THE PHANTOM MENANCE

 

THREE STARS – Thought-provoking

 

 

       George Lucas takes to new levels the biblical observation that “we struggle not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities and powers of darkness” in his most recent Star Wars episode, “The Phantom Menace.”  In addition to the threat of demonic Sith Lords, like the devilish Darth Maul (Ray Park), we now face legions of mechanical soldiers dispensed like roaches by the evil economic Trade Federation.

       Full of primal religious symbols and classic styles of architecture and attire, “The Phantom Menace” looks into our collective unconscious and projects our inner-most aspirations and fears onto the screen.  This spiritual and cultural language is undoubtedly part of the powerful “force” propelling the Star Wars films to cult status.  Our caution is that the message is inconsistent and incomplete, yet seductively appealing.

       Although we leave it to film reviewers to discuss the various strengths and weaknesses of the special effects and character development, from our perspective as spiritual and social commentators of film, “The Phantom Menace” is a universe of religious symbols.

       The first is the battle between good and evil which is played out not only on the physical level but the spiritual as well.  In addition to the greedy struggle of ambitious businessmen and politicians of most tales, in the Star Wars films we have the powerful Jedi Knights and Sith Lords.  These Jedi are the legendary knights of the round table except that they are more appropriately dressed as monks using the power of the force, or life itself, focused into special lightsabers.  These sabers are not only able to protect the Jedi but but return the laser fire back on its aggressor.

       The Sith Lords are two, the master and the apprentice.  The master, a hideously devious younger version of the Evil Emperor we’ve learned to despise in the earlier films, now has a horned-demon apprentice named Darth Maul.  Unlike the coming Darth Vader, who looks to machines to enhance his evil power, Darth Maul is a classic face-painted warrior who uses horns and the painted ted and black of the occult to evoke primal terror.  In addition, Darth Maul has doubled his saber’s power like a doubled-edged sword.

       The spirituality represented by the struggle of these figures is an animistic view that there is a “force” which can be used either for good or for bad.  Rather than a Creator God who interacts with people to bring about good, this impersonal force is controlled by each person for either good or bad.  The “force” therefore can either help or destroy humankind.

       A second spiritual symbol in the film is the presence of young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd).   This time using the spirituality of Christianity, his mother explains that he has no father, implying that his was a virgin birth.

       Inconsistent within the theology of the film, this shift from an impersonal force to a providential Creator who miraculously creates a new life from a virgin in order to “balance the force”  is a hodgepodge of spiritual imagery.

       These providential events prove to be a difficulty, both for the universe in which Star Wars is battling and also within the theology of the film.  As is known from the film’s publicity, young Anakin is to grow into the man who chooses to become the evil Darth Vader, Sith apprentice of the Evil Emperor in the coming third episode. 

       The fact that he will make this choice is unclear now at the beginning of the saga, and a confusion for the Jedi knights.   Referring to some unspecified prophesy about a savior who will come, how then does such a man choose to serve the dark and evil side of the force?

       Perhaps that is where “The Phantom Menace” presents an intriguing theological perspective.  If in this fantasy it can be imagined that God is not personal but rather an impersonal force, and that this force could spontaneously produce a child, then there is no influence from God helping this child choose the good.  In fact, under the influence of an evil master,  this special child could grow into a person who chooses to serve the dark and evil side of the force rather than the good.

       Unlike the real universe, this phantom existence then leaves the future and our individual choices to the happenstances of the force.   Such a universe would truly be a warring universe with good and evil continually battling it out among the stars making “Star Wars” an apt name for such a reality.

 

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