Oh, I definitely agree that he's been corrupted, and all artists do seem to have a creative peak, but I believe that true talent endures and it's hard to imagine that the man who directed the prequels is the same person who directed SW and Graffitti - it's like he's been replaced by a pod person.

But, even when George was still considered to be a good director, he was never considered to be a good actors' director (we've all heard the "faster, more intense" line). So things like that make me think that maybe all his youthful hunger and creativity back then were enough to get him through those films without revealing his weaknesses as a director. Now that the youth and hunger is gone (replaced by "yes" men), this is what we're left with.

And yes, his directing a couple of box-office bombs would have been a healthy, humbling experience (and something that still hasn't happened yet).