I just saw the new Star Wars III at a press screening here in Los Angeles, and was thoroughly impressed. It's not only a tale of morality, but also a metaphor for the Right-wing control of American politics. For those of us who grew up in the 80s, the movie always had a special place in our heart - it's the greatest modern myth in a culture with no cohesive central identity. The scene of Luke looking at the twin suns of Tatooine not knowing where his life was headed is something all young people can relate to. The battle of choosing between the light side and the dark side of the force, the good and evil within himself- it all means so much more after seeing this final part of the entire series.
George Lucas really must have felt the pain inflicted by the public from the first two movies, and realized he had to redeem himself, which he has done. It seems George Lucas has been equally disturbed by the direction political life has taken, as are many of us who consider ourselves to be supporters of real democracy and truth. Certain lines really stood out:
- "So this is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause..."
- "Those who are not with me are against me...and the Republic"
- "Only the Sith (dark side of force) sees life in black and white..."
- "What's the point of putting him on trial if he controls Senate..."
- "Through destruction I will bring peace and freedom to the galactic empire..."
Some lines were basically direct Bush quotes, some lines were paraphrased. The point is that George Lucas sees it too, and he wants Americans who support Bush to wake up and be aware of the adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The only minor critique I might have is that Lucas seems to believe the motivation for power is the feeling of power itself. However, as many of us are aware, greed is a huge motivating factor, particularly with the friends of the Bush Administration. It might have been interesting to see who is making money off creation of war machines, and what planets and people are being plundered for the selfish desire to control the wealth of others.
I imagine Shakesphere had some choice words for the power structure of his day, and did it through allegory in his plays. Sometimes Shakesphere failed, not every play could be Hamlet. But in his own way, George Lucas has secured his place in history as the master storyteller of a generation.