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)
Frankly, I don't know why we've all been even dignifying this new film by these threads.
Granted, I liked the original SW. In fact, I loved it -- and the sequel, Empire Strikes Back. But I was younger, then. And different. Now, I've simply outgrown it and find it all very simplistic. I'll give my money instead to charity, thank you.
As far as Lucas's political (for lack of a better word) insights, I think that is all just part of the hype to get people into the theaters. Hollywood is desperate for a hit lately, and they'll do anything to generate buzz. You guys are simply feeding into it.
Dactah Jonze! That was a sop to the then-new trend of cute kids in SF/fantasy movies started by E.T.
In fear of sounding like a new-age spiritual junkie...what you wrote, "Some people are just hunting for stuff to be offended about", sounds like so much wasted emotion. Folks we have real villians out there....not George Lukas!
"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."
idiocy is not dissent. If someone screamed "light sabre!" in a theater, it would be Bush's fault. The only parallel in Lucas's statement is that it parallel's other hollywood idiocy. If it wasn't idiocy it wouldn't have made the MSM or this post. It is when people try to rationalize the idiocy does idiocy truly become idiocy.
"...try to rationalize the idiocy does idiocy truly become idiocy."
...thus idiocy tries to evolve in supposed thought provoking truth.
"Frankly, I don't know why we've all been even dignifying this new film by these threads."
If *some* films are political, and are aimed in part against people who are elected to help bring forward a conservative agenda, how does it pay off to ignore them? Why concede defeat all the time?
There is a quote in the book "Labyrinth of Evil" (prequel story to the new movie) that makes a reference to the "Triad of Evil." It refers to the Republic's enemies. At the time the Republic is under the leadership of Palpatine. Soon to become Emperor Palpatine. That is the correct Bush comparison, not to Vader.
The lack of acceptance to dissent is disturbing to say the least. Dissent is what helps to define a democracy.
stop argueing with yourself...it's idiotic... ;)
Do you actually belive starwars is about GWB, the war on terror, and and that the Taliban or the French are the "rebel" force? If not...stop with the Palpatine comparisions to Bush. It's just not credible.
LOL. They're not the brightest birds in the barnyard. LOL.
I guess the jab was the new found democracies in the old Soviet Union, no it must be the Lebanese wanting freedom, or maybe the Egyptians, or maybe the voters in Saudi Arabia or the Iraqis. So many jabs one can take at this President.
There really are much bigger things to be worrying about.
Wow! That's a good one! I wonder how many other commonly used phrases we could dig up and attribute them as allusions to Bush. I bet the left is scanning the screenplay right now, trying to find anything they can to distort Lucas' movie and his motives. Of course, Lucas won't really deny these things since he's a liberal, but inside I'm sure he's thinking to himself, "where do these people come up with these things?"
NO. Star Wars is a movie, and I enjoy it as such. But, I can see where people can read into things what they want to. Such people need to lighten the hell up.
"Dissent is what helps to define a democracy."
Then stop trying to squash ours.
It's not lack of acceptance of dissent on my part.
It's MISPLACED dissent.
When ANY film that is not set in contemporary times brings in contemporary political commentary it RUINS the feel of the film.
SW is about a 'galaxy far, far away', not 'now'. Not ' us'.
If you want to get preached to( from whatever side) you go to documentaries. If you want fantasy entertainment that takes you AWAY from here and now, SW promises to be that. That's the main premise. To interject jabs at current politics breaks that fantasy,IMO.
I've been a SW fan for over 20 years- and I'll say it again.
In the beginning, Lucas served the story. It was bigger than him. Now he's bigger than it- and it serves his marketing division and corporation.
IF it is also used as his personal pulpit for political,
liberal commentary he ends it all by having ruined his own reputation. He's had his final say.
How Star Wars is thought of now will be up to the public and the culture.
ditto!
What am I trying to squash?
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