George Lucas Blames 'Star Wars' Critics for Killing Series

[Brian in Mesa]

Not even close. The majority of people that are mad at Lucas isn't because he changed the 4-6 movies slightly. It is because his interpretations of 1-3, specifically #1.

Slightly? Ha.

He only changed the entire character arc of one Han Solo.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

For me, the difference is the willingness to tell a story that is half assed or mediocre versus the ability to tell a epic story.

There is a reason Empire is rated the best movie of the series and it is because it is an Epic tale filled with classic themes of triumph and failure.

Episode one and two are extremely mediocre films. Episode three showed that he could still approach the talent of 4-6.

If he made future movies, I would watch them. However if episodes 7-9 never exist, I am fine with that as well.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Slightly? Ha.

He only changed the entire character arc of one Han Solo.

I agree with Brian. The entire premise of "who shot first" changes the entire scope of the moment where Han comes back at the end of Star Wars and saves Luke.

In the original story, Luke's white robes and always doing the right thing contrasts nicely with Han's selfishness and dark vest and pants.

With the change, they are just both nice guys who are victims of circumstance. That is a much more boring story to tell than selfish that is redeemed.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

It's not like media people are tossing questions out there just to piss him off. He went on record many years ago about making multiple trilogies. When I was a kid I remember hearing about 9 films, but Mark Hamill and others say George used to talk a lot about making 12 films - 4 trilogies.

Also - In 1976 he told Hamill that episodes I-III would be much darker and more serious. I doubt he mentioned midi-chlorians at that time...

 

[Brian]

1) This thread is the nerdiest thing I have ever read. Ever.

2) I think someone meant "recipe" not "reciept".

3) I like all of the Star Wars movies, so Lucas can suck it.

4) That's all I got.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

1) This thread is the nerdiest thing I have ever read. Ever.

2) I think someone meant "recipe" not "reciept".

3) I like all of the Star Wars movies, so Lucas can suck it.

4) That's all I got.

Thanks for joining our club!

Yeah, once again in the my fit of madness I typed something incorrectly! Reciept... ugh...

 

[D-Dogg]

Meh. I liked all the movies. 1-6. I didn't like 1 that much, but 2 was good and I liked 3 a good deal.

But it's an effing movie series, not military strategic decisions that result in life lost. Not that much to get worked up about. Holy Moses on a surfboard.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Meh. I liked all the movies. 1-6. I didn't like 1 that much, but 2 was good and I liked 3 a good deal.

But it's an effing movie series, not military strategic decisions that result in life lost. Not that much to get worked up about. Holy Moses on a surfboard.

+1

 

[crisper57]

Sorry to say, and this is from someone who watches the movies and series.......Star Wars is not too much removed from that kind of thing.

Instead of glitter, we get light sabres.

Instead of mush, we get action-hero dialogue.


"Lock and Load!"

There are not enough smilies in the world for my response...

:ban : :gun :

Finally:

 

[Bert]

Sorry to say, and this is from someone who watches the movies and series.......Star Wars is not too much removed from that kind of thing.

Instead of glitter, we get light sabres.

Instead of mush, we get action-hero dialogue.


"Lock and Load!"

LoL Well said. I've never really gotten the Star Wars mania. I guess I'm a casual fan, lol. I enjoyed the movies but I never considered it a religion. I get Lucas' frustration because SOME Star Wars fanboys can be a special breed of elitest snobs, like it's the most important thing in the world and everything else is stupid. I was at the movies once when all the kids were lined up for either Harry Potter or Twilight midnight showing and these two chubby man-children (both wearing Star Wars t-shirts) walked by the line and started making fun of them for being "Dorks who like Twilight." Ahh the sweet irony. I mean I'm a nerd, I'm "Shane certified nerd" but atleast I know I'm a nerd and I dont make fun of people for having hobbies.

I dont have a problem with any of it. If kids like something so much they make costumes and get dressed up and have a great time, good for them. That's just good clean fun. But I'm sure George Lucas is over the whole Star Wars scene. The movies were never popular with the critics but atleast he had the fans but then some of the fans grew up to be super nerds who freak out about everything so what's the point of continuing the franchise if nobody is diggin what you're doin anymore?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

1) This thread is the nerdiest thing I have ever read. Ever.

You need to broaden your nerd horizons then

The debate on Bane as a Batman villian is way nerdier I think.

 

[Covert Rain]

I happen to think Lucas can do what the hell he wants with his movies. You always have the right not to like it, not watch em, or buy em. Short of changing the entire plot of the movies, I hope he continues to add deleted scenes and enhance the FX if he wants to. Gives me probably the only new Star Wars film content we will ever see out him again.

 

[puckhead]

I fell asleep. Even if it was awesome, it wasn't really relevant.

Not in my theater you won't. That scene is surround sound demo material.

 

[ajcardfan]

I happen to think Lucas can do what the hell he wants with his movies. You always have the right not to like it, not watch em, or buy em. Short of changing the entire plot of the movies, I hope he continues to add deleted scenes and enhance the FX if he wants to. Gives me probably the only new Star Wars film content we will ever see out him again.

I've never seen any of the three "prequel" movies. I hated "Return of the Jedi" that much, and hold a grudge until this day. Teddy Bears taking out the evil empire? Come on!

 

[Stout]

I've never seen any of the three "prequel" movies. I hated "Return of the Jedi" that much, and hold a grudge until this day. Teddy Bears taking out the evil empire? Come on!

Just out of curiosity, what year were you born in? You might fall on the wrong side of the Ewok Line

 

[ajcardfan]

Just out of curiosity, what year were you born in? You might fall on the wrong side of the Ewok Line

1965.

Just the right age for the first two Star Wars to blow my mind. By the time of the third one, I had read Lord of the Rings, a lot of Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs, so I was just like "NO!" when I saw those things. To this day, I don't know if there was ever a more blatant cash grab for the toy market by a movie maker.

 

[crisper57]

1965.

Just the right age for the first two Star Wars to blow my mind. By the time of the third one, I had read Lord of the Rings, a lot of Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs, so I was just like "NO!" when I saw those things. To this day, I don't know if there was ever a more blatant cash grab for the toy market by a movie maker.

Definitely on the wrong side. I thought the Ewoks were cute! Of course, I was 3 at the time "Jedi" came out...

 

[ozzfloyd]

I was 7 in 1983. Totally hated the Ewoks.

 

[Gaddabout]

A couple of points:

- Lucas is free to never make another Star Wars, but unless he lives to be 150, he has created an empire that's far, far bigger than him. Once he hits senility, Fox will be cranking up the money machine to either reboot this franchise or hire someone like Jake Kasdan, who will probably be about the age his father directed Empire, to produce material "in addition to."

- Lucas Arts has an entire team of "Star Wars historians" who fact check every single piece of licensed material for story arc and accuracy. This is the sign of a mythology that now exceeds its creator. These people work overtime because there's so much stuff, novels, graphic novels, comic books, animated series, etc.

- Some of y'all don't even realize how much "extended universe" material is out there. It's an industry unto itself, particularly the novels. There's a book called Death Troopers that combines Star Wars and zombies, for cryin' out loud. Sci-fi legend Timothy Zahn wrote a trilogy that created an EU character named Grand Admiral Thrawn who is an even better villain than Darth Vader -- far more depth and somehow even a more interesting backstory. This will live on and, eventually, some of it is going to get put to film in our lifetime, whether Lucas participates or not. We will see another trilogy someway, somehow.

- Forbes was asked to guess the value of a future Star Wars product over the lifetime of its ability to generate money directly and indirectly. The best number they could come up with is $20 billion in 2009 dollars. That number alone guarantees Fox will someday feel obligated to their investors to move forward with another trilogy with or without Lucas.

- FWIW, I hated Star Wars I (C-SPAN in space) and II (just flat out stomach churning), but I thought III was a revelation and a great film all by itself. It can be done. I just think it's almost always better the further Lucas stays out of the process.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I don't believe Fox has any say in the matter as Lucas still owns the franchise.

 

[Covert Rain]

A couple of points:

- Lucas is free to never make another Star Wars, but unless he lives to be 150, he has created an empire that's far, far bigger than him. Once he hits senility, Fox will be cranking up the money machine to either reboot this franchise or hire someone like Jake Kasdan, who will probably be about the age his father directed Empire, to produce material "in addition to."

Not possible. Fox is only the distributor. Lucas Film owns the sole rights and it will be left to his children. If Lucas wishes no more ever Star Wars I am sure his kids will honor it. Fox forked over any rights to the entire franchise over to Lucas in exchange for him forgoing his director salary in the original film. George even managed to get sole ownership rights to any toy rights. Fox never knew what they had and didn't think the film would do much. They thought they were getting a great deal. One of the biggest studio bonehead moves of all time.

Now Lucas owns EVERYTHING Star Wars. FOX became the film distributor only. In fact, in the new trilogy Lucas almost went with another distributor other than Fox.

Some of y'all don't even realize how much "extended universe" material is out there. It's an industry unto itself, particularly the novels. There's a book called Death Troopers that combines Star Wars and zombies, for cryin' out loud. Sci-fi legend Timothy Zahn wrote a trilogy that created an EU character named Grand Admiral Thrawn who is an even better villain than Darth Vader -- far more depth and somehow even a more interesting backstory. This will live on and, eventually, some of it is going to get put to film in our lifetime, whether Lucas participates or not. We will see another trilogy someway, somehow.

I do. I have read many of them and I am a big fan of the Timothy Zahn books. Thrawn is great but he is no Darth Vader. Come on now.

Also, Lucas has been very clear about all the Star Wars stuff. Anything that is not defined as Star Wars cannon will never see the light of day on film or TV. Lucas has also stated in the past that anything that he doesn't write should not be considered cannon. He has given some creative license with some stuff but he requires all the authors to stay within certain guidelines and some things he will not allow at all. Authors can write what they want as long as they don't stray from those guidelines. I saw an interview with Lucas where he said they turn down hundreds of ideas a year for books because stuff treads into territory he won't allow or crushes Star Wars cannon. They have made few exceptions in this area (a la alternate universe type stuff) on occasion. Specifically, in a Timothy Zahn interview he talked about calling George to get permission to write about certain things in his books and Lucas himself even gave him some ideas. They have an entire group that specifically works with writers of books.

- Forbes was asked to guess the value of a future Star Wars product over the lifetime of its ability to generate money directly and indirectly. The best number they could come up with is $20 billion in 2009 dollars. That number alone guarantees Fox will someday feel obligated to their investors to move forward with another trilogy with or without Lucas.

Maybe the family but not Fox. The Lucas estate or his family will probably at some point continue the stories within George's continuity but much like some estates of famous authors or film makers they can require the estate follow certain creative wishes as a condition of retaining rights to a property. Fox can only pray they are the distributor again.

 

[Stout]

1965.

Just the right age for the first two Star Wars to blow my mind. By the time of the third one, I had read Lord of the Rings, a lot of Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs, so I was just like "NO!" when I saw those things. To this day, I don't know if there was ever a more blatant cash grab for the toy market by a movie maker.

Yep, pre-1973. That explains it, then

I was 7 in 1983. Totally hated the Ewoks.

Uh...the exception that proves the rule?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

That's what happens when you put together a **** cast with zero chemistry and elementary dialogue.

 

[Gaddabout]

I do. I have read many of them and I am a big fan of the Timothy Zahn books. Thrawn is great but he is no Darth Vader. Come on now.

I wanted to respond to all of it, but I couldn't get past this. Thrawn crushes Vader. He's that universe's Moriarty. Juicy, credibly evil and brilliant villain. Vader is just another dude with daddy issues wearing leather.

 

[Gaddabout]

I don't believe Fox has any say in the matter as Lucas still owns the franchise.

Fox will move heaven and earth to get whomever ends up controlling the Lucas entity to make more movies. There's no other film franchise like it on the planet. It's like owning the Beatles catalog.