Jar Jar Binks is a character in Star Wars who was actually the very first character in all of film history to be fully CGI within a live-action movie. He is most recognized as a reddish-orange-colored, lizard humanoid with big floppy ears that resemble dragon wings. He was developed by George Lucas who was inspired by Disney’s Goofy to make a comedic character for the second trilogy. Even Michael Jackson wanted to play him, but Ahmed Best was picked because of his athletic abilities. Best wore a costume on set so that the other cast members could have someone to interact with, and his work was what the animators based the CGI performance on.
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So why did the character who was meant to be a likable creature with funny catchphrases get so much hate? There seems to be a bit of a mob mentality surrounding this particular character of people jumping on the hate bandwagon. Whether it be for personal preference or fear of not fitting in, Jar Jar Binks is widely recognized as the least likable Star Wars character. If a person watches a film without being swayed by anyone else’s opinion, they will have a very different perspective on a story or character that’s not been influenced by a preconceived notion. Often, there can be peer pressure for people to feel like they have to like or dislike the same things as other people for fear of being on the opposing side of whatever is currently being targeted.
All over the internet, there are comments on various platforms stating that people didn’t know they were supposed to hate Jar Jar Binks till they read so on the internet or talked to their Star Wars fan friends who are part of the mob. But other fans do have some legitimate concerns with the character. Many critics say that Jar Jar is a Black or more specifically Jamaican racist stereotype. His accent and physical traits help to perpetuate this criticism. Many say that the dragon wing ears look similar to dreadlocks. Because Jar Jar Binks is seen as a clumsy and not very intelligent character, fans say this portrays Jamaican people in a negative way.
Aside from the racist undertones of the character, Star Wars fans also believe that Jar Jar Binks gave the second trilogy and sequels to follow a path to a bad gag or slapstick approach to the franchise. They believe the lizard humanoid’s humor and personality did not fit the tone of the world the first Star Wars trilogy created. The character was perhaps too comedic and took viewers out of an otherwise serious drama-action film approach. Jar Jar Binks had a more major role in Star Wars Episode I, and perhaps the character was introduced too strongly and heavily for it to be received well.
There was so much backlash for the character that the next two films significantly limited Jar Jar’s appearances within the movies. The actor who modeled and voiced him—Ahmed Best—went through a very dark time from the weight of all the hate. In a 2017 interview with Wired, Best even said that he had people coming up to him to say “you ruined my childhood,” a phrase that has essentially lost all meaning in an era of remakes and reboots, but might have stung a bit more back in 1999.
Filmmakers and writers, when they make the first installment in a planned series, never have to worry about expectations because no one knows about the world they are creating. Sequels always have trouble because of expectations. Everything has to be made a certain way because fans will always scream their opinions on the internet about how a film or book should be made and what kinds of characters should fill the world. It makes the process no fun for a creator, and can lead to some passionless projects. Although some of the hate is deserved for some unconfirmed racial injustices, older (or even new) fans of the Star Wars franchise should take the time to reevaluate their initial criticism of Jar Jar Binks and try to let go of their expectations.
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