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Lucas jabs at 'Bush's empire'
Japan today ^ | Monday, May 16, 2005 at 07:29 JST

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)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bushhaters; doofus; georgelucas; getalife; gimmeabreak; helterskelter; hollywood; hollywoodleft; itsamovie; liberal; lightenup; maythedorksbewithyou; moviereview; revengeofthesith; starwars; starwarsvirgins; traitor
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To: demkicker
God forbid Lucas or any other Hollywood liberal write a movie about the Islamic cults or Saddam and Sons.

They would not want to insult their friends of Saddam.
101 posted on 05/16/2005 7:19:43 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: endthematrix
"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.

102 posted on 05/16/2005 7:20:19 AM PDT by Howlin (North Carolina, where beer kegs are registered and illegal aliens run free.)
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To: Savage_Nation
I heard this last night on Drudge, and my husband and I began talking bout how we thought actually that Yoda had more in common with George W.

For example, neither W. nor Yoda use "proper" English.

In the second one, Yoda kicked major bootie; Bush kicks major bootie.

Both are opposed to terrorism (i.e. slaughtering little children and innocent people mindlessly and intentionally)


In all seriousness, I don't turn to Star Wars for a political message or meaning in today's time. I understand that all these Hollywood types want people to see the deep intellectual symbolism contained in their movies blah blah blah. Really, what I get from George Lucas saying that Bush = the Dark side essentially is that the Liberals are represented by Senator Jar Jar Binks.

Frankly, when I go to the movies, I want to give my brain a rest for the most part, and just enjoy other's creativity. I usually end up walking out of a movie and asking for a refund if I feel as though I'm being beat over the head with a political message, unless I specifically chose that movie for that purpose (for example, I went to see the Life of David Gale because I am interested in the debate over the death penalty).
103 posted on 05/16/2005 7:22:13 AM PDT by IMissPresidentReagan ("My Friends we did it....we made a difference. ...All in all not bad, not bad at all." Pres. Reagan)
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To: macamadamia

"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?


104 posted on 05/16/2005 7:23:39 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet (home of the free because of the brave.)
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To: NeonKnight
LOL! Everyone should get a bootleg copy, and distribute copies to all their family and trusted friends. Funny.

I find it funny that the FReepers who normally would condemn stealing suddenly are all for it when it suits their agenda.

105 posted on 05/16/2005 7:24:37 AM PDT by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
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To: Savage_Nation

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


106 posted on 05/16/2005 7:24:57 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Howlin

"'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.


107 posted on 05/16/2005 7:25:15 AM PDT by toddlintown (Your papers please.)
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To: roses of sharon

Old enough to know it is useless talking to idiots.


108 posted on 05/16/2005 7:26:20 AM PDT by MJM59
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To: Howlin
Who's George Lucas?

109 posted on 05/16/2005 7:26:36 AM PDT by evets (God bless President Bush and VP Cheney)
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To: endthematrix

Lucas never really dissed the Pres in this article.



Few people seem to have read the article closely enough to have grasped this.


110 posted on 05/16/2005 7:29:57 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney)
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To: Angry Enough; evad
>>"You are either with me — or you are my enemy."

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.

111 posted on 05/16/2005 7:33:40 AM PDT by DrewsDad
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To: MJM59

LOL, you must be in your 20's.


112 posted on 05/16/2005 7:33:43 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: MikeinIraq
you know what, the more I hear people bitching, whining moaning and complaining about a movie NONE of them have actaully seen yet, the more I WANT to watch it....

It's amazing isn't it? I'll never understand.
113 posted on 05/16/2005 7:36:58 AM PDT by Borges
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To: Savage_Nation
They tried to pull this Bush-bashing CRAP on NBC's Today show this morning, but at least they mentioned something this article FAILS to mention...

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.

114 posted on 05/16/2005 7:38:09 AM PDT by DocH (Gun-grabbers, you can HAVE my guns... lead first.)
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To: martin_fierro

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.


115 posted on 05/16/2005 7:38:14 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Savage_Nation
Lucas 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."

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!

116 posted on 05/16/2005 7:39:04 AM PDT by stockstrader
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To: Beelzebubba

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."


117 posted on 05/16/2005 7:42:25 AM PDT by Savage_Nation
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To: Savage_Nation

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.


118 posted on 05/16/2005 7:43:36 AM PDT by Frank T
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To: Borges

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....


119 posted on 05/16/2005 7:48:54 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I joined the EEEVVIILLLL Sam's Club on Friday, April 22nd, 2005.....)
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To: Borges

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....


120 posted on 05/16/2005 7:48:55 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I joined the EEEVVIILLLL Sam's Club on Friday, April 22nd, 2005.....)
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