Is the character of Jar-Jar-Binks really neccessary to the story?

Wow, this is getting pretty deep. Akira Kirosawa and jar jar binks in the same paragraph. How did it come to this?

Referencing Lando and Chewie or whoever in the OT. They aren't essential to the PT because this is a different era, this isn't the OT where there relevance is profound.

Point is, anyone could replace Jar Jar - he is not indispensible to the story.

And on a lighter note, who is eager for him to be a central character anyway? Are we begging for more screen time for jar jar?

The sense of morality that we see in light versus dark or good side versus bad is inherent in the contrast of the jedi with the sith; with the jedi and the senate; even the jedi and padme.

Morality exists with the jedi, perhaps to a fault. If anyone is an idealist, it is Padme and again, to a fault.

The entire basis for palpatine's rise is his opportunism to seize power from a crippled and paralyzed senate. They are trying to hang onto the Republic even though its crumbling around them. They themselves do not recognize that they are the reason for the collapse - their corruption, their dissilusionment, their selfishness and misplaced idealism that the republic could be restored. palpatine sees this and fosters this corruption to his own benefit.

Certainly jar jar is not the epitome of a statesman or one who is a seasoned politician. I'm sure he doesn't know about the intricacies of diplomacy, bargaining, debate, etc. Can idealism and innocence be a reason for his giving the keys to the Republic to Palpatine?

I doubt he can even conjur those feelings. The way Jar jar is written, he's carefree, with hardly a sense of duty, cowardly and timid. He gave palpatine emergency powers not because he was an innocent - he was just plain stupid. He didn't know any better. That's not innocence! Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

He was apparantly given the mantle of blame by Lucas because Lucas probably didn't want any of the main characters to. putting the blame to jar jar downplays the signifigance of the action. Palpatine rises to power and the Empire is created; systems fall; planets are destroyed by the death star - all because a gungan who is an "innocent" in this whole affair, tragically gives him the keys to power. How silly.

And if he wasn't in ep3 he would still be important?

Nope. He would be remembered as an insignificant character that Lucas tried to insert to show the incredible spectacle of CGI - of which he succeeded - but nothing more. If you are indeed correct about his significance in ep2, then surely he would be in ep3 to at least, complete his character arc. If he isn't or if his screen time was insignificant as it was in aotc, then my words will bear truth to them. We'll wait and see.

 

Only by people who blithely ignore his importance.

 

I think I see the point even though Jar Jar is not important to the story but he is there and though many people may not like him there are those that do
Just not me!


But to those that like him they don't want him taken out of the story. The Same goes for me the PT doesn't need Mace Windu or Jango Fett but they were cool. The PT mainly is about anakin and obi but isn't just cool to know other stuff was goin on at the same time to?

 

lol

It would make the movie that much better too!

Poor Ahmed Best.

 

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[b]Philip023:[/b] Certainly Jar-Jar is not the epitome of a statesman or one who is a seasoned politician. I'm sure he doesn't know about the intricacies of diplomacy, bargaining, debate, etc. Can idealism and innocence be a reason for his giving the keys to the Republic to Palpatine? I doubt he can even conjure those feelings. The way Jar-Jar is written, he's carefree, with hardly a sense of duty, cowardly and timid.[hr][/blockquote]He is child-like and for all intents and purposes, an innocent. He ends up being an outcast from his own society because he is so clumsy. It's not something he can help. But through his blind optimism, despite all of this he perseveres and eventually proves himself to his own people, who honor him with a high position in their government.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] He gave Palpatine emergency powers not because he was an innocent - he was just plain stupid. He didn't know any better. That's not innocence! Ignorance of the law is no excuse![hr][/blockquote]Was he stupid or breaking the law? He was following legal procedure for what he suggested and a whole senate full of galactic representatives from all corners of the Republic thought it was a good idea as well.

Why? Well what other choice did they have? The Separatists are apparently gearing up for an all out assault on the Republic, something the Republic had no answer for save the Jedi. If the only thing standing between the Republic and it's ability to defend itself against clear and present dangers was an apparently gridlocked senate, what would you have done? Would you have just shrugged your shoulders and let the Republic be attacked unprepared simply because we can't come to a definitive conclusion on the cultural issues surrounding the matter?[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] He was apparently given the mantle of blame by Lucas because Lucas probably didn't want any of the main characters to. Putting the blame to Jar-Jar downplays the significance of the action. Palpatine rises to power and the Empire is created; systems fall; planets are destroyed by the Death Star - all because a Gungan who is an "innocent" in this whole affair, tragically gives him the keys to power. How silly.[hr][/blockquote]I think it's to drive home the point that even good intentions can lead to bad things. Jar-Jar didn't know that Palpatine was a Sith Lord. He just thought he was doing what was best for the sake of the greater good. He had a lot of respect for Palpatine, and he figured he would do the right thing with the authority he suggest for him.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] And if he wasn't in ep3 he would still be important?[hr][/blockquote]Yes. Lucas has said that Jar-Jar will be in Episode III. Apparently it's not a large amount of screen time. But already he fulfills a complete character arc by starting out an outcast, end ending up being the Gungan's first representative in the Republic Senate. Anything else his character does will be gravy.

 

Jar Jar to me is a character who is maturing, who actually probably completed his arc.

Regardless, whether the idea of proposing was played right into Palpatine's hands (for which most do not know who he really is), Jar Jar made a decision which he not just agreed with out of the blue, but due to the crisis developing. I think he's the precise individual that was necessary in the Saga to give Palpatine the powers. Anyone else, to be given that role would not work, IMO.

 

He is child-like and for all intents and purposes, an innocent. He ends up being an outcast from his own society because he is so clumsy. It's not something he can help. But through his blind optimism, despite all of this he perseveres and eventually proves himself to his own people, who honor him with a high position in their government.

Him being an outcast is never established in the film. It is not even presumed. And if he is an outcast, why did his own people install him as their representative?

And as you say, he is clumsy, blind and can't help it. This is hardly the type of person I want representing an entire planet - especially at a time when the Republic is crumbling.

It just defies logic and that degrades the act of making the motion for an army.

Why? Well what other choice did they have? The Separatists are apparently gearing up for an all out assault on the Republic, something the Republic had no answer for save the Jedi.

Are you arguing for the creation of the Empire? Did we want Jar Jar to make the motion for an army? I mean, we're are on the rebellion's side aren't we? Granted it is not yet the Rebellion that WE know of but the granting of emergency powers to Palpatine sets the mechanism into motion. If I were Jar Jar, I would have had the sense to consult Padme beforehand. Again, the decisionmaking process doesn't compute.

I think it's to drive home the point that even good intentions can lead to bad things.

True, but I believe it would have been more profound if, out of desperation and the risk of losing her own life or subjugating her people once again to the Trade Federation, she race back to Coruscant and cast the deciding vote. Now there is a supreme example of good intentions having unintended consequences. It just makes the perception of creating good to combat evil turn on its head which is really what happens to the Republic.

He just thought he was doing what was best for the sake of the greater good.

Perhaps, yet I doubt he had any concept - or was written to have any concept of what the greater good was.

He had a lot of respect for Palpatine, and he figured he would do the right thing with the authority he suggest for him.

How do we know he had respect for Palpatine? What scene was this in?

Anything else his character does will be gravy.

Ugh. Please, no. Any role he has in the 3rd one will be one scene too many. Yet, as we can assume many of the central characters meet an unknown demise, it may yet be satisfying to see jar jar on screen one more time.

 

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[b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] He is child-like and for all intents and purposes, an innocent. He ends up being an outcast from his own society because he is so clumsy. It's not something he can help. But through his blind optimism, despite all of this he perseveres and eventually proves himself to his own people, who honor him with a high position in their government.

[b]Philip023:[/b] Him being an outcast is never established in the film. It is not even presumed. And if he is an outcast, why did his own people install him as their representative?[hr][/blockquote]Yes it is established. When Jar-Jar suggests the Jedi go to Otoh Gunga, he says he can?t take them there because he was banished. The Gungans eventually ended up installing Jar-Jar as their galactic representative because he was the first Gungan to bring them together with the Naboo after centuries of animosity between each other.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] And as you say, he is clumsy, blind and can't help it. This is hardly the type of person I want representing an entire planet - especially at a time when the Republic is crumbling.[hr][/blockquote]He isn't blind, he is just clumsy. Since TPM, he has been working in the government for 9-10 years and has since gotten much less clumsy.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] It just defies logic and that degrades the act of making the motion for an army.[hr][/blockquote]No it doesn't.[blockquote][hr][b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] Why (did they all think it was a good idea to give Palpatine emergency powers)? Well what other choice did they have? The Separatists are apparently gearing up for an all out assault on the Republic, something the Republic had no answer for save the Jedi.

[b]Philip023:[/b] Are you arguing for the creation of the Empire? Did we want Jar Jar to make the motion for an army? I mean, we are on the rebellion's side aren't we? Granted it is not yet the Rebellion that WE know of but the granting of emergency powers to Palpatine sets the mechanism into motion. If I were Jar-Jar, I would have had the sense to consult Padme beforehand. Again, the decision making process doesn't compute.[hr][/blockquote]Padme was in hiding and unavailable for consultation. It's not so hard to believe is it? Take the situation with terrorism in the US these days. The government voted to give Bush emergency powers to invade Iraq because we had heard that they were creating weapons of mass destruction to use against the US. From where I sit it is the exact same thing. If Bush turns out to be a Sith Lord, we are pretty much screwed.[blockquote][hr][b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] I think it's to drive home the point that even good intentions can lead to bad things.

[b]Philip023:[/b] True, but I believe it would have been more profound if, out of desperation and the risk of losing her own life or subjugating her people once again to the Trade Federation, she raced back to Coruscant and cast the deciding vote. Now there is a supreme example of good intentions having unintended consequences. It just makes the perception of creating good to combat evil turn on its head which is really what happens to the Republic.[hr][/blockquote]The whole reason she had come to Couruscant at the beginning of AOTC was to cast her vote against the military creation act. The attempts on her life caused Palpatine to send her away for her own safety. As she was packing up, she laments that she hadn't spent so many years opposing the military creation act, to not be there when the matter was finally decided. But she couldn't ignore a direct order from the Supreme Chancellor. The point to all of this is that Lucas is setting her up as the opposition to the military creation act, so it would make no sense for her to just fold at the last moment out of fear. That's where Jar-Jar comes in. He is very optimistic about Palpatine, and easily controlled by fear.[blockquote][hr][b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] He just thought he was doing what was best for the sake of the greater good.

[b]Philip023:[/b] Perhaps, yet I doubt he had any concept - or was wr

 

I think your argument seems sound but is based on many presumptions.

We have no evidence that Jar Jar thought highly of Palpatine. You say he does by the acts that Palpatine did in the first film but this is not expressed in the story - you are implying it.

His character is written as a bumbling fool. Clumsy and prone to misfortune. Why would any reasonable person want to leave him with any sense of control? It defies logic. Your implication that he has 9-10 years of experience is also implied and assumed. did he go to "senator school"? did he pal along with Padme? I would accept either of those or something like them if it was expressed in the movie.

The greater good is based on a fundamental comprehension of the situation. Jar Jar is in the beginning of the movie and then we don't see him until he's in Palpatine's office. Does he know what's going on? does he know how much trouble Padme has been in?Why is he even in there? Why not other Senator's? Sure he's from Naboo and so is Palpatine but all of us sudden jar jar comes out of nowhere in AOTC and makes the motion? Sorry, I can't believe this.

The attempts on her life caused Palpatine to send her away for her own safety.

This after palpatine is trying to have her killed throughout TPM. He was still trying to kill her in AOTC only through Dooku.

As she was packing up, she laments that she hadn't spent so many years opposing the military creation act, to not be there when the matter was finally decided.

Which would make her switch more profound and certainly create a great sedgeway into the OT. Her son and daughter not only redeem their father but the Republic as well.

But she couldn't ignore a direct order from the Supreme Chancellor.

He never ordered her to go to Naboo. He suggested that she be under the care of the Jedi.

The point to all of this is that Lucas is setting her up as the opposition to the military creation act, so it would make no sense for her to just fold at the last moment out of fear.

Sure it would. If her life was threatened which it was. If her planet was threatened by the trade federation which it was. She must be either a pacifist or completely ignorant of the situation. Similarly, she originally tries to negotiate with Dooku in a cut scene. When this fails, what other option is there?

That's where Jar-Jar comes in. He is very optimistic about Palpatine, and easily controlled by fear.

Which is exactly my point. Why would Padme put him in charge? You can presume all you want - that he had 10 years of experience, that he brought the gungans and the naboo together, etc. There is no implication of this in the film. I mean, I would stipulate to all of what you said if it was implied in the film - but it isn't. And that makes jar jar's character peripheral at best - the way it is written.

and as far as Episode 3, I can only assume Lucas is going to digitally insert Jar Jar into the OT.

 

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[b]Philip023:[/b] I think your argument seems sound but is based on many presumptions.[hr][/blockquote]It's all based on paying attention to the films.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] We have no evidence that Jar Jar thought highly of Palpatine. You say he does by the acts that Palpatine did in the first film but this is not expressed in the story - you are implying it.[hr][/blockquote]Why do you think Palpatine replaced Vallorum in TPM? Because he was the "good guy" who was going to cut through the Republic's unwieldy political system so that the right things could be done in a more timely manner. We don't need to hear Jar-Jar talk about how much he thinks of Palpatine, because his decision to get Palpatine the emergency powers he needs to circumvent the Senate in this time of crisis shows how much he trusts him. The whole galaxy trusts this guy, that's why they all went along with it.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] His character is written as a bumbling fool. Clumsy and prone to misfortune. Why would any reasonable person want to leave him with any sense of control? It defies logic. Your implication that he has 9-10 years of experience is also implied and assumed. did he go to "senator school"? did he pal along with Padme? I would accept either of those or something like them if it was expressed in the movie.[hr][/blockquote]The first thing they did was make Jar-Jar a bombad general. That's not supposed to make sense, Lucas did that on purpose as a commentary on the way we tend to raise our children here on Earth. He says we tend to ignore them until they reach a certain "coming of age" milestone like turning 18, at which point we tend to assume they are ready to take on all the responsibilities of being an adult. In Jar-Jar's case, his coming of age moment was when he was the one Gungan who was able to bring the Gungans and the Naboo together after years and years of animosity. Something the other Gungans and Naboo for that matter couldn't do. Boss Nass then assumes that Jar-Jar is suddenly ready for all the responsibilities of an adult Gungan.

The Battle of Naboo goes reasonably well, so he is given stuff to do in the government. The very fact that he ends up being the Gungan representative in the Senate shows that he must have proven himself in some way in the 10 years since TPM.[blockquote][hr][b]Philip023:[/b] The greater good is based on a fundamental comprehension of the situation. Jar-Jar is in the beginning of the movie and then we don't see him until he's in Palpatine's office. Does he know what's going on? Does he know how much trouble Padme has been in? Why is he even in there? Why not other Senator's? Sure he's from Naboo and so is Palpatine but all of us sudden Jar-Jar comes out of nowhere in AOTC and makes the motion? Sorry, I can't believe this.[hr][/blockquote]How would Jar-Jar not know what is going on? He is around when the Jedi arrive and talk to Padme about the attempt on her life, Amidala talks to Jar-Jar about how she has to leave him in charge while she goes into hiding, he is in Palpatine's office [i]with other senators including Bail Organa and a few others[/i] when Palpatine openly wonders who would be brave enough to propose "such a radical amendment?". Jar-Jar's motion certainly does not come out of nowhere.[blockquote][hr][b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] The attempts on her life caused Palpatine to send her away for her own safety.

[b]Philip023:[/b] This after Palpatine is trying to have her killed throughout TPM. He was still trying to kill her in AOTC only through Dooku.[hr][/blockquote]Yeah but who knows about that connection? Amidala? The Jedi? Why would Jar-Jar?[blockquote][hr][b]Go-Mer (before):[/b] As she was packing up, she laments that she hadn't spent so many years opposing the military creation act, to not be there when the matter was finally decided.

[b]Philip023:[/b] Which would make her switch more profound and certainly create a great segue way into the OT. Her son and daughter not only redeem their father but the Republic as well.[hr][/blockquote]Her so

 

Go-Mer-Tonic, impressive. Too easy. You've got the right attitude to see these movies in the manner they are meant to be seen.

 

Thanks, I do try...

 

In any movie you're going to have characters that aren't central to the plot. Chewbecca is one of them. But Chewie's purpose wasn't for the story, it was to develop the character of Han Solo. Who would Han have been without Chewbecca? When Han is first introduced he's done so as a scoundrel but because of the interaction with Chewie we know that he's actually not such a bad guy, he's just rough, but he's devoted to Chewie so the audience feels for him more.

It's like an animal in a movie, they're almost never central to any plot point but a lot of times they're used to portray a certain side of a character. For instance if you've got a bad guy, you could use his interaction with an animal or his devotion to the animal maybe to show that he's not actually that bad of a guy, something that simple can show a completely different side to a character.

So Chewie may not have been central to the movies, but he was central to the Han Solo character. Plus everyone loves a Wookie.

As far as Jar Jar Binks goes, I have no clue what his real purpose was beyond comic relief. Far too much time was used developing his character considering he meant nothing to the story. In fact, his character was more developed than any other character besides Anakin in The Phantom Menace. That time could have been used getting to know Qui-Gon so maybe the audience would feel more for him by the time he dies.

The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones could have had Jar Jar taken out and the movies would hardly miss a beat with a few simple fixes.

 

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[b]Cyprus-X:[/b] I have no clue what his real purpose was beyond comic relief.[hr][/blockquote]You should really read this thread then. We listed all kinds of reasons for Jar-Jar other than comic releif.

It turns out he is essential to the story, and the characterization Lucas gave him was well spent.

 

It seems to me that people's animus towards the character is the limiting factor here, not what can be read from the character himself.

Brass tacks, you have a film-maker who spells out in every way, shape or form the stylistic of the films he is making, and rather than critique the films with that in mind, it's completely ignored, in the process missing about 3/4 of the language of the films.

Kinda like rubbishing the music of Bach because it isn't quite country & Western(ish) enough....

 

You should really read this thread then. We listed all kinds of reasons for Jar-Jar other than comic releif.

It turns out he is essential to the story, and the characterization Lucas gave him was well spent.

I have, I haven't read a good point yet as to why he's an essential part to the story. You can argue all you want that he meant something to the plot, but with about a page of script changes that wouldn't be so.

 

The point is Jar-Jar is essential to the story Lucas is trying to tell.

You could rewrite the script and get rid of anyone, including Anakin himself, but that is not the story Lucas is trying to tell.

 

As Go-Mer said, this dispensibility of character could be applied to anyone in the SW pantheon. We could any one of us blithely decide we have little time for Chewie, 3P0, Yoda (the list goes on and on...)

Ignoring the contextual reasons why a character exists in a story in no way proves that the character is unneccesary. In point of fact, it simply takes any real value out of the debate, reducing the whole thing to nothing more than a "yes, he is" - "no, he's not" back and forth.

 

Obviously no one in this topic has any influence on anything that will ever have to do with star wars. Their opinions are merely entertainment to the fact that George Lucas' story will not and has never changed due to armchair critics, and to the fact that he has enough money to do a star wars with talking frogs for 4 hours if it meant you would have to accept his thought process.

However, your banter is fun to read.

EDIT: This is not directed at tonic, who I see has an extraordinary perspective on how a movie actually works.

 

For the life of me, I can't think of one other fanbase's discussion board where it's necessary to constantly defend actually enjoying the thing you're there to discuss.

It's also very illuminating to see the good old technique of rubbishing peoples thoughts without actually saying anything substantive to counter them.

What a wonderfully perverse creature Star Wars fandom(onium) is....

 

I don't see it as defending our enjoyment as much as trying to explain our enjoyment. Obviously, all of the people here are passionate fans of the SW universe.

I don't mind people saying they didn't like Jar-Jar, after all they aren't alone. But I have a hard time with people who only see Jar-Jar as a fart and poop joke. Jar-Jar -does- play signifigant roles in this story.

Ignoring them won't change that.

If you guys are just trying to say you wish Jar-Jar wasn't in the story, and that you would have liked something more to your liking instead, that I also understand. But you have to understand that would be your story, not Lucas'.

 

Ok, gomer, let's take it from the top:

The whole galaxy trusts this guy, that's why they all went along with it.

If this was the case, then why was it so hard to get a Senator to propose "such a radical amendment"? Couldn't Palpatine have used the force against another Senator? Again, jar Jar is reduced in importance in this role. If he is indeed an innocent who trusts Palpatine, then you could say the same thing for nearly every other Senator who thought Palpatine was the "good guy" as you say.

Lucas did that on purpose as a commentary on the way we tend to raise our children here on Earth.

Can you give me a quote from Lucas on this? How do you know this is what Lucas' intent was? You're gonna have to give me something besides your perception of Lucas' intent.

Boss Nass then assumes that Jar-Jar is suddenly ready for all the responsibilities of an adult Gungan.

The Battle of Naboo goes reasonably well, so he is given stuff to do in the government. The very fact that he ends up being the Gungan representative in the Senate shows that he must have proven himself in some way in the 10 years since TPM.

Again, that is based on your presumption. Given what we know in TPM, jar jar acted cowardly in battle. And they want to give him a seat in the Senate. It defies credibility. If he has proven himself in the last ten years since tpm - it is not explained!

Amidala talks to Jar-Jar about how she has to leave him in charge while she goes into hiding

And then we don't see him for the rest of the film until the office scene. Again, any peripheral character would have had at least one scene in between the entire film. Jar jar seems irrelevant.

Yeah but who knows about that connection? Amidala? The Jedi? Why would Jar-Jar?

WE DO! You said: The attempts on her life caused Palpatine to send her away for her own safety.

But we know that he's trying to kill her. Jar jar is there simply to cast a vote and make him the scapegoat. Nothing more.

They took all of TPM to set her up as someone who starts out naive, and who grows into someone who is not easily manipulated, and you want to throw that all out the window because you really just can't stand Jar-Jar? Doesn't that seem just a little extreme?

Not at all. Portman's character starts out as naive and still is! She cannot see, as the jedi also cannot, that they are in fact being manipulated. I think this is probably more a flaw with the story than with anything Jar jar did. However, AOTC advances this by portraying the Jedi as inept and completely blind to what is going on.

It would be a profound character turn if we see Portman continuously arguing against warfare when, realizing what is really going on, she reverses herself. What a stunning turn that would be. We've seen this before in other films. See Bridge over the River Quai - Alec Guinness dutifully trying to finish the bridge with the honor and respect of his men and the Japanese commander - only to realize what he in fact was doing right before his death. Quite profound and moreso than simply scapegoating the irrelevant jar jar.

you are suggesting Amidala would have done it? It wouldn't make sense for her to suddenly turn into a reactionary who is controlled by fear.

It wouldn't have to be that way at all. She would realize what she has done - give powers to a Sith lord and then turn against her own belief! But who does it is irrelevant, at some point - this has to happen! At some point, they will realize that Palpatine is bad and that the Seperatists are the lesser evil! I'm not sure why you think this would destroy Padme's character. I think it would make it better.

Isn't it implied by the very fact that she trusts him to be in charge while she is away?

No. It is assumed. The only thing we know is that bumbling jar jar is now a Senator - that's it. How he got there in those preceeding 10 years is a mystery. His "exploits" in battle notwithstanding. lol

We can only hope.

Ugh.

Sco

 

Adam edit: removed other poster's comment that was edited out of his post.

Anyway on Jar Jar. I think he is necessary because the storyteller deems him so. And thats all that matters. Anyone elses opinion is worthless next to the storyteller.

And Go-Mer you've said earlier in this thread about Jar Jar being a flag for intolerance, and to my mind you're absolutely correct.
He's a perfect litmus test for how tolerant a person you are.
If you can put up with his goofy antics, his silliness and the fact he isn't that intelligent, but realise that inside he is a good natured, innocent creature who despite all appearances isnt as bad as he may seem (in the sense that he's not an idiotic frog), then you truely have alot of tolerance.

And I feel that I can say I do have tolerance for such a character as Jar Jar.

 

Darth:

Tolerance as in the tolerence of other peoples views? Of other cultures? Ethnicities? Spiritual belief?

If so, then I'm the most tolerent guy in the world. If on the other hand you are referring to a character who, by many accounts, was considered the CGI equivalent of a "step-n-fetchit" stereotype, or at minimum, the illegitimate step-child of Roger Rabbit with a Carribbean accent, then by all means - I am intolerent.

I do not impart that I know more than Lucas. However, I would take exception with the character development of Jar Jar and his subsequent "edit" out of AOTC. For whatever reason that this may have come about, jar jar has a significantly reduced role in AOTC - to the point of irrelevance. By and large, this was welcomed by the general public, critics, and SW fans alike.

I posit that his role is reduced to a step above a cameo. With a character with such a significant role in TPM being reduced to "window dressing" in AOTC, his role hardly seems important, much less necessary to the plot as has been argued by others in this thread.

We have not seen the drop off or exclusion of a "central character" in any SW film like we have with jar jar.

But then, that's a good thing.

 

If on the other hand you are referring to a character who, by many accounts, was considered the CGI equivalent of a "step-n-fetchit" stereotype, or at minimum, the illegitimate step-child of Roger Rabbit with a Carribbean accent, then by all means - I am intolerent.

Well you've definitely proven that. But I wont say anymore.

We have not seen the drop off or exclusion of a "central character" in any SW film like we have with jar jar.

Jar Jar is not a central character in the PT, "I don't know where you get your delusions..." but Jar Jar is pretty much a sidekick character who ownly has a certain relevance to the plot, the rest of the time he tags along to people. Just because you saw him alot in TPM doesn't mean he's in anyway central to the overall PT plot, his role in TPM was to basically tag along with the Jedi and the Queen during most of the movie. And he unassumingly has important relevance when the heroes have only one last place to turn....and its thanks to him that Naboo has any chance of freedom. In AOTC he comes from obscurity within the many of the Senate to "save" the Jedi and stop the Separatists from launching any attack against the Republic.

He only ever does 2 things which have major significance, and that hardly make him a central character...he is still a side character.