Chris Tucker or Jar Jar Binks?

[Justin]

Question:  Does this redeem Jar Jar at all?

Probly not.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

the only thing that can redeem him is a painful brutal bloody death.  preferrably his.

[Sharktopus]

Given that JarJar was born well within the age of PC, I sincerely doubt that this was his intent or a subconscious thing-- not to mention that a racially insensitive character might harm merchandise sales, heaven forbid.

But what's the explanation for all the stereotypical accents in Episode I? I could overlook JarJar's overblown pidgin English if not for the Trade Federation's "Rook out, it's Godzilla!" and Watto's Little Italy by-way-of Chico Marx accents.

Interestingly, Lucas may have unintentionally initiated the now common sterotype that people of aquatic descent all have mush-mouthed accents:

ISH A TWAP!

[Justin]

Zoidberg?  Are you saying all Jews are mush-mouthed?  I tell ya, this goes a long way towards supporting my Klansman theory.

(This is where I would put a winking emoticon)

[JonnyFrag]

As an inverse to something someone said earlier:
I'd go with Chris Tucker.
It took hundreds, nay, thousands of man hours and millions of dollars to make something so annoying.
Chris Tucker did it after 15 minutes in Madonna's wardrobe.

[LadyKenobi]

I could overlook JarJar's overblown pidgin English if not for the Trade Federation's "Rook out, it's Godzilla!" and Watto's Little Italy by-way-of Chico Marx accents.

Again, I just didn't see this as a racial thing.  There are only so many non-WASP-American accents you can create and still have it be understandable.  I never thought of any of these accents as "stereotypical" until somebody else suggested it to me, and then, as with the Jar Jar thing, I think it becomes a case of "see what you want to see."  He has no history of racist portrayals in other movies.  I give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Sharktopus]

Again, I just didn't see this as a racial thing.  There are only so many non-WASP-American accents you can create and still have it be understandable.  I never thought of any of these accents as "stereotypical" until somebody else suggested it to me, and then, as with the Jar Jar thing, I think it becomes a case of "see what you want to see."  He has no history of racist portrayals in other movies.  I give him the benefit of the doubt.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm certainly not calling George racist. I don't think that at all. Just lazy. "Eh, make 'em sound vaguely Japanese. That should get a laugh out of the kids."

[Rufus T]

This is certainly a tough one. My vote goes to Jar Jar Binks. At least in the Fifth Element we get to see Bruce Willis slam Chris Tucker against a wall and choke him. There's a little satisfaction in seeing that. In Jar Jar's case there is no such satisfaction. I mean Liam Neeson grabs his tongue for like a second. But no pain is felt. And Jar Jar needed to feel some pain. I mean most of us in the audience certainly felt pained.

[Cap'n UKRiffer]

Thats an awesome poster 

[Rufus T]

Thanks. I saw it on the website listed at the bottom and couldn't resist posting it here. I was in fact trying to find a funny picture of Jar Jar.

[teedub]

Finally watched SW:TPM today, and without a doubt, Jar-Jar is FAR more annoying than Tucker.  Probably only because he appears on-screen more often, but still reprehensible.

[6079SmithW]

I say JarJar, because I'm pretty sure Lucas didn't realize he was annoying at all- he was just supposed to be comic relief. Tucker was supposed to be irritating as hell, or so I assume- the problem there is not that the director didn't get what he wanted, but that nobody in their right mind would want it.

[StellarJoe]

Chris Tucker.  Sure, Jar Jar made me nauseous, but Chris Tucker (or Ruby Rhod) gave me a concussion and crushed my soul at the same time.   

[Tyrant]

  I can't be annoyed with a character that probably helped to inspire the character King Leo in Mike Nelson's (extremely good) Death Rat novel.

   Because of this, my vote is for Jar Jar.

[nakedandsavage]

As one of the (seemingly) few people who actually like The 5th element,I would have to go with Chris Tucker myself.I can block out Jar Jar,and as I will only watch the movie with the rifftrax anyway he actually helps in a way.But in 5th element I have to suffer C.T. when I watch the movie unriffed.
jsn