Bush Policies Likened To ‘Star Wars’ Finale At Cannes

[Phlip 0]

Title: Bush Policies Likened To ‘Star Wars’ Finale At Cannes
Source: Associated Press
URL Source: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/11659346.htm
Published: May 16, 2005
Author: By David Germain
Post Date: 2005-05-16 22:41:55 by Brian S


Bush policies likened to ‘Star Wars’ finale at Cannes

By David Germain

Associated Press

CANNES, France – Without Michael Moore and “Fahrenheit 9/11” at the Cannes Film Festival this time, it was left to George Lucas and “Star Wars” to pique European ire over the state of world relations and the United States’ role in it.

Lucas’ themes of democracy on the skids and a ruler preaching war to preserve the peace predate “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” by almost 30 years. Yet viewers Sunday – and Lucas himself – noted similarities between the final chapter of his sci-fi saga and our own troubled times.

Cannes audiences made blunt comparisons between “Revenge of the Sith” – the story of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and the rise of an emperor through warmongering – and President Bush’s war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq.

Two lines from the movie especially resonated:

“This is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause,” bemoans Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) as the galactic Senate cheers dictator-in-waiting Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) while he announces a crusade against the Jedi.

“If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy,” Hayden Christensen’s Anakin – soon to become villain Darth Vader – tells former mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). The line echoes Bush’s international ultimatum after the Sept. 11 attacks, “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”

“That quote is almost a perfect citation of Bush,” said Liam Engle, a 23-year-old French-American aspiring filmmaker. “Plus, you’ve got a politician trying to increase his power to wage a phony war.”

Although the plot was written years ago, “the anti-Bush diatribe is clearly there,” Engle said.

The film will open Wednesday in parts of Europe and Thursday in the United States and many other countries.

At the Cannes premiere Sunday night, actors in white stormtrooper costumes paraded up and down the red carpet as guests strolled in, while an orchestra played the “Star Wars” theme.

Lucas said he patterned his story after historical transformations from freedom to fascism, never figuring when he started his prequel trilogy in the late 1990s that current events might parallel his space fantasy.

“As you go through history, I didn’t think it was going to get quite this close. So it’s just one of those recurring things,” Lucas said at a Cannes news conference. “I hope this doesn’t come true in our country.

“Maybe the film will waken people to the situation,” Lucas joked.

That comment echoes Moore’s rhetoric at Cannes last year, when his anti-Bush documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11” won the festival’s top honor.

Unlike Moore, whose Cannes visit came off like an anybody-but-Bush campaign stop, Lucas never mentioned the president by name but was eager to speak his mind on U.S. policy in Iraq, careful again to note that he created the story long before the Bush-led occupation there.

“When I wrote it, Iraq didn’t exist,” Lucas said, laughing.

The prequel trilogy is based on a back-story outline Lucas created in the mid-1970s for the original three “Star Wars” movies, so the themes percolated out of the Vietnam War and the Nixon-Watergate era, he said.

Lucas began researching how democracies can turn into dictatorships with full consent of the electorate.

In ancient Rome, “why did the senate after killing Caesar turn around and give the government to his nephew?” Lucas said. “Why did France after they got rid of the king and that whole system turn around and give it to Napoleon? It’s the same thing with Germany and Hitler.

“You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kinds of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control.

“A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody’s squabbling, there’s corruption.”

[tcnelson 1]

is france still a country?

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[christelsabine 1]

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is france still a country?

Biensur. What else could it be in your eyes?? It is such a wonderful country full of history.

Did Lucas not explain clearly enough?
Perhaps there are better sources to find out?

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[rehmwa 2]

Who really cares what a bunch of self important pompous boobs think:
1 - If it's on purpose, it's a childish and petty thing designed to ingratiate Lucas with the hollywood wierdos. I think he's already there.
2 - If not, then I think people are trying to be deep. Fake intellectualism is really stupid too and pathetic. In that case, people can liken the empire to either political position based on which stereotypes one prefers to wallow in.

Either way, I'll just try to see the movie and get into the plot and enjoy it for a finale to a pretty cool movie series. I just hope they kept the muppets and the kiddie characters to a minimum this time.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[tcnelson 1]

it's full of something alright...sorry, couldn't pass that up.

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[SpeedRacer 1]

Lucas wrote pretty much the whole story back in the '70s.

He got a lot of advice & inspiration from the philosopher Joseph Campbell, who has written a lot about the archetypal myths & characters. (

If you get a chance, they have documentaries on Joseph Campbell that were done by PBS. They're worth renting or you can usually get them at your local public library's video section. Great to watch with friends & discuss over a bottle of wine.

Anyway, Lucas has said that quite a lot of the inspiration for the whole evil Galactic Empire thing came from Nazi Germany.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[wzettler 0]

Thats interesting. I saw the film last night and I had the same thoughts when I heard the line from Natalie Portman and during that whole scene...hmm...

edited to say: I don't think it would ever get that far in the US, it was just interesting that others see parallels too...

I think when Jesus said "love your enemy" he probably meant don't kill them.

[billvon 3,078]

>If not, then I think people are trying to be deep.

I think Bush gets props for being faithful to the general outline of a movie series written 30 years ago. He's got some of the lines down pat.

[rehmwa 2]

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>If not, then I think people are trying to be deep.

I think Bush gets props for being faithful to the general outline of a movie series written 30 years ago. He's got some of the lines down pat.

And I thought Reagan was the Star Wars fan.

I wouldn't put it past Lucas to change a couple in there during screening, but it's pretty childish in any case. It must be real easy to make movies, because these guys keep looking for extra things to do in addition to their jobs. Maybe they should post here instead.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,078]

> It must be real easy to make movies, because these guys keep
>looking for extra things to do in addition to their jobs.

Just about else does it. Movies (and popular music) often contain political references. Moore is one extreme, but movies from The Matrix to Star Wars to The Day After Tomorrow have political themes - and often direct references to current events. We still go to see them.

I have zero sympathy for conservatives who wail "it's not right that the Dixie Chicks/U2/Flogging Molly/Sting put politics in their performances!" given how they crow about how great Charlie Daniel's political songs are. Such messages are clearly popular; they sell well. And if you tolerate one, well, you don't have much of a leg to stand on to claim a different viewpoint is intolerable.

>Maybe they should post here instead.

Methinks they make more dough making movies.

[dorbie 0]

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Lucas wrote pretty much the whole story back in the '70s.

He got a lot of advice & inspiration from the philosopher Joseph Campbell, who has written a lot about the archetypal myths & characters.

The archetypal mythology crap has been debunked by tracking Lucas' own changing accounts.

[rehmwa 2]

Agreed - and it's easy enough to ignore if they aren't too in your face about it. And if they are, then they get what they deserve when people stop giving them their money

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[philh 0]

why is it childish for an artist to include political commentary in their work? They have as much right to express their views in their works as politicains do in their sppeeches.

[billvon 3,078]

>And if they are, then they get what they deserve when people
>stop giving them their money.

Or they become rich when people flock to see it. Moore made $50 million off F9/11, and Bruce Springsteen is still packing concert halls despite his anti-war speeches before some of his songs.

[jenfly00 0]

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“This is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause,”

I would hope this message would reach some on the ultra right.

jen

-----------------------
"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[EricTheRed 0]

Probably not.

Most would be too busy clapping.

The folks in the middle might just hear it though...

illegible usually

[rehmwa 2]

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Moore made $50 million off F9/11, and Bruce Springsteen is still packing concert halls despite his anti-war speeches before some of his songs.

Yep - that's the true reason - $$$. So good for them. And I don't care if it's a right or left wing message, either. It's not staying true to the story being told - unless that is the story intent.

Michael Moore intended to make a political commentary. So no issue there, you knew what you were getting into when you bought that ticket. Springstein can pander to whatever crowd he chose - and I do think it's a sad thing to do if he's really good, he can let his music speak for himself without sucking up to a particular demographic.

Does a doctor put politics into his work? Does a draftsman add little political statements to piece-part drawings? It's not professional. Does a freefall photographer plaster little political messages in the video he sells? Maybe Quade would, but it would be a lessening of the product.

Lucas is making a piece of fiction within an established story over the last 20 years. If he deviated from the 'art' of the story to make a personal point, then shame on him for getting distracted for petty reasons on something that his audience has been hoping he'd complete. Either that, or he thinks his audience is so stupid that they can't make whatever casual connection of the plot to current or historical similarities without big brother being blatant about it. "OK, in case you don't see the parallel to WW2 in this script, I'll put it right out there for the stupid people. You know who you are. Or maybe you don't."

(It's a big 'if' there. I'll see the movie this week, and I really doubt it's a big deal except for people who see politics in everything. I hope it's a great movie and piece of fiction - like it should be - but this thread has moved to a hypothetical discussion).

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

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why is it childish for an artist to include political commentary in their work? They have as much right to express their views in their works as politicains do in their speeches.

Never said they don't have the right. But it's a quaint little statement that everyone has equal rights - no shit. All I say is the -blatant-in-your-face-political-commentary - detracts from otherwise good work when these guys do that (all the time). It either means they are "impassioned" to do it - childish. Have an axe to grind - petty. Or that they think their audience is too stupid and needs education on 'their' points of view - arrogant. Pick one. I'm giving them credit for good intentions by picking childish - although I really do think it arrogance most often than not. I'd rather they lay out an interesting story and let us think for ourselves. Current movie story lines lack subtlety - it's an indication that entertainment holds the general person in very low esteem. That's means you and me and everyone else. Not just "those OTHER guys" - everyone.

Why shouldn't you take it personally? Do you really need or want George Lucas attempting to tell you what to think? Especially when all you hope for is good finish to a medium to good story that started 20-some years ago - with good special effects, cool battles, some heroic acts, and for it to not have a bunch of muppets this time....

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,078]

>Springstein can pander to whatever crowd he chose - and I do think it's
>a sad thing to do if he's really good, he can let his music speak for
>himself without sucking up to a particular demographic.

Given his success, and given what I know of him via interviews, he's not pandering to anyone. He feels like saying something and he says it. If people dislike what he says they can always avoid his concerts, which is how it should be.

>Lucas is making a piece of fiction within an established story over the last
> 20 years. If he deviated from the 'art' of the story to make a personal
> point, then shame on him for getting distracted for petty reasons on
> something that his audience has been hoping he'd complete.

His art _contains_ his personal points. Happens a lot. The Matrix, The Day After Tomorrow, Passion of the Christ, Dances with Wolves - all of them have a political/social issue central to their plot, and they all take sides.

With Star Wars, the overall theme is the gradual subversion of a democracy ("the Republic") by various evil forces. He has not deviated from his overall theme a bit; rather, current events have caught up to his vision of the future. Today we're seeing a long-standing tool of minority representation (the filibuster) about to be removed so the party in power can have more power. It's not Lucas's fault that that happened, even if it does bear some resemblances to the political tricks used by the villians in his movies.

>Either that, or he thinks his audience is so stupid that they can't make
> whatever casual connection of the plot to current or historical
> similarities without big brother being blatant about it. "OK, in case you
> don't see the parallel to WW2 in this script, I'll put it right out there for
>the stupid people. You know who you are. Or maybe you don't."

People are that stupid. In Contact, they explained what a prime number was _three_times_ - and this is after they receive a signal containing prime numbers.

[rehmwa 2]

I've got no issues with what you said above except:

1 - All those movies would have been better if they made their points subtly - it's my only point. You guys are wrong when you are inferring any lack of support of freedom of speech on my part. cut it out

2 - That you think people are stupid is sad. I didn't expect that at all.

Edit: The Matrix was a good representation of what would happen if the left got too much control of our lives. They were way too blatant about it and other things - it's a good example of the wrong way to ruin an otherwise neat story. DayAfter was an OK movie that didn't have to be taken in a political context - good job not being a nutjob about it - the people watching it did that, not the movie execs. Passion - I thought was only a portrayal of a specific story and tried to stay consistent to the story itself - I haven't seen it, though - don't care to but my take is it was a story - the politics and conflict came from the audience. Dances - ??? I must not have been obsessed enough to be looking for the politics there. In any case, at least 2 of those above trusted the viewers to be intelligent enough to have their own reactions - they did ok at the box.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,078]

>1 - All those movies would have been better if they made their
>points subtly - it's my only point.

I think some did. The Matrix was quite subtle indeed; you had to freeze-frame it to even catch the one direct reference (which Matrix fans, of course, did.)

>the politics and conflict came from the audience.

That's true of every single movie ever made.

>That you think people are stupid is sad. I didn't expect that at all.

Some people are very stupid. There's a reason that lead-acid batteries had warnings on them for a few years that said "don't drink the contents." Movie producers often pander to these people, since $10 from a fool is just as good as $10 from a genius - and it's easier to separate fools from their money. Fortunately, those people are in the minority.

[rehmwa 2]

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...I think some did. The Matrix was quite subtle indeed; you had to freeze-frame it to even catch the one direct reference (which Matrix fans, of course, did.)
...
That's true of every single movie ever made...

See, I thought the Matrix (3) was so sophomoric and obvious and full of little naive high school rhetoric and 'speechifying' that by the time the little 'clip show' came up it was just funny and predictable. It was an insult to anyone with an IQ over 75 and impossible to understand for the rest. And a waste of a good setup of the previous 2 films.

And yes, even the Smurfs will be taken as political by those who don't have a life beyond their petty little political obsessions.

And $10 is $10 bucks. AGREED

Hey - we like the Otter out here. THANKS. Ask Pat if we can keep it.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[philh 0]

Never said they don't have the right. But it's a quaint little statement that everyone has equal rights - no shit. All I say is the -blatant-in-your-face-political-commentary - detracts from otherwise good work when these guys do that (all the time). It either means they are "impassioned" to do it - childish. Have an axe to grind - petty. Or that they think their audience is too stupid and needs education on 'their' points of view - arrogant. Pick one. I'm giving them credit for good intentions by picking childish - although I really do think it arrogance most often than not. I'd rather they lay out an interesting story and let us think for ourselves. Current movie story lines lack subtlety - it's an indication that entertainment holds the general person in very low esteem. That's means you and me and everyone else. Not just "those OTHER guys" - everyone.

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Part of the theme of the movie is the way in which dictatorshiop emerges from democracy. Someone that values liberty and wants to highlight the dangers of playing to peoples fears to take away their liberty is not being petty or childish. Nor are they telling you what to think. They are presenting a moral fable in the same way that stories throughout history have done. This includes the original trilogy. Whether you agree with the moral of the story is your business. But I see no reason why an artist is being childish or petty for putting the moral in. i think this is especially true when its made in a country which was taken to war recently for reason which were a complete lie.Why shouldnt artists redress the blanace from the lies coming from politicians. Ive often found the best sceince fiction is one that makes us look at ourselvees in a questioning way. 1984 was written as a condemnation of the move to a command economy in 1948, its rightly regarded as a classic despite its lack of subtletly. Was geroge Orwell being childish to worry about such things and create a powerful piece of art in the process?

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[rehmwa 2]

This is just going around in circles, these guys can say whatever they want as loudly as they want whenever they want and as out of context as they want and if the masses lap it up and appreciate someone telling them how to think, then maybe Billvon is right.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[lurch 0]

you had to freeze-frame it to even catch the one direct reference (which Matrix fans, of course, did.)

I thought I knew all the hidden stuff in the Matrix. What scene was this? I want to go look.

Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.