Some thoughts on Star Wars
Some works of art, literature, and entertainment catapult themselves into public consciousness and become pop culture icons. Star Wars is certainly one of those. Some (including me) are fans; others disdain it. The saga has been around since 1977, coming out with a new episode every few years. Now we are on the eve of the release of the final movie, Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith. It does seem poignant, as an article in the local paper here points out, that the series is finally coming to an end. But who knows? George Lucas may find a way to keep yet more new material coming out.
During the early days of the first three episodes, I heard a kid say, "If you like Star Wars, you say, 'May the Force be with you.' If you don't like Star Wars, you say, "May the Farce be spared you.'" There is no question that the early movies had both admirers and detractors. The technical achievements were stunning. I even enjoyed the acting, though not everyone agrees about that. The original movie got several Academy Awards, I don't remember how many. But they were all considered "minor" awards by movie junkies, while the "major" awards that year went to Annie Hall.
It's hard to explain the appeal of a story. The Star Wars story could be viewed from many angles. It was a coming-of-age story of a young man, Luke Skywalker, stuggling to find himself, to escape the humdrum, pedestrian life to which he feels unjustly consigned, to learn about his shadowy past, and to fulfill his dreams of adventure and usefulness to a cause in which he believes. It is a story of the conflict of good and evil on a cosmic level. It is a story of spirituality, and how it can be turned to good or evil. It is the conflict of a small, courageous band, struggling against incredible odds to outwit and overcome a super-powerful empire that has turned evil and corrupt. It is a love story. And, as it develops, it becomes the story of Luke discovering the shocking truth about his father, and struggling with the conflicting demands of revenge wished by his Jedi superiors and his own feelings of right and wrong, his desire to help his wayward father. Ultimately, it is story of salvation.
Some who have written comments on the story have said that it is shallow because Luke never really experiences any conflict. I do not see this at all. Luke reveres Obi-Wan and Yoda, his original mentors who introduce him to the Force. Intent on revenge, he faces Darth Vader only to learn, to his shock and horror, that Vader is indeed his father, Anakin Skywalker. He than has to struggle with the knowledge that his mentors have deceived him, at least by keeping back part of the truth. He also has to struggle with what to do about Vader. He decides that he cannot destroy his father, but must try to save him. In doing so, Luke rises above his mentors and discovers who he truly is. To me, that is the heart of the story. He still has to struggle to keep from being overcome by anger at the treatment of his rebel comrades, and most of all, at the possible seduction by the dark side of his sister Leia. It is touch and go until, at the last, he sees the danger of becoming like his fallen father and finally refuses the dark side. Luke's torture at the hands of the Emperor then is the agent of his father's salvation, as Anakin reasserts himself, destroys the emperor, and saves his son's life. Through his persistence, patience, self-control, and suffering, Luke has achieved his goal.
The most two movies, Episodes 1 and 2, in my opinion, did not measure up to the quality of the original three. Episode 4 was a stark, rural movie. Episodes 1 and 2, especially 2, were urban, with images coming at you to the point of overload. The stories were, of course, setting the background for the original three movies, and in that they succeeded.
I am waiting to see Episode 3. I do not plan to go on the first night. I shall let the real fanatical fans savor that, then go when things have calmed down a bit. I must say that in a way, I am not looking forward to seeing the metamorphosis of Anakin into Darth Vader and the destruction of the republic and the Jedi. But go I shall, for the experience is not to be missed.
I also have a bit of a complaint about one decision of George Lucas: not to put the original versions of the original trilogy out on DVD. He made revised cuts and put them out. I do not like the revisions. They mar the beauty of the originals by trying to make them more glitzy, like Episodes 1 and 2. Lucas says that that was the way he originally wanted to make them, and could not for technical and budget reasons. Well, he has to deal with his business decisions. I personally think that he could have made more money, and angered fewer fans, by releasing both versions and letting fans have their choice.
The movie series may be over, but the Force will be with you always.
During the early days of the first three episodes, I heard a kid say, "If you like Star Wars, you say, 'May the Force be with you.' If you don't like Star Wars, you say, "May the Farce be spared you.'" There is no question that the early movies had both admirers and detractors. The technical achievements were stunning. I even enjoyed the acting, though not everyone agrees about that. The original movie got several Academy Awards, I don't remember how many. But they were all considered "minor" awards by movie junkies, while the "major" awards that year went to Annie Hall.
It's hard to explain the appeal of a story. The Star Wars story could be viewed from many angles. It was a coming-of-age story of a young man, Luke Skywalker, stuggling to find himself, to escape the humdrum, pedestrian life to which he feels unjustly consigned, to learn about his shadowy past, and to fulfill his dreams of adventure and usefulness to a cause in which he believes. It is a story of the conflict of good and evil on a cosmic level. It is a story of spirituality, and how it can be turned to good or evil. It is the conflict of a small, courageous band, struggling against incredible odds to outwit and overcome a super-powerful empire that has turned evil and corrupt. It is a love story. And, as it develops, it becomes the story of Luke discovering the shocking truth about his father, and struggling with the conflicting demands of revenge wished by his Jedi superiors and his own feelings of right and wrong, his desire to help his wayward father. Ultimately, it is story of salvation.
Some who have written comments on the story have said that it is shallow because Luke never really experiences any conflict. I do not see this at all. Luke reveres Obi-Wan and Yoda, his original mentors who introduce him to the Force. Intent on revenge, he faces Darth Vader only to learn, to his shock and horror, that Vader is indeed his father, Anakin Skywalker. He than has to struggle with the knowledge that his mentors have deceived him, at least by keeping back part of the truth. He also has to struggle with what to do about Vader. He decides that he cannot destroy his father, but must try to save him. In doing so, Luke rises above his mentors and discovers who he truly is. To me, that is the heart of the story. He still has to struggle to keep from being overcome by anger at the treatment of his rebel comrades, and most of all, at the possible seduction by the dark side of his sister Leia. It is touch and go until, at the last, he sees the danger of becoming like his fallen father and finally refuses the dark side. Luke's torture at the hands of the Emperor then is the agent of his father's salvation, as Anakin reasserts himself, destroys the emperor, and saves his son's life. Through his persistence, patience, self-control, and suffering, Luke has achieved his goal.
The most two movies, Episodes 1 and 2, in my opinion, did not measure up to the quality of the original three. Episode 4 was a stark, rural movie. Episodes 1 and 2, especially 2, were urban, with images coming at you to the point of overload. The stories were, of course, setting the background for the original three movies, and in that they succeeded.
I am waiting to see Episode 3. I do not plan to go on the first night. I shall let the real fanatical fans savor that, then go when things have calmed down a bit. I must say that in a way, I am not looking forward to seeing the metamorphosis of Anakin into Darth Vader and the destruction of the republic and the Jedi. But go I shall, for the experience is not to be missed.
I also have a bit of a complaint about one decision of George Lucas: not to put the original versions of the original trilogy out on DVD. He made revised cuts and put them out. I do not like the revisions. They mar the beauty of the originals by trying to make them more glitzy, like Episodes 1 and 2. Lucas says that that was the way he originally wanted to make them, and could not for technical and budget reasons. Well, he has to deal with his business decisions. I personally think that he could have made more money, and angered fewer fans, by releasing both versions and letting fans have their choice.
The movie series may be over, but the Force will be with you always.
posted by John at 2:03 PM
1 Comments:
Thank you for your comments. I hope to see Episode 3 soon and have more to say.
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