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)
I would say that communism is a corporate police state. Except the Corporations are part of the goverment as opposed to independent of it. It eventually gets hard to distinguish.
All Art reflects the views of the artist. It's unavoidable. You can't step outside yourself.
" As for Lukas, he should learn to keep his mouth shut regarding things he knows NOTHING about."
As should you.
What's the point of having any principles at all if you are going to discard them just because "the other guy" does?
"And Lucas is not a part of Hollywood."
One thing to admire about him is that he has the balls and the brains to fund his own movies. They're his, not a studio's. If other film makers were compelled to put their money on the line, they'd be more apt to think more about how the money-paying public will react, and to shape the movie accordingly. At least a little?
The last two Star Wars movies weren't great IMO, but Lucas was being true to his idea of making kids' movies. He thought about his audience and made age-appropriate movies.
Coppola tried it...and lasted one movie (One From the Heart).
"Do not forget that WE were the ones who initially backed Saddam and Iraq. I also remember that we had Iranian Sailors attending US Navy run Data Systems schools back in the 70's. It seems like we are the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to arming our "enemies." We have supported both Iran and Iraq in the past. Two of the three in the so called "Axis of Evil" It would be laughable if it were not so ludicrous."
As we all know, the world and its nations evolve. However, I have no doubt that the principles of the U.S. has changed very little over the past 200 years. In fact, as we know, it has gotten much better. What other nation in the world can say the same? What other nation has freed more people from tyranny than the U.S.? So to try and say..."well we were for these guys in the past and they turned out bad, what about that? HUH? HUH? HUH?"""...is not realistic.
The Liberal rant reminds me of Marlon Brando's character in "The Wild One," when asked by the bobbysoxer what was he rebelling against. His reply is "What do you got?" Same thing. A principled nation remains strong. A progressive, "do it if it feels good" nation disintegrates. Ask the Romans. Oh...they are no longer here.
"I would say that communism is a corporate police state. Except the Corporations are part of the goverment as opposed to independent of it. It eventually gets hard to distinguish."
If you look at corporatism as a couple of degrees separated from a welfare state, it brings up the question as to why some of the more strident members of our society are againt it?
If you believe in the welfare state, isn't increasing corporatisation a *good* thing? Because the economy is just "that" much closing to being centrally run?
If this anology is correct, the anti-capitalists have such venom towards corporations, in that these are competition to state run services. Yell and scream enough about them, and get voters to back legislation to bind the corps closer to the government with more regulations.
What the anticapitalists really hate though is the free market. If you believe that markets should be free, as the best possible way known to spread wealth through a society, you are an "extremist right winger." Maybe even stuck in the 18th century. Out of touch with the middle class, and so on.
What leftwing political parties across Western society obstruct most adamently are measures taken to free up the economy, things such as private savings accounts (these take money out of government treasuries, and are "uncollected" taxes) and school vouchers (takes kids out of indoctrination centers). In America, the Left were able to put up with racist members in their Party, as long as those people backed creating the welfare state.
Off on a tangent there, but yeah, I think anyone who wants to live in a free society shouldn't be totally enmored of increasing corporatism, anymore than we are of increasing state power. If steps *are* ever taken to roll back the welfare state in Western countries, expect some of the larger corporations toobject. Better we pay for everyone's medical care and pensions, and not them pay employees themselves? The multi-billion dollar bankruptcy bailouts point to their dependancy on the state.
Can we please remove this from "breaking news"?
That is just WRONG. :)
I never knew Lucas was a Lib too.
Prick.
I'm no Star Wars head anyhow.
I always thought the originals were more about the rise of the Roman Empire and the Jedi were the equivelant of persecuted Christians, forced to go underground. As many have pointed out on this and other threads, some people need to get a grip. I may not like Lucas's politics but he did make some of the greatest movies in history, along with Spielberg with the Raiders of the Lost Ark series (one and three, anyway.)
Hey, so I'm not the only one! I too have enjoyed all of the films. I've seen all of them multiple times. I saw Episode 2 a lot in the theater. I can't wait until it all comes together.
The thing is...unbridled pure captialism...a truly free market is just as much of a pipe dream as the communist Utopia. George Will said it best...a good Capitalist system needs to be watched over. Monopoly control, prohobitions against Insider Trading and such.
I like 'Temple of Doom' darn it. Why does that movie get so much slack?
I have read all the posts on this thread. One thing bothers me. Not Lukas, not his politics, not StarWars. The thing that bothers me is the lack of acceptance of dissent. Ok, so according to the article Lukas likens Darth to GWB (though I doubt he actually does), and our FR brethen are shouting from the roof-tops about dissent by a fellow American. Come on folks...we are bigger than that. Now, burning NewsWeek to the ground...count me in on that.
I agree. The story of starting a war to become a dictator happened in the 2nd prequal before the Iraq war started.
I thought Short Round was really annoying.
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