Vader on the cross... what could have been?
Posted: 2005-06-08 08:23pm
Okay, this is probably going to get scoffed at, but it's merely an observation not a statement of definitive fact, but as the prequels were being made I kind of wondered if perhaps Lucas was going for a "failed Messiah" motif with Anakin.
I mean after all he was hailed as the "Chosen One" to fulfill prophecy and bring balance, etc, and we had the supposed virgin birth from humble origins in the desert, being discovered by outsiders and hailed for his amazing gifts, etc.
Then the trailers for ROTS come out showing Vader shackled to the table with his arms out, almost hinting that he's being "crucified" symbolically. While the shot itself I thought looked goofy (Hayden's tiny hands) apparently as did others, it would have fit with this theme.
So anyway, apparently Lucas bowed to pressure from fans by altering the shot to something more like Frankenstein (which was still made fun of by people).
Still, it's quite interesting. In a parallel to The Last Temptation of Christ this false messiah "comes down from the cross" though it's not to pursue the woman he loves, because he "killed her," says the Demonic Palpatine. What I mean is, TLTOC portrayed Jesus as somebody everyone thought was the Messiah, but by his choices fell away from that path (and it portrays Christ as the everyman with free will).
This wouldn't be a straight parallel with the Bible's antichrist (Order 66... or is that Order 666!), but its fun to think about. After all, Lucas keeps saying he's using old myths for inspiration in his stories. He even compared Mustafar to "Hell" in interviews before the film. Anakin isn't Jesus, and he isn't the antichrist, but there are some similarities that would fit in with the whole mythology-influence in the rest of the series.
I mean after all he was hailed as the "Chosen One" to fulfill prophecy and bring balance, etc, and we had the supposed virgin birth from humble origins in the desert, being discovered by outsiders and hailed for his amazing gifts, etc.
Then the trailers for ROTS come out showing Vader shackled to the table with his arms out, almost hinting that he's being "crucified" symbolically. While the shot itself I thought looked goofy (Hayden's tiny hands) apparently as did others, it would have fit with this theme.
So anyway, apparently Lucas bowed to pressure from fans by altering the shot to something more like Frankenstein (which was still made fun of by people).
Still, it's quite interesting. In a parallel to The Last Temptation of Christ this false messiah "comes down from the cross" though it's not to pursue the woman he loves, because he "killed her," says the Demonic Palpatine. What I mean is, TLTOC portrayed Jesus as somebody everyone thought was the Messiah, but by his choices fell away from that path (and it portrays Christ as the everyman with free will).
This wouldn't be a straight parallel with the Bible's antichrist (Order 66... or is that Order 666!), but its fun to think about. After all, Lucas keeps saying he's using old myths for inspiration in his stories. He even compared Mustafar to "Hell" in interviews before the film. Anakin isn't Jesus, and he isn't the antichrist, but there are some similarities that would fit in with the whole mythology-influence in the rest of the series.
