www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall the latest Star Wars movie

I saw the new Star Wars move tonight for the second time. It is excellent. I won't discuss the plot, so as to not spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet.

I will say this: it has an excellently told theme of how good people can make themselves evil by yielding to their fear, greed, lust, anger and pride. It was a real character study in the opposite of theosis, and at times it was horrifying. It wasn't horrifying for special effects, etc. It was horrifying to watch a man damn himself. It is a lesson woefully untold these days, even in our churches, and it was good to see in a movie. The movie clearly exalts goodness over evil, but it also clearly shows the reality of evil and how it is *chosen.*

--John

Thank you John,

This is a very interesting annalysis of the movie. To me very different observation that has been observed by others. I have yet to see, but I know my kids will soon.

Thanks again,
Pani Rose

John,

Great critique. I saw it as well yesterday, and was deeply impressed on a number of levels. The larger themes that you mention are powerful and wonderfully represented on the screen.

The love story and its lines, however, are clunky at best. Lucas, whom I understand is an ardent Buddhist, writes romantic lines like a Buddhist. Straight, no pathos, and resonating with the audience like the sound of one hand clapping. A few of them delivered at the beginning of the film felt like someone had just introduced an elephant into space. "Please - pay no attention to this elephant! He is just part of the scenery!" Once the lines were done, the actors seemed to breathe a sigh of relief "Whew - that line was delivered, now let's get on with the acting." The audience - which actually phsyically groaned when I heard it - were grateful to be over that little speedbump, even if it was the size of an elephant.

But really, I did enjoy the movie. It aint Shakespeare, but the story is truly of mythical proportions.

My two cents!

Gordo, who types while clapping one hand

Very well said, John. The movie really impressed me, and I couldn't seem to put into words WHY... but you just explained it. :-)

Thank you, all, for your compliments ! --John

The movie impressed me because it was the first movie that had heart to it. I think Anakin could be the poster child for the human heart in conflict with itself.I know someone who saw it and hated it becuase people made bad choices when they knew better. I had to tell him that knowing the path is not walking the path. JUst because we know something is bad for us doesn't mean we don't do it. That is what makes the ending soooo tragic. For me anyway.

-Katie g

Well said, Katie, well said . . .

I like this! Yes, Episode III is tragic, and should be. One thing I thought though which leaves much to be desired was how Vader was after he got the familiar mask and all. Okay, so he was upset after knowing Padme's fate, but come on now: Vader's reaction was so...un-Vader like. It would have been more dramatic to have him be calm about it, yet menacing at the same time. Something like saying, "For Padme, the Jedi will pay for this." or such instead of screming, "Nnnnoooo!" (come on GL--what were you thinking?)

I think Padme was the most tragic character. She was so good but too naive. SO many people think that Anakin is sooo tragic and i fell soooo bad for Anakin but why? He had control of everything and made bad choices and people liked Padme suffered for it.

-Katie g

Here is a really interesting link I found on Spiritdaily from Raiders News Update. Also, some serious thoughts about Star Wars, things that I had wondered about myself when I watched the first of the last three. It sounds a loud alarm within me. Especially movies like this I always pray and make sure I have the opportunity to discuss it with my children, even though they are young adults. I am always cautious when I get the sence of New Age stuff about something. You know how moms, are always got to get our $.02 worth in
~~~~~~~~~
Will Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Promote a New Age Messiah?
By Thomas Horn
RNU News Sr. Reporter

Revenge of the Sith is the latest in a series where parallels between film and New Age theology is strong.

RNU.com � (Raiders News Update) - An important part of New Age theology is the belief that God is animistic or pantheistic and that humans are divine members of the whole "that God is." Animism is the theory of the existence of a principle or Force inseparable from matter and to which all life and action are attributable. Pantheism is the doctrine that the Force totals the whole of the universe and is God.

According to New Ageism, Jesus came to reveal the animistic or pantheistic nature of God and to teach humanity the art of living in harmony with "the God of Forces" or, as George Lucas coins, the Force.

New Agers believe Jesus was a divinely born master who ascended to a place of distinction to live among other Masters of the Spiritual Hierarchy - Buddha , Krishna, (Yoda?) - after illustrating the principles of the Force.

According to New Agers the Force is revealed during significant times in world history, and modern followers look for the imminent appearing of the next divinely born World Teacher who will, as Jesus did, illustrate the divine Force living within and around us. In this way, New Age theology prepares the world for the coming of the False Prophet and the Antichrist.

Such New Age concepts include:


* A group of divinely born and ascended masters are in tune with the Force.
* Because of divine birth, the Force lives in the blood of each master.
* Occasionally, a new master is born equally in tune with the Force.
* The new master illustrates how others can live in harmony with the Force then takes his place among the ascended masters.
* Another master will come along at the right time to help us feeble humans.

Some note the unusual parallel between such New Age theology and the Star Wars Jedi. For instance in Lucas's film, THE PHANTOM MENACE, Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn wiped a patch of blood from the youth Anakin's arm and made an analysis of the blood. He was looking for midi-chlorians. What are midi-chlorians?

ANAKIN : Master, sir...I've been wondering...what are midi-chlorians?

QUI-GON JINN : Midi - chlorians are microscopic life forms that reside within all living cells and communicates with the Force.

ANAKIN : They live inside of me?

QUI-GON JINN : In your cells. We are symbionts with the midi - chlorians.

ANAKIN : Symbionts?

QUI-GON JINN : Life forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to you, telling you the will of the Force.

ANAKIN : They do??

QUI-GON JINN : When you learn to quiet your mind, you will hear them speaking to you.

ANAKIN : I don't understand.

QUI-GON JINN : With time and training, Annie...you will.

Earlier in the film Qui-Gon discovers the midi - chlorian count is off the charts with Anakin:

OBI-WAN : Strange. The transmission seems to be in good order, but the reading's off the chart...over twenty thousand.

OBI-WAN : Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!

Qui-Gon visits with Anakin 's mother, Shmi, and discovers that in addition to his unprecedented midi-chlorian count, Anakin was divinely conceived:

QUI-GON JINN : You should be proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward.

SHMI : He knows nothing of greed. He has...

QUI-GON JINN : He has special powers.

SHMI : Yes...

QUI-GON JINN : He can see things before they happen...

http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/starwarsnew.htm

I'm not worried about it, Panni. To me and to most people, its a movie and not a religion.

As for the "theology" behind Star Wars, it reminds of the kind of mix of Taoism and Buddhism that traditionally existed in China and Japan. "Tao" is the analogous to "The Force," and Zen Buddhism / Bushido is analogous to the Jedi Code.

Personally, if these movies got people interested in serious study of real Eastern religions, I think that would be a good thing. In that way, people could learn a different way of seeing things; and they would better appreciate how Christ completes and corrects and perfects all spiritual truths known before God's Self-Revelation; and it would help people see what the New Agers have stolen from real religions and waterd down to their pabulum of neo-gnosticism.

--John

I tend to agree with you, John. "Star Wars" seems to be based upon a simplified Taoist philosophy, with various other elements mixed in. The Jedi are very much like fighting monks and if you've seen any of the more recent martial arts films like "Hero," you can see where a tradition where George Lucas probably got a lot of inspiration... well, that, and the old Kung Fu show... and a whole lot of Westerns, as well. My enjoyment of the movies as entertainment has little to do with looking for any deep meaning in them. I do enjoy studying Eastern philosophy and martial arts.

I am well aware of the New Age theme behind Star Wars; I don't let that stop me from enjoying them nor let it influence me. I don't think GL is making a sales pitch for New Age in the movies...not a hard sell anyway. I think the philosophies there are applicable to any religion, including Christianity.

Star Wars is not New Age, to be New Age it would have to get rid of its obvious clear lines between good and evil, among other things. Influence from Japanese culture is there obviously, but I think it is insulting the way it is often equated with New Age. As for George Lucas, he was raised Methodist, is officialy nothing now, but does believe in God and studies all the world's major religions-from his own lips at Star Wars Celebration III.

Joseph Campbell's philosophy is the true anchor for the Star Wars saga. His book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, is a good palce to start if one truly wants to see what motivated Geroge Lucas and what he was trying to do: create a modern myth that relied on universal archetypes so that it would resonate with the broadest audience possible. I think he succeeded.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Good point, Deacon. As far as I could ever understand New Age "stuff" (perhaps there is not much substance to "understand?"), it basically steals the quotable elements from a variety of philosophies and religious practices, but cheapens them and strips them of their worth, including any sort of true obligation or any sort of meaningful distinction between good and evil.

Common mythologicial themes have always fueled literature and the struggle between good and evil makes for a good story that all cultures can related to. JRR Tolkien, who was, of course, a Catholic, took the inspiration for LOTR from a variety of sources. You can certainly find the Christian influence there, but you can also find elements of the Kalavela and Edda there, as well as Beowulf and the Norse folktales of Shetland or Orkney.

The struggle of good versus evil has always made a good story. The thing that draws people to Star Wars (I only really like the original, but I've watched 'em all but the most recent, and I'll see that soon) is in part the tragedy of Darth Vader - the man who could have been a hero but who chose to serve evil. History and literature is full of stories like that and we never tire of them. Oddly, in the order the Star Wars films were made, we learned how things turned out for ol' Vader long before we learned the beginning of the story. But it's so scripted and such a common story, that we don't care.

One humorous note: my friend's parents are Dutch and he speaks some of the language. When the first movie came out and we were kids he learned the Darth Vader character's name, he of course said, "Whose father IS he?" I admit, that went right over my little head.