George Lucas summoned the “Star Wars” universe from his circa 1977 imagination. His creative fires have dimmed since then, leading to some pretty awful character names. Maybe Boba Fett sounded cool to me when I was 10, but lately Lucas’ name selections have become humorous for all the wrong reasons.
Here’s the worst of the bunch:
- Jar Jar Binks: ’nuff said.
- Count Dooku: Only the great Christopher Lee could make this character come alive.
- Biggs Darklighter: Luke’s childhood pal, and someone who got beat up on the playground, right?
- The Phantom Menace: OK, it’s not a character name, but it’s so awful it deserves a spot here.
- Qui-Gon Jinn: Didn’t Liam Neeson’s contract call for a better name?
(Photo: A new “Star Wars” villainness, Asajj Ventress, nearly made this list)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Panda Baba was named by a writer at West End Games in the late ’80s, when the license had gone to seed and only the game designers were working it (Tim Zahn’s first novel was still a few years away). The others are all Lucas, though.
(I was paid to know this stuff back when I worked for a Star Wars licensee; and I’m sticking to that story.)
Paulman — great tip … thanks for writing. I’ll take that one out and find another less than stellar name from the Star Wars franchise
George Lucas summoned the “Star Wars” universe from his circa 1977 imagination.
Well, with a little help from this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hidden_Fortress
And yes, the names in Star Wars took a turn into farce space some time ago.
K — Lucas has acknowledged his debt to “The Hidden Fortress” – and the original trilogy is good enough so I don’ t mind a little cribbing. But he clearly lost his mojo thereafter (although I did find much to admire in “Revenge of the Sith” – just wish another actor was chosen to play Anakin.