The ‘rebel’ citizens of Ukraine now have a propaganda Jedi mind trickster on their side. Mark Hamill, the actor who played the dashing young hero Luke Skywalker in the Disney Star Wars franchise, has lent the ‘Force’ of his voice to a Ukrainian air raid app.
“Attention. Air raid alert. Proceed to the nearest shelter,” warns Hamill in an aging Luke Skywalker air raid voice over app designed to warn of incoming attacks from the much more sophisticated Russian Army led by Vladimir Putin. When it’s safe for people to come out, Hamill solemnly says: “The alert is over. May the Force be with you.”
Hamill’s Hollywood-inspired contributions are available in English on iOS, Android, and Huawei (I thought China was on Putin’s side?-ed). In addition to its Ukrainian-language alerts, which are provided by a female Ukrainian voice. Critics of the crossover of sci-fi and so-called ‘War in Ukraine’ say things like this trivialize the conflict and reinforce the idea that the entire thing is just an elaborately filmed psyop with the end goal of isolating Russia and bringing about World War III.
ONLY A SITH DEALS IN ABSOLUTES
Hamill, a vocal supporter of the country that is fighting the liberation efforts of Russia, has compared the Ukrainian’s efforts to those of the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars films. This comparison might be valid if the ‘rebels’ in Ukraine weren’t being funded to the tune of billions by the international community who are fighting a proxy war with Russia. (And also if they followed a leader like Han Solo instead of Paddington the Bear—ed)
In fact, some critics say that the vocal fiasco perfectly complements the conflicts already questionable narrative. Throughout the last year, failed actor President Zelensky has been accused of creating sets that resembled war-torn cities and making speeches from his home in Costa Rica.
Star Whore: Propaganda Strikes Back
Hamill has said the conflict reminds him of a ‘fairy tale’ about ‘good versus evil’. The one-note thespian improvises that Star Wars ‘resonates with what’s going on in Ukraine.’ Critics say the opinion of the actor who is used to having lines written for him may need more workshopping.
Of course none of this childish grandstanding should be a surprise. After all, Mark Hamill also voices The Joker, a fictional comicbook clown.