Desert planet waif finds droid with secret inside leading to
quest that ends in destruction of a giant weapon.
--Episode 7. I mean Episode 4. I mean…
--Episode 7. I mean Episode 4. I mean…
The brouhaha over the latest Star
Wars movie leads me to believe any additional analysis is not only unwarranted
but most likely moot. However, I wanted
to lay down my thoughts on the matter for my own reference years from now for,
while it is certainly not a revelation to suggest that the enduring success of
the Star Wars franchise is a testament to the power of storytelling, it also
seems a testament to a few other things as well and Episode 7 further reveals
to me many things about modern man’s enchantment with movies—some more blatant
than others.
Most clearly, we crave stories
with characters we care about to make the journey worth the investment. Episode 4 succeeded brilliantly not just
because of its dazzling world of special effects, but because of the characters
that filled that world. While Episode 7
is derivative (see synopsis above), contrived (an uber high tech
facility can’t do something as simple as locate intruders) and obvious (who didn’t see Han Solo coming a mile away?), we forgive because we
have been offered characters we care about—both new and old. The thrilling action sequences and related effects
that are part and parcel of the franchise remain, but they are all focused
around the characters and their quests and never become about the action
itself.
Another positive note is the fact
that the leads are an independent, whip-smart, strong woman and a courageous,
heroic black male. Yes, there are still
lots of white males running around, but we’ve come a long way, baby. The woman out-fights and out-smarts men left
and right and the black man doesn’t die as they so often do in films: he fights
hard—with heart—and lives to see another day.
It may all take place in a galaxy far, far away, but it’s starting to
look more and more like our own. And
that’s a good reflection, in this case.
But there is a Dark Side. Happy as I am that audiences once again are
as excited about a movie as they used to be, the fact that the world will plunk
down collectively over 500 million dollars in one weekend for 2 hours’
entertainment while there are people lacking basic food and shelter is a sobering
statement of our blindness to the twisted priorities of our day. Think about it: the amount of money spent to make and watch
this film could certainly be put to more humanitarian uses. I’m not saying we should cease feeding our
imaginations—a vital road to solutions, discoveries and creativity—but perhaps
we should feed starving children first…or at least at the same time or in as
impressive an amount. After all: the more healthy and inquisitive minds we
cultivate, the greater the potential for a brighter future. If we can see our way to come together as a
force for the good of the planet and its inhabitants, we may indeed discover A
New Hope.
May THAT force be with us. Soon.
