"People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage
for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians."
-George Lucas, March 3, 1988
***************************************************************
In the case of Han Solo's confrontation with Greedo, we remember how much we learned about a smooth scoundrel when in the face of death he calmly and coolly stood his ground. The movie presents in just a few moments a long rivalry. My interpretation is that Greedo used to be Jabba's favorite, but became jealous when Solo took the spotlight away from him...probably by beating him to steal and deliver some prize that Jabba wanted. Greedo was looking for a way to get back into Jabba's good graces AND to get his revenge. When Han was forced to dump his cargo when he was about to be searched at an Imperial Blockade, Greedo saw the excuse he was looking for, and Han knew it. That was why Han pulled out his blaster and placed it on his lap in the first place. Han knew that only one of them would leave that Cantina alive, and he acted to make sure that it was him.
He took care of himself. And he looked a bully in the face and said f*@k you. He showed that he, as a character would stand up for himself and that he would not take any crap from anyone. This is a powerful message. It is one of a thousand perfect and imperfect moments that we treasure.
On Feb. 2, 2012, Den of Geek posted an article pointing out that Mr. Lucas claims that he always thought of Greedo firing first and it was just an editing mistake that changed it. A follow-up article later that same day provides some evidence that disputes this by citing Lucas' earlier published version Star Wars in it's novel form (based on a late, but not final script). But this reminder of his speculated intent does not dispute Mr. Lucas' current feelings on the scene and of the revision process in general.
Lucas seems to be in on the joke at this point, at least by the time he was filming Indy 4...
------------------------------------------
George Lucas once said that a movie is never finished, it just gets abandoned.
It is evident from the changes and updates that have accompanied the many, many, many different versions of the Star Wars films through the years that George Lucas fails to realize that we are not in love with his vision of what the movies would have been if he had the time, money or forethought to have done them differently. That is just irrelevant. What we fell in love with was the movies as they actually were.
Art is an amazing paradox of being a static record of a moment in time while at the same time remaining vital and fluid through the eyes of new audiences over the years.
It may be an interesting aside to note that Lucas, himself, felt strongly enough of the historical value of film preservation that he testified to Congress on March 3, 1988 in favor of stronger laws to protect our cultural heritage. A great article can be found at here: http://savestarwars.com/lucasspeechagainstspecialedition.html
Here are a few interesting quotes from that speech in 1988:
"A copyright is held in trust by its owner until it ultimately reverts to public domain. American works of art belong to the American public; they are part of our cultural history. People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians, and if the laws of the United States continue to condone this behavior, history will surely classify us as a barbaric society."and this one...
"In the future it will become even easier for old negatives to become lost and be "replaced" by new altered negatives. This would be a great loss to our society. Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten. There is nothing to stop American films, records, books, and paintings from being sold to a foreign entity or egotistical gangsters and having them change our cultural heritage to suit their personal taste."
Why do we consume art at all? Why do we step into the ancient past viewing Egyptian hieroglyphs, swim in Mona Lisa's penetrating stare and wrap ourselves in a Mozart composition? For me...the smell and taste of a steaming, salty bowl of matzah ball soup transports me back to 1977 to a house filled with family, tradition and love and brings the warm smile of a grandmother to my mind. A friend, long gone.
And why do we re-watch movies again and again...ones we have seen dozens and dozens of times? Why do we cheer every time Andy Dufrane stands up in the driving rain, covered in shit with his arms raised being washed clean by his newly earned freedom? Why do we cringe as Jim Brown in the Dirty Dozen once again get mowed down by Nazi machine guns after dropping the grenades into the bunker? Why do we get choked up every time that Spock saves the ship from the Genesis device and points out that he is now and will always be Kirk's friend? Because we remember how it made us feel when we were first presented with these stories. And we remember how we felt when Han shot Greedo.
The ability to capture a perfect moment in time and return to it refreshes the soul.
No matter what Lucas does, he cannot change the past. I have no problem with his constant re-edits. The re-work is fascinating. He is still a brilliant storyteller, so if he wanted to tell a particular story, but could not until now...that is fine. Just give us access to myself in 1977. I have access to myself in 1984 when I watch Ferris Buehler. I have access to myself in 1978 when I watch the Mary Poppins, a movie that gives other's access to themselves in 1963 when IT was first released. I have access to 1955 when I watch Back to the Future (wait...what? nevermind)
The point is...I want to be able to re-visit Star Wars as I first saw it...just like I can with every other film in existence!
There are two types of re-issues that I can accept. One is to preserve the quality of the original. The “THX-version" VHS tapes did that. They cleaned up the sounds…clean-up up the images. Revitalized the film to capture a moment in time. A "Director's Cut" is a fascinating concept. I love the Director's Cuts of Brazil, Blade Runner and Touch of Evil. But I still treasure the fact that I was able to see the originals first. And I can see them again, if I want to.
I find it tragic at how difficult Mr. Lucas is making it for me to share my experience with my children. If they only get to see the updates, they will still get a great experience…but they will not get to have the SAME experience I had as a child [i](or as close as possible)[/i]. I get to share The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder, Edward Scissorhands starring Johnny Depp, the Lion King, Aladdin and hundreds of other films and television shows that were such a powerful part of my childhood with my children.
But let us share a bit of what was actually ourselves with the next generation. There is time for Director’s cuts later.
************************************************************
There is one argument that I would respect for Lucas' 180 on this issue.All three films touch on the theme of non-violent conclusion to problems. Or at least show the worth of accepting a loss (and thus ceasing an on-going fight) in order to win the larger war.
In Star Wars, Obi-wan ceases to fight against Vader so that Luke can escape. In ESB, Luke ceases to fight and lets himself fall down the shaft so that he won't be captured by Vader. In ROTJ, Luke again ceases fighting but this time to avoid becoming the very thing he's fighting against.
Han Solo was never meant to be a main character. He was a key element of support on Luke's Hero's Journey. So, when George Lucas looked back on how influential the character has become, he began to re-think his portrayal of his lovable rogue. He wanted the entirety of Solo's involvement in the story to be that of a hero.
I think he was worried that children would take the wrong lesson from his story. He wanted children (and the adults we grew into) to see that violence was not the first course of action to resolve a conflict...but a last resort when necessary.
What he failed to realize is that Solo shooting first WAS his last resort. The sub-text of Han and Greedo's long history was written into the script, portrayed visually in the direction and emoted in their performances.
It is a just a shame that Lucas fails to see the brilliance in his own work that we see.
************************************************************
But if you need further proof of WHY it should be preserved…let’s look at exactly how the scene went down back in ’77:
<INT. MOS
EISLEY – CANTINA>
<As Han is about to leave, Greedo, an alien, pokes a gun in his side. Greedo is a Rodian with bumpy green skin, dead, unblinking bulbous multifaceted eyes, a short trunk-nose and a line of spiky protuberances on the top of his head. He’s got two rounded antennae on the top and of his head and two pointed ears on either side.>GREEDOKoona t'chuta Solo? (Going somewhere, Solo?)HANYes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money.<Han sits down and the alien sits across from him holding the gun on him.>GREEDOSoong peetch alay. (It's too late.)Ee mara tom tee tok maky cheesa. (You should have paid him when you had the chance.)Jabba won neechee kochba mu shanee wy tonny wya uska. Heh, heh, heh, heh. (Jabba put a price on your head so large, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. Heh, heh, heh, heh.)Chosky nowy u chusu. (I'm lucky I found you first.)HANYeah, but this time I got the money.GREEDOEl jaya kulpa intick kuny ku suwa. (If you give it to me, I might forget I found you.)HANI don't have it with me. Tell Jabba...GREEDOSemal hi teek teek. (Jabba's through with you.)<Han un-snaps his blaster from it’s place in it’s holster.”>
Sone guru ye buya nyah oo won spasteega koo shu coon bon duwa weeptee. (He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.)HANEven I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?<Han Solo slowly and silently un-holsters the gun.Keeping it out of sight, still under the table, he aims it squarely at the goon.>GREEDOTuk Jabba. (You can tell that to Jabba.)"Boompa kom bok nee aht am bompah." (He may only take your ship.)HANOver my dead body.GREEDO"Nuklee numaa" (That's the idea.)"Ches ko ba tuta creesta crenko ya kolska!" (I've been looking forward to for a long time.)HANYes, I'll bet you have.<Suddenly the slimy alien slumps forward in a blinding flash of light. Han pulls his smoking gun from beneath the table as the other patron look on in bemused amazement. Han gets up, leaving the steaming corpse and starts out of the cantina, flipping the bartender some coins as he leaves.>HANSorry about the mess.
...and scene. Perfect!
No comments:
Post a Comment