SilverWook said:

George has had movie critic issues for a long time. There's a reason one of the villains in Willow is named "Kael", and a two headed monster is called an "Ebersisk".

siskel and ebert were 2 of his biggest advocates and loved star wars (although I think siskel thought last crusade was weak).

apologists like to point out that siskel stated in his 1977 review that the acting in star wars was forgettable, but they neglect to mention that in empire and jedi, siskel praised hamill, fisher and especially ford. he enjoyed watching the 3 of them grow and develop together.

had siskel been alive in 1999, he would have torn lucas and tpm into pieces. there was nothing he despised more than an underachieving filmmaker going after a cynical cash grab.