Joseph Gordon-levit's take on Luke and tlj
Jan 17, 2018 23:47:19 GMT
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Post by Waxer-n-boil on Jan 17, 2018 23:47:19 GMT
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Writes Essay Passionately Defending Luke Skywalker’s Controversial ‘The Last Jedi’ Arc
Excert from the full text.
That a big Hollywood studio would take such risks on such a big property — again, to present their central hero in a drastically different light than ever before, to unflinchingly deliver the ominous message that even the most pure-hearted idealists can struggle through darkness and doubt — these are not the kinds of decisions that get made when short-term profitability is prioritized above all else. These are risks taken in the interest of building a world that is not only good for selling popcorn and action figures this year, but that thrives in the long-run on a bed of literary substance and artistic dignity. As a fan, I take it as a sign of respect that the movie was not only a good time, but a provocative challenge. A lot of studios and filmmakers don’t think so highly of their audiences. In the end, to me, The Last Jedi demonstrates not only that we can still have faith in Star Wars, but that Star Wars still has faith in us.
There was no artistic substance in the decision to characterize Luke Skywalker the way he was characterized in TLJ. It was the culmination of uprooting Luke as a heroic icon. It was getting him out of Rey's way so she wouldn't have to share it with Luke. This has been intentionally calculated over the last 2 films. JJ Abrams rewrote the script for TFA numerous times. Each time he scaled back Luke's role until he was reduced to a cameo.
Abrams avoided Luke being a hero of the first film. Rian Johnson wrote Luke as a transformed failure, quitter, and isolationist. It's worthy to note that the original writer of episode IX (Colin Trevorrow) had a more positive vision of Luke. He would've never written this ilk only designed to make all of the male Jedi heroes look incompetent and unnecessary. And to bolster the spotlight on Rey and Leia. This was calculated writing of characters to accomplish agendas with them. Save the ending with Luke there was nothing artistic about it. How they portrayed Luke - I've seen that rehashed characterization of the old male has-been failure a hundred times before from Disney.