Random Thoughts IV

Hello, audience. Today I’ll be talking about the intersection of old and new. 

In other words, my usual mix of eclectic subjects tenuously tied together. No problems with that, right?

I didn’t think so.

So here we go!

I found a fantasy novel in the library the other day. I know, big surprise. But this one’s a little different. It’s set where I live.

Well, not exactly where I live. But close enough. Iban Dream is set in the Bornean rainforest, a tale of a boy raised by gentle orangutans but destined for war. Over time, young Bujang grows into a man, meeting various animals, spirits and gods on his adventures. This is a glimpse of a time when man was only one more denizen of the jungle.

And it was all so familiar.

The hornbills, sun bears, reticulated pythons and so on are animals I literally see almost every day. This isn't my tribe – Hi, Sarawakians – but many of the terms are words I know. Heck, I even recognized some plants. And I'm not a plant person.

I wonder if this how someone in Europe might feel reading the Brothers Grimm – looking up and seeing how the fairytale world is a reflection of their own. No doubt the feeling gets old fast. But it’s still new to me. Fantasy novels based on this part of the globe are, well, a novelty.

The book can be quite graphic. This is a story about headhunters, make no mistake. The descriptions of jungle settings and elaborate rituals can be slow. But I do recommend the book for its flavour and authenticity. The author is an Iban herself. Local writers for the win.

Moving on, to a galaxy far, far away.

Episode VII: The Force Awakens was pretty good. I saw it twice, which, when it comes to me and movies, has a 6.3% chance* of happening. Though it didn't exactly reinvent the franchise. My only surprise was upon learning Kylo Ren was Han Solo’s son. I was betting on Luke. The Death was tragic and all, but you could see it coming a mile away. 

Looking back, most of what I said before was right. Though those weren't very hard guesses to make.

But anyway. In the movie’s wake, I was a bit more partial to the previous entries. Which leads to my second book of the day – the official novelisation for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

I’m pretty sure I first stumbled onto Star Wars through books. Back when I was half my current height, I remember reading about the original trilogy in the library, only seeing it years later. I think? This was a long time ago, in a galaxy…oh wait, I’ve already used that line. Never mind. You get the idea.

I’ve also seen the other trilogy, known for its many flaws.

The prequels are disliked for good reason. Too much CGI; stories mired in politics; stilted dialogue; an awkward romance. Why would Padme fall for Anakin? While Episode III did improve on I and II, all of those issues remain. The action was cool, the ending tragic. That’s the best I can say for it.

The book is something else entirely.

Matthew Stover’s novelisation is a shining example of how books can bring characters to life – you see the world through their eyes. Obi-Wan is revealed to be a true Jedi Master, skilled yet humble, ever at one with the Force. Anakin’s outward confidence belies an inner storm of fear and self-doubt. Padme, Yoda, even Count Dooku gain greater depth once we get inside their heads.

Though I can’t be bothered to re-watch the movie to compare, I suspect the plot makes more sense in the novel, simply because all these viewpoints and motivations are laid bare. The crucial Why? is answered in ways the movie simply cannot match.

The writing isn’t bad, either.

‘The skies of Coruscant blaze with war.’

It’s interesting enough on a macro level. The Clone Wars are drawing to a close. On the eve of victory, the Jedi learn too late what we knew all along: that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Republic, is in fact Darth Sidious, the shadowed hand behind the Separatist rebellion – the man who would become the Emperor. It was all a game he played from both sides. The Jedi fought and died for nothing; the survivors were scattered over battlefields throughout the galaxy, surrounded by clone armies which, at a preconditioned order, would turn on them. Thus the Jedi fell, and the Empire rose.

As you might have guessed – this was the revenge of the Sith. 

Though stellar writing can’t hide how the second act drags, it is intriguing to watch Palpatine manipulate Anakin Skywalker.

Because at the end of the day, this is Anakin’s story. How an unstable young man spiraled into madness, becoming a monster who betrayed his mentors, massacred the Jedi, and caused the death of the woman he loved.

This is the story of Darth Vader.

After their fateful duel, Obi-Wan leaves Anakin crippled and burned. The movie ends with the Emperor encasing him in the iconic dark armour. Here’s that scene for reference. It's not bad, really.

Now here’s that same scene shown another way. I own nothing, all rights to the right people, etc.

***

‘This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker, forever.

The first dawn of light in your universe brings pain.

The light burns you. It will always burn you. Part of you will always lie upon black glass sand beside a lake of fire while flames chew upon your flesh.

You can hear yourself breathing. It comes hard, and harsh, and it scrapes nerves already raw, but you cannot stop it. You can never stop it. You cannot even slow it down.

You don’t even have lungs anymore.

Mechanisms hardwired into your chest breathe for you. They will pump oxygen into your bloodstream forever.

Lord Vader? Lord Vader, can you hear me?

And you can’t, not in the way you once did. Sensors in the shell that prisons your head trickle meaning directly into your brain.

You open your scorched-pale eyes; optical sensors integrate light and shadow into a hideous simulacrum of the world around you.

Or perhaps the simulacrum is perfect, and it is the world that is hideous.

Padme? Are you here? Are you all right? You try to say, but another voice speaks for you, out from the vocabulator that serves you for burned-away lips and tongue and throat.

“Padme? Are you here? Are you all right?”’

I’m very sorry, Lord Vader. I’m afraid she died. It seems in your anger, you killed her.

This burns hotter than the lava had.

“No…no, it is not possible!”’

***

The irony of it all is that premonitions of her death were what drove Anakin to the dark side – to save her. Instead…

***

‘You killed her.

You killed her because finally, when you could have saved her, when you could have gone away with her, when you could have been thinking about her, you were thinking about yourself…

It is in this blazing moment that you finally understand the trap of the dark side, the final cruelty of the Sith –

Because now your self is all you will ever have.

And you rage and scream and reach through the Force to crush the shadow who has destroyed you, but you are so far less now than what you were, you are more than half machine, you are like a painter gone blind, a composer gone deaf, you can remember where the power was but the power you can touch is only a memory, and so with all your world-destroying fury it is only droids around you that implode, and equipment, and the table on which you were strapped shatters, and in the end, you cannot touch the shadow.

In the end, you do not even want to.

In the end, the shadow is all you have left…

And within your furnace heart, you burn in your own flame.

This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker.

Forever.’

So you see how books can be better than movies?

Even when the movie came first.**

But okay. Maybe we should move on to something more lighthearted.

While wasting time on browsing social media the other day, I came across the Awkward Yeti: a comic series starring Lars, the titular yeti; his cynical brain; carefree heart; and various other internal organs (among other things) personified.

The main trio was inspired by Freud’s concept of the ego, super-ego and the id – the cartoonist studied psychology. Basically he’s poking fun at various mental and physical processes. And it's hilarious.

So what are you waiting for? Go check him out. Go, go. I’ll wait.

Back?

And now something a little more epic. Like video games.

Final Fantasy is one of the biggest RPG franchises in gaming history, going back before I was born. The name itself was once synonymous with quality. Lacklustre entries in recent years have changed that, but Square Enix is hoping to revitalize the series with their latest title, Final Fantasy XV.

I’m not sold on the driving element.*** But I do admit – that teleportation mechanic is the coolest thing ever.

Ahem.

The fifteenth instalment makes notable changes. Shifts from turn-based battle systems to real-time combat, and linear environments to an open-world format are intended to make this a modern Final Fantasy. 

Old-school fans might not agree, and that’s the point. The series was being held back by its own traditions.

Which is understandable. Nostalgia holds weight. A lot of people grew up with these games, myself included. 

But all things change eventually.

Which leads me to music. 

Bands evolve over the years. It's only natural. Skill and style improve, to the point where new content sounds markedly different from the old. Not bad, but different.

I'm looking at you, MCR. Things were never the same after The Black Parade.

But that's not always the case.

Simple Plan was the first band I ever liked. Way, waaaaay back in my early teens, 'I'm Just A Kid' was my anthem. 'Perfect' is still one of my go-to songs for karaoke. Yet somehow I never got around to checking out their newer albums. Until now. And I was pleasantly surprised to find they actually, kind of sound the same.

Not exactly the same. All the angst and lyrics addressed to parents have been toned down (somewhat). But it's still recognizably them. New tracks, but the same sound. The same feeling, if that makes sense. Songs that sound both new and old.

Like this one.

Don't read too much into the lyrics. It's just a great song.

Though then again...

Lastly, here's a sunset. Just because I like this picture, and the memories that came with it. 

Now and then, at least -

*smiles*

Everyone needs a getaway.

*This statistic is not backed by any research at all. Sounded nice, though, didn't it.

**I should probably explain that the Emperor is lying, manipulating him even now. Though Anakin did choke her into unconsciousness, obviously, Padme survived long enough to give birth to Luke and Leia. After which she died from a broken heart. Having lost the will to live. Or something. It's not clear, and unfair to the character. Blame George Lucas. 

But it can still be considered Anakin's fault.

***It's interesting to note that, in another departure from the series so far, FFXV draws much inspiration from present day. An early tagline for the game was 'a fantasy based on reality'.