I am, at heart, a nerd. I love science, math and nearly all thing technologic. I have devoured pages of SciFi, fantasy and even played Dungeons and Dragons. I followed the space program with wide eyed wonder, writing to astronauts (idolizing my hero Alan B. Sheperd– a Naval Officer) and suggesting all sorts of ideas to NASA.
This, I think, is a good thing. The world needs technology badly. It actually needs creative thinkers who can apply new ideas to old problems. I like to think of myself as part of that cadre of engineers, scientists and futurists who work to make things better. I am a doer, as Citizen Une says (accurately) “you are a human being, not a human doing”. But more on that in another, more reflective, post.
What I want to talk about is Star Wars.
Actually, the cult of Star Wars and all that it embodies. Unlike Star Trek, Star Wars invokes a mystical period of clear struggles between good and evil. While Star Trek emphasizes humanities triumph over the adversities of ignorance and the challenges beyond (well, all except Voyager).
Within that cult are a host of "fan films" . These range form the earliest Hardware Wars to one of the most sophisticated and recent (which may actually be better than some of the movies). A project originally called TROOPS II, from the original stormtrooper parody, TROOPS, this film is called I.M.P.S.. It is a documentary about Imperial Stromtroopers and their life aboard their starship. It is well crafted, scripted with some cynical sophistication and a labor of love for the creators.
The breadth of creativity of these producers and directors is stunning. I have no idea what Lucas and company think of all this, but do yourself a favor, download the teaser – if you like it download Chapter One.
The empire will never be the same again.
3 comments:
I think because of the lack of message from the "rebels". What are they rebelling against anyway? There is no obvious evil demonstrated by the empire. In fact, the galaxy seems to operate quite nicely without them.
Aside from the protagonists, we see the empire as exercising fairly benign control. Lando's operation in Cloud City, which he admits is illegal, continues unmolested until he runs afoul of Darth Vader.
I think the battle described is more personal - rather than ideological.
I don't dispute the empire was ruthless, but it wasn't personified in the movies as singularly evil - what of Jabba's slave trade? Tatooine was outside Imperial control, as near as I could tell.
As for Han Solo, he was a pirate.
Why yes, yes we do....arrrgh.
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