Why be secret about it?
Posted on 05/06/2005 7:38:34 PM PDT by wallace144
I imagine that Revenge of the Sith is very much the film Lucas's fans want to see, but are some of them ready for an anti-Bush diatribe? Though every Star Wars film until now has existed in an insular comic-book world, a lot has happened since 1999 and 2002 in the real world and Lucas dares, for the first time, to address how the hollow political conflict in his franchise correlates with the reality outside its panels. (It would have been stupid not to strike a parallel.) Revenge of the Sith's two greatest moments tap into the uncertainty of our own political climate: the dazzling battle between Yoda and Darth Sidious (an outstanding Ian McDiarmid) inside the beautifully spiraling Senate hall evokes Democrats and Republicans scrambling for power and the with-us-or-against-us Anakin's obscenely over-the-top final duel with Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) is prefaced none-to-subtly with the Jedi master declaring, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Lucas's political gestures would be easier to appreciate if he himself didn't trade in absolutes and generalities (you know the drill: the darker the couture, the closer you are to the dark side), but it's still a welcome step forward. Pity we had to wait so long for it, but, as they say, better late than never.
(Excerpt) Read more at slantmagazine.com ...
I agree with you about Darth Vader. The Empire Strikes Back was far and away the best of the series so far. As for the review, just for the record I posted it for discussions purposes. I don't know if it is anti-Bush or anti-anything for that matter because I haven't seen it (obviously).
More review excerpts from rottentomatoes.com
Lucas couldn’t resist the temptation to impose his political views on the audience, especially since they are so Hollywood. During the climactic battle between Darth and Obi, Darth says, “If you are not with me…you are not for democracy.” Obi responds, “Only a Sith would deal in absolutes.” Grow up, George. While you had apparently stacked the screening audience with your employees (cheers went up for the opening titles, as well as for these lines!), hard as it may be fore you to believe, nobody cares how George Lucas feels about George Bush and Iraq. You are making a comic book entertainment and you demean your product by advertising the comic book level of your political opinions.
-- Tony Medley, TOLUCAN TIMES
One of the most surprising elements of this film is Lucas' political statement. "Any one that's not with me, is my enemy," Anakin says at one point, paraphrasing the famous line from a George W. Bush speech. "Only a Sith believes only in absolutes," Obi-wan replies. "So this is how liberty dies,” Padmé points out in another scene as Senator Palpatine is laying out his new political strategy. “With a round of applause."
-- Scott Nash, THREE MOVIE BUFFS
Lucas' screenplay is his strongest in years, and even contains a few barely-concealed critiques of the Bush Administration and the Iraq War. The commentaries on democracy are offered in direct counterpoint to a government that is clearly overstepping its bounds, and the parallels are obvious to anyone looking for them. While Bush might not be an evil emperor (yet), it's not that far a trip from Senator Palpatine to Tom DeLay.
-- Gabriel Shanks, MIXED REVIEWS
I imagine that Revenge of the Sith is very much the film Lucas's fans want to see, but are some of them ready for an anti-Bush diatribe? Though every Star Wars film until now has existed in an insular comic-book world, a lot has happened since 1999 and 2002 in the real world and Lucas dares, for the first time, to address how the hollow political conflict in his franchise correlates with the reality outside its panels. (It would have been stupid not to strike a parallel.) Revenge of the Sith's two greatest moments tap into the uncertainty of our own political climate: the dazzling battle between Yoda and Darth Sidious (an outstanding Ian McDiarmid) inside the beautifully spiraling Senate hall evokes Democrats and Republicans scrambling for power and the with-us-or-against-us Anakin's obscenely over-the-top final duel with Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) is prefaced none-to-subtly with the Jedi master declaring, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Lucas's political gestures would be easier to appreciate if he himself didn't trade in absolutes and generalities (you know the drill: the darker the couture, the closer you are to the dark side), but it's still a welcome step forward. Pity we had to wait so long for it, but, as they say, better late than never.
-- Ed Gonzalez, SLANT MAGAZINE
Yeah, but I can live with it.
Honestly, I could care less. The basic plot arc of the Emperor's rise to power is very plausible in any government and in any time. I don't find anything particularly set on anti-Bush (though Lucas may be intending it that way), it's just a plausible way to bring the audience into an implausible universe.
And what's with this Ed Gonzalez's fascination with penises and perverts? These commies could sexualize anything, I swear...
Great post!
WI felt like I was watching some pathetic attempt and combining CSPAN with video game during Satr Wars I and II. I'm glad to hear this third movie has some excitement in it. As for the politics you suggest, have another look at Star Wars II. One of the main characters has a line that goes something like, "When people are not willing to fight for democracy, all is lost..." Of course, that movie came out on the heels of 9/11 and big ideas like human freedom and representative democracy were even popular with the left.
Why be secret about it?
So basically, Lucas is trying to imply that we as Republicans are on the dark side.
To this I say: so what? The dark side is cooler anyway.
I mean honestly, anyone who isn't a fool would take the Sith over the Jedi anyway. I'd much rather throw around lightningbolts and cruise around in Star Destroyers than throw around a bunch of flower power idealistic garbage.
"Lucas planned out the plot for Episode 30 years ago."
Only vaugly in his mind. This was not a series that had 30 years of planning put into it, which the first two movies clearly show.
This statement by Obi-Wan sounds a bit similar to one he made in Return of the Jedi. He said something like "Many of the truths you cling to depend greatly on your own point of view." Which sounds quite a bit like relativism.
Oh good grief.
Like, in all of history the only groups to have ever struggled for power were Democrats and Republicans...
Hollywood being "anti-Bush" is no surprise (if this movie even is).
I just care about this being anti- Jar Jar.
"To this I say: so what? The dark side is cooler anyway. "
No kidding. Lucas had to kill Vader off because if he had of lived after throwing the emporer down the shaft...he would have probably kicked Lukes ass for throwing his lightsaber away when facing a Sith Master. I can see it now...
Vader: Who the hell taught you to do THAT!!
Luke: (whining) Well, Obi Wan did it!!
Vader: And then he DIED! Remember that part?
Luke: Well, Yoda said not to give in to anger, he would have approved.
Vader: Are we talking about the little green guy who talked backwards and DIED in a swamp? That Yoda?
Luke: Well I'm sure other Jedi understood.
Vader: You mean all the other DEAD PEOPLE!!! ARE YOU NOTICING A TREND HERE, LUKE??? SHEESH, MAYBE THIS SISTER OF YOURS HAS MORE BRAINS!
Luke: That would be Leia
Vader: You mean the chick who dresses up in metal bikinis and hangs out with giant slugs??? That cinches it, Padme must have been sleeping with Jar Jar because there is no way you to cartoon charactors are kids of mine >:(
You are correct, sir. Lucas's "plan" was a hazy outline on a yellow legal pad. Even if one didn't read up on this it's pretty clear that he hadn't planned this whole thing very well. Recently he admitted that Eps. 1 and 2 each had "20% plot, the rest filler" while this one has 60% of the plot needed to pull it all together. I he could have only gotten over his silly need to look like he had this planned all along, ditched the old numbering system, and made all three of these into one GOOD movie, cutting out the little kid and introducing the adult Anakin, he could have had something, and then leaped ahead past the end of Jedi. But I've already thought more in this post than Lucas has in the entire script for the first one so I'll stop. :)
LOL, I'm with you on that one.
It is amazing what some people will imagine and interpret. Having read the novelization of the movie I can confirm that it is NOT anti-bush. The only parellel is the one that existed since the first movie: Leader brainwashes people (largely based off Hitler and how he came to power) and stokes up nationalism to distract the masses away from his own aims and other problems, this is what every tryant has done ever since the invention of Fascism and Communism.
LOL I agree!
Luke: No! You mean...
Vader: Exactly. Luke. -- I am not your father.
Lucas is very left and he throws a lot of leftist hints in his movies, especially the latest trilogy. For instance, Nute Gunray who came from a race that lived the "survival of the fittest", where those that couldn't compete were left to starve. (Liberal idea of a Republican nirvana)
And the reason the Trade federation started the problem with Padme's world was they didn't want to pay their fair share of taxes.
And of course, there is lots in the latest movies on how great planets who work together (United Nations) are enlightened, while all problems should be 'talked' out by reasonable people. And in the first movie a Clintonite president is "falsely accused" of corruption. And there's lots more.
However, I've noticed that the more Lucas gets enmeshed in that garbage the worse the movies get. The original trilogy, which is not so skewed and more traditionalist in philosophy, is far superior.
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