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Analysis of Episode II Romance Article from AskMen.com

#1 User is offline   Chefelf Icon

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Posted 03 October 2004 - 04:24 PM

QUOTE
Does Hollywood Teach Men To Be Saps?
By Doc Love -  Web Site: Doc Love's System: click here

Success Coach - Every Thursday


This week's letter comes from a distraught man who watched Star Wars: Episode II, and felt that George Lucas trains guys to be star wimps.

______reader's question

Hi Doc,

I wanted to talk about something you're very right about -- the media brainwashing men in the area of romance. Here's a blatant example: I recently watched Star Wars: Episode II. In this movie, the Jedi character, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Senator Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) fall in love.

But the way the film portrayed their courtship was, frankly, embarrassing. This guy poured out every insecurity, vulnerability and longing he had right in front of her face. Here are some nauseating examples: "My soul is in torment because of you"; "I've been thinking of you everyday for 10 years"; "I cannot live without you!" I mean, this was some sickeningly sappy stuff.

Doc, it was excruciating to watch; tough Jedi warrior becomes p-whipped wimp in front of the most beautiful woman in the Galaxy. And worse, this method of courtship seemed, in this movie, to work like a charm. She falls straight into his arms, swooning! Does this guy have even a remote concept of Self-Control or Challenge, which are the real guy qualities? Everyone else watching the film with me thought it was romantic and heartwarming (mostly women). I sat there doing everything I could do to keep from upchucking!

Since this is a sci-fi film, a disproportionately large amount of men would see it, not to mention that it's one of the top-grossing films ever. And how many men, especially young guys and teenagers, would get the impression that a "tough" Jedi's ways of courting a girl is a great one? And might they try and repeat this with women they like? After all, if it works for the cool Jedi knight, it's got to work for them!

So guys, don't listen to what the media says -- Hollywood has no idea how proper relationships work, only idealized fantasies. Here's hoping that this brainwashing comes to an end soon, and "The System" gets to all guys everywhere, in this and other Galaxies.

Dennis -- who wants to warn his fellow warriors

______doc love's answer

Hi Dennis,

Yeah man. I also watched Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones and I really enjoyed a lot the action scenes, but I agree with you; the romantic part of the story was not only vapid and embarrassingly stupid, but it was also filled with dangerous and destructive messages for men. To you Psych majors, it sucked.

So where did Star Wars fail?

______the system is real

If you had seen the film prior to having an understanding of "The System," Dennis, you probably wouldn't have thought twice about the dysfunctional courtship style of the movie's hero. Without having a reference point for the truth, the misleading subliminal messages would have sunk directly into your subconscious, sending you further down the road toward rejection and confusion. Fortunately, you've already awaken from the spell of media disinformation, and you were able to see things objectively.

It's discouraging to see this kind of pablum so shamelessly perpetrated upon the unsuspecting masses. But take heart, Dennis, in the fact that the lack of credibility in the romantic aspects of the film did not go unnoticed by the press. The film's failures in this regard were so awesomely blatant that even the mainstream media took notice.

______star wars failed

Many film critics commented that Hayden Christensen was woefully miscast as the romantic lead, that there was an utter lack of chemistry between him and Natalie Portman, and that their intimate dialogue was horribly mundane and clichéd. So, you see, Dennis, all is not lost. If it gets bad enough, people (at least some people) will say, "Hey wait a minute, we don't buy this, it's not entertaining and it insults our intelligence!"

Still, I must point out that this ridiculous style of whining and begging as a method for successful courtship by the male lead in films is all too common. One of the most destructive relationship myths perpetrated by moviemakers over the past several decades is this: if you pour your guts out, she'll fall in love with you.

Confess your lovesick infatuation with her, tell her how you simply cannot live without her, and she'll be so impressed and flattered that her Interest Level will magically rise to match yours. Unfortunately, when a real man in the real world employs these strategies with a real woman, he comes out the loser, not the winner of her heart.

______theories are from galaxy far away

The sad thing is that there's no good reason on God's green Earth why the entire story of Attack of the Clones couldn't have been deeply inspiring and enlightening. It's supposed to be about a hero's journey of empowerment, conquering evil and winning the heart of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring woman in the Galaxy.

What an incredible opportunity George Lucas wasted, not only to entertain, but also to teach and inspire young men. All that technology, all that talent and all that money, and they can't come up with a credible, compelling story and a male lead who commands our respect? It boggles the mind! Wouldn't it have been wonderful if they actually had given the male-dominated hordes of sci-fi fans a real hero as a role model? Hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes, but don't count on it.

Remember guys; kissing up only works in Hollywood.

http://www.askmen.co...hip_expert.html


Someone posted this on my orkut The Star Wars Prequels Suck Community. Thought you all might enjoy it. smile.gif
See Chefelf in a Movie! -> The People vs. George Lucas

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#2 User is offline   Garth Vader Icon

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Posted 03 October 2004 - 04:44 PM

that review sucks.
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Posted 03 October 2004 - 06:54 PM

Um... what? I thought it was pretty entertaining myself. But anyway, to each their own.

Thanks for sharing that one, Chefelf. It was a fun read. smile.gif
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Posted 04 October 2004 - 09:33 AM

I wager that the ultimate inspiration for Anakin's and Amidala's romance comes from Lucas's vague memory of having read about courtly love in some book thirty years ago. I mean, has he *ahem* had any recent experience? After Marcia Lucas divorced him he never remarried; his children are adopted. Scandal-mongers like Peter Biskind have made many snarky comments about the sexual naivete of the "Brat Pack" directors of the '70s whose experience of life and movies supposedly came solely from film school. I've never given much heed to sneers like that but in Lucas's case I wonder if it isn't correct.

Incidentally, Roger Ebert in his invaluable "Little Movie Glossary" talks about the "Semi-Obligatory Lyrical Interlude", featuring a would-be hit song while the lovers run through a pastoral setting. Describes "Attack of the Clones"'s romance perfectly.
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Posted 04 October 2004 - 07:43 PM

It sounded kinda male supremacist, especially with that crazy rant about hollywood trying to impose the wrong idea about dating on all men. I'm not quite sure I trust these guys.

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Posted 04 October 2004 - 09:48 PM

no, those guys are great...



MALE POWER!!! tongue.gif
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Posted 04 October 2004 - 11:41 PM

That article does sound like a male version of "the rules." However something in this post kind of disturbed me, and I think it's the fact "DOC LOVE" thinks that hollywood has some kind of incredible sway with how people act just because they see a movie. For example...


QUOTE
Without having a reference point for the truth, the misleading subliminal messages would have sunk directly into your subconscious, sending you further down the road toward rejection and confusion. Fortunately, you've already awaken from the spell of media disinformation, and you were able to see things objectively.

It's discouraging to see this kind of pablum so shamelessly perpetrated upon the unsuspecting masses. But take heart, Dennis, in the fact that the lack of credibility in the romantic aspects of the film did not go unnoticed by the press. The film's failures in this regard were so awesomely blatant that even the mainstream media took notice.


WTF? What I got out of this paragraph is, "that movies will make you act just like the characters you just watched on screen, good thing the romance aspect in Star Wars II sucked or you would have been up the creek." Holy Shit! It's just a freaking movie. If anyone acts in a manner like Hayden Christiansen's character just because he watched the damn movie, then by God, that man should not be allowed to breed!!!

You know I've seen my fair share of those teen romantic comedies from the 80's, and not once did I try to repeat any of the guys romantic ploys. You know why? BECAUSE I WOULD GET ARRESTED IF I DID! What may be cute and sweet in the movies, ends up being a stalker case in real life.

Sorry folks, something about that "Doc Love" set me off. I have to agree the romance angle did suck though. LOL smile.gif
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