[Helena]

Just thought I'd join in the fun. Which of these two Jedi Masters would you select as your doomed mentor-figure? (I'm talking about the OT version of Obi-Wan, naturally.)

[Just your average movie goer]

Give me Obi Wan any day. He seemed like someone who you'd not only teach you the ways of the force... but I'd think he'd a be a really good friend to have. He's interesting, quirky and quite youthful, despite his age.

[Mike Mac from NYU]

It is a no-brainer

Obi-Wan

Obi-Wan finds Luke, mentors him, Luke becomes a rebellion hero and then noble expert Jedi.
{Granted with Yoda's help}

Qui-Gon finds Anakin, mentors him, the kid becomes a whiny, pyschotic little bitch {no offense} and then into a black clad, heavy breathing, despot who destroys worlds. {although, granted, Obi-Wan did most of the messing up in training Anakin}

Obi-Wan may not be a better teacher than Qui-Gon, but he sure as hell is a better evaluator of Jedi talent than Qui-Gon.

[Madam Corvax]

OOps, I forgot to register. The previous post was from me, of course.

[Despondent]

Madam C, do you post in English? I'm just curious if Chef's forum translates. Love your av.

Well I sensed chemistry between Qui-gon and Mrs. Skywalker, so he can't be all bad. (even though that would be against the Jedi code)

Does Obi-Wan ever get any action? Goodness that would be a long life without.

[Madam Corvax]

Madam C, do you post in English? I'm just curious if Chef's forum translates. Love your av.

Yes, I do post in English. It would be lovely to have a forum that translates, then I would not have to blush for my mistakes, (as I do now) - I would blame the forum.
As to my avatar - thanks, I like it too.

Now, the romantic tension between Qui-something and Shmi, was there really any? If there was, I doubt it was Lucas intention. I suppose most of women would feel attracted to Liam Neeson in one way or the other, so probably it was just natural chemistry between the two actors.
I read one version of alternative script for Episode I where there was romantic interest between Obi-wan and Anakin's mother, because Qui-Gon is really superfluous - the story would have been perfectly plausible without him, and I think it would be good idea to have some grown-up romance (if we were to improve the Episode I rather then re-write it from the scratch).

And come on, do not start on the Jedi code! Don't you think it should be the first thing Obi-wan informs Luke of in the OT, that he is not to have anything to do with girls if he seriously considers being Jedi as his career? The whole "Jedi should not feel love" was just another ridiculous plot device of Lucas.

[Helena]

Well, clearly the situation would be a little different with only a couple of Jedi left in the galaxy. You'd need all the Force-sensitive kids you could get.

[Just your average movie goer]

Mace Windu is particularly hilarious in Polish, because on seeing the name in print what comes to my mind at once is Polish exp​ression which translates into English as "He is feeling the elevator".

That is beautiful!

[J m HofMarN]

Let's look at the basic story arcs represented as dialogue, actiosn and audience reactions, for htese two characters:

Qui gon's is as follows:

Qui Gon: Be mindful of teh living force.

Obi Wan: Yeah yeah fuck off

Qui Gon: Let's collect a rag tag band of intergalactic misfits and be mindful of the living force.

Obi Wan: No, let's fight this guy.

Qui Gon: Blargh, I am dead.

Auidence: Why did the drummer for Kiss just kill that strange man?

Now compare this to the audience reaction to Obi Wan's death.

"Holy crap, that guy just sacrificed his life to save Luke."

I don't think there's any comparison. And why exactly did Lucas feel the need to place the blame for Vader on Obi wan and do such a bad job of it?

[J m HofMarN]

And another thing, Obi Wan was killed by a light saber and he just disappeared. Qui gon died the same way and he lingered and got to say some very un memorable last words. And I was glad to see the ghost of Obi Wan hanging around, would anyone feel the same if Qui Gon Jin came back to visit a lot? In fact

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO QUI GON?

Shouldn't he have like, watched over his padawan and the chosen one? Maybe popped in occasionally to give some advice or smack Anakin around or tell him to shut up or something? What the hell?

[Madam Corvax]

Well, clearly the situation would be a little different with only a couple of Jedi left in the galaxy. You'd need all the Force-sensitive kids you could get.

Well, I am shocked, Helena. Do you think that circumstances justify such a grossly misconduct of a Jedi?

And

WHAT HAPPENED TO QUI GON?

Nothing really.This proves that this guy was not necessary at all. Served not purpose. I remember that watching him being killed has no impact on me whatsoever. I think my empty popcorn bag had more influence on my mood atthat moment.
It really beats me how could an actor like Liam Neeson agree to do a stint in such a movie. Sir Alec Guiness did it for money. He confessed later that he hated the film, but needed the 100 000 $. Liam Neeson surely can't have been that desperate, can he?

[Helena]

Well, I am shocked, Helena. Do you think that circumstances justify such a grossly misconduct of a Jedi? 

I think the 'no romance' clause is a practical consideration rather than some kind of sacred law. The Jedi are supposed practise self-control at all times and avoid letting their emotions cloud their judgement. The point is that love is a very powerful emotion, and can easily lead to other things such as anger and hate - and thus to the Dark Side. At least, that's how it's explained in KOTOR (which generally provides a much better explanation of Jedi and Sith customs than the prequel trilogy).

I think it could make a very good plot device, if only Lucas would actually do something with it. For instance, imagine if Amidala married Bail Organa out of a sense of duty, leaving a furious Anakin feeling that she'd 'betrayed' him. This would help explain how he started down the path to the Dark Side, and would show precisely why it's such a bad idea for Jedi to fall in love.

Anyway. Back to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. I agree with the majority here, in that Qui-Gon is a totally unnecessary character - he serves no purpose and only introduces a continuity error, as Yoda was supposed to have trained Obi-Wan.

[Madam Corvax]

I think it could make a very good plot device, if only Lucas would actually do something with it. For instance, imagine if Amidala married Bail Organa out of a sense of duty, leaving a furious Anakin feeling that she'd 'betrayed' him. This would help explain how he started down the path to the Dark Side, and would show precisely why it's such a bad idea for Jedi to fall in love.

Yes, that would have worked! I haven't though about that particular reason, but I did think about it in general. That is supposed to be the main point of the OT, to show that path to the dark side, isn't it. And of course we haven't got any of this, apart from some teenage sulking. My idea of what turned Anakin to the dark side was that he was simply too powerful a Jedi, and power corrups, so he was, like feeling that he could do anything, so he started doing things that were on the edge of being moral.

Another idea that would have worked would be that Jedi, and Yoda in particular, refused to be actively involved in fighting with some "plausible" villians , and Anakin got furious about that. To me it would be consistent with what I thought about the Jedi from OT, that they are philosophers, never using violence if they could avoid it.

[Helena]

Another idea that would have worked would be that Jedi, and Yoda in particular, refused to be actively involved in fighting with some "plausible" villians , and Anakin got furious about that. To me it would be consistent with what I thought about the Jedi from OT, that they are philosophers, never using violence if they could avoid it.

The writers of KOTOR already beat you to that idea. Did I mention how I love that game?