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Jar Jar Binks



 
 
Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character
Fictional character

A character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a The arts. The process of conveying information about characters in fiction is called characterisation....
 from the Star Wars films The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 in film space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the first in terms of Dates in Star Wars....
, Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 in film space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales....
, Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 science fiction film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the sixth film released in the Star Wars wiktionary:saga and the third in terms of the series' Dates in Star Wars....
 and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a 2008 in film Computer-generated imagery animation science fiction film that follows the continuing adventures within the Star Wars universe....
. His primary role was intended to provide comic relief
Comic Relief

File:Comic Relief.svgComic Relief is a British charity organisation that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis in response to famine in Ethiopia....
. Jar Jar was voiced by Ahmed Best
Ahmed Best

Ahmed Best is a voice actor most famous for his role as Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , for which he was awarded a Golden Raspberry for Worst Supporting Actor at the 1999 Golden Raspberry Awards....
. He is almost completely computer generated. He is a Gungan
List of Star Wars races (F-J)

FalleenFalleen is race of generally light-green, though they can change the color and hue of their skin to convey emotional states and affect those of others, human-like reptilian people who come from world of Falleen in Midrim region....
 from the planet Naboo
Naboo

Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface....
.

shed from his childhood home of Gungan City for his clumsiness, the naïve Jar Jar is first encountered while living in the swamps of Naboo
Naboo

Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface....
.






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Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character
Fictional character

A character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a The arts. The process of conveying information about characters in fiction is called characterisation....
 from the Star Wars films The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 in film space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the first in terms of Dates in Star Wars....
, Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 in film space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales....
, Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 science fiction film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the sixth film released in the Star Wars wiktionary:saga and the third in terms of the series' Dates in Star Wars....
 and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a 2008 in film Computer-generated imagery animation science fiction film that follows the continuing adventures within the Star Wars universe....
. His primary role was intended to provide comic relief
Comic Relief

File:Comic Relief.svgComic Relief is a British charity organisation that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis in response to famine in Ethiopia....
. Jar Jar was voiced by Ahmed Best
Ahmed Best

Ahmed Best is a voice actor most famous for his role as Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , for which he was awarded a Golden Raspberry for Worst Supporting Actor at the 1999 Golden Raspberry Awards....
. He is almost completely computer generated. He is a Gungan
List of Star Wars races (F-J)

FalleenFalleen is race of generally light-green, though they can change the color and hue of their skin to convey emotional states and affect those of others, human-like reptilian people who come from world of Falleen in Midrim region....
 from the planet Naboo
Naboo

Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface....
.

Story


Episode I

Banished from his childhood home of Gungan City for his clumsiness, the naïve Jar Jar is first encountered while living in the swamps of Naboo
Naboo

Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface....
. In the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 in film space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the first in terms of Dates in Star Wars....
, Jedi
Jedi

The Jedi are members of a fictional Monasticism non-theistic order in the Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. They are known for their observance of Force , specifically the "light side" of the force, and the rejection of the "dark side" of the Force, as well as the dark side's adherents, the Sith....
 Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars fictional universe, portrayed by Liam Neeson in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of comic books, video games, and novels....
 and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars Star Wars galaxy. He is one of the protagonists in the Star Wars film series; along with Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in each of the six Star Wars films....
 arrive on Naboo, ending up in the swamps rather than the intended destination of the capital, Theed.

Qui-Gon Jinn saves Jar Jar's life as the Trade Federation
Trade Federation

The Trade Federation is a fictional organization in the Star Wars universe at the time of the Galactic Republic . It appears in the franchise's three prequel movies and the Star Wars Expanded Universe....
's droid army advances on Theed, and, as a result, Jar Jar explains that he owes Qui-Gon a life debt
Life debt

A life debt is a cultural phenomenon in which someone whose life is saved or spared by another becomes indebted or in some way connected to their savior....
 (implying that he is obligated to stay by Qui-Gon's side for the rest of his life, or until he is released). Jar Jar is later arrested by troops loyal to Boss Nass when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan visit Otoh Gunga, and Qui-Gon uses the excuse of this life debt to free Jar Jar from the custody of the Gungan Bosses.

Jar Jar travels with Qui-Gon's party to Tatooine
Tatooine

Tatooine is a setting for many key scenes in the Star Wars saga, and it appears in every Star Wars saga except The Empire Strikes Back. Since it is the home planet of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, it is also one of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars universe....
 and later Coruscant
Coruscant

Coruscant is a Planet in the Star Wars Star Wars galaxy. It first appeared on screen in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi#Special Edition , but was first mentioned in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire....
. It is on the latter planet that he informs Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala

Padm? Naberrie, better known as Padm? Amidala, is a fictional character in George Lucas's space opera saga Star Wars. She first appeared on film in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as the young queen of the planet Naboo....
 that the Gungans have a grand army (a term significant later in the Star Wars series - see Grand Army of the Republic), a contributory factor in her decision to return to Naboo and contest the Trade Federation's invasion militarily. After Qui-Gon and his party's return to Naboo, Jar Jar is instrumental in Padmé's brokering a deal with the Gungans for a joint attack on the Trade Federation's occupation forces, leading her and her allies to the Gungans' swamp hiding place. Throughout this ordeal, he befriends Anakin Skywalker
Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker is the protagonist in the Star Wars fictional universe. The Original trilogy and Prequel trilogy follow Anakin's rise as a vessel of The Force , his fall to the dark side, and his ultimate Redemption ....
, a nine-year-old human
Human

A human being, also human or man, is a member of a species of bipedalism primates in the family Hominidae . Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates that modern humans originated in east Africa about 200,000 years ago....
 whom Qui-Gon believes to be the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force
Force (Star Wars)

The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional Star Wars fictional universe, created by George Lucas. First mentioned in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, it is integral in all subsequent films in the series, as well as the Star Wars "Expanded Universe" of comic books, novels, and video games....
. As a result of bringing together the Naboo and the Gungans, Jar Jar reconciles with Boss Nass and is awarded the rank of Bombad General in the Gungan Grand Army. Jar Jar plays a role in the Battle of Naboo.

Many fans claim that Jar Jar is intended to provide comic relief
Comic Relief

File:Comic Relief.svgComic Relief is a British charity organisation that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis in response to famine in Ethiopia....
 throughout the film, including a number of battle scenes. For instance, Jar Jar accidentally sends a cart of explosive energy spheres into a group of enemy battle droids, which destroys a large number of them.

Episode II

Although he has much less screen time in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 in film space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales....
, Jar Jar plays a pivotal role in the narrative. As Representative Binks, he is a member of The Loyalist Committee. He is deputized by Padmé Amidala in the Galactic Senate, and subsequently manipulated by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Palpatine

Palpatine is a fictional character in George Lucas' science fiction saga Star Wars. Palpatine, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the Star Wars , is the main antagonist of the saga; he is introduced in the Original trilogy as the Emperor of the Galactic Empire , an aged, cowled and pale-faced figure, who rises to power in the Prequel...
 and his allies into proposing a bill to give Palpatine emergency powers, on the ostensible grounds that this is what Senator Amidala would do if she were present. These powers enable Palpatine to approve the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic and implicitly mark the beginning of Palpatine's gathering of authority towards his own office. Jar Jar's decision sets in motion the Clone Wars
Clone Wars (Star Wars)

The 'Clone Wars' are a series of fictional Star Wars galaxy battles in George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The conflict is first mentioned in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , but no details are given, and the wars themselves are not featured until the second and third episodes of the six-part Star Wars film series: St...
 and by extension, the creation of the Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)

The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the Star Wars fictional universe. It is a tyranny, Star Wars galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith....
.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series

Ahmed Best reprised his role as Jar Jar in episode 8 ("Bombad Jedi") of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series of 2008. The episode shows Jar Jar and C3PO accompanying Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala

Padm? Naberrie, better known as Padm? Amidala, is a fictional character in George Lucas's space opera saga Star Wars. She first appeared on film in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as the young queen of the planet Naboo....
 on a diplomatic mission to the planet of Rodia
Rodia

Rodia may refer to:* Rodia, Achaea in the Achaea prefecture*List of Star Wars planets #Rodia, a fictional planet in Star Wars...
 in an attempt to gain the support of the Rodians and sway them from the Separatists. Jar Jar puts on a found Jedi cloak which causes the Separatists to believe he's a Jedi. Jar Jar's use of the knowledge of the swamp gave him the ability to communicate with a sea-monster which helped the Republic to prevail in their task. Also, he is in a few other episodes.

Episode III

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 science fiction film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the sixth film released in the Star Wars wiktionary:saga and the third in terms of the series' Dates in Star Wars....
,
Jar Jar only has a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance

A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television....
. He is onscreen only twice. He is seen in the Senate Chambers with Padmé Amidala as the Emperor cements his power base. He is later seen at Padmé's funeral procession at the end of the film. He has no dialogue except for the phrase "excuse me", heard from a distance. Deleted scenes from the film, available on the DVD, portray him as a member of the Delegation of 2000, a Senatorial committee that later develops into the Rebel Alliance.

Controversy

Upon the release of The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar Binks became the subject of a great deal of media and popular attention, though not in the way his creators intended. Binks became symbolic of what many reviewers such as Brent Staples (New York Times), David Edelstein (Slate), and Eric Harrison (Los Angeles Times) considered to be inherent creative flaws of the film. The character was widely rejected and often ridiculed by sections of the series' hardcore fanbase, who felt that Jar Jar was clearly included in the film solely to appeal to children. One fan, Mike J. Nichols
Mike J. Nichols

Mike J. Nichols is an United States Film editing who was living in Santa Clarita, California, California, and was originally from Illinois.Nichols has become a cult hero of sorts as "The Phantom Editor" who created a re-cut of George Lucas' Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace known as The Phantom Edit....
, created and distributed free of charge a modified version of the film, entitled The Phantom Edit
The Phantom Edit

The Phantom Edit is a fan edit of the movie Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, removing elements of the original thought to be unsuccessful by some critics and long-time fans....
, which cut out most scenes featuring Jar Jar Binks. The character of Jar Jar Binks was also lampooned on an episode of the television show South Park
South Park

South Park is an United Statesn animation situation comedy, notorious for its toilet humour, surrealism, and often black comedy, which satirizes Subject matter in South Park including religion, politics, violence, abuse, sexuality, and mental disorder....
 entitled Jakovasaurs
Jakovasaurs

"'Jackovasaurus'" is the 35th episode of Comedy Central's List of animated television series South Park. It is a parody of the Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which had been released under a month before the episode aired, and it expresses how Parker and Stone felt "betrayed" as Star War...
 as well as the parody Star Wars episodes
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II

Robot Chicken: Star Wars II is a 2008 episode of the television comedy series Robot Chicken, and the sequel to the annie award winning Robot Chicken: Star Wars, airing as a one-off special during Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block on November 16, 2008....
 of Robot Chicken
Robot Chicken

Robot Chicken is an Emmy Award-winning United States stop motion list of animated television series created and Executive producer by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich....
. Both instances, Best reprised the role in voice-over form. Jar Jar was even presented as evidence of "Unintelligent design" in the book The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which includes the Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn't"s, is a text written by Bobby Henderson that is considered to embody the main beliefs of the Flying Spaghetti Monster , a religion created as a counter to Intelligent Design ....
.

Along with film critics, many fans have also objected to what is perceived as excessive commercialization
Commercialization

Commercialization is the process or cycle of introducing a new product into the market. The actual launch of a new product is the final stage of new product development, and the one where the most money will have to be spent for advertising, sales promotion, and other marketing efforts....
 directed at young children in the Star Wars series (a criticism first levelled with the introduction of Ewoks). Star Wars creator George Lucas
George Lucas

George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an Academy Award-nominated United States film director, film producer, screenwriter and chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd. He is best known for being the creator of the Epic film Sci-Fi franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones....
 stated that he feels there is a section of the fanbase who get upset with aspects of Star Wars because "The movies are for children but they don't want to admit that... There is a small group of fans that do not like comic sidekicks. They want the films to be tough like The Terminator
The Terminator

The Terminator is a 1984 in film Science fiction film/action film directed and co-written by James Cameron. It features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn....
, and they get very upset and opinionated about anything that has anything to do with being childlike."

Additionally, Rob Coleman, who was the lead on the Industrial Light & Magic animation team, warned Lucas that there was concern among the team that the character of Jar Jar was coming across poorly for the team and how the character was to be projected. Lucas told him that he especially put Jar Jar in the film to appeal to small children. After that, the issue was dropped.

Allegations of racial caricature

Joe Morgenstern of Wall Street Journal described the character as a "Rastafarian Stepin Fetchit
Stepin Fetchit

Stepin Fetchit was the stage name of American comedian and film actor Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry. Perry parlayed the Fetchit persona into a successful film career, eventually becoming a millionaire, the first black actor in history to do so....
 on platform hoofs, crossed annoyingly with Butterfly McQueen
Butterfly McQueen

Butterfly McQueen was an American actress.Originally a dancer, McQueen entered films in 1939 with roles in The Women and Gone with the Wind in which she played Prissy, Scarlett O'Hara's maid....
." Patricia J. Williams
Patricia J. Williams

Patricia J. Williams is a prominent law critic and a proponent of critical race theory, an offshoot of 1960s social movements that emphasizes Race as a fundamental determinant of the United States legal system....
 writes that many aspects of Jar Jar's character are highly reminiscent of the archetypes portrayed in blackface
Blackface

'Blackface', in the narrow sense is a style of theatre makeup that originated in the United States, used to take on the appearance of certain archetypes of Racism in the United States, especially those of the "happy-go-lucky List of ethnic slurs#D on the plantation#Slavery, para-slavery and plantations" or the "dandy List of ethnic slur...
 minstrelsy
Minstrel show

The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an United States entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety show acts, dance, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the American Civil War, blacks in blackface....
;, while others have suggested that the character is a "laid-back clown character" representing a black Caribbean stereotype..

External links

  • in the
  • at the Internet Movie Database
    Internet Movie Database

    The Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to film, actors, Television program, production crew personnel, video games, and most recently, fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media....