Send in the ‘Clones’

I was wondering if I could obtain whatever drug Roger Kaufman is dipping into (“Real Threat of ‘Clones’ Is Its Campy Perspective,” Counterpunch, June 3). After ingestion, I’m sure I would be able to enjoy movies such as “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” and “Battlefield Earth” for what they truly are: masterpieces of social commentary.

Alas, I had no pills those fateful days and am sadly convinced that my dislike must be related to the unexamined emptiness and alienation within my very soul. Woe is me.

JOSHUA MICHAEL STEVENS

Los Angeles

*

Kaufman makes the argument that “Clones” is campy and sloppy on purpose. In other words, it was intended to be bad, and that makes it good, because it succeeds in being bad.

No, Roger. “Clones” is badly written, ham-handedly plotted and dramatically boring. Really boring. It’s bad art and nothing more.

CHARLES BRAGG Jr.

Pacific Palisades

*

Kaufman asks us to believe “Clones” is a metaphor for America’s societal impoverishment and that Lucas’ vision reaches special plateaus of insight and prophecy beyond the provinces of everyday mortals. If this be clarity, then one might just as well say that Ed Wood made “Plan 9 From Outer Space” as an enlightened, elbow-in-the-ribs, tongue-in-cheek spoof of “Dragnet,” “Dracula” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

MICHAEL FERRIS

Malibu

*

After yet another--dare I say clonelike?--attack on “Clones” in Sunday’s Calendar, this time by Reed Johnson (“Who’s Soaring Now?,” June 2), it was a wonderful surprise to read Kaufman’s thoughtful analysis in praise of Lucas’ brilliantly dark camp critique of our current system.

As Kaufman suggests, one can best understand Johnson’s complaint that Lucas should “come back to [the real world]” as a reflection of Johnson’s own psychology: a demand for predictably entertaining fantasy a la “Spider-Man” as a way to escape the fact that Lucas’ complex, provocative and dire vision of our current planetary crisis is all too frighteningly real.

SANDRA GOLVIN

Venice

*

While “Clones” is better and perhaps deeper than the critics are allowing, methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and bad dialogue is just bad dialogue.

LARRY TOFFLER

North Hollywood