Qui-Gon Jinn

"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."

~ Qui-Gon, annoyed by Jar Jar Binks.
Qui-Gon Jinn was a Jedi master, the mentor of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the primary hero in the 1999 film, Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The film was the first of George Lucas' prequel trilogy. Qui-Gon Jinn was the first who met Anakin Skywalker as a young boy and could sense the force in him. At the time, he believed that Anakin was the chosen one who would bring balance to the force when Yoda, Obi-Wan, and the council did not believe so. He and Obi-Wan were entrusted with protecting Queen Amidala from the Trade Federation, secretly working for the Sith. He engages in battle with Darth Maul, twice: first on Tattooine and again on Naboo. Obi-Wan battles alongside Qui-Gon in the second lightsaber duel against Darth Maul. He wields a green lightsaber and was slain by Darth Maul. He was portrayed by actor Liam Neeson.

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace
The film opens when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, under the guise of Senate Ambassadors, are sent to negotiate with Viceroy Gunray of the Trade Federation. Unbeknownst to the Jedi that the Viceroy was secretly serving Darth Sidious, he tries to kill the two. The Jedi escape and sneak onto a warship, ready to strike the planet, Naboo. On Naboo, several battle droids attack the jungle outside the city of Queen Amidala and the jedi are caught in the middle of it. Qui-Gon saves a gungan called Jar Jar Binks and he becomes grateful for the deed. Qui-gon has Jar Jar take them to the Gungan city to speak with their high council. The Gungan leader, Boss Nass, refused to cooperate and hope Naboo will suffer. Under the mind control of the Force, Boss Nass offers transportation and "sells" Jar Jar to Qui-Gon. The two jedi and Jar Jar sneak in to city, rescue the queen and escape Naboo to Coruscant. A federation warship damages the Royal Airship and everyone takes refuge on the desolate desert, Tattooine.

Qui-Gon, Jar Jar, R2-D2 and Padme (secretly the queen) travel to the nearest town and find a mechanic shop. The shop is owned by a slave trader called Watto who owns the Skywalkers: Anakin and his mother Shmi. Qui-Gon could not afford the repair parts and Anakin takes his new friends home with him. Anakin tells Qui-Gon that he could enter an upcoming podrace and use the prize money to buy the parts. Qui-Gon agrees and so does Watto and Qui-Gon senses something about Anakin. The night before the race, Qui-Gon takes a blood sample from Anakin and sends it to Obi-Wan to examine it. The midi-chlorians in the blood were off the charts and if Anakin has Jedi blood in him, then he could be the Chosen One. Before the race, Qui-Gon raises the stakes and offers freedom for the Skywalkers if he wins. Watto agrees but only one can be free, to which he chooses the boy. Anakin wins the race, the parts are paid for and Anakin was now free. Qui-Gon told him he could be trained to be a jedi. Anakin did not want to leave his mother behind but she makes him go. On the way back to the ship, the two are ambushed by Darth Maul, Darth Sidious' apprentice. Anakin runs to the ship while Qui-Gon duels with the sith lord. The match ends in a draw as Qui-Gon escapes onto the ship.

The ship reaches Coruscant and Qui-Gon informs the council of his previous encounters. He tells them the sith have secretly returned and maybe planning something big. He also tells Yoda and Mace Windu about Anakin and how he senses the Force in him and how its powerful. The council hesistantly agrees to examine Anakin and they conclude that he is too old to be trained and sense a piece of the dark side in him.