Neeson joined the Star Wars franchise with the controversial prequel The Phantom Menace, playing the pivotal role of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), takes Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) under his wing. Sure, Neeson spends more of his screen time saving Jar Jar Binks and explaining what Midi-chlorians are than kicking a**, but at least he gets a few fights with antagonist Darth Maul, and proves he can swing a lightsaber as well as anyone ever has. As divisive as the movie rightly is with fans, Neeson at least gets one of the most memorably entertaining moments when he's killed by Darth Maul in the climax, imbuing a little emotion into a film which falls so far short of the brilliance of its predecessors. A wildly mixed bag bogged down by so many of George Lucas' excesses, but at least Qui-Gon plays one of the movie's few new characters who's actually likeable and worth remembering. Why couldn't Jar Jar just die instead!? Why!?!?