"Meesa just ... clumsy."
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)
"Most bad people think they're good people."
Most bad directors think they're insightful and
profound, Mr. Lucas.
George Lucas??
Wasn't he one of the Dixie Chicks?
Shoot, Jesus said that, too
Heh...He sure did.
Except through me you are doomed.
In the WOT there can be no other position.
He couldn't possibly be talking about himself? Lucas the super talented wise directory who know the true meaning of life and has an additional double major in history/Islamic studies.
He couldn't possibly be talking about himself? Lucas the super talented wise directory who know the true meaning of life and has an additional double major in history/Islamic studies.
As for Lukas, he should learn to keep his mouth shut regarding things he knows NOTHING about. Making movies counts for nothing but entertaining the masses.
I will take President Bush's "Empire" over anything Lukas proposes any day of the week.
"Meesa just ... clumsy."
Aha! Bush stole the "If you're not with us, you're against us" line from Lucas! LOL
As usual, libs trying to glom onto someone else's work.
Lucas wrote this stuff years ago, they're just projecting their own views onto the template.
He hasn't figured out how the modern public Internet can spread anything said publicly around the world in a matter of minutes.
I agree, don't read too much into the movie. Just go see it.
This storyline has been around for years.
Whoa! What if dog were spelled C-A-T? lol...
"Most bad people think they're good people."
Explains Democrats.
Thinly veiled diatribes against anything Republican have been in Hollywood movies and books for years...I believe the bright side is that these views are finally being called out and challenged. When I was younger the double whammy of mainstream media, Hollywood and college professors formatted my views, now there is a dissenting opinion heard, which gives people the chance to make up their own minds. I did not see liberal bias until I began to see the wisdom of conservative/Republican viewpoints a couple years ago.
Where before indoctrination has gone unnoticed or unchallenged they can't get away with it while the right sits back and takes it. I'll still go see Star Wars as I've always loved the story, but I go with my indoctrination blinders on.
No. Lucas & co. don't get any royalties from ripped copies. If, out of a weird fascination with the perverse and degraded, or a professional need to view it, you want to view "Farenheit 9/11," the only way to watch it is with a ripped copy, all for the same reason.
And why is this "breaking news"?
I tend to agree with Lucas that this country is losing it's democratic ideals. This whole black and white "with us or against us" mentality is unrealistically simplistic in the modern world. Churches are wanting to excommunicate democrats, Republicans want to do away with the filibuster since it is getting in their way of having things the way that they want it. If you speak against the current administration, you are some sort of Anti American scum that should be branded and sent off to some camp somewhere. The extremism in this country is pretty frightening.
LOL! Everyone should get a bootleg copy, and distribute copies to all their family and trusted friends. Funny.
He acknowledged an uncomfortable feeling that the United States was in danger of losing its democratic ideals, like in the movie.
I feel the same.
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