The head of the evil capitalist Trade Federation is Nute Gunray, a cheap pun on the names of Newt Gringrich and Ronald Reagan.
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)
Disappointing according to whom? I have enjoyed all the films. The political implications, whatever they might be aside, I have enjoyed all the films.
I am with you there. I don't look to movies for political commentary. It's all about the story for me.
Dont worry about anything Hollywierd does. When I was in Europe the overiding comment I heard about Hollywood movies was how 'inaccurate' their historical recreations were and how stupid the scripts were. In that criticism of the US I think the Europians were accurate. However the peace always wins crowd has been getting real quiet lately. Probably resting to be ready when Hillary the Great shows the world how to properly wield a military.
Mr. Lucas, you are good at making movies and I enjoy them - and I suggest that is what you stick with, because a political analyst or historian you are not.
Thanks, Mr. Lucas. You just saved us some bucks.
Right. The left has attacked Lucas as a racist a number of times.
The head of the evil capitalist Trade Federation is Nute Gunray, a cheap pun on the names of Newt Gringrich and Ronald Reagan.
Funny how this happened- he wrote these lines in reference to George W. YEARS ago, before the man was President! (if the article is accurate).
boycott by PABAAH.com is ON!
"It is just one of those re-occuring things. I hope this doesn't come true in our country. Maybe the film will awaken people to the situation of how dangerous it is . . . The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we are doing now in Iraq are unbelievable."
--George "MIchael Moore" Lucas
I guess in these liberals minds, Himmler and Eichmann would be Obi-Wan and Yoda, and Eisenhower would be Darth Vader.
I'm thinking that Anakin/Darth is more comparable to bin Laden than Bush. But in any case, when one is fighting an enemy who seeks to destroy you, is there any room for fence straddling? In the WoT, many of our activities involve shutting down financial assets, rooting out nests of jihadists, and eliminating safe havens for terrorists to gather and train. If a country is not cooperative along these fronts, they truly are the enemy in this War.
Is it mandatory that one lose 60 IQ points immediately upon joining the entertainment industry?
I plan to be a one-man China as regards this film.
Catch me if you can.
Bin Laden gets to bonk Natalie Portman? :-0
It is unbelievable as to the thinking of the people who say this. There are no parallels. In Iraq, we are not fighting a government, much less one who is backed by a communist superpower. We are fighting a band of thugs, who couldn't run a government if their lives depended upon it.
This is bow crap...
Leftist frenchie moonbats see the evil bush on every card of the rorschach ink blot test.
"alt dot binaries dot dvd!"
Shoot, Jesus said that, too.
"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."
"Most bad people think they're good people."
Well...at least we know where the clunky writing and cheesy mysticism comes from.
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