am i the only one who doesn't think darth maul is the best thing to hit the galaxy?

[Pol Favre]

now i don't hate the character, but i don't get why he's so popular. not only does he die without doing any REAL damage (besides killing qui-gon, and possibly changing the course of history. i mean, what if qui-gon had've trained anakin?), but he's pretty damn ugly.

 

so why do people like him so much?

he's annoying...

[Jedi_Monk]

Three words, two hyphenated: double-bladed Lightsaber.

[Schizophrenic]

Exar Kun did the double bladed thing long before Maul came about.

 

I'm indifferent to Maul. If he had more of a presence in the movie, I'd probly like him.

[CupO'Coffee]

i think he's so popular because he does all the acrobatic **** with his lightstaff. also he fights two persons at once while doing this, which hadn't been seen on a SW film before, making hem seem like a "cool" looking (at least his look is different), lightstaff wielding, intimidating super hero (or better super villain).

[Jokis]

I dont even think he talked in the movie...I never really liked his character, he wasnt someone I could get into like Vader was...

 

Villians are supposed to have those memorable lines...Darth Vader owned this catagory, you respected the man not only because he acted tough but because he looked tough.

 

Let me explain, near the end of RTJ he utters some famous lines...sure, it's his downfall but they are very poignet:

 

(I'm paraphrasing)

 

"Ahhh...a sistah...sooo, you have a sister. Obi Wan was wise to hide her from me. If you wont turn to the Dark side...perhaps..she..will..."

 

Very strong line bringing out rage and fury out from Luke...

 

Look at the Emperor in RTJ as well, killer lines:

 

(again, paraphrasing)

 

"Now young Jedi, you will die...)

 

"Luke: Your overconfidence is your weakness...

Emperor: Your faith in your friends is yours"

 

Absolutely killer...and you in turn intimidated by them...

 

Agree, no?

[Schizophrenic]

Maul did have a line or two, when he was speaking with Sidious on the balcony. I don't recall what he said, but it wasn't much. 20 words at most.

[Rogue15]

if the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, master.

 

At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we will have revenge.

 

and read Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter....he's awesome in that book....

[Star ReaVeR]

Darth Maul was just in there for the lightsaber action, he was a tad basic but cool nonetheless, but I still prefer Vader (or Dessan)

[Jedi_Monk]

Also, remember the Darth Maul poem TV commercial?

 

"Fear... fear attracts the fearful, the strong, the weak; the innocent, the corrupt; fear... fear is my ally."

 

I get goosebumps just thinking about those lines.

 

Lucas has often said that he wants Star Wars to be able to convey its story just through images and that the dialogue, while important, is secondary most of the time. Darth Maul was about visuals. Darth Maul was the antithesis of Vader. Where Vader had no expression, was more machine than man, Maul spoke with his face. When he was confident, he showed it, when he was annoyed, he showed it, when he was surprised, it showed. And the tattoo pattern on his face is designed to emphasize his expressions.

 

Where Vader was a tall, bulky menace in a suit of armor, Maul was dressed in flowing robes with nothing between him and his opponent but his own skill. Where Vader was reserved in his attitude--a Dark Jedi monk--Maul was having a good time doing bad things. Where Vader is "a sick man in an iron mask," Maul is at the peak of his physical condition.

 

Vader is a samurai and Maul is a ninja.

[Darth Seph]

I think Darth Maul is a cool character , how can anyone not like the double sided lightsaber. However i reckon Maul is a waste of a good character, he could have been included in episode 2 and more could have been learned and seen from him , to really live up to his popularity. looks like Lucas had other ideas though. the film is practically named after him and Sidious (both being phantom menaces) but he isnt in the movie for longer than 10 minutes solid........oh well we can only look forward to the next episodes

[BrainStorm]

They should have saved Maul for Episode 2 and he and Anakin could have duked it out.

[Tozier]

Please... Darth Maul sucks. He cannot act, for one thing, he has a few lines, the suckiest out of all the sucky lines from Episode 1, and he wasn't even menacing for a MOMENT. What made Vader so great was that he lasted for three whole episodes, and scared the pants off of us in the process. Torturing Han and Liea? GENIOUS. It really made the public hate him.... until ten minutes later when we learded that he was Luke's father. Then he redeems himself in the RTOJ whan he kills Palpatine.

 

What does Darth Maul do, besides act badly and have the stupidest name in existance? He has about twenty minutes on screen most of which have him standing in the background launching his stupid droids. The only time he is remotly menacing is when we see him standing in the hangar doors and he slowly looks up from his hood.

[GreyJedi]

Originally posted by Tozier

Please... Darth Maul sucks. He cannot act, for one thing, he has a few lines, the suckiest out of all the sucky lines from Episode 1, and he wasn't even menacing for a MOMENT. What made Vader so great was that he lasted for three whole episodes, and scared the pants off of us in the process. Torturing Han and Liea? GENIOUS. It really made the public hate him.... until ten minutes later when we learded that he was Luke's father. Then he redeems himself in the RTOJ whan he kills Palpatine.

 

What does Darth Maul do, besides act badly and have the stupidest name in existance? He has about twenty minutes on screen most of which have him standing in the background launching his stupid droids. The only time he is remotly menacing is when we see him standing in the hangar doors and he slowly looks up from his hood.

 

The above poster has it right. Maul is a very two-dimensional character as he is presented in Ep 1 (excluding book references here). He is straightforwardly evil - not even cunning really.

 

Vader had real personality, great lines, and inner conflict. Vader's character was more robust and interesting.

[Star ReaVeR]

yeah, it was the same guy who played Toad in the movie X-men

[Jedi_Monk]

Star Wars is Vader's story. He might be the antagonist, but he's the main character. His story spans all six episodes. Of course he's going to be more well-developed than Maul. But Maul was the smoking gun. Maul's death leaves Palpatine without an apprentice, and that is where Anakin comes in. Maul is there to open the door for Vader. Maul is the shadow of the beast that will someday overcome the galaxy. The shadow is two-dimentional. Maul was intended to be nothing more; he wasn't there to distract from Vader, but to give the Sith a sense of history and manace.

[GreyJedi]

Originally posted by Jedi_Monk

Star Wars is Vader's story. He might be the antagonist, but he's the main character. His story spans all six episodes. Of course he's going to be more well-developed than Maul. But Maul was the smoking gun. Maul's death leaves Palpatine without an apprentice, and that is where Anakin comes in. Maul is there to open the door for Vader. Maul is the shadow of the beast that will someday overcome the galaxy. The shadow is two-dimentional. Maul was intended to be nothing more; he wasn't there to distract from Vader, but to give the Sith a sense of history and manace.

 

Could someone correct me if I am wrong, but I heard or read somewhere that Lucas originally developed Star Wars as nine episodes. He decided to make Ep 4-6 first for various reasons, etc. If this is true, what are the last three episodes about?

[Star ReaVeR]

MAYBE SPOILER ABOUT ANAKIN

I wanna see how Anakin actually becomes vader, I heard from my mate he fell in some lava pit or something? that's what a few guys said (that explains all the holes in his face etc.).

 

From what I've seen episode 2 looks a lot darker then 1, it has lots of potential

[RoyalGuard]

Maul is presented as a contrast to Anakin/Vader.

 

Where Vader is steeped in dark power, Maul is an insanely proficient sabre warrior (EU material indicates that Qui-Gon was a very skilled warrior, Maul took him and his apprentice on at the same time and still had room to fit in useless and taunting twirls)

 

While I admit I prefer Vader, Maul's attitude is cool too, he doesn't speak to his prey, they are beneath him. The rage in his expression is all they need to see to know that they're in real trouble.

 

Oh well, each to their own I guess...

[HBK]

Maul is to episodes 1-3 what Fett was to episodes 4-6(though I think Fett was a bit better character). Small parts, but they set a tone a carry a presence. I think Maul is a good character, not great. He looked cool/ had the light staff/ and fought well. I think his expressions and attitide were good. He just wasn't as evil/intimidating as he could have been. He didn't choke someone for there lack of faith, or kill someone for failing him 1 to many times. We didn't get to see him interact with many people. 2-dimensional is a good description.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW that the guy who played Maul (Ray Park?) was the Toad in X-Men?

 

HBK

[Jedi_Monk]

Could someone correct me if I am wrong, but I heard or read somewhere that Lucas originally developed Star Wars as nine episodes. He decided to make Ep 4-6 first for various reasons, etc. If this is true, what are the last three episodes about?

Yes, Star Wars grew into a saga of nine parts. Lucas started in the middle and worked his way back and then forward. The first three parts were about Anakin, the last three about Luke, and their two stories intercected in the middle trilogy. There was even a point in time, as I recall, when Mark Hamill said that he was actually signed up to act in the last three acts of the Star Wars saga.

 

But Lucas has sinced dropped the idea and handed over what happens after Return to the writers (who've ruined it to such an extent that if Lucas actually ever picks a few of them up, he might decide he needs to make episode VII-IX, afterall).

 

I wanna see how Anakin actually becomes vader, I heard from my mate he fell in some lava pit or something? that's what a few guys said (that explains all the holes in his face etc.).

Your friend got that from the Return of the Jedi novelization. Take it with a grain of salt.

 

DID YOU KNOW that the guy who played Maul (Ray Park?) was the Toad in X-Men?

Park also played Sub-Zero in the first Mortal Kombat movie, and was the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. The man can kick arse, can't he?

[BCanr2d2]

Maul is more of the character that is best left to doing his talking with his double-bladed lightsaber. Maul is the action Sith, compared to the type of Sith that Vader was, he was full of mind games and creating fear with them. I think the analogy of ninja and samurai is very apt here.

 

As for who the phantom menace is, it isn't Maul anyway, it is Palpatine/Sidious. He is the phantom, his alter ego is that part, he is on both sides of the trade federation dispute. He is the master of the Sith, Maul is only his lackey, a disposable one at that.

[hedgehobb]

I've got Darth Maul slippers, Darth Maul ring binder, Darth Maul pencil case, Darth Maul calender, Darth Maul cooler, yea, I like Darth Maul. All I will say is this, the guy fought two Jedi's, with the reputation that beseeches a Jedi do you think Lucas would let him live. Also it is like Bobba Fett, he was only in for a few moments but that is why Star Wars is Star Wars, the impression from a few simple actions lasts greater..."And no freakin' disintergration... freakin'", "As you wish"