from cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movi...ars/index.html

CANNES, France (CNN) -- "Star Wars" director George Lucas says that although he wrote the original film during the Vietnam War, his six-part saga could apply to the war in Iraq.

''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.

''On the personal level it was how does a good person turn into a bad person, and part of the observation of that is that most bad people think they are good people, they are doing it for the right reasons,'' he added.

The final episode of "Star Wars" blasted into the Cannes film festival Sunday, stirring the greatest hype and excitement here yet, even if it's not in competition for the festival's top prize, the Golden Palm.

Cannes went out of its way to roll out the red carpet for "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," letting fans in costume meet and greet their screen idols before Sunday night's gala screening. Offshore on the Queen Mary 2, the festival gave a special trophy to Lucas.

"Sith" is an action-packed intergalactic morality play exposing the origins of the diabolical Darth Vader.

It shows a young Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, torn between following his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and the power-hungry Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) -- while hoping to save the life of his wife, Padme (Natalie Portman), who is pregnant with the future twin heroes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

The film is getting critical acclaim. Though it does have its moments of comic-book dialogue, the finale is an intense human drama. Variety magazine calls it the best "Star Wars" since ''The Empire Strikes Back.''

And so what if "Star Wars" isn't in the competition? It's expected to make more money than all the films vying for the Golden Palm combined.

"Star Wars" is using Cannes as the biggest global launch pad for movies. And the feeling is mutual. Cannes is using "Star Wars" as it tries to balance all its art films with high-wattage Hollywood.

Another film stirring excitement out of competition is Woody Allen's ''Match Point.'' This time he leaves his usual Manhattan venue for Britain, with a modern take on Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment," packed with Hitchcock suspense and a politically incorrect ending.

The 20 films in competition are led by four American, three French and two Chinese entries. Screening Tuesday is ''Broken Flowers'' by U.S. director Jim Jarmusch. Starring Bill Murray, Sharon Stone and Jessica Lange, it's about a father searching for the son he never knew.

In competition for the first time is an Iraqi film, ''Kilometer Zero,'' a tragi-comedy on Iraqi-Kurd relations during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. It's told from the perspective of a Kurdish man drafted to fight for Saddam Hussein's brutal regime.

It ends with what can be perceived as a slap at France and others who sat out the 2003 Iraq war -- after Saddam fell to the U.S.-led coalition, the main character and his wife, then in exile in Paris, scream out their apartment window, ''We're free! We're free!''

What about Star Wars fans who was in favour of the war in Iraq? This could divide the nerd community even further. The Star Wars nerds are already in open war with the Star Trek geeks. :D

<font color = lightgreen>That is probably because they both realize that their respective space-based worlds are only second-rate when compared to Babylon 5. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img] </font>

Hey, Azred, you dropped your pocket protector.

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">Star Wars as parallels between it and the current fiasco going on in the Canadian Government. Of course the main character is a girl in this case.

Belinda Stronach (Con MP Defected To Liberals)= Anakin Skywalker
Stephan Harper (Con Opposition Leader)= Obi-Wan Kenobi
Peter MacKay (Con MP dating Stronach ) = Padmé Amidala
Prime Minister Paul Martin = Emperor / Supreme Chancellor Palpatine


The resemblace is uncanny.</font>

[ 05-18-2005, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

No hate mail from me, Mr. Lucas. I'm just glad that
I still own VHS copies of his original versions of Episodes IV-VI.

The whole liberal war crap did piss me off. I understand people will have different viewpoints on many different things, but I think, as an entertainer, Lucas shouldn't be going such controversial places.

<font color = lightgreen>That's ok, Timber...I have another one. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

Movie controversy? What movie controversy? It's just a movie! </font>

Yeah, I'm sure the script would've been different if (Gawd forbid) Kerry won. :rolleyes:

Indeed Babylon 5 is great. I'm half-way through converting the seasons from DVD to MPEG 4. I watch episodes at work on break on my PSP! I love that show! Must watch every episode in order... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

BAB 5 also explores what happens when a democracy (on Earth) descends into depotism in a 2nd/3rd/4th season story arc. Of course the fraility of democracy in BAB 5 has nothing to do with some mystical darkside, but rather the zealous fantatism of suspicious militant nationalism, racist xenophobia and the normal corruption that comes from the desire for power. The Shadows didn't help either! :D

[ 05-22-2005, 12:49 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

We cannot let ourselves live under the illusion that democracy is perfect. Even ideally democracy is simply the dictorship of the masses. In an ideal democracy the majority is always "right" even though the decision may be wrong. However like many other forms of goverment true democracy fails due to human nature. Lets make a little summary
Anarchism. By far the best form in its ideal. Complete self-regulation and freedom. However possesive and selfish elements of human nature well make anarchism fail extremely fast. It develops into despotism.
Comunism. The second best form in its ideal. Works under the dogma of "work as much as you can and enjoy only what you need". Unfortunately humans will always work less than they can (unless inclined to do otherwise) and always enjoy more than they need. Will develop into an oligocracy with a ruling caste.
Democracy. The third best form in its ideal. While extremely oppresive towards minorities it will generally make as many people content as possible (utilitarism). Unfortunately democracy can only work if those in power are willing to give that up freely without manipulation or attempts to retain control. This also contradicts human nature making democracies develop into a shadow oligocracy with a ruling politician caste.

Democratic and comunistic governments are able to function only as long as they can draw the illusion that they are still working. I do not consider any of the aforementioned government types stable. Not unless human nature changes dramatically.