yotsuya said:
I just thought of an odd parallel, yet somewhat opposite, that Star Wars shares with Star Trek. We all know how we feel about Lucas around here. He is the driving creative force behind the Star Wars Saga, yet he did not do it alone and we all know that an relish in giving the others their due.
Star Trek fans are not quite the same. For one thing, Roddenberry never pissed them off quite like Lucas has pissed of his fans. ST fans praise Roddenberry as the creator of Star Trek. Well, the classic series has as much outside input as Star Wars did. They turned down the first pilot (as too cerebral... a complaint that can be leveled at the first feature film and the pilot of ST:TNG, both projects he helmed directly) and asked for changes. Those changes, plus the input of all the talented writers and actors and further interference from the network, is really what made Star Trek great. Yet to hear ST fans today, it was all Roddenberry. What BS.
That is what I love about the community here. Lucas isn't some god, he is just a man with an idea that has grown beyond him. I love hearing the detail about the creative process and especially how the efforts of one person, Marcia Lucas in this case, helped to make the first trilogy what it was. Films really are a team effort and that really needs to be acknowledged.
The interesting thing about Roddenberry is that many of his flaws occurred prior to an age in which that information could easily spread and that he ended up with little involvement towards the end of his life and thus could commit no sins in the fans eyes. Being kicked upstairs so you're no longer have direct control over major projects seems to have its advantages in terms of one's legacy. Having Berman and Braga to piss the fans off and supposedly tarnish your vision certainly helps too.
Hell Gene has a pretty spotless reputation even though he once wrote lyrics to the Star Trek theme song that never got used just get some of the royalty money that would have all gone the guy who actually composed it. And even ignoring controversy regarding the original trilogy restoration, Gene still has a better rep than George.