Whether you’re a “Star Wars” fanatic who’s been camped out in front of the theater for months, or a casual moviegoer who just wants some popcorn and a few starship battles, it’s a sad mathematical truth that there are only so many times you’re going to want to watch “Revenge Of The Sith.” How, then, can you fill the long hours that stretch ahead of you until the end of your days? Well, here are a few films, all available on DVD or video, that should pique the interest of moviegoers.
THE ROOTS OF STAR WARS
“The Hidden Fortress”
The film: You know how, in the first “Star Wars” film, one of the main plot points was Princess Leia’s refusal to tell Darth Vader the location of the rebel’s secret base? That comes from this 1958 film by the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, in which two bumbling peasants (who also were the models for “Star Wars” droids C-3PO and R2-D2) unwittingly join up with a disguised princess and her protector, a general played by the terrific Toshiro Mifune. “Star Wars” factor: A must-see for any self-respecting “Star Wars” fan, this is also a great entry point for discovering the works of Kurosawa, which include “The Seven Samurai,” “Yojimbo” and “Ran.”
“The Adventures Of Robin Hood”
The film: Swashbuckling action movies have rarely buckled their swash so well as this 1938 tale of a band of good-hearted Sherwood Forest highwaymen, led by the incomparable Errol Flynn, who take down the tyrannous usurper Prince John. “Star Wars” factor:Drawing on tales of knightly derring-do from English folklore, “Robin Hood’s” exuberant spirit of rebellion against oppression was itself one of the elements later picked up by Lucas in “Star Wars.”
SCI-FI WITHOUT A BILLION-DOLLAR HYPE MACHINE
“The Lathe Of Heaven”
The film: Not to be confused with the blah Sci-Fi Channel version from a couple of years ago, this 1979 PBS film adaptation of Ursula K. LeGuin’s novel about a man whose dreams can change reality is a thought-provoking and mostly excellent work of science fiction. Though the licensing issues around the story’s use of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” has kept it out of circulation for more than 20 years, fans never forgot about it, and the movie has just been rescued from the vaults and reissued on DVD. A muddled ending and lack of a clear resolution keeps it from perfection, but it’s worth checking out.“Star Wars” factor: Central to the “Star Wars” series is the mysterious Force, which conveys powerful psychic abilities. George Orr's frighteningly powerful dreams eliminate overpopulation, nuclear war and racial discrimination, but at a terrible cost.
“Metropolis”
The film: Fritz Lang’s mesmerizing 1926 silent film about a worker’s revolt in a futuristic city influenced just about every important science fiction film that came afterward — especially “Blade Runner”and “Dark City” — and Lucas’ movies are by no means immune from its spell. The original three-hour version has been lost for nearly 80 years, but the 2003 two-hour restored DVD shows that “Metropolis” is still an amazing film. If you’re unlucky enough to rent the 1984 re-release with a bombastic, over-the-top score by Giorgio Moroder, just turn the sound down — that’s one of the advantages of a silent film.“Star Wars” factor: C-3PO’s sleek design was partially inspired by the look of the beautiful robot in “Metropolis.”
TAKE A WALK ON THE DARK SIDE
“The Godfather”
The film: Anakin Skywalker’s descent down the slippery moral incline into evil has plenty of antecedents, and one of the classic modern examples is this masterful film version of Mario Puzo’s novel by director Francis Ford Coppola. Al Pacino is superb in the lead role as Michael Corleone, who longs to escape his organized-crime family ties, but reluctantly returns to the fold when rival gangs nearly assassinate his father, the powerful Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Michael’s dark ascension, as much a result of familial loyalty and the American Dream as it is the consequences of evil ambition, makes for powerful filmmaking.“Star Wars” factor: Luke Skywalker and Michael Corleone each have father issues.
“Macbeth”The film: Shakespeare’s tale of an ambitious Scottish nobleman who is tempted by a trio of prophecy-spouting witches into murdering his king has been filmed many times, including some worthwhile revisionist takes like Kurosawa’s “Throne Of Blood” and the recent indie film “Scotland, Pa.” But it’s hard to beat the 1971 version by Roman Polanski, whose uncommon understanding of the black-hearted violence at Macbeth’s heart had more than a little to do with his wife’s then-recent murder at the hands of the Manson Family.“Star Wars” Factor: It only took one wizened, evil Emperor to turn Darth Vader to evil; Macbeth gets three wizened, evil crones, and an ambitious wife to boot!
KNIGHTS AND BROTHERHOODS
“The Name Of The Rose” The film: There aren’t a lot of knights in this medieval monastery murder mystery, but the Jedi clearly draw at least a little inspiration from the concept of the medieval brotherhoods showcased in “Name Of The Rose.” While Jean-Jacques Annaud’s 1986 film doesn’t have nearly the fascinating depth of the original Umberto Eco novel, it’s nevertheless a lot of creepy fun, with a cast full of memorably weird characters.“Star Wars” factor: The Jedi’s ranks are full of strange, alien beings; the monks that Sean Connery and Christian Slater meet are awfully strange and alien themselves.
“Excalibur”
The film: John Boorman’s 1981 retelling of the King Arthur legend follows his rise to the throne of England and troubled relationships with his mentor, the wizard Merlin, and his wife, the unfaithful Guinevere. At its best, the film lyrically captures the spirit of the quintessential myth of kingly nobility, and even though it sometimes comes across as an all-too-serious version of “Monty Python And The Holy Grail,” it’s still the best Arthurian movie yet made.“Star Wars” factor: Luke Skywalker rises from humble beginnings, gets a sword from a mystical figure, and goes on to become a great and noble warrior. So does Arthur.
GO, STOPPARD, GO
“Brazil”
The film: One of the more interesting recent pieces of “Star Wars” news was the report that in order to improve “Return Of The Sith’s” dialogue, George Lucas hired world-renowned author Tom Stoppard as a ghostwriter. Though best known as a playwright, Stoppard also has an impressive resume as a film writer, including “Shakespeare In Love” and a collaboration on Terry Gilliam’s best film, the Kafkaesque black comedy “Brazil.”“Star Wars” Factor: Evil empire filled with stormtroopers, meet evil empire filled with bureaucrats.
“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead”
The film: Stoppard himself directed the film adaptation of his most well-known play, a witty amalgamation of “Hamlet” and “Waiting For Godot.” Shakespeare’s play gets reimagined from the perspective of its two least important characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who march through the storyline hopelessly befuddled as to what’s going on or what their purpose might be.“Star Wars” factor: Well, other than that Stoppard wrote it, not a lot, really, although the hapless droid C-3PO is often just as confused as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. But, hey, it’s a good movie.