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'm still going to see the movie.
"Unless noted before, the script for this was started years ago - like in the 70's."
You believe the script for this movie is exactly the same as it was 30 years ago, and hasn't been altered over time?
My understanding was that Lucas had the overall story in mind, and fleshed each movie out as he made them.
LOL
yeah and if I feel it in the movie, I will admit to such, but I havent seen it yet
nah I see it here quite often....
"I find it funny that the FReepers who normally would condemn stealing suddenly are all for it when it suits their agenda."
Yeah, look what they're doing to us, brah, what have we become ;-)
The Left discovered the ho chi mihn trail around our institutions and balanced political structure a long time ago. If you want to fight them, you have to use their tactics. Being a good guy will only be held against you. Save principles and moral behavior for others like ourselves, not those who want to undermine you.
Its just that liberals who have seen early screenings of the movie see "hate Bush" every waking moment. Then they reported it on DU and then Katie Couric reported it Today.
Lucas, BTW, is a one of the more conservative Hollywood moguls.
'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.'
Past support to other countries to defeat common enemies is not the same as current support to common enemies to defeat our allies.
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.
Yep, W is Darth Vader. Very deep. SO, along those lines, George Lucas is JarJar Binks. STFU, Lucas. You had no credibility to begin with. Why don't you figure out how to do a Diet Pepsi product placement in The Clone Wars?
"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."
Ya think? Will we win the war and then abandon our allies because of a bizarre hybrid of cowardice, moral relativism, hatred for liberty, and an unexplainable attraction to evil? Maybe if Hillary wins in 2008, but I doubt it.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
"THX1138 was clearly about a communistic (everyone is equal) fascist state. What made you think otherwise?"
Because Lucas has said it was his critique of consumerism. He was not making a cautionary tale about communism, or the dangers inherent in a system which does not respect the rights of the individual.
So liberals see themselves as Jedi Knights?
The author can't distinguish between good and evil in his vain attempt draw parallels to the sixties that don't longer exist.
I couldn't care less what anyone from Hollyweird thinks about the President. Have they forgotten how irrelevant they are?
He that is not with me is against me;
Fence sitters hate Jesus (everybody else too)
"Or the idea that movies have 'hidden themes' (as if it's possible to write fiction that doesn't) and this is some sort of communist conspiracy. I guess every great political party has its kook fringe."
It's all there, just subtle:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b555c262d74.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/745337/posts
"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."
I thought that the deadly neocons who covertly run the Bush administration were doing just the opposite, what with all the inciting of regime overthrows around the world? That's not "peace and stability." If anyone is going for the latter, it's the U.N. and rogue nations like the French and Germans, who are okay with people living under dictatorships, as long as the thugs running those countries keep the peace and set up plum oil contracts. Darth Chirac?
I understand what you mean. If I'm such a right-wing fascist, why would he want my money, ever?
On top of everything else, I could never forgive him for not making the ORIGINAL Star Wars movies available, as shown in theatres. If he needed to tweak those films to get them right, don't theatregoers deserve a refund? Or does he just make more money by all the successive re-releases?
"THX1138 was clearly about a communistic (everyone is equal) fascist state. What made you think otherwise?"
Here's a concrete example:
http://www.rgj.com/news/printstory.php?id=80250
"Rather than a portrait of a grim tomorrow, Lucas intended 'THX 1138' as a future-is-now metaphor of ’60s complacency and mass consumption....
"'George Orwell was right. There’s no greater genius as far as I’m concerned in terms of understanding human nature,' Lucas said. 'I think that a lot of people just believe anything you tell them, and no matter what it is, they just go along with the program.
"'They’re perfectly happy to take their pill every day and do what they’re told, and work and buy things, and work and buy things, and stay out of any complex emotional situations. And whatever the authorities tell them to do, they do, and whatever the authorities say is the truth, they believe is the truth.'"
Hey Lucas! Just shut up and make movies, OK?
Man, u were actually noticing the dress? :P
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