Mac Olsen
If the Internet, social media and blogging had been prevalent in the 1970’s, I wonder if George Lucas would have even made the first ‘Star Wars’ movie.
The latest movie, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, has been the subject of endless online microanalysis. Looking on ‘Flipboard’, there’s one article after another about that movie, including criticism of Director Rian Johnson.
Then there are the blogs and videos “explaining” the significance of certain scenes – or what can be more accurately described as their own interpretations.
Other areas of analysis focus on the backlash against the female characters and whether any of the criticisms against Rian Johnson have carried over to J.J. Abrams, who is directing the next movie.
If I can offer one suggestion to all the bloggers and nitpickers – STOP!!!
You aren’t the end-all and be-all of storytelling. You are certainly entitled to your opinions and may have legitimate grievances regarding storytelling, plot points, etc.
But the endless nitpicking about this plot point and that subplot, and trying to put your stamp of interpretation – your “explanation” – on a scene is laughable to say the least.
Yes, like everybody else who went to see ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, I had my own opinions and interpretations about the movie.
I enjoyed the movie and certainly talked to a few people about it. But I didn’t go online ranting about what I felt were some of its shortcomings afterwards.
Nor did I put a political spin on parts of the storyline or character development. This movie, like all of the ‘Star Wars’ movies, is meant to provide entertainment and escapism.
Some characters and plot points may be incorporated from the present day but those elements don’t override the entertainment value of the movies.
Of course, microanalysis isn’t confined to the movie industry. It can also be found in the sports entertainment field.
Some sports commentators give their microanalysis of this player and that player. In some instances, they yell out their “thoughts” on how a player performed and what they should have done different.
Again, I think they go way overboard and my ‘STOP!’ comment applies to them as well. They’re not the be-all and end-all of the sports entertainment industry. Their endless boisterism and ranting are akin to the entertainment field as I discussed above.
However, it’s not all microanalysis, boisterism and ranting in the sports entertainment industry. Other sports commentators are more neutral in their tone and don’t get all up in arms if a play goes in one direction and should have gone in another.
And, of course, when a team wins or loses, we can accept that a sports commentator will feel elation or disappointment, just like the rest of us sports fans would be. No one can fault them for that.
In the end, all of the microanalysis, rantings and blogging on subjects like ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi” are of questionable and even ill-found intent.