Debate topic
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8121
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
Not quite. George Lucas does not operate well in a vacuum or environments where he's got absolute authority. That's because, when it really comes down to it, his tendency to ignore reality backfires on all kinds of practical levels. Unless he has constant and complete sanity checking, there's a strong possibility he'll warp and destroy a perfectly serviceable idea.
Boba Fett's death ... Greedo shooting first .... Ewoks .... fucking Jar-Jar Binks ... mitochlorians ... need I go on?
Was it bad to kill Fett, redo the Greedo/Han thing, plant a native race on the moon of Endor, add comic relief to a flick, or explain a bit of how the Force works? No, not necessarily (although I'm really stretching that on a couple of those). Were they done shittily? Fuck, yes. Could they have been done in a decent, if not cool way? Probably.
Lucas just had "story by" credits for Ep. V. Other people produced it, wrote the screenplay, directed it, etc. His pulling off Ep. IV (mainly on his own) seems to be his lucky fluke. Or perhaps people are just more forgiving of the flick where it's likely they saw their first impromptu standing ovation.
Lucas's problem is that his stupidity tends to be radioactive. He needs lead lining. Oh yeah, and his goddamned ego.
Boba Fett's death ... Greedo shooting first .... Ewoks .... fucking Jar-Jar Binks ... mitochlorians ... need I go on?
Was it bad to kill Fett, redo the Greedo/Han thing, plant a native race on the moon of Endor, add comic relief to a flick, or explain a bit of how the Force works? No, not necessarily (although I'm really stretching that on a couple of those). Were they done shittily? Fuck, yes. Could they have been done in a decent, if not cool way? Probably.
Lucas just had "story by" credits for Ep. V. Other people produced it, wrote the screenplay, directed it, etc. His pulling off Ep. IV (mainly on his own) seems to be his lucky fluke. Or perhaps people are just more forgiving of the flick where it's likely they saw their first impromptu standing ovation.
Lucas's problem is that his stupidity tends to be radioactive. He needs lead lining. Oh yeah, and his goddamned ego.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
No, episode 4 was saved by his wife. She heavily edited what George produced, and most peeps in the know say she saved the movie.
This is why she got so much of the Star Wars pie in the divorce, but not money from merchandising... Which is why George does so much merchandising, and has all but destroyed the franchise adding all the cuddly kid shit that sells toys.
This is why she got so much of the Star Wars pie in the divorce, but not money from merchandising... Which is why George does so much merchandising, and has all but destroyed the franchise adding all the cuddly kid shit that sells toys.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
That still supports my theory of "his thoughts need external filtering."GORDON wrote:No, episode 4 was saved by his wife. She heavily edited what George produced, and most peeps in the know say she saved the movie.
This is why she got so much of the Star Wars pie in the divorce, but not money from merchandising... Which is why George does so much merchandising, and has all but destroyed the franchise adding all the cuddly kid shit that sells toys.
Without Lucas, no one rips off a Japanese movie and adds Buddhist overtones, ergo no Star Wars, period.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Yeah, he was lucky he insisted on keeping creative control of shit. And that merchandising thing. Goddamn, that merchandise.GORDON wrote:I think we all agree Lucas really kind of sucks, but got lucky.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
How smart was Ford to insist upon a slice of that merchandising pie instead of an outright salary?
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
I thought that originally started because Lucas had to give 1% of the gross (of everything) before Alec Guinness would sign on. He then retroactively made that offer to all the other main cast members.Leisher wrote:How smart was Ford to insist upon a slice of that merchandising pie instead of an outright salary?
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
He then retroactively made that offer to all the other main cast members.
I thought it was just Ford. Somebody wiki that...
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
My mistake ... from wikipedia ...Leisher wrote:I thought it was just Ford. Somebody wiki that...He then retroactively made that offer to all the other main cast members.
Guinness agreed to take the part on the condition that he would not have to do any publicity to promote the film. He was also one of the few cast members who believed that the film would be a box office hit; he negotiated a deal for two percent of the gross
Apparently, Alec's estate gets two percent. I'm pretty sure Lucas went back and gave at least 1% to Mark, Carrie, Harrison.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Lucas is also the dude that told the SAG to fuck off before it was fashionable. But yeah, I'd be interested to know exactly the timeframe that elapsed between Alec getting the percentage & Ford et al getting their share.GORDON wrote:Probably to get them to sign on to the sequels.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."