[LEMONS] 5.17.2002
Criticism, diffused
Star Wars: Episode II reviews are coming in. Unlike Episode I, this movie is going to have to bear the burdon of 10,000 bloggers, Star Wars fans from the first grade, all. This movie will be the first production that is guaranteed of being discussed on nearly every blog published on the Web. No matter what country the blogger is from, no matter whether or not the blogger is a Star Wars fan. Star Wars is a universal cultural touchstone.Which brings me to my point: this movie is going to be the coming out party for blogs as chroniclers of culture. If September 11 and the subsequent War on Terrorism gave the blogger-as-political-pundit credibility, Episode II will do the same for blogger-as-cultural-commentator. Thanks to bloggers, Star Wars Episode II will have more reviews written about it than any movie that has come before it.
In the coming days and weeks, you're going to see article after article appearing on Star Wars that will quote Web logs. You're going to see entire articles devoted to the opinions of bloggers. In the end, Episode II's fate as a good or bad movie--by that I mean it's ultimate acknowledged critical success or failure--will not be determined by Roger Ebert, or even Harry Knowles. It isn't going to be determined by one person at all, but rather by a massive consensus of its very audience. An audience that is now made up of an army of self-publishers.
A few notes on this post:
1. Did I miss yours? Let me know. I'm going to keep updating this with more blogged reviews as they come in.
2. If you're using this as a gauge to determine whether or not the movie's any good--which isn't really my point but I can see how it would be convenient--keep in mind that these reviews are all written by people who have seen the movie within it's first 24 hours of release. 'Nuff said (oh, wait, that phrase is reserved for spiderman and fantastic four references, nevermind).
3. No, I haven't seen it yet. But I hear Yoda gets his freak on...
4. I somewhat regret embarking on this because, although I still haven't seen the movie and have tried not to read spoilers, I pretty much know the entire plot now.
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