Posted on 05/29/2005 6:31:41 PM PDT by quidnunc
An earlier 1971 film by Lucas(screenplay), THX 1138, was clearly anti-authoritarian but I did not get a Nixon connection there either. His films will mean different things to different people as the metaphors are perceived according to their background.
The metaphors in the latest film are more heavy handed. When Anakin Skywalker says to Obi-Wan, "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy.", it is clearly like Bush's comment on the WOT, ""Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."" and I don't think that is coincidence.
But, I would not have noticed, had it not been pointed out to me by various net materials. I would not have heard this analysis in 1976.
Another poster on another thread posted from the Gospel:
"he who is not with me is against me" (Luke 23:11)
So a person not politically involved could take it another way.
I think Michael Moore is the Sith!
It premiered at the Cannes France Film Festival to standing ovation from the snobby Cannes crowd. It also where Michael Moore friend Lucas, expressed how he felt about Bush.
In fairness, I don't see how anyone can compare Stone with Lucas. The former is a nut who produces films with over the top agendas with nary a veneer to hide them. Lucas, at worst, at very worst imparts a tiny bit of politics into his films, and even that much is debateable.
I was surprised on several counts. First, the movie was good, really good. Easily the best installment since The Empire Strikes Back. Not that the competition was tough. Second, and it is inconcievable to me that even Lucas can be so liberally blinded, the film is a near direct correlation between the "Empire" as representing the U.N.
Basing my comparisons to the writings of Richard Poe, David Horowitz and others, the Empire is akin to the 'Shadow government' that is being built by George Soros. The "one world government" is the republic, the galactic senate as the UN, and the Jedi as good old fashioned American conservatives. Oops my republican bias is sticking out. Marxism is the "dark side" or cultural Marxism/socialism call it what you like. Soros is very schooled in the ways of socialism(the dark side). The Emporer is already behind many of the things the UN does. The UN even occasionally comes to direct many U.S. operations abroad(across the galaxy). The Jedi were defenders of the republic just as the U.S. is the major contributor and supporter of the UN. The galactic senate turned against their strongest supporters. The UN has engaged in biting the hand that feeds it for years.
The comparisons are so clear to me that I'm sure I'm coming across as the world's biggest Star Wars geek west of Paris. Maybe I'm just seeing it this way because I want to. More likely I think Lucas has fallen into the typical liberal paradigm. They see the world completely opposite and independent from reality. Lucas may have tried to show the U.S. as the Empire, but has inadvertedly shown the true nature of the liberals.
Can't agree at all. Star Wars owes more to Alex Raymond than it does to Frank Herbert. Dune is a different animal entirely than the space opera that is Star Wars.
If Lucas REALLY believes the crap he's put out, I wonder how he feels knowing the the most memorable, and popular character in the series, Darth Vader, is, by his lights, a Republican?
Leia = Alia (Luke and Leia are twins = Leto and Ghanima, Paul's twin children)
Obi Wan = Duncan Idaho
Emperor Palpatine = Emperor Shaddam
Darth Vader = R.M. Gaius Helen Mohiam
Han Solo = Duncan Idaho
Tatooine = Arrakis
Corusant = Kaitain
Sand People = Fremen
Jedi = Bene Gesserit
Storm Troopers = Sardaukar
These are the examples that I've noticed, and, I did say that he tweaked the story. They do bear the same plot of a young hero, fighting to overthrow the Emperor.
Here is an article I found:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/10/1021002387791.html?oneclick=true
Well, maybe in southern Australia. Or at the Regal Antartica 10.
Actually, he's not. Moore is his stage name. His real name is Michael the Hutt.
Star Wars came out in 1977, not 1976. This, and the three grammatical errors I noted early in the column make me wonder about the accuracy of this Canuck's analysis.
Anybody seen the movie? I'm thinking about going tomorrow.
I don't want to hear a bunch of Bush-hate. Please help.
Luke is Robin Hans is Little John
Obi Wan is Friar Tuck
Darth Vader is the Sheriff of Nottinghamd
The emporer is King John
Chewbaca is maid...nah never mind
Point being that similiarities between Dune and Star Wars are superficial and archetypal. One is a brooding story of vast complexity, plots within plots, and seemingly endless political machinations. The other is a much simpler swashbuckler.
I mean c'mon, comparing the freman to the sand people? The only real similarity is sand. Ditto for the planets.
However, if you look at Raymond's Flash Gordon, and Star Wars you'll find striking similarities on every level, from tone, to characters to plot elements. Emporer Ming is the prototypical Palpatine, and Luke and Flash might as well be twins.
Here, in Maryland, I still keep naively thinking summer is just around the corner. There's very little evidence of it yet, however. Maybe things will warm up in June.
Unless, of course, they mean the "freedom" to donate to Hamas.
I saw it last weekend. It is definitely the best of the second trilogy.
It occurs to me that, since Episodes I and II were so abysmally awful, that actually isn't a big endorsement of the movie. I'd give it about 3 and a half stars, worth paying the matinee price for.
LOL! Lucas changes the movies so much maybe one day the Empire will be the good guys.
There's probably no intended political message in the movie. Lucas is just saying this stuff so that he'll get an Oscar nomination.
Actually, I thought Palpatine reminded me quite a bit of Michael Moore.
The Sith obviously represent Al Qaeda along with Michael Moore as Darth Sidious and Darth Vader could be Osama Bin Laden, who leads the attack with Clone Troopers, who follow orders without hesitation, represent the millions of mindless Al Qaeda homicide bombers.
The Jedi Knights, defenders of peace and justice, sworn to defeat the Sith, must be our brave men and women fighting to stop the spread of radical Islam the Sith from spreading across the globe aka the galaxy.
Maybe I saw a different movie. In the one I saw the acting was really, really, bad.
Well, the West Wing is well written and still blows. (Pardon my language.)
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