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 ...
"Return of the Patriarchy"????!?
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Do they even SUSPECT how ridiculous they sound when they whine so?
I'm sure it's not. I'm sorry to inform Lucas that we die-hard fans don't care about thinly-veiled political diatribes--we just want a good story, our favorite characters, some kick-ass lightsaber action, and a space battle that can top the Battle of Endor!
As long as he meets those criteria, I don't care if Anakin comes out of the lava with a photoshopped Bush head over Hayden Christiansen's...
In other words, people like George Lucas. The man himself said that America is the Empire, and the rebels are the Vietnamese in Episode IV (just like that jackass Viggo Mortensen said that Americans were the Orcs in LOTR). George Lucas himself said this. In his mind, I guess, the Ewoks are a cuddly wuddly version of the Vietcong. Lucas is a nut.
I am sure that his movies are fine and enjoyable. I will go to see this movie. But Lucas made too much money too fast to grow out of being a hippy.
No I don't want him to. That's the point I'm trying to make -- why did he choose to write this specific line when Bush made it famous for this generation, regardless of who else has said it in the past? I maintain that to the extent that the line is noticed (which will probably be a low extent), it will be associated with Bush.
I actually like the SW movies quite a bit, especially Empire Strikes Back. They are good ways to escape for a couple of hours, and that is why I don't want anything in it that can easily be taken for commentary on contemporary politics.
Will it ruin the movie for me? Absolutely not. I realized long ago that if I were to let out-of-the-blue liberal political commentary in film and television bother me then I wouldn't be able to enjoy hardly any tv or movies at all. Likewise, I actually like Lucas on the whole. I respect his creative talents, and his entrepreneurial skills, and charitable contributions. And I just expect those in the entertainment industry to hold views and values diametrically opposed to my own, so the fact that Lucas is a leftwinger doesn't bother me any more than the fact that probably everyone in the cast is likely also a leftie bothers me, or the fact that most actors in most movies I see are lefties bothers me.
And as I said, I don't think this one exchange is that big a deal. All I'm saying is that yes, I do think that Lucas wrote it with Bush in mind and that like many people in San Francisco Lucas probably has a very low opinion of President Bush and this was the one way he could slyly say so w/o being too obvious about it.
Glad you enjoyed it. Its a classic that should be recycled for consumption at every opportunity.
That's probably because you've been watching clips instead of the actual movies. My advice: get the originals on videocassette and give 'em a try. The dialogue is priceless and the chemistry between Han Solo and Leia makes the trilogy. And of course Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) steals the show, and with Alec Guinness.....
There are some unconscionably bad parts (I'm thinking of the costumes from Return of the Jedi) but the movies are classics for a reason -- a reason that has nothing to do with Ewoks and midichlorions.
Holy crap. Did Ed Gonzalez run out of stuff to write about or is he serious? Time to step away from the keyboard, Ed. Go get some iced tea and a Tylenol.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing" indeed...
Yes, on the yoda battle I agree that this critic is just absurdly projecting his own warped view onto what is meant to be nothing but some great eye-candy.
First of all, what George Bush said, and what Anakin says are two different things. George Bush said, "Either you are with us, or with the terrorists." Anakin Skywalker says, "either you are with me, or against me." There is a difference. Bush is implying that you are either with the U.S.A. (a democratic country) or you are with the terrorists (Islamo-fascists bent on the destruction of western civilization.) Anakin is saying you are with him, and he really means just him...or you are against him. With Anakin, its a much more personal, selfish question.
Three nights ago, Lucas gave a Revenge of the Sith screening to critics, and assorted celebrities. This is the screening Kevin Smith attended. Here is what Lucas said immediately following that screening:
"What about the stuff in the movie about how liberty and democracy are not taken away, but given away -- is that a message intended to have some special meaning today?
Actually, Lucas says, he got the idea 30 years ago, during the Nixon and Vietnam War era, and from his reading of history, how the French turned their backs on the Republic and democracy to support Napoleon, and how the Romans did the same with Caesar. In his films, "I'm not saying why, so much as how, that happens," Lucas finishes. "
You see...Lucas is making an allegory that fits any time-frame. Whether you think Revenge of the Sith meets the time-frame you live in is purely in the Eye of the Beholder.
Anakin's specific dialogue is not close enough to conjure up images of George Bush, unless you really want it to. How many characters in how many movies have said those exact same lines as Anakin? Was each instance a political attack on some political leader when the movie was released? Of course not.
This has to be the most assinine thread ever.
Regards, Ivan
I'm not reading this thread for fear of spoilers, but I have talked to someone who has seen this--someone whom I understand is no fan of the President's--and it is not true that the movie is intentionally anti-Bush. Palpatine's arc has been discussed by George Lucas as far back as the original Star Wars novel, and this movie simply realizes what has been stated for nearly 30 years now. I'm sure Lucas and company are proud that life, in their minds, is imitating art, but it isn't a newly-invented slam against Bush.
Can't wait to see it myself.
thid isnt the droid were looking for. he can go about his business.
I thought the first two films were very good, the third one was a disappointment, the fourth was a mild improvement over the third one, and the fifth was a disappointment as well...I don't think I will see this installment until it comes to the $1.50 second-run theatre or maybe rent it on video.
A liberal in a speech club I used to belong to thought the Matrix was an indictment of American capitalism...I told this to a libertarian friend who thought it didn't mean that at all...you'll see what you want to see in these things.
I remember when I heard that line. I started cheering for the dark side after that. The Jedi are obviously demonrats. They deserved to go down.
The novelization of the book has anti-Bush and anti-Reagan references.
That's very good. :)
Regards, Ivan
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