If Lucas finds out, you really will meet a Trade Federation.
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)
Does it count if one views a pirated copy?
Dude.
That's, like, deep.
This is his thanks to the USA for giving him a $60 million tax break to build his studio at Presidio National Park.
If Lucas finds out, you really will meet a Trade Federation.
Well, certainly don't buy the toy dreck. These are cultural icons and it does behoove you to become familiar with the stories of today. Pick cheap matinee with candy and water you bring in yourself.
With this sort of thing, it's best to let kids see it and then you talk about it afterword and give it the right context. such as- WW2, it really was that simple, the fight against pure evil.
Some movies are so intrinsically vile you don't want your kids anywhere near 'em. This isn't one-- you can use it to frame a really nice conversion with your kid. What's more, a kid armed with a solid right-thinking analysis has a chance to help his benighted brethren at school, to help fill up the "whhoa that effect was so cool" void.
I must have missed the part where Ho Chi Minh was captured and imprisoned,, and an elected government took the place of his defeated communist dictatorship.
You have to forgive Hollywood directors who live in a world of fantasy, when they can't discern victory from defeat in the world of reality.
Things either go their way or its a dictatorship...
Not self centered or anything...
sheese people get a grip.
Speaking of the Trade Federation, didn't Lucas take some serious crap because they were supposed to be charicatures of Japanese? Then he took crap because Jar Jar Binks is supposed to be black?
I don't think Lucas could say or do anything that wouldn't have some group up in arms.
I think that pretty much covers it. Lately, everything is a metaphor to that crowd, whether it was the writer's intent or not.
LUKE: You know, between his howling and you blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here.
HAN SOLO: Bring 'em on! I'd prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around.
It happens with every SW release: Some hacks purporting to represent some racial group claim the ________ character negatively stereotypes them because it ________________.
Including progressives who support the 'progressive' plan of stealing assets from one group and distributing said assets to another group. Personally I think the phrase that most accurately describes this is
Most dumb people think they are smart people.
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