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.