Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Lucas jabs at 'Bush's empire'
Japan today ^ | Monday, May 16, 2005 at 07:29 JST

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)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bushhaters; doofus; georgelucas; getalife; gimmeabreak; helterskelter; hollywood; hollywoodleft; itsamovie; liberal; lightenup; maythedorksbewithyou; moviereview; revengeofthesith; starwars; starwarsvirgins; traitor
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 421 next last
To: macamadamia

"Most bad people think they're good people."

Most bad directors think they're insightful and
profound, Mr. Lucas.


41 posted on 05/16/2005 4:51:16 AM PDT by james500
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation

George Lucas??
Wasn't he one of the Dixie Chicks?


42 posted on 05/16/2005 4:51:58 AM PDT by OldEagle (We might be in the end times, but it looks like we are finally moving in the RIGHT direction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Angry Enough
"You are either with me — or you are my enemy."

Shoot, Jesus said that, too

Heh...He sure did.
Except through me you are doomed.

In the WOT there can be no other position.

43 posted on 05/16/2005 4:53:09 AM PDT by evad (No action to secure borders, No action on judges... NO MONEY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

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.


44 posted on 05/16/2005 4:53:09 AM PDT by Chgogal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

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.


45 posted on 05/16/2005 4:53:32 AM PDT by Chgogal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler
I am sure after opening the movie will be redily available on DVD throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.

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.

46 posted on 05/16/2005 5:02:04 AM PDT by Jmouse007 ("Negotiate and die!" Brought to you by "Islam the Religion of Peace tm")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation
It's only a movie... It's only a movie... It's only a movie...
47 posted on 05/16/2005 5:06:05 AM PDT by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation
"Most bad people think they're good people"

"Meesa just ... clumsy."

48 posted on 05/16/2005 5:07:20 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: endthematrix
Lucas wrote the screenplay in the seventies.

Aha! Bush stole the "If you're not with us, you're against us" line from Lucas! LOL

49 posted on 05/16/2005 5:11:03 AM PDT by cantfindagoodscreenname
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation

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.


50 posted on 05/16/2005 5:16:52 AM PDT by P.O.E.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation
George Lucas may have just cut US$40-US$55 million from the first-run box office revenues of Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by making that remark. He hasn't figured out how the modern public Internet can spread anything said publicly around the world in a matter of minutes.
51 posted on 05/16/2005 5:21:53 AM PDT by RayChuang88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: P.O.E.

I agree, don't read too much into the movie. Just go see it.

This storyline has been around for years.


52 posted on 05/16/2005 5:23:45 AM PDT by jbstrick (insert clever tagline here)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

Whoa! What if dog were spelled C-A-T? lol...


53 posted on 05/16/2005 5:26:04 AM PDT by .cnI redruM (M. Moore + MoveOn.org = MooreOn.Org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: james500

"Most bad people think they're good people."


Explains Democrats.


54 posted on 05/16/2005 5:28:44 AM PDT by UseYourHead (Time for the Federal Sales Tax - ALL pay, legal and illegal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation

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.


55 posted on 05/16/2005 5:43:19 AM PDT by soloNYer (Albany Slimes Union: trying to get to the left of their heroes the New York Slimes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler

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.


56 posted on 05/16/2005 5:46:32 AM PDT by libstripper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation

And why is this "breaking news"?


57 posted on 05/16/2005 5:48:01 AM PDT by Lunatic Fringe (North Texas Solutions http://ntxsolutions.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation

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.


58 posted on 05/16/2005 5:49:01 AM PDT by MJM59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz
I plan to be a one-man China as regards this film.

LOL! Everyone should get a bootleg copy, and distribute copies to all their family and trusted friends. Funny.

59 posted on 05/16/2005 5:52:39 AM PDT by NeonKnight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Savage_Nation
I see absolutely nothing in this article, except the audiences desire to bash Bush, that suggests this film has any political bias.

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.

60 posted on 05/16/2005 5:54:16 AM PDT by ScreamingFist (Peace through Ignorance)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 421 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson