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)
What is it about the modernization of the world that has caused truth to suddenly become compatible with lies?
It has nothing to do with the modern world... It's always been true that such absolutism is bad psychology. It's the justification for almost all the horrors of human civilization from the excesses of the Inquisition to the Russian Purges. It's true that someone who supports your enemy can't logically support you, but it's a big step to say that anyone who doesn't support you MUST logically be an enemy. Their reasons could be nefarious or honestly prudent, reasonable or unreasonable, but you can't act on an inference without full knowledge. So the "with us, or against us" statement was mindless demagoguery, because it assumes a treacherous motive through the arbitrary exclusion of other possibilities.
I'll illustrate: in retrospect, the actions of certain members of the UN security council seem to have been nefarious, tho not all the evidence is in, it's a more then fair charge at this point. However, any future obstinacy among allies could have as much to do with the perception (false tho it is) that the US government lied, or at least exaggerated the casus belli against Saddam's regime. In such a case, can we claim absolutely that they are just trying to help our enemies? They maybe doing that, but that isn't absolutely their motive. Perhaps you don't agree with it, but it's a fair argument I think.
LOL, some conservatives need to take a chill pill.
You want something funny, watch the scene in Good Will Hunting where Will tells them if he works for them he might as well shoot his friend in the arse and take his job. Now THAT scene was purely clairvoyant in that it perfectly predicted the Left's lame criticisms of GW Bush.
Who's going to be the one to "watch over" the capitalist system? The government? Saying that capitalist corporations are vulnerable to corruption and hunger for power while governments are not is not only hypocritical, but completely false. Just look at history. Some capitalists have certainly done bad things, but governments have done far worse. Every genocide in history was perpretrated by governments, not corporations. Capitalism is not perfect, but it's the best system that's available.
Pure free-market capitalism is like leaving the henhouse unguarded. Having the government "watch over" markets is like having the fox "watch over" the henhouse.
I know. I almost took a job for his company many years ago. Toured his facility up there somewhere around the Silicon Valley. Very glad now that I declined. Never was at the 'Ranch' located furthur up the left coast. It was fairly predictable that the Star Wars 'Good is Bad' schtick was gonna try to jab Bush and our effort to defend ourselves. It is irresponsible to attempt to brainwash our children with this tripe. Especially when we are in the middle of a war for our very survival. The best thing you could do for your children is to keep them away from these Weasels.
Yeah right. If true, George the Weasel Lucas should have removed the line in post production.
Out of curiosity, was the 'spice' in Doom actually supposed to represent 'oil' in the middle east ?
Lucas jabs at 'Bush's empire'
They have been doing exactly that for decades. Brainwashing is the best weapon they have available. Their economic ideals are defunct.
Can you say 'Newsweek' without cracking a smile ? Printing knowingly false stories that are meant to change peoples minds is another form of brainwashing.
Thats not a problem with the system. Its a problem with the humans participating in the system. If we all had a moral code that stated stealing was wrong, unbridled capitalism could be fully implemented. Unfortunately, the problems are not just with humans working inside the companies. The problem also exists within those who purchase products from the companies. It seems that the prevailing moral code now in America is to try to get as much as you can from a company when you make a purchase. The human problem exists on both sides of the transaction. If our people had better moral codes of conduct our ecomony and therefore our future would be growing much faster. And we probably would not be sitting back wondering how many people were murdered in Los Angeles today.
And since people are a Fallen species there will always be the need to be 'watched over' in some manner. If we all had a moral code there would be no need for law enforcement at all. :)
Oh good grief sometimes a movie is just a movie. Get a grip.
True, but dont you have at least some hope that we can actually regain some moral conduct ?
"He's a Lefty, no doubt..and should stick to directing!"
If you ask me, he should stick to producing/playing with special effects, and let a real director/dialogue writer deal with the actors. I think he is a genius, but based upon the prequels he has no talent/interest in actual human actors anymore.
Not since Andy Warhol politicized it. BTW - Hitler was a failed artist. Ever wonder why ? Personnaly I would love to see artist drop the 'hidden meaning' crap and get back to being just artists. I dont think thats possible now.
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