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 | That Darn Gungan or "Justifying Jar Jar" |
 Here I am, writing my first blog, and I decide to tackle probably the worst topic I can think of: Justifying Jar Jar.
Sure, the general consensus is that Jar Jar is downright the most annoying character any of us has ever seen, and I know many people who wish him an excruciating painful death, but he serves a purpose both from a financial and storytelling point of view.
First off, it should be common knowledge by now that one of George's reasons for putting Jar Jar in The Phantom Menace was to give the kids a character to enjoy. He didn't seem to feel it was necessary for the original Star Wars, but he wasn't a father at the time either. And a lot of the little tykes I've talked to like Jar Jar, and why not? He talks funny, is a nice guy and does some funny stuff. It doesn't take much, kids are great like that.
From a storytelling point of view, Jar Jar is important because someone has to be the idiot who's going to give Palpatine total power. As you recall, in Attack of the Clones, Jar Jar gets duped by Palpatine into putting forth the motion to give the Chancellor emergency powers. It would take a special kind of moron to do something like that, and Jar Jar was that very kind. It was established in the previous film, remember?
Granted, establishing Jar Jar's nice-but-bungling nature could have been handled in a way that we all didn't immediately hate him. As a friend of mine put it, his performance in The Phantom Menace was equivalent to an hour and a half of dancing back and forth chanting "Mesa stoopid! Mesa stoopid!" Perhaps if Lucas hadn't hit us over the head with Jar Jar's clumsiness and silliness, there wouldn't be quite so many Jar Jar haters out there.
Just something to think about the next time you start trashing this character we all love to hate.
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http://blogs.starwars.com/obiwan1225886/1 |
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jediholteh
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 8:09 AM
Ah, Jar-Jar. He's pretty good at being a complete idiot. That was all he was good for, anyhow. Qui-Gon didn't necessarily need him to navigate the waters on the way to Naboo. I don't recall Jar-Jar telling the jedi which way to go. I personally, would have liked for Sebulba to turn him into orange goo. Oh well, like you said, who else would have given the Chancellor those blasted emergency powers? I guess everything woulnd't be the same without the dimwit.
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captainj007
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 8:34 AM
Welcome to the blogs! Refreshing topic, believe it or not! Not many out there that defend Jar Jar. At least not publicly anyway.
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rj_peters
Memos from the Imperial Finance Department
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 9:42 AM
The Jar-Jar hate is usually overboard. I don't mind the character Jar-Jar; it's the accent/vocal stylings that are annoying. If he said the exact same things and did the exact same things but in a different voice, he would probably have fewer detractors. Even with that though, Jar-Jar is fine. He's legitimately amusing at times and is generally harmless. Except when he's giving emergency powers to a future dictator.
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ASharperLightsaber
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 11:10 AM
Before anyone knocks the Gungan way of speaking you need to go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5283230 then click on listen. The Gungan verbage is incredibly similar to slave language spoken in secluded pockets of the southern United States. Makes you think that GL wants us to expand our way of thinking about others? Jar Jar may be annoying but "hesa gots depth."
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Aurin_Starkiller
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 11:25 AM
Hmmm...
But mesa liken Jar-Jar Binks...
Seriously, I didn't mind the character at all. I think that some fans just need to remember that not all of the creatures in our universe are silent, bada** heroic beings. Some of us are clumsy, stupid, but good at heart.
God Bless,
May the Force grant you wisdom...
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Jedi Action Figure
In Mint Condition
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 11:51 AM
Finally someone who agrees with me! I too can not stand Jar Jar Binks, yet I agree that he is arguably the most important character in the films because he was dumb enough to fall for Sidious' tricks! Very well done! Keep up the good blogs like this!
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captainj007
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 11:59 AM
True dat! I have never been a big fan of Jar Jar either. I actually couldn't stop laughing when I saw the fan film about GL giving Jar Jar his "walking papers". However, you are absolutely right! He was really the only one dumb enough to be duped into Sidious' plans and not have the audience in an uproar.
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On_a_Dewback_With_no _Name
The footprints of a Dewback
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 12:20 PM
I didn't mind Jar-Jar in the movies.
But I am thinking about doing a Flash fan film Titled "Star Wars, Nightmare" with Sidious and Jar-Jar the main characters. Set just after Ep III. I just came up with the idea recently and it probably won't be out until next year. Oh, and a warning for any serious Jar-Jar haters out there, this story will keep you up all night.
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JB-Droid
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 12:28 PM
Why was Jar-Jar on the senate anyway, did'nt they know better?
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jediholteh
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 1:09 PM
Why was Jar-Jar on the senate anyway, did'nt they know better?
I've wondered this from the beginning. But sure, why not let a Gungan who was banished from his home, the clumsiest character, the one who surrenders under pressure, the one who could have jeopradized the Jedi from the beginning become a Representative? It'll be ok, right? You'd think Padme had more sense than that.
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obiwan122586
The Alternatives to Fighting
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 1:11 PM
But sure, why not let a Gungan who was banished from his home, the clumsiest character, the one who surrenders under pressure, the one who could have jeopradized the Jedi from the beginning become a Representative? It'll be ok, right? You'd think Padme had more sense than that.
Do I sense Palpatine's evil fingers dabbling in this as well? Remember, Palpatine was the former senator for Naboo, so he'd have considerable clout for these kinds of decisions.
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Delta:RC/1162
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 2:07 PM
The funniest thing about J.J. Binks is the way he walks.
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obiwan122586
The Alternatives to Fighting
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 2:27 PM
I know, I couldn't be more shocked and proud of myself. I guess that means I've got to keep the quality up. I have a few more ideas that are kind of in the "Controversial issue" thread, but "Quality over Quantity", as they say.
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Jaden_Korr-8185
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 2:40 PM
I totally agree with you on Jar Jar being one of the most important characters for his actions in AOTC, and don't anybody get me wrong on this because at the end of the day he is still an idiot, but he only raised the motion to give Palpatine emergancy powers, if the other members of the senate didn't agree with that they could have just as easily defeated the motion with a "down vote" so I guess lil' ol' J.J isn't the only dumb senator in the galactic senate. But hate him or love him he's there and you can't help but find his bumblings a little comedic.
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laserswords
The Pen Is Mightier Than The...Laser Sword?
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 3:39 PM
Good blog, I enjoyed hearing someone defend poor Jar-Jar. And it's true that you can ask any kid, say under the age of 10, and they'll tell you that they love Jar Jar.
Keep those good blogs coming! 
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jkthunder
Seven Pieces
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 4:50 PM
This is a great blog. I often use this same arguement. Sure Jar Jar is annoying and a clumsy dolt ... thats the point.
Do I sense Palpatine's evil fingers dabbling in this as well? Remember, Palpatine was the former senator for Naboo, so he'd have considerable clout for these kinds of decisions.
Yes... I think thats definitely a strong possibility and something we can easily assume from what is given to us in the films. But it could also be considered that Padme was "human" enough to make mistakes like this. Could be both.
Congrads on feature blog 
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MissPadme
Miss Padme's Naboo Love Nest
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2006 8:25 PM
I never had a problem with Jar Jar. He's a total innocent and he reflects the naivete of the characters around him. He also had some genuinely funny parts.
But the best is when he survives ROTS. Take that, fanboys  .
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jediholteh
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 7:07 AM
Do I sense Palpatine's evil fingers dabbling in this as well? Remember, Palpatine was the former senator for Naboo, so he'd have considerable clout for these kinds of decisions.
Most definately; I agree with you. Palpatine could certainly be behind this factor, too. And I do think that Padme was human enough to make that mistake... but Jar-Jar? I believe I'd rather have a rock stand in for me on the Senate. 'Least it woudn't be irrational and speak out. But, it was a necessary part of the movie, it had to happen somehow.
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jediholteh
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 7:08 AM
Oh, before I forget again, many congratulations on Featured Blog of the Day! Definately deserved it, too. It's nice to have someone come into blogs for the first time and execute it so well.
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Frostor
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 3:26 PM
Yeah, Jar Jar does serve a valid story purpose. I've always felt that. In fact, I was shocked at the amount of criticism Jar Jar received when I first learned of it. I was reading a sci-fi magazine a couple months after TPM came out, and there was an interview with somebody from Lucasfilm, I don't remember who, but they mentioned they were surprised at the Jar Jar backlash, and I could only think "what backlash?" The whole phenomenon of prequel-bashing didn't reach my attention for some time, and I always found it odd.
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DarthDUDE84308
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 5:03 PM
man if you ask me all Jar JAr was was a big babbling pink idiot but hey it got blog of the day
so congratulatios
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darthmel69
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 5:08 PM
Yeah- as annoying as he is, go Jar Jar. And NICE BLOG- 4 your first 1. that was pretty good. and i guess he's pretty important- i mean, it's not as if padme could do that in the senate, regardless of where she was in the galaxy!
Yeah, i don't mind Jar Jar, but i still think he is WAAAY over the top...
And i'm surprised that he survived Episode 3, actually, so he's got to have some credit...
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DarthDUDE84308
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date Posted: Mar 23, 2006 5:09 PM
But hey man you got a bunch of good points welcome to the blogs
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Senator Soph-ia
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date Posted: Jul 06, 2008 8:49 PM
Nice #1 Blog! Welcome aboard!
I think that some fans just need to remember that not all of the creatures in our universe are silent, bada** heroic beings. Some of us are clumsy, stupid, but good at heart.
Well said, Aurin.
I agree that Jar Jar had a lot to do with drawing in kids. And yes, he had obvious purpose for the plot. Didn't like his language, but I certainly don't hate Jar Jar by any means. People need to relax. Whether it was intended in the beginning or not, Star Wars is for kids!!
Great blog--keep it up with the courageous viewpoints!
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