Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe HOLLYWOOD, April 22 (UPI) -- Time magazine has a surprise cover this week. The historically austere weekly newsmagazine has moved with the times, as it were. For years the magazine, founded in March of 1923 by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden, was dedicated to serious national and international stories. It was heavy on politics, medicine, history, education, global news, science, economics and on the men and women who shaped this country and others. Advertisement Time catered to serious people intent on keeping abreast of important matters at home and abroad. Luce and his editors took themselves seriously, reporting and editorializing on momentous events. Early on it featured "departments" such as Medicine, People, Entertainment, Business, Education, Religion, Law, Sports and such to round out its news report with features of wide-ranging interest. In its early decades Time's covers featured black-and-white sketched portraits of politicians and historical figures with lined faces of portentous demeanor. Over the years Time has lightened up, appealing to a wider readership, including younger generations who might have eschewed the magazine as stuffy. Advertisement With the periodical market flooded with publications as never before, Time has kept abreast of the times by appealing to a broader spectrum to include the pop culture. This week Time has pushed the envelope beyond expectations with Yoda on its cover. You know, Yoda of "Star Wars" fame, the pointy-eared little philosopher who endeared himself forever to moviegoers as the aged guru of the original "Star Wars" trilogy. In the newest prequil of the series, according to Time, the principal hero is Yoda himself in "Stars War: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones," opening May 16 nationwide. Combining interviews with George Lucas, the brilliant producer of the "Star Wars" series, at his Skywalker Ranch in Marin Country, Calif., and a first look at the completed new film, Time devotes 15 pages of text and photographs to the movie. What would Henry Luce have thought of all this? Yoda on the cover of his magazine with wars of a sort going on in Afghanistan and in the Middle East? And Time has Yoda on the cover! Ever aware of profits and circulation, doubtless businessman Luce would certainly approve of this week's Time cover and the lengthy story of a man and his movies who has captivated the nation and much of the planet. Advertisement Many a Lucas nay-sayer debunked his prequil plan for a trio of Star Wars stories preceding his original triple dips which set box-office records and drew unanimous rave reviews. Indeed, many a reviewer wrote off Lucas in 1999 when the first of his prequils, "Star Wars Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace" was panned as a failure. Some failure! Time reports that film grossed $431 million in North America alone, behind only "Titanic," "E.T." and the original "Star Wars" as the all-time top grosser. Time reports glowingly on the second prequil and the fact that Yoda has gone from a puppet controlled by a puppeteer's hand to a fully digitized individual. In its coverage, Time says, "Not to worry: the digital Yoda remains remarkably true to the delicate puppetry of Frank Oz, who still supplies the voice." Joining Yoda, perhaps the most beloved of all the "Star Wars" characters, in the new film are Jar Jar Binks and Obi-Wan Kenobi. This time the sage Kenobi, the series' father figure, is played by Ewan McGregor in the role created by Alec Guinness. Lucas assured Time writers that the despised Binks is far less annoying and not as visible as in the previous prequil. Advertisement The stars of the new film are Canadian Hayden Christensen as the hero Anakin and Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala. Time assures readers there is sufficient action to keep the kids fascinated and the love story will appeal to young females, a combination that is certain to boost the box office beyond the limits of its predecessors. The lengthy story includes an eye-popping quote from Lucas, long considered the most sagacious, forward-looking filmmaker in the business. Time reports Lucas saying, "There's only one issue for a filmmaker. Will this make its money back so I can make the next one. "With 'Phantom Menace,' we didn't know. It didn't have Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher. It was not a slam dunk." But, clearly it turned out to be just that. And Time's assessment of "Attack of the Clones?" ... "the new picture looks like Shaquille O'Neal standing three feet from the basket ... 'Clones' is the surest bet of the summer. "Just in terms of mass appeal, the movie extends the franchise's target audience from 12-year-old boys to 15-year-old girls. Advertisement "If it works, Lucas has the 'Star Wars' and 'Titanic' markets in one package."
