THE BUZZ.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

DARTH DUBYA?: Politics is rearing its head in ``Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,'' which opens today.

There are reports that conservatives groups are upset at what are perceived as anti-Bush sentiments. It's also being reported that MoveOn.org, the liberal organization, will try to use ``Star Wars'' references in televised ads about the battle over the confirmation process for federal judges. According to the report, MoveOn doesn't believe ``Star Wars'' was directly aimed at Bush but thought some of the film's story elements would work in its ads.

George Lucas, for his part, has denied that there are any overt politics in the movie, noting he conceived the saga in the 1970s and wrote the script for ``Sith'' before the Iraq War. On Sunday in Cannes, however, he said, ``The parallels between Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable.''

Ian McDiarmid, who plays the evil Chancellor Palpatine, doesn't think Lucas made an overt political statement, though he calls the movie ``politically relevant,'' pointing to the line, ``If you are not with me, then you're my enemy,'' which Anakin (Hayden Christensen) says to Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor). ``Once again, an artist has taken a line we know very well and slightly given it a new emphasis,'' says McDiarmid, noting that similar statements have been said by tyrants such as former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

However, observers on both sides of the political spectrum see a parallel to President Bush's post-Sept. 11 pronouncement, ``Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.''

LINDSAY'S 'IMPOSSIBLE' DREAM: Lindsay Lohan has a mission ... and she wants to accept it.

The actress says she has met with ``Mission: Impossible III'' director J.J. Abrams regarding the possibility of starring in the third installment of the 1960s TV show remake. ``I actually met with J.J. Abrams, who is directing,'' Lohan said in an interview on ``Access Hollywood'' that aired Tuesday. ``I'm a huge fan of 'Lost' and 'Alias,' so, hopefully, we will see what happens. If so, I'll be in training for a few weeks, putting on some muscles.''

Abrams, the creator of both hit TV shows, was tapped last year for the directing gig. Paramount Pictures, the studio producing the sequel, has yet to announce any casting besides its star, Tom Cruise. Sidekick Ving Rhames is also expected to return. ``It's kind of an incredible feeling. I'm scared,'' Lohan said of the prospect of working with Cruise. ``If I do 'Mission: Impossible III,' that is going to be so exhilarating. I'm so excited, I just can't wait to do stunts and get all into it.''

``Mission: Impossible III'' has been scheduled to begin shooting this summer and to be released next year. The 18-year-old actress will star this summer in ``Herbie: Fully Loaded,'' scheduled to hit theaters June 22. She will also host NBC's ``Saturday Night Live'' this week, the season finale.

GIVING IT ANOTHER SPIN: Former ``Beverly Hills, 90210'' star Jason Priestley has married longtime girlfriend Naomi Lowde, the actor's publicist, Marla Farrell, said Tuesday. Priestley and Lowde wed Saturday on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Farrell said. No further details were available.

After several years together, the 35-year-old actor and Lowde, a makeup artist, became engaged last May. It is the second marriage for Priestley, who was hitched to Ashlee Peterson, also a makeup artist, for less than a year before divorcing in early 2000.

Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh on the long-running teen drama, was seriously injured in an August 2002 car crash. The avid race car driver spun out of control at 180 mph and hit a wall nearly head-on during practice at the Kentucky Speedway.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Costumed fans wait in Berlin Wednesday for the opening of ``Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.'' The film's political elements have already sparked debate.

Kristy May/Associated Press

(2 -- color) PRIESTLEY AND LOWDE

Michael Buckner/Getty Images