Originally posted by: zombie84

Lucas planned on only directing TPM but then he just enjoyed working on it. He decided to direct the other two even before TPM was released, so its not an ego thing--he kept talking about how he wanted to return to directing and then he finally did because he realised how much fun it was now that he had no financial or technological pressure on him.

Zombie, with all due respect, Lucas has admitted to hating writing and directing even during the PT shoots. I think that is his cover to do Episode II & III that he enjoyed TPM so much, and IMO, I don't buy it one second.

I really think Lucas saw the reaction to TPM, and there was no way someone was going to do a better job with Episode II & III and all Lucas was left with was a 2 hour Jar Jar fest. If you watch the PT documentaries, the only movie he did have fun with was TPM, and I honestly believe after that, he was going through the motions.

Just watch TPM documentary, it is the one great thing of the PT. It documents from the beginning right up to the premiere, and gives really good insight. It shows the first screening with McCallum, Burtt, and Co. and just watch their reactions right after TPM, they were in shock! McCallum is stonefaced, and Lucas starts running his hand through his hair and says, "I may have gone too far on this one."

AOTC & ROTS documentaries don't give any of that type of inside look on the process, all they are is to showcase Speical Effects. I think Lucas saw what fans thought of TPM, and he has been trying to get back to respectability ever since, and witness his comment on Stephen Colbert show last month:

Colbert: George, do you own all of the SW movies on DVD?

Lucas: Um, I think so, well maybe not TPM!

Now I think that was pretty funny at Lucas poking fun at himself, but that joke signifies what movie SW fans laugh at the most, well next to AOTC.