:: Captain's Personal Blog ::

Stardate: Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Stealing Memories

Alas, there is an item in today's USA TODAY regarding the upcoming release of the original STAR WARS films on DVD. This brings to mind the fantastic crime that George Lucas is committing on the helpless public.

With all due respect to the talent that Mr. Lucas has exhibited and his fine business acumen, I tend to wonder if he has forgotten why he got into movies in the first place, and more specifically, the magic that he tried to infuse into the STAR WARS films.

As originally conceived, the films invoked the nostalgia of the original Saturday morning matinee serials of the 30's and 40's. The key word in that sentence is NOSTALGIA. It is this one idea which is the cornerstone of the popularity of STAR WARS.

If there is any doubt to that, look back at the ad campaign for the SPECIAL EDITION release of STAR WARS. What you will see is an attempt to remind the audience how cool it was to see the film on the 'big screen' and how much the younger generation missed by not seeing it on the 'big screen.' What is missing, however, is the movie that we all remember seeing.

Hardcore fans knew that Greedo didn't shoot first, and their memories of that film were ever so slightly tarnished by that. It's in this vein that I believe Mr. Lucas is doing a tremendous disservice. He is taking away the films that we all fell in love with. Yes, he's 'improving on them,' but just because you can do that, it does not necessarily follow that you must.

After all, who wouldn't pay just a little extra to be able to see the films as they were originally shot, on a digital transfer with 5.1 surround sound?

Personally, I would prefer that to the SPECIAL EDITIONS, or any new versions. A smart man would take the ALIEN QUADRILOGY route and include both the originals and the spiffy new versions. Why snub a public who has been more than willing to laud you as a genius and forget your rather incredible dreck! (Howard the Duck, anyone?)

It's the same lack of respect that the people at Paramount have shown with Star Trek. By allowing people to come in and re-write history, you aren't adding to the glorious tapestry of the story, but rather tearing the original away, piece by piece. Change can be a good thing, but only if done with respect to what came before. Change for the sake of not having anything better to do? That's just disrespectful.

:: J 10:15 AM [+] ::
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SUPERMAN (again)

Well, it's that time again. Time for me to rant and rave about Superman again. So for those of you who are sick of hearing me expound on the subject, cover your eyes, look away or just wait for the next post, cause I'm talking about one of my favorite subjects again.

Earlier today I read an article in which people are talking about the astounding rumor that Jim Caviezel is being considered for the part of Superman. This has gotten everyone thinking again about the tremendous parallels that exist between the characters of SUPERMAN and JESUS CHRIST.

Yes, I am aware that I just referred to JESUS CHRIST as a character. As that I do not necessarily consider the Bible a strict historical document, I therefore refer to him as a character. This does not mean that I do not believe that he existed, simply that for the purposes of this essay, he is a character in the Bible. If you're offended, I'm sorry, but everyone's entitled to their opinions.

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE went quite out of its way to depict the similarities between the two stories, even taking certain liberties to create an even stronger bond (some, in ways which have been picked up by future incarnations of the character.) For lack of a better description, Superman is a Christ figure to be sure. He is the ideal that we all would try to aspire to. Okay, so not everyone wants to wear their underwear on the outside, but I'm pretty sure that some day this will be a fashion trend. After all, who would have thought that bell-bottoms would have caught on?

He is the God(-like) figure who lives like a man, but who is filled with compassion and understanding. The most incredible part of all this, however, is that if he were truly a real person, he would be more of a Christ-like figure than he already is.

Why? Not because people would see him as an angel, but the people would reject him. For all the good that he does, it is clear that he couldn't be everywhere all the time. As such, he would be (figuratively) crucified every time he failed to save a person. Imagine, for one moment, that he had been around on September 11. The timeline, if you can believe it, wouldn't have changed all that much.

This is how I see it happening

A bit much? Perhaps. A bit naive? Maybe. But, do you know what? I never said I had it 100% right. But I'd say I'm pretty damned close. And that's pretty much just the national opinion of him. I didn't even begin to talk about what the world would think of him. Anyhoo, back to the point, he is a true Christ figure. However, he should NOT be portrayed as god-like. He is a man who just so happens to have these abilities. He is humble, and he does not see himself as the inspiration that he is. To him, he is just a man who is trying to make a difference with the abilities that he has.

That's all. I'm going to step down now. Thanks for coming.

:: J 8:17 PM [+] ::
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Lighten Up!

You know what I've discovered? There are people out there who say that in order to get ahead in business, you can't be a nice person. Now, I just have to ask "WHAT KIND OF SCREWED-UP PHILOSOPHY IS THAT?!?"

We've all heard that old saying that "Nice Guys Finish Last." I have NEVER bought into that. I assume there is an analogous statement regarding 'Nice Girls,' although I haven't heard it. Whoever subscribes to these philosophies need to have their heads examined.

For the most part, I've been a big believer in the whole "do unto others...." philosophy. As such, I can't fathom anyone who wants to be treated like dirt.

But that aside, since most people don't actually THINK that way on a daily basis, what makes anyone think that being anything but nice to someone is going to get you what you want?

Now, to be fair, you shouldn't be so nice as to be a pushover. Stand your ground, but don't do it in such a way that you don't care if you offend someone else. Why would you do that? What sense could it possibly make? It's like saying 'might is right,' and we all know that isn't quite right. That's the very definition of being a bully.

Regardless, some people see being nice as a sign of weakness. That to forgive is to forget. These things are not true.

Ultimately, what all this boils down to, however, is my distaste for self-help gurus. For the most part, they have no idea what really works for people. They only know what works for them. Anyone who takes their word as gospel is engaging in a crap shoot. The fact that there is someone out there who is saying that to be nice is a mistake, is painful to me.

Readers of this blog know that I have always wanted to know why we can't all just get along, and these purveyors of poison (I am not longer talking about self-help gurus in general, but those who say that you shouldn't be nice) are right up there on the list.

Look at existence as a whole. We are all on this planet. No matter how you cut it, we have to co-exist here. You can't co-exist with people without being nice to them, no matter how you cut it. You just wind up creating a time-bomb that will one day explode in a brilliant flash of light. So the best thing is to try and make the best of it. Being mean will only waste your time and ultimately leave you unsatisfied. After all, friendship and camaraderie are some of the very cornerstones of sustenance.

:: J 2:52 PM [+] ::
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