Ahmed Best on Star Wars and How Michael Jackson Wanted to Play Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace!

Jar JarIn an interview with Vice, actor Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in the Prequel Trilogy, revealed some really interesting and rarely known facts about the movies. One particularly interesting bit was, Michael Jackson being keen on playing Jar Jar in prosthetics and make up in The Phantom Menace. Read on for more details…

 

 

From Vice:

 

In a Reddit interview, you mentioned that Michael Jackson originally wanted to play the role of Jar Jar Binks. Was that a joke?

 
That’s what George told me. Me, Natalie Portman, and George’s kids—we were at Wembley arena at Michael Jackson’s concert. We were taken backstage and we met Michael. There was Michael and Lisa Marie [Presley]. George introduced me as “Jar Jar” and I was like, That’s kind of weird. Michael was like, “Oh. OK.” I thought, What is going on? After Michael had driven off, we all go back up to a big afterparty. I’m having a drink with George and I said, “Why did you introduce me as Jar Jar?” He said, “Well, Michael wanted to do the part but he wanted to do it in prosthetics and makeup like ‘Thriller.'” George wanted to do it in CGI. My guess is ultimately Michael Jackson would have been bigger than the movie, and I don’t think he wanted that.

 

binks-and-lloyd

When was the first time you can remember being genuinely hurt by the negative reactions to Jar Jar Binks?

 
It didn’t happen until the New York press junkets. The first person who kind of gave me an idea of where it was going was a writer from The New York Post. I didn’t really think much about it because I always felt like the The New York Post was a paper that fed off of that type of energy, that type of negativity. Growing up in New York you know which papers give you the news and which papers give you the gossip and the Post was definitely heavier on the gossip side than anything else. But I was really surprised that everyone picked up on that afterwards. It’s a very American thing to take somebody down when they’re at the top and a lot if it had to with that; people really wanted to see George crash and burn.

 

Unfortunately, this character was so new, so experimental; he became a lightning rod for all that. It was me, and it was [original Anakin Skywalker] Jake Lloyd who took a lot of the heat for the movie. Fortunately, I was in my 20s. I wasn’t eight years-old like Jake, who I think took it worse. Jake had it far worse than me. I’m a 20-year-old from from the Bronx; I’ve seen and I’ve done things that were a lot harder than criticism in that newspaper. Although it hurt me emotionally and it was hard to take at the time, it wasn’t debilitating for me. I just put my shoes on and went back to work. But Jake had a difficult time.

 

Best & Lucas

Recently, you put up an instagram post that suggested Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones was going to be called Jar’s Jar’s Big Adventure. Can you elaborate, please?

 
[Laughs] That was the first script that we all got when we go to Sydney. It was [George’s] joke because he knew it going to leak to the press. That was George’s kind of middle finger to the whole, “everybody hates Jar Jar” thing.

Speaking of new, you said haven’t spoken to J.J. Abrams about the Star Wars: The Force Awakens, correct?

 
Nope. Nor would I, really.

 

Abrams recently joked that he wanted to include you in the film, possibly a shot of your bones lying in the sand. If he did reach out what you be at all interested?

 
No, I’m good. I had my experience, I did my thing. Now, it’s for a brand new generation. It’s for John Boyega [one of the stars of The Force Awakens]. I’m done with it. I’ve really resolved myself to being done. I’m OK with that.

 

 

For the full interview go to Vice.com

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

147 thoughts on “Ahmed Best on Star Wars and How Michael Jackson Wanted to Play Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace!

  • July 24, 2015 at 2:57 pm
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    No prosthetics required 🙂

  • July 24, 2015 at 3:23 pm
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    WOW, i can only imagine what ep1 would be like with Michael, would he have been loved or hated??? They would probably not be able to keep it secret that it was Michael playing JarJar, so it is very weird to think of Michael as the most hated star wars character , but then again, maybe he would have been loved if it was Michael & done with prostethics… Me myself never had any trouble with JarJar, it is like in real life, there will always be annoying people & star wars is the most beilivable sci-fi universe, so i have no problem with him being annoying (maybe we got to many cool characters in the OT & JarJar was the first really irritating character???)

    • July 24, 2015 at 3:28 pm
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      Agree, and my 5 year old kid loves Jar Jar. 🙂

    • July 24, 2015 at 3:40 pm
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      Totally agree with you, my kids love Jar Jar and I have always felt that was his purpose, to help a new generation fall in love with star wars. Its just unfortunate some people took their hate for Jar Jar way to far

      • July 24, 2015 at 3:56 pm
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        I loved Big Bird when I was a kid. I’m not watching Sesame Street anymore. The OT (ewoks aside) had characters that were appealing to kids and you were able to grow up with them and discover some of the more mature nuanced aspects of their character. Jar Jar had no layers, he was a one-note slapstick cartoon, that’s it.

        I have 2 boys that also liked Jar Jar when they were small, now they make fun of him. You don’t create a character just for kids, but rather one that has kid appeal and one that you can grow up with and appreciate on a different level as an adult. Pixar is a master at this. Lucas failed at this with Jar Jar.

        • July 24, 2015 at 5:25 pm
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          This. Also There’s what I like to call the Barney effect. Everyone liked Barney the Dinosaur as a small child. But as you grew older, you desperately want to distance yourself from “baby stuff.” In grade school I convinced myself I always hated Barney and constantly made fun of him.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:33 pm
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            Yes, teens and young adults lash out at things they view as being too childish. Most of us outgrow this.

            Im afraid some of these grown men still spewing hatred at an animated character 17 years latet might have some serious emotional problems.

          • July 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm
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            This is more character analysis, storytelling 101 then spewing hatred. Seems like your the one that hasn’t let it go.

          • July 25, 2015 at 5:29 pm
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            I’ve seen reasonable criticism now and then, but if you are suggesting that nobody spews hatred about this you aren’t paying attention…or more likely you are bending the facts to support your own opinion.

          • July 25, 2015 at 10:30 pm
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            You responded to someone who was giving an analysis of why the character didn’t work by saying they were “spewing hatred”. Don’t let past arguments influence your responses, or you might end up being the one starting the hate fest.

            And stop it already with assuming you know people’s motives for commenting. It’s annoying and juvenile.

          • July 25, 2015 at 10:35 pm
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            Don’t waste your time with this tauntaun poster. He’s trying to get under your skin.

        • July 24, 2015 at 8:03 pm
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          This sounds like Gen X (and older) PT hating, vocal-and-loud-to-get-a-point-across, OT fanboy talk…

          • July 24, 2015 at 8:31 pm
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            The backlash to the backlash is becoming more tiresome than the backlash.

          • July 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm
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            Bantha Voodoo, shut up. I was 8 when I saw The Phantom Menace and when u first saw Jar-Jar he seemed okay, but as the movie dragged on he got more and more annoying. Even at that age I could tell there was something wrong with the film when compared to other good films and the original SW trilogy. I’m considered a Millennial and I hate Jar Jar and the Prequels. Why? Because they are simply shit. That’s the bottom line. Jar Jar is simply shit. This isn’t a Gen X thing. So stop generalizing all the PT haters as being Gen Xers because I know a lot of people my age that hate the movies too.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:07 pm
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            Stop presenting your opinion as fact.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:22 pm
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            Also, if you were 8 when TPM was released that would put you in your mid-twenties right now and your response to a person disagreeing with you about a movie is “shut up”? On top of that you don’t know the difference between an opinion and a fact?

            You have the emotional maturity of a middle schooler. I hope you aren’t really in your mid-twenties.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:44 pm
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            I’m 28 and it’s funny that you’re talking about maturity when it comes to talking about Star Wars, a franchise meant for youth and young people. Perhaps it’s you that is lacking maturity. I bet I’m much more respected in society than you’ll ever be (from opinions to everything else about me); you’re just another keyboard warrior emanating stupid amounts of nerdrage.

          • July 25, 2015 at 4:17 am
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            Thanks sport, have fun with all that respect you get!

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:26 pm
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            1. I’m generalizing because I’m right and you’re wrong.

            2. I doubt you’re a Millennial (I bet you’re lying at you’re actually a Gen X’er but trying to deceive me). A Milennial doesn’t talk this way about the PT (in terms of hating it). Jar Jar is a different story but a level-headed Millennial wouldn’t be hating on the PT. This is a fact.

            Nice try but I’m onto your lying.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:42 pm
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            I myself am a millennial and I never cared for the prequels. To lump a whole generation into PT loving/hating is quite the falsehood. Younger generations like boring, plot hole filled, junk. Apparently according to you. You accusing another person of being older proofs nothing in the end regardless if it’s true or not.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:49 pm
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            “I myself am a millennial and I never cared for the prequels. To lump a whole generation into PT loving/hating is quite the falsehood. Younger generations like boring, plot hole filled, junk. Apparently according to you. You accusing another person of being older proofs nothing in the end regardless if it’s true or not.”

            Nah, it’s actually factual, not falsehood. And yes, me generalizing older people does prove what I’m accusing them of.

          • July 25, 2015 at 12:36 pm
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            I don’t think i’m fully on board with the Gen x/ Millennial stuff. If I was born in 1990, so I was 9 when the phantom menace came out am I Gen x or Millennial?
            anyway its probably due to experiences, like I saw all the original star wars films before I saw the PT,I was really into starwars at like age 5 or something, so I guess I have more in common with the non-millennials than the millennials.

            Anyway, I think whilst nothing in the universe is certain, and when you get right down to it there isn’t even such a thing as a ‘fact’ The prequel films can be hated by all ages (as well as loved). I enjoyed episodes I and III growing up. but compared to Cinema as a whole, they’re not special. They were visually groundbreaking but everything else about them was unoriginal and unauthentic (coruscant is blade runner).

            George wasn’t just ripping off Kurosawa (as he did with IV) he was also ripping himself off, as in, self parodying,and allowing himself to build a trilogy out of ‘bigger, better, more’ Some people like that, people love Transformers. y’know, but its all done, it happened, sequels like that don’t add anything new to Cinema (and I think the sequel trilogy may just be the same but in reverse, as in, just unoriginal homage to the original movies).

            The Original star wars addressed real human themes, I don’t think there is anything human about the PT. Anakin is not a human character and neither is Obi wan. they’re dead films.

          • July 28, 2015 at 1:13 am
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            nerds nerds.

            you’re both dbags.

            #promise

          • July 27, 2015 at 9:14 am
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            I 1000% agree man, was a year or so older than you at most and I felt the *exact* same thing. There will be all this simple back and forth argument comments but this digs at the heart of a lot of feels from people our age regarding the PT. Plus, after episode 1 i was like its ok 2 and 3 will propely join them and be better….. >_<

          • July 24, 2015 at 8:40 pm
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            Millenial here.

            Everything you said was wrong.

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:28 pm
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            I doubt you’re a Millennial (I bet you’re lying at you’re actually a Gen X’er but trying to deceive me). A Milennial doesn’t talk this way about the PT (in terms of hating it). Jar Jar is a different story but a level-headed Millennial wouldn’t be hating on the PT. This is a fact.

            Nice try but I’m onto your lying.

          • July 25, 2015 at 2:27 am
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            “A Milennial doesn’t talk this way about the PT (in terms of hating it).”

            Please stop speaking for our generation, it’s embarrassing; and approaching lunacy.

          • July 27, 2015 at 8:31 am
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            It doesn’t matter if your name is Anonymous, your posts are so distinct.

            “A Milennial doesn’t talk this way about the PT ”

            So, you speak for all “Milennial”?

            If that’s your claim, you should probably learn to SPELL Millennial.

          • July 27, 2015 at 5:16 pm
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            I doubt you’re a real person with a frontal lobe (I bet you’re lying at you’re actually an intelligent person but trying to deceive me). An intelligent person doesn’t talk this way about people they don’t know (in terms of being an actual person). Jar Jar is a different story but a level-headed human being would try to understand things beyond their own biases and nerd rage. This is a fact.

            Nice try but I’m onto your lying.

          • July 24, 2015 at 8:48 pm
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            Kids under 10 liked Pokemon much better in 1999 to enjoy Star Wars. Then the Teletubbies came out to tell better science-fiction stories than George Lucas. Darth Maul’s menacing older child inclusion and mis-use of Lliam Neeson’s acting capabilities from other movies and commercials gave small life-support to a movie FOR NO AGE GROUP!

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:19 pm
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            My son saw TPM at seven and thought JJ was kind of funny. At eight he rolled his eyes and at nine, when he wants to see a Star Wars film, he picks IV, V or VI. Okay so his dad hates the PT with a passion but I haven’t really exposed him to my inner Dark Side, he can like whatever he wants.
            My two year old reacts energetically when he sees the TFA trailer’s shot of BB8 racing along, pointing and shouting, “BALLL!!” so it looks like we will have an even child friendlier character in December..
            ..though I feel bad for Ahmed Best I think he sounds a bit delusional if he thinks the Jar Jar hate was just a bandwagon thing. “OOh let’s take Lucas DOWN”. Then he hasn’t paid attention.
            JAR JAR is merely the symptom, the poster boy for all that crashed and burned. You can’t say that the US was out to take Lucas down, that’s ridiculous. The world held its breath when TPM premiered dammit. We wanted something great, something stellar, something worthy of the legacy of the OT. And we got a trilogy that was so shoddy and sloppy it is hard to consider them as movies at all. Just frames full of weird stuff that kind of looks a bit like Star Wars. And lots of ugly fugly CGI 😉

          • July 24, 2015 at 9:37 pm
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            That’s just your opinion.

            And it can be proven that you’re in the minority (which is a fact despite how vocal and loud you PT haters/OT fanboys are).

          • July 25, 2015 at 2:19 am
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            That really can’t be proven at all. What can be proven is that there is an emerging inferiority complex among PT apologists. It’s really sad.

          • July 27, 2015 at 5:17 pm
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            Nailed it.

          • July 25, 2015 at 6:37 am
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            yawn

          • July 25, 2015 at 6:38 am
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            sigh ….yawn

        • July 24, 2015 at 10:38 pm
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          Sorry dude but ewoks… whom defeated the best legion of stormtroopers… c’mon ! This is why ep6 is the weakest episode. Moments in their village… argh, it’s so boring !!! All this jar jar hate is just so ridiculous. ewoks = jar jar. No more & no less. Oh, and the miam miam original ewok’s final song… it’s just a crime !!! LOL. But I’m ok with that. It’s things more for kids. And I think George is a genius

          • July 25, 2015 at 12:01 am
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            Ewoks are by far the worse thing ever, give me Jar Jar and the Gungans any day.

          • July 26, 2015 at 9:51 am
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            I maintain that the two-headed podrace announcer is the greatest Star Wars crime of all.

          • July 27, 2015 at 5:28 pm
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            If we’re comparing:

            Jar Jar enables the Clone Wars- a dumb character like that becomes a key impetus to the conflict that pressures Anakin into similarly dumb decisions.

            The Ewoks almost COOKED HAN SOLO ALIVE in front of their would be god.

            Let say that again: they nearly COOKED HAN SOLO ALIVE IN FRONT OF THEIR WOULD-BE GOD AND ALL OF HAN SOLO’S FRIENDS.

            And the baby ewok is cuter than any dumb amphibious rabbit.

        • July 26, 2015 at 4:31 am
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          Spot on.

  • July 24, 2015 at 3:31 pm
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    I do think Best has a point about people wanting to tear Lucas down, and I think tear down Star Wars in general at that moment in time. The marketing for TPM was so saturating, it was everywhere, and a lot of people were overwhelmed by it, and irritated.

    Now here comes an annoying dinosaur character and everybody used it as an excuse to pile on.

    I remember shopping with my uncle around that time. He became fighting mad because he couldn’t buy Pepsi without SW pictures on it…he hated SW. I think there was a lot of that kind of thing..

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:25 pm
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      If this was true, then the PT would’ve gotten more love and respect from the general audience as time passed. Instead, despite its fans, the hatred only grew.

      Despite Ahmed clearly blaming it on other things, those films are boring and terrible. If he refuses to at least acknowledge its shortcomings, then I’m glad he’s washed his hands with Star Wars.

      • July 24, 2015 at 7:53 pm
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        “If this was true, then the PT would’ve gotten more love and respect from the general audience as time passed.”

        No, that’s not true. Taking a stance a and searching for arguments to support it would make your stance more extreme (you become more *invested* in that attitude). Changing an attitude you’re intvested in would result in cognitive dissonance. That’s elementary psychology, really.

        • July 24, 2015 at 10:07 pm
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          It’s been 10-15 years. For many, the Prequels do not stand the test of time. I actually loved them more when they were first released, especially I and II.

          The characters are largely boring and their actions don’t make much sense, like the Jedi Order using clones they didn’t authorize or Jango going to Kamino for no real reason rather than go to Naboo to hunt down Padme.

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:25 pm
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      Hilarious attempt to explain away the most monumental cock-up of a character ever.

      • July 24, 2015 at 7:05 pm
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        Nowhere in my post did I say that this was the only problem with TPM, nor did I say it was a great movie. I didn’t comment on the quality of the movie. I feel it had problems, but I don’t hate it.

        You prequel bashers are so eager to jump on anything anybody says about the PT unless it is “the prequels suck..herp derp”.

        The negativity already aimed at TFA by some around here should show us all that the quality of the movie isn’t the only reason people jump on the hate train…We haven’t even seen TFA yet and some hate it, but you expect me to believe everybody gave TPM a fair shot?

      • July 24, 2015 at 8:06 pm
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        What I find hilarious is that 17 years removed from that movie you are still fuming about this character. Move on with your life.

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:25 pm
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      Dinosaur character?

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:45 pm
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      I don’t really think that’s the case. Sure, there are always critics like that. But I feel like the problem with the first movie was him not understanding his target audience.

      He really wanted to capture the imagination of a new generation. But to the adult fans, having cartoonish slapstick and a child Darth Vader felt like a waste of their time.

      Then, after the Phantom Menace, We get to the movie everyone actually wanted to see. But, everything went blue screen. Lucas’s method for directing a good movie is to cast actors that naturally give him exactly what he wants for a character without much direction. The problem with that is without any sets or real props for the actors to interact with, it makes it hard for them to get into their rolls.

    • July 24, 2015 at 6:37 pm
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      Let me clarify that Im not saying this was the only cause of negativity toward TPM. I do think it was the cause of some of it.

      Some people just plain hated the movie, and that is fine. They can hate it, I don’t stay up at night worrying about it.

      And I thought “dinosaur character” was an obvious reference to Jar Jar since he looks a bit like a dinosaur, and this story was about Jad Jar and all.

      Some of you just love being assholes.

    • July 24, 2015 at 9:42 pm
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      I think the main reason they wanted to hunt Lucas down was to make his company cheaper to purchase.

  • July 24, 2015 at 3:33 pm
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    He is done with it? he played nothing else then Jar Jar and will keep on doing that.

    • July 24, 2015 at 7:56 pm
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      I know. Ahmed Best is “done” with it. I’ve been dreading this news for sixteen years.Looks like it’s up to Jake Lloyd to carry the torch from now on.

  • July 24, 2015 at 3:36 pm
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    I really do not mind Jar Jar.

    • July 24, 2015 at 4:42 pm
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      You my friend are part of the minority.

      • July 24, 2015 at 10:22 pm
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        And you, my friend, are part of the hive mentality.

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:05 pm
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      I’m not ashamed to admit I like Jar Jar also. I personally think Jar Jar gets a bad rap.

      • July 24, 2015 at 10:12 pm
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        Thank the Maker Jar Jar didn’t rap! <=O

      • July 26, 2015 at 9:54 am
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        Meesa disagreesa

  • July 24, 2015 at 3:58 pm
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    Nearly had a Moon Walking Jar Jar Binks. Blimey. How could you have made the prequels any worse lol. Then again shoooo mon..ehh ehhhh. Might have been best thing in the prequels lol.

    • July 24, 2015 at 10:17 pm
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      That’s no moon. That’s a space station! Hmm… with a digital moonwalking creature on its surface? Is this the Super Special Edition? ^_-

  • July 24, 2015 at 4:00 pm
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    One thing for sure they would have had to keep Michael away from young Anni lol

    • July 24, 2015 at 4:10 pm
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      He would of gone to the Dark Side alot faster

    • July 24, 2015 at 4:14 pm
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      Brilliant. Lol

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:18 pm
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      Ani, are you OK?
      So, Ani, are you OK?
      Are you OK, Ani?

      • July 25, 2015 at 1:45 pm
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        Legendary! I’m still laughing, & now I laugh every time I hear that song

  • July 24, 2015 at 4:09 pm
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    I don’t hate Jar Jar, but I do think he is a stupid character. Props to Ahmed for playing him.

  • July 24, 2015 at 4:12 pm
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    You know I never really saw the behind-the-scenes stuff involving Jar Jar. The outfit is actually quite terrifying in all honesty, provided the context is not known.

    • July 24, 2015 at 5:06 pm
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      Ahmed looks like he just slaughtered Howard the Duck. Which proves the point that prosthetics and makeup would’ve been a far better direction for the character.

      • July 24, 2015 at 5:39 pm
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        That’s quite an elaborate fake. What is it’s purpose? What do they do with the things people send them?

        • July 24, 2015 at 5:44 pm
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          I spoke about this before. This guy has nothing to do with Disney. He is using false and inaccurate info fishing for clients. At least that’s what I was told, by someone in the know. 🙂

          • July 24, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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            Ops, sorry. I didn’t think that it was fake! Sorry again

  • July 24, 2015 at 4:31 pm
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    I’m no fan of “Phantom Menace,” but I feel really bad for Jake Lloyd. Poor eight year old kid so excited to be in a Star Wars movie; and then having the full weight of raging fanboy hate come crashing down on him.

    • July 24, 2015 at 4:44 pm
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      Flip side..the kid WAS in Star Wars..very few can claim that. How many of us would love to be in the series?

      • July 24, 2015 at 5:02 pm
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        Who cares when it makes you a greater villain than your character?

      • July 24, 2015 at 5:05 pm
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        Yeah, I would’ve loved to be in a Star Wars movie, until 90% of the fans hate me, dis me, and tear down my whole life. I think that would ruin Star Wars for me forever. When I heard him speak about it later in life it was kinda heartbreaking how much playing Anakin ruined his life and career. From “Jingle All The Way” to Hated by millions of Fanboys for destroying their image of Darth Vader

        • July 24, 2015 at 9:26 pm
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          What I find especially sad is that Jake looked good in his desert outfit and was cute and all that, and with a director of people it wouldn’t have been so grating. Of course the story suffered for having a child Vader, and the plot was total bullshit from one end to the other, but Jake I feel deserved better. As did Ewan, Liam and Whatshisname Palpatine. Ian!

        • July 26, 2015 at 10:51 pm
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          I’d do it if I got paid what he did. Star Wars didn’t kill his career either, that was puberty. There are lots of child stars that don’t do movies past it.

          It’s not a movie that kills their careers usually. There’s no such thing as type casting either, its all just excuses; there are lots of examples of good actors not getting type cast and surviving bad movies.

    • July 24, 2015 at 10:57 pm
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      exactly what I think of. Seriously, this is what PT hate leads to: the destruction of a child’s soul. And nothing more. And the need to remind every moment that episode VII will use practical effects. :/

    • July 26, 2015 at 7:23 am
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      its why i cant stand nerd/fanboys who take shit too seriously. they grind my gears. why act like the kid ruined your life and in the process actually ruin his life!!!

  • July 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm
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    Michael Jackson had enough problems on his plate. Imagine him having to duck out of III in order to keep up his court appearances!

  • July 24, 2015 at 5:10 pm
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    I’m not the least bit surprised about the Michael Jackson connection.

    Anyone else ever notice Jar Jar’s wild, yellow “Thriller eyes”, especially in the bongo scenes where he’s freaking out? His smile kind of reminds me of Thriller Michael, too.

  • July 24, 2015 at 5:13 pm
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    Too bad Ahmed Best isn’t interested in being involved in the new Star Wars. I hated the prequels but I think it would be really cool and healing if he and grown up Jake played bit parts that were more gritty and realistic in the new ones (like two reconnesance troopers). Hayden could play a third but he’d need to be masked otherwise he’d be too recognizable.

    • July 24, 2015 at 7:45 pm
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      A little redemption scene would be a nice gesture. Those guys don’t deserve any of the hate. I also think that Hayden, given the chance, with better writing and direction could do better as well.

    • July 27, 2015 at 6:16 pm
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      I kind of love this idea, to be honest.

  • July 24, 2015 at 5:13 pm
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    MJJJB

  • July 24, 2015 at 6:03 pm
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    I personally liked The Phantom Menace much more than The Clone Wars. At least it gave us the Duel of the Fates which I consider to be the best saber duel in Star Wars thus far. Jar Jar didn’t kill it for me, it was still Star Wars and I’m glad the films were made. The idea that a nation of assholes reined down on an 8 year old kid is way more of a turnoff. Fuck you fanboy bitches… I’ll meet you in the street and we’ll see Raging geek fucktards.

  • July 24, 2015 at 6:08 pm
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    Pointlessness of the character notwithstanding, Ahmed himself seems like a nice guy.
    It is an interesting point about Jar Jar being a random hate-excuse, I’ve observed that using Jar Jar as a punchline is rather a lazy criticism of the films.
    Jar Jar’s character and how he fits into the story is IMO a film-making mis-step [it happens, deal with it], completely unrelated to the REAL problem at hand [story scope, story focus, story theme, story pacing, weird accents, etc,].

    So in this respect, I second Ahmed’s notion: Jar Jar and Jake Lloyd got way too much of the blame-hate.

    This reconciliation only goes so far though;
    I still wholeheartedly hate Hayden Christensen’s casting as Anakin. He’s just creepy – not Darth Vader-scary – more like “stop stalking me or I’ll send you to the hospital again”-creepy.

  • July 24, 2015 at 6:12 pm
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    LOL. haha. Guess my last post didn’t clear star command. I liked the prequels just fine and TPM was way more watchable than TCW. The Duel of the Fates was the best SW duel to date. What’s much more of a turn-off is the whiny fanboy drivel. I feel bad for Jake Loyd that as an 8 year old kid he had to bear the weight of a nation of underoos wearing, doll groping, fatty fanboy philosophers. Nobody could survive that onslaught of meaningless, rhetorical, redundant stupidity. It’s Star Wars, it’s campy and there’s no such thing as explosions in space. Get a life.

    • July 24, 2015 at 9:48 pm
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      It’s important to recognize the difference between 1. saying a film is no good and 2. unrestrainedly letting out your anger at an eight year old child who did the best he could given the script. We depend on the movie criticism of both journalists and like-minded friends to help us avoid wasting precious time and money watching movies we won’t like and also to raise the standards of future movies that are made. Jake Lloyd bashing, on the other hand, just shows people’s perverse eagerness to find a socially acceptable scapegoat for their own discontent. In this case it’s Jake and Ahmed’s fame that gives us the illusion that words can’t hurt them.

  • July 24, 2015 at 6:14 pm
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    “That was George’s kind of middle finger to the whole, “everybody hates Jar Jar” thing.”

    That really is so telling; his vindictive attitude towards fans & actors *cough* dave prowse *cough* is what turned me off.

    • July 24, 2015 at 7:53 pm
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      Well, well! If it isn’t Aras again. I’m not surprised to see you commenting on here; you can’t help but chime in every time there is a PT-related article on here, can’t you? You always gotta throw shade at the PT at any opportunity you can get, am I right?

      • July 24, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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        I’m also not surprised to see you trolling me again. Hello “anonymous” who threatened me but won’t admit it.

        • July 24, 2015 at 9:52 pm
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          Only a PT hater like you can be considered a troll, never a saga fan like me.

          You sound scared lol

          • July 24, 2015 at 10:02 pm
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            For the record I’m not a PT hater. I like the films, but found there were some huge problems with them that can’t be overlooked. If you scour my posts you will see I’ve mentioned this before.

            I don’t even really have a big problem with Jar jar, though I’ve joked about him in the past. I like him in some scenes, the poo poo jokes & some of the 90’s-isms is what bothered me.

            I’m not scared, but you seem obsessed with writing about me. I appreciate the attention I guess. Kinda weird though… you into me or something?

          • July 24, 2015 at 10:19 pm
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            “For the record I’m not a PT hater. I like the films, but found there were some huge problems with them that can’t be overlooked. If you scour my posts you will see I’ve mentioned this before.”

            Yet people overlook the flaws/problems in the OT yet not much is stated about them simply because they are the originals (and I can write about them here but I’m not going to waste my time doing that when a good majority of OT fanboys on here will decide to ignore it and act like the OT is 100% perfect and flawless). Talk about double standards!

            And no, don’t get any ideas about me calling out your comments. In fact, I’m getting married to a beautiful woman tomorrow (it’s my wedding day haha). Though she’s not a SW fan in general (she thinks it’s for kids mostly lol), I’m trying my best for get her into it 🙂

          • July 24, 2015 at 10:45 pm
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            Dude… You’re getting married today yet somehow found the time to get into an unrelated debated with me? Priorities, man.

            Read about what Lucas did to Prowse, then we’ll talk.

          • July 25, 2015 at 12:25 pm
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            Agreed he was a dick to David Prowse.

          • July 26, 2015 at 7:25 pm
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            OT is what put Star Wars on the map and the only reason the PT made the money it did. The OT spawned legions of directors and filmmakers and put sci fi fantasy on the map and 2 of the 3 films show up on most “greatest film” lists. Every Star Wars film will be judged by the originals because of this.

          • July 25, 2015 at 4:00 am
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            Having no standards doesn’t make you a saga fan. It just makes you a brand loyalist. If there was a piece of toast lying face down on a rug and it had the officially licenced Star Wars logo on it you’d probably consider it good canonical star wars toast.

          • July 25, 2015 at 3:32 pm
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            This. I’m starting to think being saga fan means you have to disable your frontal lobe. Star Wars can suck, it’s possible.

          • July 27, 2015 at 8:39 am
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            I don’t care what you or anyone likes. People’s opinions are people’s opinions. People that tell other people that their opinions are wrong are morons.

            For me, the main reason I come to the site is your posts. I love them!

            When you start raging, it’s hilarious.

  • July 24, 2015 at 6:53 pm
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    I have seen Michael Jackson in The Wiz, he would do the role very well, but like Ahmed Best said, he would be bigger than the movie, so it was better to keep Ahmed Best.

  • July 24, 2015 at 7:50 pm
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    Jar Jar was great in Episode III.

  • July 24, 2015 at 7:51 pm
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    Lucas is almost like Anakin. He became the very thing that he was sworn against as a young film maker.

    • July 24, 2015 at 7:58 pm
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      What exactly did he “swore against” when he was younger? I must have missed the memo because I don’t remember a damn thing of him saying something in regards to him swearing about something.

      • July 25, 2015 at 12:27 am
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        He was against corporate control ala Di$ney and he always said Star Wars was his thing for starters.

        • July 27, 2015 at 8:22 pm
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          Plus in an interview in the making of star wars he says something along the lines of that special effects are important in a movie like star wars, but if you dont have a good story, a good plot with decent actors to carry that plot,to make the audience believe in it and to care for it then your just left with a dumb movie with lots of explosions and no soul. Style over substance.

  • July 24, 2015 at 7:55 pm
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    What an awesome dude. He doesn’t hold George or anybody responsible for making sub quality movies. He was just glad to be a part of Star Wars, and now he wants another new generation to take the mantle. He’s fine with the fact that he played one of the most hated characters in movie history probably because he had a blast doing it.

  • July 24, 2015 at 8:05 pm
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    I never minded Jar Jar that much. I think his antics are overdone. But apart from that, I think he’s a good character. I also think having a made-up Creole language is very original. I mean we’ve seen plenty of made-up full languages in sci-fi and fantasy stories, but never a Creole as far as I know, despite how common Creole languages are.

  • July 24, 2015 at 8:12 pm
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    At least we sidestepped Jar Jar saying “Ani are you okay, are you okay Ani?”

  • July 24, 2015 at 8:32 pm
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    I liked Jar Jar, he was funny. I don’t get all the Jar Jar hate.

    • July 24, 2015 at 9:39 pm
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      Man I can’t wait to see Chewbacca again on the big screen. For some weird reason I’m more excited about the big ol’ Wookiee than Luke Skywalker and Han Solo! (Yes I’m aware Chewbacca is supposedly in EP3 but that doesn’t count)

      I hope they get the old characters right this time, and that they are integral to the story and not fluff for the sake of it (See Threepio anyone).

      146 days 3 hours and counting…

  • July 24, 2015 at 9:50 pm
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    Not a fan of Jar jar. But I like Ahmed.

  • July 24, 2015 at 11:35 pm
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    I found Jar Jar annoying but I didn’t hate him. Episode one is thhe worst Star Wars movie, but still it has its moments – and Maul.

  • July 24, 2015 at 11:52 pm
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    I always feel sorry for Ahmed. He did a good job and a lot of kids like him. I remember seeing Episode 1 at the premiere. We didn’t have internet and I hardly knew anything about it. I thought it was a boring movie, the story was weird and I though JarJar was unfunny. But that’s it…he didn’t make me angry or anything. I just he just became a symbol for how this movie didn’t work.

  • July 24, 2015 at 11:54 pm
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    I like Jar Jar.

  • July 25, 2015 at 12:07 am
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    Jar Jar has every one fooled…..he is a Sith Lord.

  • July 25, 2015 at 12:29 am
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    One was a racially confused being who only wanted to make kids happy, The other was Michael Jackson.

  • July 25, 2015 at 12:37 am
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    im 43 and saw ep4 in the theater in 77 and was blown completely away; was exactly the lil dude lucas was targeting. when i saw tpm, i at first found jar jar a bit annoying i admit; but as i look back on it, i realized he stood out so much cause he showed so much more life than the rest of the cast. and in time i probably had more problems with anakin, and jar jar doesnt bother me at all now. i also happen to like the prequels, even with their warts. i tend to watch these movies with the same eyes i did as a 5 year old in 77. i looooved the 2nd half of clones, enjoyed most of TPM, and hell, ROTS is sometimes my favorite of all 6.

    im disappointed by all the generalizing on this site. old guys vs young guys. PT vs OT. its all star wars to me, and its accompanied me my whole life. generally speaking, i love it all, and look forward to the new. im pleased beyond words actually that ill have star wars accompanying me into old age.

    it was a very insightful interview with ahmed best, and im glad the guy had the stones to endure all the vitriol cast at him.

    so much arguing on effects and nitpicking detail and nostalgia and etc etc etc….sigh. its a sign of the times, the internet forum raging that has gone on now about since TPM was first being made. these movies are fantasy, and meant to be enjoyed with a child’s sense of wonder and awe. its kinda sad to me to see the difference between now and back then. yes, older guy speak here, but good gravy people werent nearly as cynical about all this back in the day. it was pure. pure fun, and lucas was a god. theres alot of cool stuff now in 2015, but attitudes are far worse unfortunately, and people always have to point out whats wrong first before enjoying the magic that is so right.

    none of this will be perfect, and it doesnt have to be. come december, ill be 5 again..

    peace

    • July 25, 2015 at 3:35 pm
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      At 41 yrs old, the original release of Star Wars (ep4) in cinema’s was my first experience of big screen cinema (they had intermission back then) & I’ve remained a Star Wars fan since.

      With Star Wars there’s always been a mix of spectacle, scale, wonder, comedy, drama, intensity, philosophy, fantasy, surprise, action and romance.

      Jar Jar introduced a new way of talking (as did Yoda) that some liked & some didn’t, but I think what got more people annoyed was the physical slapstick comedy, which was not intentionally part of star wars previously & if not used carefully can detract from other aspects of the film i.e. drama and intensity.

      I feel this is what was wrong with the ground battle of Naboo in Ep4. While in isolation the slapstick was fun and funny, it detracted from the intensity and drama that was being established with the lead up to the battle and was being built with the Naboo space battle and the Darth Maul fight.

      I’m sure George added this here to provide balance to the intensity of the other scenes in a similar way to some of the funny battle scenes with Ewoks on Endor, but 3 stooges slapstick comedy in a battle scene was a bit too much & didn’t work for the tone the end of the film needed (in my opinion).

      I expect Jar Jar & the film generally would have been better received if the slapstick humour was used a little more sparingly. Interestingly this is exactly what happened with Ep2 & Ep3 in which Jar Jar is the same minus the slapstick humour & most people took little issue with him in these films.

      I enjoyed Ep 2 more than Ep 1 possibly in part as the physical slapstick humour was significantly reduced & most of the issues I’ve heard with this film are not really about Jar Jar. Same for Ep 3, most people myself included were disappointed or worse with issues related to story holes and character motivations rather than Jar Jar in Ep3.

      Sure people note that Jar Jar has a minimal role in both Ep 2 and Ep 3, hence didn’t really influence these films success or failure, but I suspect even if he was more present he wouldn’t have been a problem in these films provided the slapstick humour was left out or at least used very carefully and in small doses away from the parts of the film that are building drama and suspense.

      Still will I miss not seeing Jar Jar in Ep7?
      Messa no think so! (or as Jar Yoda: Think so Messa not!)

  • July 25, 2015 at 1:28 am
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    I am a millennial and I remember watching Episode 1 opening show when I was 12 years old. I was devastated that it was nothing like the OT I had loved and cherished for years. At 12 years old I was annoyed by Jar Jar and distracted by the misguided art direction, script, and acting. Funny thing is, I think Episode 1 is the better of the three PT films. Sad I know.

    • July 27, 2015 at 5:36 pm
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      I actually wholeheartedly agree.

      TPM doesn’t have Hayden Christiansen and Natalie Portman epically failing at acting like actual people. Liam Neeson rocks. These are positive developments.

  • July 25, 2015 at 1:47 am
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    George’s fake script idea was hilarious! Lmao….say what you will about the prequels, but the man is a genius.

    • July 25, 2015 at 3:41 am
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      Bring back Jar Jar, just look at all the comments.

  • July 25, 2015 at 3:11 pm
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    Heloo mee sa tinks mesa will allways be spoken about course mesa is da best in starwars. ina 1000 yearsa yuoll still chatting about mesa. MESA BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • July 25, 2015 at 5:46 pm
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    Until I started following this site a few months ago and reading the comments, I seriously had never heard anyone defend the prequels. It’s mind boggling to read.

    • July 26, 2015 at 1:53 am
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      Defending them is one thing. I can somewhat respect a well thought out defense. But wait until you run into the crowd that actually think they’re better than the originals. That’s a different breed altogether. One that I hope will be marginalized into oblivion once these new movies come out.

      • July 26, 2015 at 2:17 am
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        Why the hatred? every one is entitled to an opinion,there are people who like the prequels better than the originals, so what?….and you want to send them all to oblivion.
        I can feel your anger,your frustration, your hatred, it’s a good job these people are not all black.

        • July 26, 2015 at 4:30 pm
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          Don’t take it too personal, dude. It’s Star Wars, there are a galaxy’s worth of opinions here and most of the attacks have a certain amount of levity to them. Don’t take them to a different place by characterizing them as hatred and bigotry or even racism….jeesh.

  • July 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm
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    Jarjar was not the problem with the prequels. The racial stereotypes and poor acting I could even get over. The worst part really was the unbelievable and sudden transformation from anakin to Vader. That was the whole point of the prequels to show the origins of vader and it didn’t make any sense. The only thing that saved this was the animated series that gives more insight into why he chose the dark side.

    • July 26, 2015 at 1:16 am
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      Excellent point, the Clone Wars complimented RotS and in fact should have been the content of AotC.

      • July 26, 2015 at 2:05 am
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        Partly agree here. One of the arguments for those that love the PT is that OT purists are predisposed not to like them per nostalgia and not having been a child when they came out. This argument falls apart when I find that myself and my fellow so-called “PT haters” actually really enjoy The Clone Wars and Rebels …….which, to me, weakens the argument. I think some of us just wanted good storytelling and we didn’t get it in those movies.

  • July 25, 2015 at 8:50 pm
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    No! the unbelievable sudden transformation in ROTJ, that my friend is ten times worse.

  • July 26, 2015 at 2:08 am
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    It’s shocking to read people think the Prequels are as good as the OT and that EP3 is one of their favorites. LOL! Amazing what a brand can do!

    • July 26, 2015 at 2:35 am
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      Why is it shocking?

      I’ll tell you what’s shocking, people putting there faith in JJ,people who think that his Star Trek movies were good, that he made the franchise better.The man has no know idea of how to tell a plausible story or what rules you can and can’t break, iv’e said it before and i will repeat it, jj will destroy Star Wars just like Trek.

      • July 26, 2015 at 5:41 am
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        I’m not a JJ fan boy and not a Star Trek fan. I do hope he does well though and I would be shocked if TFA was the same quality as the prequels.

        • July 26, 2015 at 7:40 am
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          I too hope and pray that TFA is excellent but I just haven’t seen or heard anything so far to make me feel good about this movie.
          I have zero confidence in JJ to deliver,we know that the visuals are going to be fantastic but that’s about it.
          I hate all the secrecy it is way over the top,surely just a little bit more information isn’t going to hurt.

  • July 26, 2015 at 8:15 am
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    I’m sorry but this site wants to cut comments relating to trolling over PT vs OT arguments and so posts this? I love this site I really do, I find the news and content excellent, but give a man a stick and…come on guys.

    • July 26, 2015 at 9:42 pm
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      Give a man some news….come on guys.

  • July 26, 2015 at 8:34 am
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    This article isn’t about PT vs. OT it’s about the actor who played Jar Jar Binks (rip). It may stir up feelings about how a beloved franchise was destroyed by a singularly annoying character but it’s not the point of the article. In reality Jar Jar was the icing on the cake when it comes to the PT. They made so many bad choices.

    • July 26, 2015 at 5:55 pm
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      I never said the article was PT vs OT and you have proved my point thank you. Good Day!

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