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Darabount rips Lucas over Indy IV script

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From IMDB.com:

Darabont Angry at "Wasted Year" Over 'Indiana Jones 4' Script

The Shawshank Redemption filmmaker Frank Darabont has hit out at movie mogul George Lucas for preventing Steven Spielberg from shooting his script for the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel, claiming his efforts were "a waste of a year." Darabont wrote a screenplay for the highly-anticipated movie, which is still known by its working title of Indiana Jones 4, and insists director Spielberg was happy with it. However, producer Lucas didn't think it was good enough. Darabont tells MTV.com, "It showed me how badly things can go. I spent a year of very determined effort on something I was very excited about, working very closely with Steven Spielberg and coming up with a result that I and he felt was terrific. He wanted to direct it as his next movie, and then suddenly the whole thing goes down in flames because George Lucas doesn't like the script. I told him (Lucas) he was crazy. I said, 'You have a fantastic script. I think you're insane, George.' You can say things like that to George, and he doesn't even blink. He's one of the most stubborn men I know." He adds, "I have no idea if there's a shred of (my script) left. It was a tremendous disappointment and a waste of a year." And Darabont has no plans to reveal what his Indiana Jones script contains: "At this point, I don't give much of a damn what George thinks, but I wouldn't want to harm my friendship with Steven."
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This has "prequels" written all over it. Perhaps Darabont should have included Jar-Jar Binks.
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What i don't understand is:

If Paramount is paying for the movie...
If Frank Darabont was writing the screenplay...
If Steven Speilberg is directing it

Then what is the big deal about Lucas anyway? I don't even think he is the producer, just executive producer, someone else will be actually managing the daily production chores. Lucas' importance just seems arbitrary. So much for directors having complete artistic control, eh George?
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Wow, this is certainly a different-sounding Darabont than the one you quoted in your book around Phantom Menace-era, zombie. I wonder if this caused their falling out, or if they were on less than good terms for quite a few years.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Darabont has been harping this for a while now. It seems to be a bit of a clash of ego's personally but i just don't see the importance of Lucas. If Speilberg was ecstatic and said it was the best script he had read since Raiders--i mean come on!--then why hold back? What ever happened to directors have complete creative control, as the Lucas mantra goes? I guess that only applies when its him in the directors chair.

And yeah, the darabont quotes in my book come from 2000. At that time he was top in the running for co-writing Attack of the Clones, and then he was in talks to develop Indy 4. I don't think he was simply sucking up though, but i do think he is being a bit harsh on Lucas now, seeing as things like that happen all the time. Its refreshing to see someone calling him on a bad choice though.
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I was just suprised at this reaction, cause this is the first person of Lucas's colleagues that is really going at him in a negative way. Remember Darabount was supposed to pen the PT movies, and I have an article from Cinescape Magazine February 1996. Here is quote from Darabount about Lucas, "George Lucas has the soul and spirit of a great teacher. He is Yoda in sneakers and a flannel shirt."

Looks like Lucas has burned bridges with more then the fans since the SE/PT hit.
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Yeah, you really don't see someone being that blunt about another public figure in interviews. You usually have to read between the lines to figure out that he's politely saying that this other person's an ass.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Gaffer, I totally agree, these directors are like a fraternity, and there is an unwritten rule to never show them up in public. I remember Kasdan was asked about TPM and he replied in a SW Insider, "It was all George, he made the movie the way he wanted it to be and I respect him for that." Did you notice he never said if it was good or not? I guarantee Kasdan thought it sucked, but he is friends with Lucas and is not going to badmouth him.

I think Lucas needs to update ANH:

"Darabount Shoots first!"
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Indy 4 has barely a year for shooting; this is probably not a good sign
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Lucas will not be happy until he has destroyed everything that made him the man he is. If I was Speilberg and it was up to me I would say " Listen George I am the director, and this is the script I want to use. If you don't like it, tough shit!"


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Lucas created the character of Indiana "Smith" Jones

Lucas created the story for 'Raiders, along with Kaufman and Spielberg.

Lucas created Temple of Doom and convinced Spielberg to direct it.

Lucas created the character of Henry Jones Sr. and introduced the concept of the father figure to Spielberg.

Fucking recognize. If Lucas said Darabonts script was shit, it was shit. Who carries more credibility? I don't why people seem to think Lucas is going to fuck up Indiana Jones, what? Because he fucked up the Prequels?

You guys honestly think this movie is going to be shit? I can't wait for next summer when you're all going to be eating crow, because I have the utmost trust in Spielberg, Ford and Lucas.

It's like everyone complaining about how Sallah is not going to be in this, despite the fact that it reportedly takes place in South America and San Francisco. So....Sallah is going to show up in the middle of the jungle and be like, "Hi Indy, Cairo sucked so I moved to Peru." Come on.

When Indiana Jones said "Trust me," I listened. Indiana Jones IV is going to rock, and you lot are too cynical to admit it.
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Cassidy, Indiana Jones IV is going to be another retread sequel that doesnt need to be made, and my opinion on this has nothing to do with Spielberg, Darabount, or Lucas.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a true classic, but Temple of Doom and Last Crusade are useless sequels that didn't need to be made, and 18 years later, Indy IV does not need to be made either. This is what is wrong with hollywood, there is nothing original anymore, it is sequel, sequel, sequel, with big budget effects to dazzle every teenage kid.

I rarely go to the movies anymore until November/December, cause that is the only time when the good movies are on the big screen, you know, the dramas, the ones with a good story, good directing, and good acting. Indy IV is just another summer movie that will have 2 hours of pointless action, no story, and the only reason people will see it is because we love the Harrison Ford character.

I won't eat crow, and again it has nothing to do with Lucas, I made this thread cause I am in shock that another director went against the golden rule in Hollywood, talk bad about your fellow colleagues, so there has to be something to this. Cassidy, you made a thread about not respecting SW fans opinions under 30, yet you say this movie will rock? There is no need for this movie, it is another pointless sequel of the other sequels that dominate the summer boxoffice, and you know who the target market is? Under 30 age group!
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Co, three guys who are all more rich than any of them deserve enjoy making movies together.

They made three enjoyable films that, despite what you say, struck a chord with a generation and entertained the hell out of them.

They want to have one more kick at the can together and have a little fun? Who are we to say otherwise?

Can't wait for the crow eating around here...
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Originally posted by: CO
Cassidy, Indiana Jones IV is going to be another retread sequel that doesnt need to be made, and my opinion on this has nothing to do with Spielberg, Darabount, or Lucas.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a true classic, but Temple of Doom and Last Crusade are useless sequels that didn't need to be made, and 18 years later, Indy IV does not need to be made either. This is what is wrong with hollywood, there is nothing original anymore, it is sequel, sequel, sequel, with big budget effects to dazzle every teenage kid.

I rarely go to the movies anymore until November/December, cause that is the only time when the good movies are on the big screen, you know, the dramas, the ones with a good story, good directing, and good acting. Indy IV is just another summer movie that will have 2 hours of pointless action, no story, and the only reason people will see it is because we love the Harrison Ford character.

I won't eat crow, and again it has nothing to do with Lucas, I made this thread cause I am in shock that another director went against the golden rule in Hollywood, talk bad about your fellow colleagues, so there has to be something to this. Cassidy, you made a thread about not respecting SW fans opinions under 30, yet you say this movie will rock? There is no need for this movie, it is another pointless sequel of the other sequels that dominate the summer boxoffice, and you know who the target market is? Under 30 age group!


Also, I object to being maligned by your comment about not respecting the opinions of those under 30.

I am tired of being bashed around here, misquoted, misrepresented, and mistreated. Enough is enough.

On the day I made that thread, all I saw was pissing and moaning around here, and I've had it with negativity. If people have nothing better to do with their lives than sit of the internet and talk about how George Lucas fucked up their dreams, than they should just jump off a bridge and spare all of us.

You know, it's ironic that I get taken to task over something as innocent as "guys, lighten up." What's wrong with being positive? What's wrong with having an optimistic outlook on things?

Your assumption that Indy IV is going to suck because Lucas nixed Darabont's script is just another example of the way people jump to grand conclusions around here because they (and I'm NOT pointing a finger at you, I'm generalizing) take themselves too goddamned seriously to sit back and enjoy a movie that isn't going to alter the universe one way or the other.

If ANYONE here thinks they can do better than Lucas I can't wait to see your movie. Stop complaining and do better.

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Cassidy, I am not saying that Lucas & Co. can't make this movie, and I think whatever script they use, via Darabount or whoever will just be another sequel.

I am making a larger statement about the state of summer movies that hit the theater: THEY SUCK!!!!! That isn't negative, it is the truth, most summer movies are overbloated special effects bonanzas that the story and characters take a backseat to.

I am not jazzed for Spiderman 3, or not one movie that I have seen a trailer for this summer, cause it is the same old crap just recycled in one form or another, and I think Ford, Lucas, and Spielberg shouldn't waste their talents on Indy IV.

The movies I have rented from 2006 are The Departed, The Prestige, The Good Sheppard, and The Illusionist, all movies that weren't 'summer' blockbusters, and were all entertaining films that had a story to follow for 2 hours, and thats what makes them entertaining. Indy IV will just be another 2 hours of non-stop action, cool stunts, and in the end Indy will survive........why not rent Raiders of the Lost Ark, cause I have been there done that in 1981, and thats a classic.

Indy IV will be the same old same old, and I want to ask you, what can they do in this movie to make it entertaining other then the 'action' and 'stunts' that were bigger and better in the other 2 sequels. Indy IV is a waste of time for me, and I have NO interest in seeing that, yet I am the biggest Raiders of the Lost Ark fan.
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OK, but what I'm saying is that just because your tastes run toward something more cerebral, doesn't devalue this movie or any other summer "event" picture at that.

I agree - most summer films lack substance and are simply mindless entertainment. There have been a lot of great summer movies, and until I hear more I have no reason to doubt that Indy IV will be an entertaining 2 hours. What's wrong with that? What's wrong with being entertained? Have we become so high-brow and serious of a society that we can't remember how much fun it is to sit in a dark theatre in the air conditioning, with a tub of popcorn and turn off our far-too-busy brains for 2 hours?

It's harmless, man. Why not?
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Cassidy, my five favorite movies of alltime are:

1. Star Wars
2. Empire Strikes Back
3. Back to the Future
4. Superman
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Those movies are all popcorn movies, yet they each have good acting, a good story, good drama, and REAL characters. Summer movies today lack any of that stuff. They are just pure CG fest made for teenagers who will go "WOWWWW!" and then 5 years later won't remember that movie. Remember Independence Day in 1996? That was a huge hit that blew everyone away that summer, I thought it was terrible, cause the characters were lame, and it was the effects that sold it to people. 11 years later, that movie is not even talked about anymore, and wont pass the test of time of any of the 5 movies I have listed, yet it was the hit of 1996, the same as SW in 1977.

I am just sick of sequels, and I think it is beneath Lucas & Spielberg, and even Ford to do another Indy flick. Those 3 guys made my youth with all their great films, and to see them go to the well one more time cause they can't think of anything original is very sad. That is what sequels are anymore, they are just people who are milking a franchise, cause they can't think of anything new, and besides ESB, I have yet to see any sequel match up to the original, cause it is so hard to duplicate the magic from the original movie.

Cassidy, if you guys want to see Indy IV, I have no beefs and I am not personally degrading anyone who want 2 more hours of fun entertainment, I do to. I just think that Hollywood has really lost the ability to make great original movies anymore, as the last good summer flick I saw was The Sixth Sense, original, scary, dramatic, and totally threw me for a loop, instead we get Superman Returns, Fantastic Four, Batman Begins, Spiderman 3, and next year: Indy IV.

What was the last good original movie to come out of the summer: The Matrix? Thats a great movie, yet that was 8 years ago.
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This doesn't surprise me at all (the part about GL being stubborn, anyway. A fellow film-maker ripping GL a new one is kind of surprising).

Frankly, I wasn't exactly looking forward to another Indiana Jones movie anyway- Harrison is too old, it's been too long since the last one, and George Lucas has lost whatever shred of objectivity he once had.

Perhaps GL will ditch Spielberg and direct the film himself! He will have to creatively come up with new and exciting ways to work tons of CGI into a film that will probably be set in the 1950's.

"INDIANA JONES IV: THE LAST TEMPLE OF THE PHANTOM MENACE CRUSADE"
(or, "How to ruin TWO film franchises in less than ten years!")

Thanks, I'll pass.

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With Cassidy's influence during another Indy IV conversation some time ago I have decided to wait until after it is out to pass judgment. So, all seriousness aside when I say, I am really looking forward to the scene where Indy steps in a pile of Rhonto crap and says, "Icky poo, why did it have to be icky poo. Peeee grooossa."

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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Thing is, putting Indiana Jones in the same category as Independence Day, Fantastic Four or even Spider-Man is like putting a steak in the same category as SPAM.

They might both be "meat" but one comes from inherently better stock and will taste much, much better.

But that's cool, I respect your opinions.

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If Freidrich Neitzsche were alive today, he could easily say "film is dead"
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The reason Lucas didn't like the script is because it didn't have enough special effects opportunities. Lucas will screw this film up like he did the prquels and The Temple of Doom. I don't care what you say Cassidy, Temple of Doom was mediocre.


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Lucas could never make a movie as good as the Shawshank Redemption, therefore i trust Darabount's opinions way more than lucas. As far as i'm concerned lucas has been out of touch with reality since after the success of empire strikes back, which many critics and fans see as superior to the first star wars.

raiders still was great despite the fact that lucas had promised to work on it with Kurtz, and ended up using Kanzanjian. I'll give Spielberg and Kasden, as well as kanzanjian props for making sure raiders came out pretty close to the script.

Lucas had not lost it yet and become a mogul either, he still took input and worked with spielberg not against him.

Jedi would be the last time he would ever take anyones input and advice, he did the prequels howewer he wanted and kept all the yes men and ass kissers in tow. As much as Kanzanjain gets lambasted for being a yesman, he was his own person and he did have input on jedi. I can't say the same thing for the guy who took over.

Perhaps this is the first of many people who will finallyt stand up to the man, g.l. and recalls he is flesh and blood just like us not a revered god image that lucas has built up over the years, there should be a book about the real man vs. the myth hes created.

reading stuff from biographies not sanctioned by lucas it seems he has a very fragile ego, also he is kind of perturbed and scared by his success. He is a very private man, what many have called a recluse, does not take advice or contructive criticism well even from his filmaking friends.

The George Lucas who made star wars from 1977-1983 and the George of today are very different people.

First major changes that impacted him as a person the split with mr Gary kurtz who many saw as george other half creatively on star wars and empire, and the divorce from marcia the brilliant and most talented film editor of all time who wanted out of the hollywood scene.

The best things for writers, or filmakers is to have other people help you put things in perspective objectively. Thus a spouse, friends, collegues, editors, agents who will be brutally honest and not mince words.

The prequels despite all the people who worked on them and did the pre viz art, was really a one man show, the first time lucas actually was able to indulge himself and the films have suffered for it. The original trilogy as well as the original indiana jones and last crusade were collaboartions made in heaven, if he had only had such people on the newer ones.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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I have so many trepidations withthis movie especially withthe most recent casting choice. But I know I'll see it.

I look at it this way, Sean Connerry was the original and best Bond. But that doesn't mean he should have yet another go at being Bond. It just won't work anymore.

I'm gonna guess taht Durabont's script was probably too serious and did not include a younger character as a sidekick. But that's just a guess.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
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