Daily Blague

Writing in The New Yorker, Anthony Lane makes it clear that he doesn't think much of Star Wars generally. In particular:

The general opinion of "Revenge of the Sith" seems to be that it marks a distinct improvement on the last two episodes, "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones." True, but only in the same way that dying of natural causes is preferable to crucifixion.

O Lane there is thy sting! I had to call up Kathleen at work right away and share the laugh. More seriously, Mr Lane concludes,

What Lucas has devised, over six movies, is a terrible puritan dream: a morality tale in which both sides are bent on moral cleansing, and where their differences can be assuaged only by a triumphant circus of violence. Judging the whoops and crowings that greeted the opening credits, this is the only dream we are good for. We get the films we deserve.

The May 23, 2005 issue of The New Yorker also contains a story by Jonathan Franzen that briskly covers a writer's blooming disaffection with his hitherto happy life, told with the same surreptitious humor that characterizes Chip Lambert's chute in The Corrections.

Yes, I know that Palpatine is a character, not a planet. It's even dumber that way.