George Lucas - your opinions of him? a general discussion thread — Page 2

SilverWook said:

Disco_Lobot said:

SilverWook said:

Alderaan said:

imperialscum said:

That is a stupid statement considering he made THX.

It’s just a weird, dumb movie.

When was the last time you even watched the theatrical version, if ever? A lot of people here (myself included) have put in lot of effort and money to restore it.

What - did Lucas change that one too?

Yes, and it makes even the SE changes seem mild by comparison.
https://youtu.be/kIfTT8EGj3A

I’ve always thought the enhanced lizard from the DC looks better, and the masturbation piston is great.

I’m gonna keep my take short and sweet. He used to be a talented man. That talent diminishes as he ages on. His last few films have been nothing short of terrible.

SilverWook said:

facepalm
In any case, the original has been out of print for two decades now. Even Turner Classic Movies, which usually prides itself on showing original theatrical versions, airs the 2004 version.

The only thing I hate about the 2004 version of THX 1138 are the CGI cars and monkeys

One last thought on that line before the thread returns to its intended subject: He also changed up American Grafitti with new skylines and stuff like that. It’s just something he does with his movies. Back to the topic, I think Coppola is a great parallel. Watching Lucas’ student films, as well as his features, you can see he really did have a vision and a wealth of good ideas. But just like Coppola went from Apocalypse Now to Twixt in only a few decades, or how Terrence Malick went from Badlands to Song to Song, once a director starts believing his own hype it’s all downhill. George is, to me, a very tragic figure, someone that used to be great but eventually began phoning it in because, hell, he’s George Lucas and he’s a genius so it’s gonna be great no matter what.

Lust-In-Phaze said:

One last thought on that line before the thread returns to its intended subject: He also changed up American Grafitti with new skylines and stuff like that. It’s just something he does with his movies. Back to the topic, I think Coppola is a great parallel. Watching Lucas’ student films, as well as his features, you can see he really did have a vision and a wealth of good ideas. But just like Coppola went from Apocalypse Now to Twixt in only a few decades, or how Terrence Malick went from Badlands to Song to Song, once a director starts believing his own hype it’s all downhill. George is, to me, a very tragic figure, someone that used to be great but eventually began phoning it in because, hell, he’s George Lucas and he’s a genius so it’s gonna be great no matter what.

I haven’t seen Song to Song, but Knight of Cups was excellent. (I was reading the posts of that guy who got banned, but i’m not that guy. I only say this because he talked about Knight of Cups in that thread for recent movies AND he apparently had multiple accounts).

Chlorine said:

Lust-In-Phaze said:

One last thought on that line before the thread returns to its intended subject: He also changed up American Grafitti with new skylines and stuff like that. It’s just something he does with his movies. Back to the topic, I think Coppola is a great parallel. Watching Lucas’ student films, as well as his features, you can see he really did have a vision and a wealth of good ideas. But just like Coppola went from Apocalypse Now to Twixt in only a few decades, or how Terrence Malick went from Badlands to Song to Song, once a director starts believing his own hype it’s all downhill. George is, to me, a very tragic figure, someone that used to be great but eventually began phoning it in because, hell, he’s George Lucas and he’s a genius so it’s gonna be great no matter what.

I haven’t seen Song to Song, but Knight of Cups was excellent. (I was reading the posts of that guy who got banned, but i’m not that guy. I only say this because he talked about Knight of Cups in that thread for recent movies AND he apparently had multiple accounts).

EDIT: I gotta stop derailing my own thread.

Just as it took multiple talents to create Star Wars, it was multiple things that contributed to what changed with the special editions and prequels.

George Lucas deserves the lion’s share of credit for Star Wars. Without him, it simply doesn’t exist. There were numerous other talents that contributed greatly, but it was Lucas at the center.

I do not think he made the original Star Wars for 12-year-olds as he has stated. It was a fun movie for all ages. By the time we get to RotJ however, we see his ideas change regarding what Star Wars actually is with the arrival of the Ewoks.

The prequel trilogy can be fun for all ages too, but I can see it being made mainly for 12-year-olds as he previously stated. The special editions add that prequel type of humor to the Original Trilogy. What we end up with today is kind of like two versions of the entire saga. If you grew up on the unaltered versions, then the prequels probably didn’t fit your idea of what Star Wars is. You probably liked TFA and R1 more. But if you grew to love the special editions, then the prequels fit right in and it is TFA and R1 that feel foreign to you. And of course there are some that just love it all and a myriad of other combinations and preferences.

Lucas has said before that he went from fighting large corporations to make his movie, to actually becoming a large corporation himself. By the time he made the prequels, I don’t think he was a receptive to the same team effort style that was responsible for the original Star Wars. I am sure there had to be someone that asked why they computer animated clone troopers in AotC instead of just putting people in suits. I am not sure what the response was, but we see the results.

jar-jar type humor has no place in what I consider Star Wars to be, but I suppose after 20 years of the special editions and almost 20 years of the prequels, fans of that style are entrenched and here to stay. I am glad none of that is in TFA or R1, but who knows what the future holds. There is however something from the past that is missing, the Unaltered Original Trilogy. There is room in the Star Wars universe for everyone to like whatever they choose. All those who want the Unaltered Original Trilogy are asking for is a seat at the table.

I still appreciate and respect Lucas. The special editions and prequels didn’t change that one bit. My opinion of him did change slightly however with the suppression of the unaltered versions and the GOUT. Some of the things he said hurt. The Lucas who said those things and the Lucas who addressed congress regarding film preservation and how they are important pieces of history are most certainly not the same Lucas. That is why such preservation is so important. We can’t allow our cultural history to be rewritten.

George has done far more good than harm. If you love movies, then you owe Lucas a measure of gratitude. His attempt to erase the unaltered versions is unfortunate, mainly because I consider them a huge accomplishment and something to be increasingly proud of. Fortunately we have some good people out there fighting to preserve it for those who want it. Hopefully soon it will be available for the mainstream audiences to appreciate as well.

I don’t even feel like rambling on about him, it’s just too sad. I still remember the 1995 VHS release where he talked to Leonard Maltin at the start of each film, he seemed decent enough back then. Now it’s all wrong.

Mocata said:

I don’t even feel like rambling on about him,

It’s ok, it’s been done as long as this site has existed, so no need.

You might even call this thread a rehash of previous threads.

Chlorine said:

Disco_Lobot said:

SilverWook said:

Alderaan said:

imperialscum said:

That is a stupid statement considering he made THX.

It’s just a weird, dumb movie.

When was the last time you even watched the theatrical version, if ever? A lot of people here (myself included) have put in lot of effort and money to restore it.

What - did Lucas change that one too?

Andddd thread derailed.
Yeah, he added CGI scorpions and cars and other stuff.

FTFY

Amano said:
Many things looked generic

I mean, Doug Chiang and Ryan Church are pretty well respected.

Chlorine said:

Amano said:
Many things looked generic

I mean, Doug Chiang and Ryan Church are pretty well respected.

So is Ewan McGregor, Liam Nesson, Natalie Portman…

ray_afraid said:

Chlorine said:

Amano said:
Many things looked generic

I mean, Doug Chiang and Ryan Church are pretty well respected.

And they are wonderful artists. But that didn’t stop most of the designs in the final product from looking dull or “un-starwarsy”. There were a few good designs throughout the PT, but most of it was blah.

I disagree. I always found the OT dull in its design, with things like Han’s ship supposedly looking like a piece of junk compared to other ships not really ringing true when so many of the ships in the OT were the same colorless grey, mega-greebled things, (star destroyers, nebulon frigates, ESB transports etc) or weren’t particularly more sleek looking than the Falcon (X-Wings, B-Wings, Ties, etc).

Felt very same-y to me.

TV’s Frink said:

Chlorine said:

Amano said:
Many things looked generic

I mean, Doug Chiang and Ryan Church are pretty well respected.

So is Ewan McGregor, Liam Nesson, Natalie Portman…

False equivalence. Directing actors=/=directing concept artists.
Actors are more dependent on the director for things like Motivation, while concept artists just draw things George wants (he says “sinkhole planet”, they draw Utapau, then go back and forth till he likes it).
A concept artist is less dependent on the director moment by moment.

Amano said:

For me George Lucas was always style over substance. Not great storys, not great pieces of acting. Which worked fine when he got the style-side of things right (THX, American Graffiti, Star Wars).

That’s my main grief with the prequels. He couldn’t replicate the Star Wars “style“ and it didn’t feel like the same universe anymore. Many things looked generic and sometimes more like Babylon 5 or Star Trek than Flash Gordon and Ralph McQuarrie.

And being directed by veteran director Kershner Empire is my favorite episode. Because Kirshner squeezed out some great and believable performances out of the actors. In addition to featuring Lucas’ great Star Wars style.

What looked generic to you?

Amano said:

If you prefer the Prequels we are fine with that. But the new designs didn’t look like stemming from the same universe than the oscar winning “dull“ ones.

I just want to know what looked dull to you in the PT.