Re: Salinger turns to the Dark Side
jason varsoke (jjv@caesun.msd.ray.com)
Mon, 28 Jun 1999 11:55:52 -0400 (EDT)
On Sat, 26 Jun 1999, Camille Scaysbrook wrote:
> Jim wrote:
> > 1. The original movies weren't all that great artistically to begin with.
> > They're melodrama and intended for fun.
>
> Yes, I agree totally. I went to see Star Wars with a critical eye when it
> was re-released and I thought it was a piece of crap. However, I went to
> see it again with a Saturday Matinee eye and came out thoroughly
> exhilarated and enjoyed it totally - it was a good story with resonances
> for everybody and it was a whole lot of fun. The Phantom Menace I thought
> was a lousy lumbering story and not very much fun at all. Characters acted
> as if they were working off a cue sheet full of plot-turns. Who believes
> Anakin and Princess Amilada are going to get it on for any other reason
> that the plot dictates it? Not me.
Okay, I can't defend Episode I, because, well, I hated it. The only way
that movie will be any good is if Episode II sheds strange light on it,
showing that all the problems Lucas created actually enhance the
plot/world. But as for the original SW and family, my critical eye sees a
lot going on, a lot of perfection.
The first thing is Luke Skywalker as Joseph Camble's "Hero of a
Thousand Faces," the theory that ever culture has a myth hero, and they
are all basically the same archetype. Luke makes a pretty good one (even
though he whines all the time, but that shows his age and maturity). Has
a lot going on. The major thematic question is, "Will Luke make the leap
of faith necessary to embrace the force, and save the day." Sometimes
hero films find their answer in the hero trusting himself/herself, but
this is strangely the hero forgeting himself. It's very Zen for a
american popular movie.
Also the POV is great. The story is essentially that of two droids.
What other movie tells the story of two machines? And there are some
masterful scenes defining these two characters. For instance, when R2 is
blown away in the X-wing trench run the camera flashes to the control
room. Luke reports "I've lost R2." C3P0, even though Anthony Daniels
(actor inside) has no movable facial features, clearly shows concern. The
camera shot contrasts Leia's complete lack of concern, her stone face.
Machines with emotions, people without. Wonderful.
Han Solo's set up as the Atheistic counter point to Obi-wan's Theism.
Wonderful. Some of the dialog in this film is incredible. "Hoaky
religions and ancient weapons, are nothing compared to blaster at your
side. Ain't no 'force' that governs my life. Just a bunch of simple
tricks and nonsense." Incredible. What other SciFi film has this meaty
a dialog. Now think of the dramas that bring up similar heavy issues as a
sub-text. I could probably count them on my fingers if i could think of
one.
Okay, I could go on and on about SW, but just for the sake of things
I'll throw in a perfect slice of dialog. I mean perfect in the most
literary of senses. In _Empire_ Han is about to be lowered into the
carbonite freezing chamber. Leia is there with Chewy. She and Han have
been antagonistic the whole film. He's been giving her strong, assertive,
swashbuckler comeon lines, and she's rebuffed him -- "scruffy looking nerf
herder." So, Han's about to be lowered inside. She calls to him "I love
you." (trite) He replies, "I know." Perfection, Perfection Perfection.
In two words Harison Ford shows Han's supreme confidence and his complete
love for her all in the same. It's in the inflection. It's in the movie.
It is the best reply i've ever heard to "I love you." This is a SciFi
film! What the heck is it doing worrying about love?
In interaction between characters, the fullness of characters is
incredible. Again in _Empire_ they are in the holding cell. Chewy grabs
Lando and starts choaking him, roaring all the time. Leia leans right
into Lando, while he's saying "You don't understand." Leia replies, "Oh,
we understand, don't we Chewy." The empathy with Chewy is great. Also it
hints that she cars a lot about Han, but doesn't explicity show it. It
show her irrational mean side. I think what I love about Leia's character
so much is that from her very escape from the holding block in SW she's
been anything but the typical princess. She's rude, whitty, assertive and
strong headed. She's yelling at her rescuers. "Into the garbage shoot,
fly boy." She's weilding a rifle, taking out Stormtroopers, she's
standing up to darth vader and gov. tarken.
Cam, I've spent most of my life trying to move things about the room
with my mind. SW is the late 20th century American Mythology. It's given
me one of the only understandings I have of faith. It's given me hero's
and people to emulate. It has wisdom that I've let influence my life.
It's the classic struggle, the epic. I can't think of a movie that's
affected me more, how i think, what my value system is. The Zen motif,
the pacifism, the struggle, the discipline. It's all in there if you look
for it. But yes, it's a great Matinee as well.
May the Force be with you, always.
-jay