I saw *The Phantom Menace* on TV tonight for the first time in 20 years...

[First Speaker]

...ever since it first came out. And to my astonishment--I had totally, and blessedly, forgot completely that the movie had a character named "Jar Jar Binks". I mean, he had just totally slipped from my memory field. Maybe I'm just getting old. Or maybe the film is just mediocre and eminently forgettable. But I did remember Liam Neeson, and the guy in the devil mask, and the Ben Hurish high-tech chariot race, and even the appearance of Jabba the Hut. But who was this dweebish waste of space? I mean, he took up a *lot* of screentime in this thing. And he had totally vanished from memory...

[eShirl]

1. the first time I saw Phantom Menace

was the last time I saw a Star Wars movie

completely killed it for me

[First Speaker]

2. It isn't very good, is it...?

[jberryhill]

3. You should try it fresh

[TlalocW]

4. Oh, man, I remember when the Phantom Menace came out

I had been reading Star Wars novels for about a year (very enjoyable even if non-canonical), hyping myself up. Took off from work on the Friday it came for an early showing, had great seats. Got a hot dog, soda, popcorn, and candy. Lucas logo comes on; everyone claps. All right! Let's go!!!

Then Jar Jar and midi-chlorians? Really?

TlalocW

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Dear lord, has it really been 20 years?

And yeah, that's the last Star Wars movie I saw.

[BuffaloJackalope]

6. Jar Jar Binks is a Sith.

[Efilroft Sul]

7. Darth Binks: "Yousa people gonna die."

[Iggo]

10. At least then he'd be interesting.

[JCMach1]

8. As horrific as it is, still better than Ep. 2 &3

Awful, awful series

[Ron Obvious]

11. I got free tickets to that one

And I still felt cheated. Not that I was ever a Star Wars fan in the first place, but that was really the pits. I felt the tangible disappointment of the crowd all around me. What a shower of excrement.

The only amusing part of Jar Jar Binks is that it led to an amusing nickname for Jar Jar Abrams.

[Harker]

12. I've only seen the first two flicks

but I read somewhere that the actor who voiced this Binks thing became horribly depressed because of the depth and breadth of fans' hatred for the character.