her as his other half in creating the stories, her contribution created an authenticity. Visionaries can veer too far into their own heads and usually benefit from some down to earth criticism. No doubt, it's impossible to tell a guy like George Lucas that a thing doesn't work but his work was better with that influence. I doubt Marcia would have let the writers and film time be devoted to Jar Jar rambling on. I bet if they could rebuild a working relationship the sparks would reignite, much like Elton John and Bernie Taupin...some talent just demands it's other half.

That sounds familiar. I know Marcia Lucas was editor on the original trilogy and more (Taxi Driver as well!), I can see where her judgements as an editor came in to play on George's ideas. Editors likely have to stand back and place themselves as an audience member when looking at footage, and George probably wasn't directing from that stand point with the prequels. He definitely had so much clout that enabled him to both have the means to make the movie he wanted to make, but also surround himself with those who would be too reluctant to contend with his decisions. Not unlike Elvis, Howard Hughes, Michael Jackson...

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

MOST ANNOYING CHARACTER OF ALL TIME!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I once saw some kind of film documentary discussing the making of the original Star Wars films. It struck me that Lucas and his wife during the time, Marcia Lucas, were a great team and that Marcia was really the only person who could tell the guy, "No."

Marcia saved the first Star Wars in the edit. The reason Empire and ROTJ were as good as they were was that somebody else directed those two movies. Although Marcia was also an uncredited editor for both of those as well.

 

[tvguy]

Love Jar Jar. He saved the Star Wars franchise. He was my Facebook profile picture for several year.

 

[bcla]

Kind of reminded me of Snarf from SnarfQuest.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Marcia saved the first Star Wars in the edit. The reason Empire and ROTJ were as good as they were was that somebody else directed those two movies. Although Marcia was also an uncredited editor for both of those as well.

Like so many of the he-man age she was relegated to behind the scenes, countless female scientists and poets have been ignored as well, it's not really a groundbreaking revelation that it was a thing. Wonder what she's up to? It would be awesome to see her run one of the newer high end Star Wars projects (meaning NOT a small potatoes vanity project) I bet lifelong fans would recognize her flare and style.... there was a charm to the work.

Jar Jar struck me as a grab for a soft character to replace Chewbacca but it didn't land while Grogu did, with a 10.

 

[ICF]

Hate.....

I dont hate what Lucas was trying to do but so much of the attempts to make him funny, were just over the top stupid.

 

[LenSnark]

As @BadPinkTink mentioned, there's a weird theory that I enjoy that says he was going to be a Sith Lord and that would have been interesting. As it was, he was just a bumbling clod that was the worst thing about Episode One. I get why people liked him if they were younger when they saw it though. The rest of the prequels were good/great.

 

[Boopuff]

I just re-watched the entire series. Jar Jar was annoying his first appearance, but it was blissfully toned down for his follow-up as senator.

 

[BrianL]

How is it that everything bad about Star Wars is laid at Georg Lucas's feet and everything good happened despite him? None of it even exists without his genius vision! George can do it all, and his work is nothing short of spectacular.

Actually, honestly, to me, there is nothing bad about Star Wars!