raul grau
May 18, 2005, 06:21 pm
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/offpanelonscreen.jpg" hspace=10 align=left border=0 alt="Off Panel / Onscreen logo">By Seth Kim, loki@darkhorsemail.net
The Circle is Now Complete
Everyone has their first Star Wars memory. The thing is, I don't remember my first. Or, I kind of do, but I think it's an imaginative reconstruction of an amusing anecdote that my mother told me instead of a bona fide memory.
But wait... this is Comixfan. Shouldn't any Comixfan column deal with just comics? Well, considering that this column is on comic-based and related movies, and seeing that we cover Star Wars comics here at Comixfan, and since Star Wars fever has hit the world as if it were '99 again, I figure that I have a little leeway in my first outing. Ok, now back to that Star Wars pseudo-memory...
When I was two, my mother and aunt spent twenty minutes looking through the snow on a sidewalk for something lost. They searched so long and so hard that a few people stopped by to help look. One lady asked what it was that they were so doggedly looking for. My mother answered, "My son's stormtrooper s BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle." Well she really didn't say that, but it was what she was looking for. I was only two years old at the time. I remember drawing my first Luke Skywalker at around 4 or 5, buying Power of the Force figures with their marked down price tags in the late 80s, bartering for my friend's Boba Fett, ogling at the toys that that guy with the beard had at the local flea market, and seeing Star Wars for the first time in theatres, again, in 1997. Though in recent years Star Wars has become a source of seemingly unending disappointment for me and many, many others, Star Wars isn't just a movie- it's part of my life.
I've come to terms with my geekdom a long time ago. Comics, films, video games, animation, and toys take up most of my time. But if I were to track down the root, the very source of this deep-seeded infatuation with things fictitious, it would without a doubt be Star Wars. It was those three films that sparked a love (bordering on obsession) with film. It was also Star Wars that helped me discover a latent knack for writing, as it was Star Wars role playing and fan fiction (I told you I was a geek) that helped me find and develop that talent which would eventually lead into a study of screenwriting. I was old enough to see Episode VI in theatres, but I have no idea when or how I first saw the entire trilogy after that point. Somehow, the knowledge that Ben Kenobi was in fact a great general in the Clone Wars and that Darth Vader was Luke's father was always in the recesses of my mind, just as certain as 1 + 1 is 2. Even now, one of my greatest envies is for those who are old enough to remember seeing the trilogy in theatres; old enough to remember everything for the first time. But just what are these movies that have touched myself, and so many others so deeply?
Personally, I find the love-hate relationship with George Lucas fascinating. On one hand, we have those die hard followers of the faith that refer to him as "the flanneled one" and practice his word as if it were scripture. On the other hand, we have those who were once faithful, but whose faith has been tested by the blasphemy that known as The Phantom Menace. Where do I stand? I suppose somewhere in the middle, leaning towards faithful. I do see the point of both sides. Objectively, it does seem that Lucas is a bit money-crazed. I mean, it's hard to find merchandise not stamped with the familiar Star Wars label. It's pretty well known that everything goes before Lucas for inspection before its released, and it's equally well known that Lucas is very picky about what bares the Star Wars name, but when you look at some of the things on the market, you just can't help but wonder.
I remember when the licensing for Star Wars novels was finally approved, and there was a big deal made over those first books, written by Timothy Zahn. The licensing battle might have been hard-fought and won, but if you happen to skim just a few of the slew of books [and comics] that saw print afterwards, you can't help but wonder why there was a battle at all, if the end result was going to be such tripe. Although the intent of the books and comics is noble, attempting to flesh out the untouched regions of the Star Wars galaxy, as well as breathe life into both familiar and new characters, the efforts usually leave much to be desired. More likely then not these outings go hand in hand with flimsy plots and two-dimensional characters, even by the standards set by the films. The same goes for the numerous video games, save the Atari arcade games of old and the recent Sega coin-op as well; the title 'Lucas' just doesn't go hand in hand with quality. Although anything creative with the Star Wars name is a labor of love (especially the Star Wars Encyclopedia... yes, an encyclopedia), it would seem that capturing the magic of the films in any other media is a feat that is elusive to anyone who doesn't have the last name of Lucas. Unless of course you're Genndy Tartakovsky, in which case the cartoon series you've created (Clone Wars) can actually hold a torch, or maybe even dare I say surpass the films in pure coolness. But even if there is an excess of low quality merchandise which scream of greed, I would think it hard to argue (although many have) that George Lucas is a genius to have come up with the very essence is Star Wars.
What is Star Wars? What are these movies that have captivated several generations over the past 28 years, but have also seen their equal share of criticism? Let's take a moment to delve into the movies themselves. You see, to me, the Star Wars films are a life-long infatuation, but they also represent a series of contradictions. Ok, hold tight, this is where things start to get a little confusing. See, Star Wars is new in its settings, and yet it is old and recognizable in its character templates and situations. Star Wars is new in its technological innovations and groundbreaking visuals, and yet it is old in spirit, in its storytelling. Star Wars is a film for children, simple in its structure and easy to understand, and yet it is a film for adults, an expansive universe with nooks and crannies, life stories and philosophy, details and intricacies. Star Wars is the ultimate independent film, under complete control of its original creator, and yet Star Wars is also the head of one of the largest film empires in the modern world.
Confused yet? Let me start off with where the critics have stood, and stand, on Star Wars. Several critics, including David Thompson and A.O. Scott, have stated that it was Star Wars that somewhat "dumbed down" the moviegoing tastes of the general public. In reality, this is a point that holds merit. Lucas himself has said that Star Wars was always meant to be targeted towards children, and Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker) has also said, in a fond way of course, that Star Wars is an aggrandized space opera. And yet, at the same time, those same kid films have reached so many people that there are whole communities dedicated to dissecting and analyzing said films. And again, this element is also justified. It is the very genius of Star Wars that lies here. The films may have been targeted towards younger audiences, but they hold true to universal archetypes that all ages can relate to, regardless of what galaxy they reside in. This of course is helped by the basic foundation which underlies those templates, the situation that the characters are placed in, which of course is Joesph Campbell's heroic journey. (Campbell's heroic journey of mythology deals with the reluctant hero and the circle that he or she journeys through, a formula that can be found almost everywhere, most prominently in both the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings trilogies.) Ingeniously, Lucas takes that formula, and, with recognizable characters, he gives it its own twist. The end result is one of (if not the) biggest cinema phenomena in the history of film. The technical aspects aside, from a creative standpoint, Star Wars wasn't as new as you would think; it's well known that Lucas was influenced by the works of Kurosawa Akira and Errol Flynn. It's hard to argue that the Star Wars films are better (for lack of more appropriate wording) films than Rashamon and The Adventures of Robin Hood, but you have to admit, to most people, Star Wars is much more fun than Seven Samurai.
Another large gathering point of hate for George and the series would have to be the prequels. When you look at the prequels, the question really does come to mind... Did Lucas really have two trilogies planned back in '75? I don't think I would be going out on a limb by saying that some people were disappointed by The Phantom Menace. Some... people... Ok, everyone. The plot holes in both films, although not glaringly noticeable, are there (Didn't Vader ever think that his son or Kenobi might be on his homeworld? Why don't 3PO and R2 know Vader? Supposedly, these plot holes are going to be addressed in Episode III) and perhaps it's the lack of familiar faces or the differences in the overall look of the two trilogies (give me McQuarrie over Chiang any day), but something just wasn't right about Episodes I and II.
What's also interesting, in a good way, is the much more pronounced Asian influence in the prequels, following the growing influx of Asia in Hollywood in general. I suppose it was a matter of timing, with directors such as John Woo and Tsui Hark, actors such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li, films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Last Samurai, and, of course, anime such as Pokemon and Dragonball Z all just around the time of the prequels. These influences, of course, are most reflected in Amidala's costumes and the swordwork, as well as the overall mindset of the Jedi (Samurai) and Sith (Ninja). (Ray Park's Wu Shu especially.) But even with a more profound element of the East, I do have to admit that it's hard to defend the prequel films against the barrage of accusations they have seen.
I suppose this is a good point to begin the mandatory part of anything written by a Star Wars fan. The obligatory geek whining section. What I would have done with the prequels. I'll try to keep this short, as some may find my thoughts interesting, while others could care less. Plus, I didn't have as many qualms with the prequels as some may have had. The main thing that Lucas should have done different is up the action a bit. Most will agree that the Theed Hangar duel probably saved The Phantom Menace. Most will also agree that The Phantom Menace would have benefited with more Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul busting heads and less Gungans. Lucas should have continued the vein of action in Attack of the Clones. I don't think I'm alone in thinking that we saw much too little of Darth Maul. My stubbornness continues to believe that there was no reason for Maul to die; he could have just as easily been the leader of the Separatists as Tyranus, and a Maul/Kenobi rematch would have been that much more emotional.
While we're on the subject, another reason that I wanted Maul back (other than him being such a kick ass character in the first place) was the character of Darth Tyranus, or Count Dooku. Although Tyranus was somewhat redeemed for me in The Clone Wars (personally I think that there was a lot that Lucas could have learned from the cartoon series), and even though Christopher Lee is a beautiful actor, Tyranus was a character that was weak onscreen. In effect, with all of the CG tampering, the Dooku/Kenobi/Skywalker fight is just horrible to look at. If they had to use the character of Tyranus instead of Maul, I would think that a younger, edgier actor would have been better suited. There were rumors of Gabriel Byrne in the prequels, and I must say that he would more than suffice as a Sith Lord. As pertaining to the aforementioned Asian elements of the prequels, they should have been taken to the limit. Seeing Jedi cut loose in hand-to-hand combat like in The Clone Wars or seeing them utilize different sword styles other than the Japanese bushido (perhaps Chinese styles or even fencing) would have been boss. Having an Asian actor, especially someone with the capacity of Jet Li or Donnie Yen, preferably as a Sith, would also have done much for the films. Personally, being a Boba Fett fan, I'm also torn with the entire Jango Fett/Boba Fett storyline. I'm torn because I never really dug the expanded universe material that dealt with Fett, but also because I think that Lucas kind of dropped the ball with that storyline. The Fetts just could have been so much more hardcore. Perhaps the TV series will deal with that problem...
So here we are. Now we finally have Revenge of the Sith, the first prequel with a kick ass title. It's funny... Lucas, or George as I like to fondly call him, has lost face with so many people with The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones that so many fans are rabid at the mouth, just waiting for Episode III to suck so they have an excuse to tear him into pieces, of course anonymously over the internet. I keep hearing "Episode III has to do this... Episode III has to do that." But, in truth, it doesn't have to do anything. Even with Jar Jar, and even with all of the semi-cool characters who existed just for the sake of 17 different action figures (not including variations), I think of it this way- It's Star Wars, and we're getting to see it again in the theatres. It's Star Wars, and from the looks of it, all signs are pointing to Revenge of the Sith kicking serious ass. The entire prequel trilogy existed for just this one film. Remember what it was like in '77? I don't, I wasn't born until three years later. But for those of you who do, and for those of us who remember what it was like back in '99, let's go back to those times. And when May 19th comes around, let's push thoughts of Hayden Christensen instead of Sebastian Shaw on Endor out of our heads, and just sit back and hold our breaths, waiting for the first peep of that sprawling vessel, once again, for the last time.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
Seth Kim is currently preparing for graduate school to study cinema theory and screenwriting, so that he can come up with his own trilogy of films, and make a fortune out of it that will last for all of his progeny.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.
The Circle is Now Complete
Everyone has their first Star Wars memory. The thing is, I don't remember my first. Or, I kind of do, but I think it's an imaginative reconstruction of an amusing anecdote that my mother told me instead of a bona fide memory.
But wait... this is Comixfan. Shouldn't any Comixfan column deal with just comics? Well, considering that this column is on comic-based and related movies, and seeing that we cover Star Wars comics here at Comixfan, and since Star Wars fever has hit the world as if it were '99 again, I figure that I have a little leeway in my first outing. Ok, now back to that Star Wars pseudo-memory...
When I was two, my mother and aunt spent twenty minutes looking through the snow on a sidewalk for something lost. They searched so long and so hard that a few people stopped by to help look. One lady asked what it was that they were so doggedly looking for. My mother answered, "My son's stormtrooper s BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle." Well she really didn't say that, but it was what she was looking for. I was only two years old at the time. I remember drawing my first Luke Skywalker at around 4 or 5, buying Power of the Force figures with their marked down price tags in the late 80s, bartering for my friend's Boba Fett, ogling at the toys that that guy with the beard had at the local flea market, and seeing Star Wars for the first time in theatres, again, in 1997. Though in recent years Star Wars has become a source of seemingly unending disappointment for me and many, many others, Star Wars isn't just a movie- it's part of my life.
I've come to terms with my geekdom a long time ago. Comics, films, video games, animation, and toys take up most of my time. But if I were to track down the root, the very source of this deep-seeded infatuation with things fictitious, it would without a doubt be Star Wars. It was those three films that sparked a love (bordering on obsession) with film. It was also Star Wars that helped me discover a latent knack for writing, as it was Star Wars role playing and fan fiction (I told you I was a geek) that helped me find and develop that talent which would eventually lead into a study of screenwriting. I was old enough to see Episode VI in theatres, but I have no idea when or how I first saw the entire trilogy after that point. Somehow, the knowledge that Ben Kenobi was in fact a great general in the Clone Wars and that Darth Vader was Luke's father was always in the recesses of my mind, just as certain as 1 + 1 is 2. Even now, one of my greatest envies is for those who are old enough to remember seeing the trilogy in theatres; old enough to remember everything for the first time. But just what are these movies that have touched myself, and so many others so deeply?
Personally, I find the love-hate relationship with George Lucas fascinating. On one hand, we have those die hard followers of the faith that refer to him as "the flanneled one" and practice his word as if it were scripture. On the other hand, we have those who were once faithful, but whose faith has been tested by the blasphemy that known as The Phantom Menace. Where do I stand? I suppose somewhere in the middle, leaning towards faithful. I do see the point of both sides. Objectively, it does seem that Lucas is a bit money-crazed. I mean, it's hard to find merchandise not stamped with the familiar Star Wars label. It's pretty well known that everything goes before Lucas for inspection before its released, and it's equally well known that Lucas is very picky about what bares the Star Wars name, but when you look at some of the things on the market, you just can't help but wonder.
I remember when the licensing for Star Wars novels was finally approved, and there was a big deal made over those first books, written by Timothy Zahn. The licensing battle might have been hard-fought and won, but if you happen to skim just a few of the slew of books [and comics] that saw print afterwards, you can't help but wonder why there was a battle at all, if the end result was going to be such tripe. Although the intent of the books and comics is noble, attempting to flesh out the untouched regions of the Star Wars galaxy, as well as breathe life into both familiar and new characters, the efforts usually leave much to be desired. More likely then not these outings go hand in hand with flimsy plots and two-dimensional characters, even by the standards set by the films. The same goes for the numerous video games, save the Atari arcade games of old and the recent Sega coin-op as well; the title 'Lucas' just doesn't go hand in hand with quality. Although anything creative with the Star Wars name is a labor of love (especially the Star Wars Encyclopedia... yes, an encyclopedia), it would seem that capturing the magic of the films in any other media is a feat that is elusive to anyone who doesn't have the last name of Lucas. Unless of course you're Genndy Tartakovsky, in which case the cartoon series you've created (Clone Wars) can actually hold a torch, or maybe even dare I say surpass the films in pure coolness. But even if there is an excess of low quality merchandise which scream of greed, I would think it hard to argue (although many have) that George Lucas is a genius to have come up with the very essence is Star Wars.
What is Star Wars? What are these movies that have captivated several generations over the past 28 years, but have also seen their equal share of criticism? Let's take a moment to delve into the movies themselves. You see, to me, the Star Wars films are a life-long infatuation, but they also represent a series of contradictions. Ok, hold tight, this is where things start to get a little confusing. See, Star Wars is new in its settings, and yet it is old and recognizable in its character templates and situations. Star Wars is new in its technological innovations and groundbreaking visuals, and yet it is old in spirit, in its storytelling. Star Wars is a film for children, simple in its structure and easy to understand, and yet it is a film for adults, an expansive universe with nooks and crannies, life stories and philosophy, details and intricacies. Star Wars is the ultimate independent film, under complete control of its original creator, and yet Star Wars is also the head of one of the largest film empires in the modern world.
Confused yet? Let me start off with where the critics have stood, and stand, on Star Wars. Several critics, including David Thompson and A.O. Scott, have stated that it was Star Wars that somewhat "dumbed down" the moviegoing tastes of the general public. In reality, this is a point that holds merit. Lucas himself has said that Star Wars was always meant to be targeted towards children, and Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker) has also said, in a fond way of course, that Star Wars is an aggrandized space opera. And yet, at the same time, those same kid films have reached so many people that there are whole communities dedicated to dissecting and analyzing said films. And again, this element is also justified. It is the very genius of Star Wars that lies here. The films may have been targeted towards younger audiences, but they hold true to universal archetypes that all ages can relate to, regardless of what galaxy they reside in. This of course is helped by the basic foundation which underlies those templates, the situation that the characters are placed in, which of course is Joesph Campbell's heroic journey. (Campbell's heroic journey of mythology deals with the reluctant hero and the circle that he or she journeys through, a formula that can be found almost everywhere, most prominently in both the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings trilogies.) Ingeniously, Lucas takes that formula, and, with recognizable characters, he gives it its own twist. The end result is one of (if not the) biggest cinema phenomena in the history of film. The technical aspects aside, from a creative standpoint, Star Wars wasn't as new as you would think; it's well known that Lucas was influenced by the works of Kurosawa Akira and Errol Flynn. It's hard to argue that the Star Wars films are better (for lack of more appropriate wording) films than Rashamon and The Adventures of Robin Hood, but you have to admit, to most people, Star Wars is much more fun than Seven Samurai.
Another large gathering point of hate for George and the series would have to be the prequels. When you look at the prequels, the question really does come to mind... Did Lucas really have two trilogies planned back in '75? I don't think I would be going out on a limb by saying that some people were disappointed by The Phantom Menace. Some... people... Ok, everyone. The plot holes in both films, although not glaringly noticeable, are there (Didn't Vader ever think that his son or Kenobi might be on his homeworld? Why don't 3PO and R2 know Vader? Supposedly, these plot holes are going to be addressed in Episode III) and perhaps it's the lack of familiar faces or the differences in the overall look of the two trilogies (give me McQuarrie over Chiang any day), but something just wasn't right about Episodes I and II.
What's also interesting, in a good way, is the much more pronounced Asian influence in the prequels, following the growing influx of Asia in Hollywood in general. I suppose it was a matter of timing, with directors such as John Woo and Tsui Hark, actors such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li, films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Last Samurai, and, of course, anime such as Pokemon and Dragonball Z all just around the time of the prequels. These influences, of course, are most reflected in Amidala's costumes and the swordwork, as well as the overall mindset of the Jedi (Samurai) and Sith (Ninja). (Ray Park's Wu Shu especially.) But even with a more profound element of the East, I do have to admit that it's hard to defend the prequel films against the barrage of accusations they have seen.
I suppose this is a good point to begin the mandatory part of anything written by a Star Wars fan. The obligatory geek whining section. What I would have done with the prequels. I'll try to keep this short, as some may find my thoughts interesting, while others could care less. Plus, I didn't have as many qualms with the prequels as some may have had. The main thing that Lucas should have done different is up the action a bit. Most will agree that the Theed Hangar duel probably saved The Phantom Menace. Most will also agree that The Phantom Menace would have benefited with more Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul busting heads and less Gungans. Lucas should have continued the vein of action in Attack of the Clones. I don't think I'm alone in thinking that we saw much too little of Darth Maul. My stubbornness continues to believe that there was no reason for Maul to die; he could have just as easily been the leader of the Separatists as Tyranus, and a Maul/Kenobi rematch would have been that much more emotional.
While we're on the subject, another reason that I wanted Maul back (other than him being such a kick ass character in the first place) was the character of Darth Tyranus, or Count Dooku. Although Tyranus was somewhat redeemed for me in The Clone Wars (personally I think that there was a lot that Lucas could have learned from the cartoon series), and even though Christopher Lee is a beautiful actor, Tyranus was a character that was weak onscreen. In effect, with all of the CG tampering, the Dooku/Kenobi/Skywalker fight is just horrible to look at. If they had to use the character of Tyranus instead of Maul, I would think that a younger, edgier actor would have been better suited. There were rumors of Gabriel Byrne in the prequels, and I must say that he would more than suffice as a Sith Lord. As pertaining to the aforementioned Asian elements of the prequels, they should have been taken to the limit. Seeing Jedi cut loose in hand-to-hand combat like in The Clone Wars or seeing them utilize different sword styles other than the Japanese bushido (perhaps Chinese styles or even fencing) would have been boss. Having an Asian actor, especially someone with the capacity of Jet Li or Donnie Yen, preferably as a Sith, would also have done much for the films. Personally, being a Boba Fett fan, I'm also torn with the entire Jango Fett/Boba Fett storyline. I'm torn because I never really dug the expanded universe material that dealt with Fett, but also because I think that Lucas kind of dropped the ball with that storyline. The Fetts just could have been so much more hardcore. Perhaps the TV series will deal with that problem...
So here we are. Now we finally have Revenge of the Sith, the first prequel with a kick ass title. It's funny... Lucas, or George as I like to fondly call him, has lost face with so many people with The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones that so many fans are rabid at the mouth, just waiting for Episode III to suck so they have an excuse to tear him into pieces, of course anonymously over the internet. I keep hearing "Episode III has to do this... Episode III has to do that." But, in truth, it doesn't have to do anything. Even with Jar Jar, and even with all of the semi-cool characters who existed just for the sake of 17 different action figures (not including variations), I think of it this way- It's Star Wars, and we're getting to see it again in the theatres. It's Star Wars, and from the looks of it, all signs are pointing to Revenge of the Sith kicking serious ass. The entire prequel trilogy existed for just this one film. Remember what it was like in '77? I don't, I wasn't born until three years later. But for those of you who do, and for those of us who remember what it was like back in '99, let's go back to those times. And when May 19th comes around, let's push thoughts of Hayden Christensen instead of Sebastian Shaw on Endor out of our heads, and just sit back and hold our breaths, waiting for the first peep of that sprawling vessel, once again, for the last time.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
Seth Kim is currently preparing for graduate school to study cinema theory and screenwriting, so that he can come up with his own trilogy of films, and make a fortune out of it that will last for all of his progeny.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.