Posted on 05/16/2005 2:07:19 AM PDT by Savage_Nation
CANNES — The last episode of the seminal sci-fi saga "Star Wars" screened at the Cannes film festival Sunday, completing a six-part series that remains a major part of popular culture — and delivering a galactic jab to U.S. President George W Bush.
"Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" was seen ahead of a celebrity-laden evening screening to be attended by its creator and director, George Lucas, and its cast, including Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen.
Reaction at advance screenings was effusive, with festival-goers, critics and journalists at Cannes applauding at the moment the infamous Darth Vader came into being.
But there were also murmurs at the parallels being drawn between Bush's administration and the birth of the space opera's evil Empire.
Baddies' dialogue about bloodshed and despicable acts being needed to bring "peace and stability" to the movie's universe, mainly through a fabricated war, set the scene.
And then came the zinger, with the protagonist, Anakin Skywalker, saying just before becoming Darth Vader: "You are either with me — or you are my enemy."
To the Cannes audience, often sympathetic to anti-Bush messages in cinema as last year's triumph here of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" attested, that immediately recalled Bush's 2001 ultimatum, "You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror."
Lucas, speaking to reporters, emphasised that the original "Star Wars" was written at the end of the Vietnam war, when Richard Nixon was U.S. president, but that the issue being explored was still very much alive today.
"The issue was, how does a democracy turn itself into a dictatorship?" he said.
"When I wrote it, Iraq (the U.S.-led war) didn't exist... but the parallels of what we did in Vietnam and Iraq are unbelievable."
He acknowledged an uncomfortable feeling that the United States was in danger of losing its democratic ideals, like in the movie.
"I didn't think it was going to get this close. I hope this doesn't come true in our country."
Although he didn't mention Bush by name, Lucas took what sounded like another dig while explaining the transformation of the once-good Anakin Skywalker to the very bad Darth Vader.
"Most bad people think they're good people," he said.
The political message, though, was for the most part subsumed by the action and heroics the series — set "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" — is known for.
And for fans hungry for a last look at "Star Wars" elevated above the disappointing two other films that preceded "Sith," it was satisfying closure.
"Whatever one thought of the previous two installments, this dynamic picture irons out most of the problems, and emerges as the best in the overall series since 'The Empire Strikes Back,'" the Hollywood trade magazine Variety said.
The buzz meant the movie was the hottest ticket at Cannes this year. It also signalled the end of a cinematic era for a generation of filmgoers.
"Revenge of the Sith" is the last of three prequels to the landmark trilogy that burst onto the screens in 1977, 1980 and 1983.
It is in fact the middle episode of the epic story arc, explaining the events that led young Luke Skywalker to battle Darth Vader in order to save Princess Leia, before going on to vanquish the Empire.
Its success could be measured in the claps and smiles in the theatre, which were light years away from the tepid response engendered by the first two prequels, released in 1999 and 2002, widely panned for their boring exposition and wooden dialogue. (Wire reports)
Are the people in the press (and this thread) really saying that nobody EVER said those words until George W. Bush spoke them?
Me thinks people are just LOOKING for something to be offended by.
"When I wrote it, Iraq (the U.S.-led war) didn't exist... but the parallels of what we did in Vietnam and Iraq are unbelievable."
The parallels of the US battling communist (Vietnam) and a tyrannical (Iraq) governments, and Luke Skywalker battling the Evil Empire are indeed unbelievable.
Uh..that IS what he meant, right?
I find it funny that the FReepers who normally would condemn stealing suddenly are all for it when it suits their agenda.
George Lucas said the movie is not based on President Bush. He said the phrase was used over 30 years ago in his first Star War movie
"'You are either with me — or you are my enemy.'
Are the people in the press (and this thread) really saying that nobody EVER said those words until George W. Bush spoke them?
Me thinks people are just LOOKING for something to be offended by."
Yeah. This offense that everyone seems to be taking is getting old.
Old enough to know it is useless talking to idiots.
Lucas never really dissed the Pres in this article.
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. Matt. 12:30
I noticed that recently as well. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who were accusing him of driving out demons by Beelzebub.
If only the author of this article could see the irony in his accusations.
LOL, you must be in your 20's.
The FACT that Lucas admitted on video, that when he wrote this story/screenplay, it was aimed more at the Nixon administration's handling of the Viet Nam war (never mind it was demonrats who got us into that war and made it into the "quagmire" they are always whining about). He also pointed out that when he wrote this story/screenplay, IRAQ DIDN'T EVEN EXIST (and of course, Bush wasn't president).
SO, as USUAL...
DEMONRATS, you need to SIT DOWN and STFU.
Actually, I thought Watto was Lucas' idea of a low level wiseguy running a chop shop. Now if only Anakin kills Jar Jar Binks, I can forgive everything else he does from then on.
The only unbelievable PARALLELS--are the incredible efforts that the Hollywood elite (and the news media) go to in their anti-American efforts, and their blatant willingness to give 'aid-and-comfort' to the enemy of America in time of war!
Yep, he's right on the mark--the PARALLELS ARE UNBELIEVABLE!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=348759&in_page_id=1773
Lucas said: "I wrote these films during the Vietnam War and the Nixon era and the question was: how does a democracy turn itself over to a dictator.
"It is a recurring theme in history and I hope it doesn't come true in our country.
"When I wrote Star Wars, Iraq didn't exist. We were just funding Saddam Hussein and giving him weapons of mass destruction, we weren't worried about him.
"I was writing it at the time of the Vietnam War but the parallels between Vietnam and what we are doing in Iraq now are unbelievable."
Isn't if funny how power grabbing progressives - who believe in a highly centralized state with little representation and accountability - bemoan the Bush administration and claim, of all things, that there's less democracy? These people are the fascists, if they had their way. We'd all be in a slave state like the Cubans are, or the Russians were.
Lucas says: "At the time I did that, it was during the Vietnam War and the Nixon era. The issue was: How does a democracy turn itself over to a dictator? Not how does a dictator take over but how does a democracy and Senate give it away?"
Has he ever heard of Frankin Delano Roosevelt? That SOB ran for president four consecutive times, and twisted the national/state relationship by exceeding the constitutional limit on the scope of the federal government. He was kind of like a dictator. And people kept electing him. Does that answer Lucas' question about how a democracy turns itself over to a dictator? I guess since FDR advanced many points on the socialist party's agenda, people like Lucas can be hypocrites and not ask the same questions of Democrat presidents.
If you want another example of Lucas' muddled thinking, consider that his first movie, THX1138 was supposedly about suffocating consumerism. Except that the world depicted reflected an advanced stage of Communism. People had nothing to buy and were controlled by the state. Can liberals like this guy be any more blind?
The irony of his hypocritical stand against consumerism is that he is a fat, rich, white man who made his fortune and fame by selling products on the open market. Not just the movies, but all the promotional tie-ins with junk food and made-in-China toys. If he wants to rage against the machine, he should off himself. At least he'd start to be honest.
I don't think I'll pay money to see the next starwars. I might download it for free off the internet. F*ck him.
it always amazes me. I see it constantly on FR too. Of course if I paid more attention to DU, I would see it there as well I am sure...
it's human nature for some, I guess....
it always amazes me. I see it constantly on FR too. Of course if I paid more attention to DU, I would see it there as well I am sure...
it's human nature for some, I guess....
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