A comparison between two films directed by George Lucas.
Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones
vs
Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
A renowned director and producer of his time. He is best known for the two chart-topping grossing films: space opera Star Wars, and archaeologist adventurer-cum-professor Indiana Jones in collaboration with Steven Spielberg. Lucas is one of the film industry's most financially successful directors/producers with an estimated net worth of 3.2 billion US dollars, making him one of the most successful directors in history I have ever known alongside Orson Welles. His success was inspired by film directors that FILM101 course has been teaching about which included Sergei Eisenstein and even the infamous Joseph Campbell. Both Star Wars and Indiana Jones revolve around Joseph Campbell's monomyth which is incorporated into his films, which was his major inspiration for 'The Force'. The phrase "May the Force be with you" ended up in America's Top 10 quotations of all time. This is just one of the few reasons on how George Lucas is inspirational to me and to many other film directors in the world. Three areas would be compared and contrasted in Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones. and Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; the mise-en-scene, Sigmund Freud's theory, and their narrative structures.
Mise-en-scene
George Lucas is famous for being the one of the pioneers of science fiction movies. The film Star Wars made its debut as the first real science fiction movie because of its unique mise-en-scene structure, and not to mention his faze about aliens and out-of-the-earth ideas bound together by his passion for cinematography. When the first Star Wars was released in 1977, most of its set design is mainly done with small little models with the camera doing a close up to make it look like a giant model. As such, many small models of starships and flying battle stations can be made with ease with a black screened backdrop to stimulate outer-space. The dark side of the Force dwells greatly in Star Wars, because Lucas wanted to implement film noir. Film noir was also still influential at the period of time. The infamous Darth Vader dominates the universe with the Dark Side of the Force, while donned in his all-black costume and cape which symbolizes pure evil, not to mention that his Death Star and all his spaceships are all hanging suspended in the deep dark space. This gives a very melodramatic feel to the audience. Expressionism can also be seen in Episode II of Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker faces Count Dooku in a good vs evil lightsaber standoff. Anakin slices off the power cable which turns the whole room dark, only the glow of lightsabers flashing as they clash with one another. The camera does an eye-level shot, where the faces of Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku were only illuminated by the soft flashing glow of the lightsabers swinging everywhere. Anakin uses a blue lightsaber, and Dooku use a red one. The colour of the lightsaber symbolizes different levels of power. Blue colour is a soft colour, hence the weaker Anakin Skywalker wields it. Dooku is far beyond Skywalker’s league, hence his menacing red glowing lightsaber. Star Wars can be seen as a dawning of the dark times and war.
In Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, things are a little bit different. One reason is that Lucas acted as the story writer, and being the executive producer. He worked alongside Steven Spielberg in collaboration because both of them are crazy about extra-terrestrial beings and both their minds are filled with the same ideas that worked out perfectly in the Indiana Jones series. The filming of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull took place in Connecticut, Hawaii, and Peru, hence this differs entirely from Star Wars as most of the scenes were taken outside the studio rather than in the studio itself. For example, the chase scene, where Indiana and greaser Mutt Williams were running away from the soviets, took 10 days to film that 1 minute chase scene. But there are similarities as well between these two movies. Matte Paintings were used to create illusions of enviroments that are impossible to build, visit, or recreate. Such as the Abandoned City in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the background of Space in Star Wars. Another similarity is that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull uses CGI, or Computer Generated Images. Although Star Wars do use CGI to also create shots of laser guns firing, and the infamous light saber, do keep in mind that the CGI technology has evolved greatly over the years. Therefore, Lucas was able to use CGI to create jungle leaves, waterfall backdrops, and the horde of ants killing a soviet. Compared to the 1977's Star Wars where CGI was only limited to creating laser beams and explosion effects.
The Sigmund Freud theory
It is of no doubt that characters in Star Wars do portray strong essences of Freud, especially in the character Anakin Skywalker and a little in Obiwan Kenobi. Speaking from the same scene of where Skywalker and Dooku were having the lightsaber battle, his master Obiwan Kenobi earlier has instructed him not to take any drastic actions because Skywalker was still inexperienced, but Skywalker refuses to listen and gives in to his id and flies in to initiate on Count Dooku. Obiwan tries to save him, and fights with Dooku instead. Dooku thwarts Obiwan with words such as "Surely you can do better than that" and "Master Kenobi you disappoint me, Yoda holds you in such high esteem". These words were suppose to injure the ego and let the id take over. The taunts worked, resulting in injuries from cuts from Dooku's lightsaber that renders Obiwan immobile. Then during Skywalker's solo standoff with Count Dooku later, Dooku slices off Skywalker's hand, while taunting him that he does not know the power of the dark side. Skywalker is a person that is full of hate, jealousy, and pride. In fact, throughout the entire movie from start till the end, Skywalker has been showing many signs of disobedience and arrogance, ignoring his master's orders and acting his own way. We can say that master Obiwan Kenobi metaphorically symbolizes Skywalker's super-ego, but Skywalker continues to ignore the 'super-ego'. Ultimately, it was his id that dominated over his ego and super-ego that led him down the path of the dark side.
It is said that Freud's theory revolves around the conscience, preconscience, subconscience in the mind. Kingdom of the Crystal skull does just that. In fact, the Alien Skull literally toys with the mind. Oxley, an old colleague of Indiana, goes missing prior to giving an encoded message to Indiana on where to locate him. Turns out, Oxley has found an Alien Skull that contains mystical psychic powers that emits electromagnetic fields that messes with the head. Oxley is then hypnotised by the skull, with an order to return the skull to Akator, where an alien spaceship crashed centuries ago. When the soviet finally caught up with Oxley in Akator, the leader of the soviet Irina Spalko took the skull and looked into it, demanding to know every secret that the alien possess. Her head then burst into flames. We can critique that alien knowledge prys deep into our unconscious mind, the only part of our mind that we have no access to. The unconscious contains all the material we cannot think or express. It is full of powerful drives and instincts. It is the locked basement — full of violent demons and forbidden urges (Freud). From this, we can conclude that Lucas powerfully conveys Freud's theory through the audience.
To sum it up, Star Wars shows that Anakin Skywalker is weak in his super-ego and gives in a lot to his id, which is how the Sith Lord is able to twist his mind and lures Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull confirms the use of Freud's theory by showing Indiana Jones, Oxley, and Irina Spalko's infatuation towards the skull, which represents out id. We can say that the Crystal Skull strongly represents the Freud in us, give in to temptation(id), it will ultimately kill us; know the balance(super-ego), and it might save us from death.
Narrative Structures
Star Wars will always begin with its non-diegetic signature prologue credit roll. It explains what happened in the respective previous episode and a little peek on what's gonna be shown in current the movie. It begins with a flashforward showing a bounty hunter releasing a drone that scouts outside of Princess Amidala's room, and releasing a robot bug that is programmed to inject poison into the princess and kill her. Lucas attempts to immediately instill tension into the audience by showing this scene, and successfully pulls it off. Star Wars Episode II ended with a Jedi council meeting, to state that the clones were ready for war, and the phrase "Begun. the clone wars has" by Yoda. Another flashforward was used at the end of the movie, showing all the clones lined up ready for battle.
In Indiana Jones IV - The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the narrative displays the obvious immediately onto the protagonist and the antagonist, with a tied-up Indiana and the soviets surrounding him. The soviet leader Irina Spalko then monologues about the how she and her researchers were chasing after a mystical skull and how important it was for her to obtain it. Later Indiana makes an escape onto a truck, with the soviets hot on his tail. The recurring theme of chase scenes seem to happen as a motif in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The climax however was only located at the end of the movie and not in the middle as most movies are structured, which is the part Irina Spalko gets her head and eyes burned, which portrays Indiana Jones being vindicated as she stole the skull away from him. Here the melodrama is obvious, and there is no reversal to it. Then the movie ends with Indiana Jones seeking closure with his ex-lover by marrying her once more.
The difference between these two movies is that they both begin and end differently. The climax in Star Wars Episode II happens in the middle of the film and does not display closure, instead it flashforwards to show that the next episode is going to include war. However, the climax of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull happens right at the end before closure, and has the closure with Indiana Jones marrying his ex-lover.
Conclusion
Here we see two different movies being compared and contrasted, produced by the same director, together with a little help from Steven Spielberg, to produce two of the greatest movies of all time. But if we break down its elements, we can see that they are still constructed by the very elements that FILM101 class teaches. I see Eisenstein, Fritz Lang, George Melies, and how the movie is structured, all at the same time. For me, I will never watch movies the same way again. Because now I am infused with knowledge from this class on how to be critical on our analysis of the movie from beginning till the end. On a sad note, George Lucas is retiring after he releases his last movie Red Tails, but I'm sure that he will make his place in the history book of film arts alongside the greatest producers and directors we learned in FILM101.
References
It is said that Freud's theory revolves around the conscience, preconscience, subconscience in the mind. Kingdom of the Crystal skull does just that. In fact, the Alien Skull literally toys with the mind. Oxley, an old colleague of Indiana, goes missing prior to giving an encoded message to Indiana on where to locate him. Turns out, Oxley has found an Alien Skull that contains mystical psychic powers that emits electromagnetic fields that messes with the head. Oxley is then hypnotised by the skull, with an order to return the skull to Akator, where an alien spaceship crashed centuries ago. When the soviet finally caught up with Oxley in Akator, the leader of the soviet Irina Spalko took the skull and looked into it, demanding to know every secret that the alien possess. Her head then burst into flames. We can critique that alien knowledge prys deep into our unconscious mind, the only part of our mind that we have no access to. The unconscious contains all the material we cannot think or express. It is full of powerful drives and instincts. It is the locked basement — full of violent demons and forbidden urges (Freud). From this, we can conclude that Lucas powerfully conveys Freud's theory through the audience.
To sum it up, Star Wars shows that Anakin Skywalker is weak in his super-ego and gives in a lot to his id, which is how the Sith Lord is able to twist his mind and lures Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull confirms the use of Freud's theory by showing Indiana Jones, Oxley, and Irina Spalko's infatuation towards the skull, which represents out id. We can say that the Crystal Skull strongly represents the Freud in us, give in to temptation(id), it will ultimately kill us; know the balance(super-ego), and it might save us from death.
Narrative Structures
Star Wars will always begin with its non-diegetic signature prologue credit roll. It explains what happened in the respective previous episode and a little peek on what's gonna be shown in current the movie. It begins with a flashforward showing a bounty hunter releasing a drone that scouts outside of Princess Amidala's room, and releasing a robot bug that is programmed to inject poison into the princess and kill her. Lucas attempts to immediately instill tension into the audience by showing this scene, and successfully pulls it off. Star Wars Episode II ended with a Jedi council meeting, to state that the clones were ready for war, and the phrase "Begun. the clone wars has" by Yoda. Another flashforward was used at the end of the movie, showing all the clones lined up ready for battle.
In Indiana Jones IV - The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the narrative displays the obvious immediately onto the protagonist and the antagonist, with a tied-up Indiana and the soviets surrounding him. The soviet leader Irina Spalko then monologues about the how she and her researchers were chasing after a mystical skull and how important it was for her to obtain it. Later Indiana makes an escape onto a truck, with the soviets hot on his tail. The recurring theme of chase scenes seem to happen as a motif in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The climax however was only located at the end of the movie and not in the middle as most movies are structured, which is the part Irina Spalko gets her head and eyes burned, which portrays Indiana Jones being vindicated as she stole the skull away from him. Here the melodrama is obvious, and there is no reversal to it. Then the movie ends with Indiana Jones seeking closure with his ex-lover by marrying her once more.
The difference between these two movies is that they both begin and end differently. The climax in Star Wars Episode II happens in the middle of the film and does not display closure, instead it flashforwards to show that the next episode is going to include war. However, the climax of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull happens right at the end before closure, and has the closure with Indiana Jones marrying his ex-lover.
Conclusion
Here we see two different movies being compared and contrasted, produced by the same director, together with a little help from Steven Spielberg, to produce two of the greatest movies of all time. But if we break down its elements, we can see that they are still constructed by the very elements that FILM101 class teaches. I see Eisenstein, Fritz Lang, George Melies, and how the movie is structured, all at the same time. For me, I will never watch movies the same way again. Because now I am infused with knowledge from this class on how to be critical on our analysis of the movie from beginning till the end. On a sad note, George Lucas is retiring after he releases his last movie Red Tails, but I'm sure that he will make his place in the history book of film arts alongside the greatest producers and directors we learned in FILM101.
References
^ George Lucas Biography (1944–)
Campbell, Joseph (June 1, 1991). The Power of Myth. Anchor. ISBN 0-385-41886-8.
^ Scott Huver (2005-04-28). "One-On-One with George Lucas". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
^ Fischer, Russ (January 17, 2012). "George Lucas Ready to Retire From Blockbuster Filmmaking". /Film. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
^ George Lucas Instructional Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts.
^ George Lucas Inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Rick DeMott. Monday, March 13, 2006. Animation World Network News. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
