Hey Europe; Sometimes a Movie is just a Movie

In the never ending European whine over President George W. Bush, the Cannes Film Festival is now making comparisons to George Lucas’ latest “Star Wars” film, “Revenge of the Sith” to today’s political climate.

Audiences viewing “Episode Three — Revenge of the Sith” at the Cannes Film Festival are comparing the story of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and the rise of an emperor through warmongering to President Bush’s war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq.

Which even prompted George Lucas is come out and say, “he created the “Star Wars” story long before the Iraq war.”

Is it that difficult for those at Cannes to just sit back, grab a bag of popcorn and a soda and just watch a movie without over analyzing every single frame of a movie for political reasons and not because this just might be a great George Lucas’ “Star Wars” movie? I guess not. Of course are we supposed to also believe that there really was no political statement by Lucas?

It is a sad commentary that film critics need to interject their own personal political agendas into films. It would appear that critic’s reviews on “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” is no different. I guess somehow in the future every film like this is supposed to be a commentary on George W. Bush and his foreign policy. However, when Lucas is asked about the film by critics they do not even seem to listen.

Filmmaker George Lucas insists that the genesis of his story dates back 30 years. But he pointed out that certain themes do seem to repeat themselves, whether here and now or a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

So if this were the case, why don’t these same people that claim this movie is a dig against President Bush find the past recurrence that it may actually be referencing? I guess that may be too taxing on them to figure out. I would have loved to have seen just one film critic come up with some find of alternative comparison other than the obvious. However, the obvious was too obvious.

Update: ProfessorBainbridge has brilliant and insightful observations regarding Lucas.

In choosing to put those words in Obi-Wan’s mouth – “Only a Sith thinks in absolutes” – Lucas did more than just play to Hollywood left-liberalism. He betrayed his own creation. As Mr. T used to say, I pity the fool.

I have to agree with the Professor and Professor Bainbridge that it does become sad and pathetic when one, (Lucas) betrays the basic story arc of the Star Wars mythology in order to score these cheap political points from the original trilogy. However, any reference to Mr. T is a winner in my book.

UPDATE 1: If you want more of the anti-Americanism at Cannes, go here

Update 2: A great commentary from Chrenkoff in “An open Letter George Lucas” via PoliPundit.

You might be aware that all of us who saw the “Star Wars” trilogy throughout the communist world saw it as an entertaining, yet still nonetheless powerful commentary on the current world events.

Looks like someone was insightful enough to find the previous historical reference.

From CNN:

”In terms of evil, one of the original concepts was how does a democracy turn itself into a dictatorship,” Lucas told a news conference at Cannes, where his final episode had its world premiere.

”The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we’re doing in Iraq now are unbelievable.

Not half as unbelievable as the many different accounts of the same story you have told and your willingness to make your craft nothing but political. I am beginning to wonder why Lucas did not name the movie “Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith George W. Bush”?