Dark Horses


Many of you, if you are interested somewhat in college basketball here in the states, know what the term dark horse means. Because every year come time for the NCAA Tournament, everyone is talking about which team or teams are going to be their dark horses. Meaning which teams they think are really tough and are an obvious choice to contend. At least that’s where I know the term dark horse from.

  In today’s movie industry, the big blockbuster hits always seem to get and are willing to pay the Will Smiths, Al Pacinos, Bruce Willis’, and even Harrison Fords’ of the world. With the obvious blockbuster level of money and hype episode 1 is going to have come next May, it could be suprising to some that George didn’t cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Obi-Wan, Ben Affleck as Anikan in episode 2, Kate Winslet as Padme, Al Pacino as Qui-Gon Jinn, and Will Smith as Mace Windu. Those are obviously some of the biggest stars of the year. But old George manufactures his own stars. The people cast for the prequels are obviously not big stars at all. That’s why they are dark horses. And in this case they WILL contend to go all of the way to stardom just as a dark horse in the NCAA tournament could contend for the title.

  Think about Harrison Ford. He was virtually an unknown working as a carpenter. Then came Han Solo. Then came a megastar. Even Mark Hamill. He was an unknown, and though he never did anything huge after ROTJ, he is still very well known and a big star as far as people knowing who he is. The same thing goes for Carrie Fisher.

  Liam Neeson is the biggest star in the cast, but even he isn’t too well known. Some people I have talked too didn’t know who he was. But after episode 1, I am sure he will become one of the most sought after actors on the market. The same thing goes for Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman (I think her, especially). I am sure she will be the next female megastar. Ewan will also be sought after and become a huge star in Scotland at least.

  George is like a great sports front office. He doesn’t need to sign the Shaquille O’Neals of the world for tons of money. He saves money and hype and gets actors who are every bit as good as Leo "King of the World" and makes them into as big as him or bigger. He also doesn’t just go out and hire some actor with a huge name. Because that would put all of the attention on him alone come next May. He wants the story to take the attention, which it should. After all, that’s the most important thing. Which is what most moviemakers tend to forget. (Take a hint, James Cameron). It seems that Leo has completely overshadowed the whole movie. That happens to many big name movies these days. Remember that no one individual completely overshadowed any of the Star Wars movies. I mean Mark Hamill was the main star of the movies but Harrison turned into the biggest star of all of them. With both remembered equally for the trilogy. But yet on the outside of the carton which encases The Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition, it is the most famous screen villain of all time taking the cover. So everyone is basically thought of as equals while the story is never forgotten. Being the most famous of all time. Also think of the legendary score. Also the most famous of all time. My point is, that the movie is always regarded as a whole with no one actor overshadowing everything. Why don’t most movie makers take after George. Then I think movies would even be better than they are now.