Binks factor
#1
Posted 23 June 2005 - 09:42 PM
winkdink
#2
Posted 23 June 2005 - 10:16 PM
winkdink
Jar Jar Binks was bad, but what really made him bad was the slap-sticky comedy Lucas kept using throughout the first three movies. (That whole scene with C3-PO in Attack of the Clones on the conveyor belt also comes to mind).
What I really don't get is that on one hand Lucas is like, "It's for the kids" with Jar-Jar and the poo jokes...and then he goes into these long, boring monologues about "Seperatists" and "Trade Embargos" and "Constitiutional blah, blah, blah" During Clones I often found myself asking, "What the f*ck are these dudes talking about?" Like some kid is going to actually pay attention to that?
I know that Revenge of the Sith needed to be "dark" but if that's the case why would you make Phantom Menace so much different in tone?
The original movies generally had a lot of "humor," which is a lot different than "comedy"...or should I say "a really bad attempt at comedy." Han Solo's humor worked--he had his little sarcastic comments and subtle jokes:
Leia: "I love you."
Han: "I know."
Now THAT was funny. THAT was cool. But to have a movie where a laugh hinges on Jar Jar Binks stepping in "Poo"?...come on. I remember thinking, "Man, Lucas is really out of touch...he shouldn't have holed himself up at Skywalker ranch for so long..."
And what's up with Steven Spielberg? What kind of friend is he? Apparently he CRIED during Revenge of the Sith? HUH?! If he were a true friend he would have pulled Lucas aside and said, "Dude...some of this stuff, it's not working." How can you let your friend make a complete ass out of himself? Sure, Lucas is laughing all the way to the bank, but he's doing it off of fans who were desperate for "what could have been" instead of "what is."
I've only seen Phantom Menace once because it was so bad, and I swore to myself I wouldn't see Clones, but something inside me kept saying, "Maaaaybe Doug. Maybe he'll redeem himself. Just see it." Well, I was let down with Clones and then I said, "Well, you know you're going to see the last one. You have to see how Vader actually became Vader..." This last one was a lot better than the first two, but it still left me feeling jilted.
Damn you, Lucas!
In the words of Darth Vader: "Noooooooooooooooooo!"
#4
Posted 23 June 2005 - 11:58 PM
Ditto. Good point.
#5
Posted 24 June 2005 - 12:47 AM
Not only does he ruin long shots of Tatooine by stepping in crap and saying "Icky Goo" when our attention is supposed to be turning to the big vista, he also does stuff like... exist... right in the foreground.
His manner of speech, his lines, the characters responses (or lack thereof) to Jar Jar.. it all adds up to the Binks Factor.
For example - when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are talking to Jar Jar as they walk to they lake to go for a swim, their responses to his lines are extremely 'we are walking along and talking to no one' - Ewan visibly gathers himself as if reminding himself that there is someone there when he says "It's good to see you Jar Jar"... Jar Jar killed TPM in its cradle, and almost had a repeat performance in AOTC if Captain whatshisface hadn't said "There was no danger after all - and I just did a really crude piece of foreshadowing - in fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if explosives secretly built into the landing platform cut the ship to ribbons"
#6
Posted 24 June 2005 - 01:50 AM
I sometimes hear people come out with stuff like this, but ive NEVER heard anyone actually back it up. So come on, lets have some quotes. I`ll tell you what, I`ll buy you an ice cream if you can show me where the words “Trade Embargo” appear in ANY of the prequel films.
#7
Posted 24 June 2005 - 06:49 AM
A line like that would have been more appropriate if he'd have said it AFTER the decoy and everyone else got into a far safer and more secure point. Saying this immidately after arrival is really poor form for any security chief.
#8
Posted 24 June 2005 - 10:30 AM
How can you not notice all the boring political exposition in Attack of the Clones? I've only seen the movie once because I thought it wasn't very good, but there was plenty of political jargon that really just gummed up the works. I'm sorry if 'trade embargo' wasn't exactly in Clones (although I think it is), but to deny there wasn't some superfluous politics in there is a bit crazy.
Can someone more familiar with Clones point this stuff out? I guess if there isn't anyone and I'm REALLY bored I can get the screenplay online...but I'm not about to jump at it. You can have my ice-cream cone...
#9
Posted 24 June 2005 - 10:37 AM
Reason #2 The Trade Federation
This yawner hits you early on while the classic introductory text is still scrolling up.
Turmoil has engulfed the
Galactic Republic. The taxation
of trade routes to outlying star
systems is in dispute.
Huh? Trade routes? What kinda plot is that? This sounds more like some boring course in American History than the plot for a Science Fiction movie. Isn't this what started the War of 1812? Is Andrew Jackson going to be in this movie? The trade Federation is never fully explained either. If they are indeed a Trade Federation then why do they have an army? And why do they have a seat in the senate? And why do they have a "Viceroy"?
Reason #28
The United States of Naboo
Within thirty seconds there is mention that Amidala was so well loved that when her two terms were up they tried to amend the constitution but instead she went on to serve in the senate. Then it's mentioned that after four trials in the Supreme Court that Nute Gunray is still in charge of the trade federation. Two terms? Constitution? Supreme Court? This is just the United States of America! Where is the creative vision? I would be willing to bet that there are three branches to their government: The Judicial, the Legislative and the Executive. Some people read Tolkien or Heinlein for inspiration but apparently Lucas gets his inspiration from an eighth grade Social Studies book.
Maybe I meant "trade federation" instead of "trade embargo"...but I still think it's in there. And, my main point still stands. Do I at least get a waffel cone yet?
This post has been edited by dougte: 24 June 2005 - 10:47 AM
#10
Posted 24 June 2005 - 01:57 PM
Stupid Lucas and his bad decisions. Why can't he put more adventure instead of boring politics?
#12
Posted 24 June 2005 - 02:40 PM
I agree with you: politics are not boring...BUT Lucas's execution of politcs within these movies is (at least in my opinion.)
#15
Posted 25 June 2005 - 05:01 AM
Anyone actually watching the film will quickly realise that the taxation bit is not only a ruse, but it plays no part in the film at all. In fact, I think its only mentioned once in the actual script (by Palpatine). Its just a bit of trouble (in a peaceful galaxy) to get things moving. It in no way bogs the story down.
This not only adds some solid grounding to the fantasy, it takes up about 4 seconds of screen time. Nute and Rune were arrested at the end of TPM, and yet are seen at the end of AotC. If this dialogue (included for those of us actually following the story) wasnt in the film, you can bet that Chefelf would have the discrepancy as one of his `reasons to hate`. like I said, how does 4 seconds make a film boring or too political? its like the opening crawl in TPM, it doesnt get in the way.
after you`ve convinced me!