Bayeaux Film-making

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2005)

This is a grand tapestry of a film, weaving iconic mythological images with a tangible science-fiction realm. As with all legends, the elite play out their tragedies and apotheoses for us - despite the pro-democracy message the film concentrates on events involving kings and lords, princesses, leaders and knights.
Maybe this is why the original films are so beloved. In those we follow a knave - Han Solo - and a fool - Luke Skywalker and in 'Revenge of the Sith' we have the final fall of ambition and elitism. This, despite whatever politics we hold, makes for a compelling film and is fired by the humanity of politics, rather than the politics of humanity - which became a turn off, especially when so forced in the prequels. In the end Lucas makes a quite sophisticated point. What is the point of usurocracies, monopolies and schism when, in the end, it is driven by a few ideologues and followed by those who like the flavour of the idea - but will serve it in the end.
Parallels between Dubya's post-9/11 actions and those of Palpatine can be drawn, but then disaster has always been exploited by the power-hungry - be it deliberately in the case of Hitler's Reichstag fire or on accident, as Nero's detractors exploited the great fire of ancient Rome.
Obi Wan is a holder of ideals and in the service of unshakeable truths - as he believes him. This is why he lets Anakin burn and stares in dread and wonder at his twins. The death of Padme is also the death of Anakin's feminine - read human side, the emperor's final revelation of Padme's demise being the true catalyst of Skywalker into Vader.
Overall there is a pervading sense that Chewbacca is somehow controlled by Yoda in the original trilogy - carrying out his will far beyond the reaches of Dagobah.