The ability to speak does not make you smart
When the Phantom Menace was announced, a big name actor was needed to give the film so called gravitas as there were no parts for the Hamils or Solos so Lucas came up with Liam Neeson to play the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jin.
What a job he did!
It's this author's opinion that this Jedi was one of the best that has been on the silver screen and that is mostly due to Liam Neeson's acting.
Qui Gon's character was the epitome of a true Jedi - calm under pressure, wise and diligent and a great fighter - the finale duel where he and a young Kenobi took on Darth Maul is considered on the best Star Wars saber fights.
Here's some facts, quotes and trivia about Qui Gon
- A venerable if maverick Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn was a student of the living Force. Unlike other Jedi Masters, who often lose themselves in the meditation of the unifying Force, Qui-Gon Jinn lived for the moment, espousing a philosophy of "feel, don't think -- use your instincts."
- The Phantom Menace's production sets were built only as high as the tops of the actors' heads and computer graphics filled in the rest. But it was realised that Liam Neeson was so tall that they needed to build things taller and this cost the production another $150,000 in construction costs.
- The Jedi stands at a tall height of 1.93 meters.
- Quote said to Jar Jar: The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now get out of here.
- Phantom Menace is the only film in the series in which the top-credited actor plays a non-recurring character, and in which the top-credited character dies.
- What's in a name? The name "Qui Gon" derives from an ancient Chinese system of alternative medicine called "Qigong". The word "Jinn" refers to the "Djinn" one of the so called genies of Arabian myth.
- Qui-Gon was actually a padawan of Count Dooku.
- Actor Liam Neeson described his character thus: "He's almost like a monk, an old-time warrior who is wise and quite philosophical, yet very skilled in martial arts. He has incredible confidence, as well as a magical quality that enables him to see into the future. He's not really a rebel, but he has his own code."
- A foreboding exchange:
- Anakin: You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?
- Qui-Gon Jinn: What makes you think that?
- Anakin: I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.
- Qui-Gon Jinn: Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him.
- Anakin: I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi.
- Qui-Gon Jinn: I wish that were so.
- In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Qui-Gon Jinn's voice is heard shouting "Anakin! Anakin!" passing through the Force when master Yoda senses wayward Anakin Skywalker's slaughter of the Tuskens. The novelization of the film narrates this is the first time that Yoda encounters a Jedi's spirit who has passed into the Force. Near the end of Revenge of the Sith Yoda reveals to Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon has "returned from the netherworld of the Force" to teach them how to become one with the Force. Yoda and Obi-Wan receive this training during their exile on the planets of Dagobah and Tatooine.
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| The famous 'Duel of the Fates' scene |
- Contrary to popular belief, the city where Qui-Gon discovers a young Anakin is not the famous spaceport of Mos Eisley, but a different place called Mos Espa. Qui-Gon's description of Mos Espa is almost the same, if not the same word for word, as Obi-Wan's description of Mos Eisley during A New Hope.
- The exchange that explained what the Force was:
- Anakin: What are midi-chlorians?
- Qui-Gon Jinn: Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form that resides within all living cells.Qui-Gon Jinn's hand held communicator is a refashioned Sensor Excel Razor for Women. Smooth bro, smooth.
- Qui-Gon Jinn: There's always a bigger fish.
- An early idea that George Lucas had was for Jinn to have long white hair. In hindsight that was a wise choice as it sounds that would have been too Gandalf the White like.
Extra for Experts: Here's Liam Neeson in a behind the scenes photo from a scene on Tatooine - looks like he's returned to the ship with spare parts won from Wotto:
Did you think this was a good list? Here's 101 facts about Star Wars!