The Force is No Longer Strong with Uncle George

[Guydowood]

from Moviehole.net


They said Jar Jar Binks would finish George Lucas, not so – “Red Tails” has the honour of being the prolific filmmaker and powerhouse’s final big-money movie (though he’s leaving an out clause just in case an “Indiana Jones 5″ comes to fruition). The airmen actioner, featuring the likes of Cuba Gooding Jr and Bryan Cranston, was the one project Lucas wanted to do before handing in his DGA card.

The “Star Wars” helmer, who struggled to get “Red Tails” distribution and seems rather frustrated by all the negative feedback he received for the “Star Wars” prequels (apparently the Golden Globes failed to recognize them, too), says he’s done with Hollywood.

“I’m retiring. I’m moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff”, Lucas tells the NY Times.

Lucas will instead turn his attention to making personal, micro-budget movies – - much like his friend Francis Ford Coppola has been doing the past decade (but can anyone actually name something Coppola has made since 2000? Oh yes, of course, he was one of the many ghost-directors on the 2000 sci-fi blunder “Supernova”).

Though there’s a chance that “Star Wars” TV show might still happen, Lucas says he won’t be returning to the “Star Wars” movieverse. He said the fanboys hate him enough for making the prequels – I sense sadness, George? – let alone for making some unfortunate changes (‘nooooooooooo!’) to the original trilogy Blu-ray.

“Why would I make any more,” Lucas says of the “Star Wars” movies, “when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?”

“On the Internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie,” Lucas says, referring to fans who, like the dreaded studios, have done their own forcible re-edits. “I’m saying: ‘Fine. But my movie, with my name on it, that says I did it, needs to be the way I want it.’ ”

Fair enough.

Look, I know everyone’s going to be doing the ‘Yahoo!’ dance (put your hands on your hips, stick out your tongue, shake it all about) about Lucas retiring, but remember, this is the man that gave us one of the best film trilogies of all time – heck, two top trilogies. I’m thankful for that. So no more making George cry, Okay!?

I, for one, am genuinely interested to see what a micro-budgeted George Lucas movie looks like – might we see something along the lines of “American Graffiti” again, maybe!?

[Chordata]

.lol.

Internet clowns get a victory.

[Foggy]

The article seems to get it a bit mixed up, he's only producing Red Tails

[HandyDandy]

His daughter Katie will probably take over for everything related to star wars.

Star Wars will always live on..

She will lay down the corporate elbow to all those that attacked her father.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

The article seems to get it a bit mixed up, he's only producing Red Tails

These words don't really sound as intelligent as George's usual words. I'm wondering if it's for real.

Hell, if it is, I say good for George. He should't let a bunch of whiney nerds get at him. So freaking what if nobody likes the prequels or the changes to the movies; it's his freaking franchise. Let him bow out with his dignity, and he'll get back to his original passion of making films. And maybe all the Internet trolls will direct their negativity to some place that actually deserves hate.

[Jumpman]

Read the entire profile at the NY Times. It's a fascinating look at the man and what he's tried to do to get Red Tails to the big screen and what the backlash since '97 has done to him.

I think the reception to the BD release of the Saga was the last straw, when it comes to Star Wars....

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

These words don't really sound as intelligent as George's usual words. I'm wondering if it's for real.

Hell, if it is, I say good for George. He should't let a bunch of whiney nerds get at him. So freaking what if nobody likes the prequels or the changes to the movies; it's his freaking franchise. Let him bow out with his dignity, and he'll get back to his original passion of making films. And maybe all the Internet trolls will direct their negativity to some place that actually deserves hate.

I agree, but he can't honestly expect everyone to love all of his movies. It's just not realistic. Having said that, I hope he realizes that the vocal whiny Internet kids are likely not the majority.

[Jumpman]

He doesn't expect people to love all his films. But, it's completely ridiculous the criticism and how far it goes with him, personally, that he's done with.

The guy really hasn't done anything to deserve the vitriol that's been thrown his way since '97.

All he did was change his films a bit. He didn't commit genocide, get away with it, and basically laughed at everyone as he made more money in the public eye.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

He doesn't expect people to love all his films. But, it's completely ridiculous the criticism and how far it goes with him, personally, that he's done with.

The guy really hasn't done anything to deserve the vitriol that's been thrown his way since '97.

All he did was change his films a bit. He didn't commit genocide, get away with it, and basically laughed at everyone as he made more money in the public eye.

Absolutely.

[Jezza]

I can't be the only who thinks Lucas gets a very unfair beating from fans? I've never had any major issues with the Prequels or the most of the changes in the Original Trilogy, although I do agree there's no reason why he can't release the unaltered orginals. But I do think the kinds of things fans say about him is just vile and they take everything he does to Star Wars/Indiana Jones too much to heart. At the end of the day they're just films and to make personal insults about Lucas himself just because they don't like what he's done is the lowest you can get.

Yes, he's a multi-billionaire and does own a massive ranch, but does that make him a bad person? No. I will agree he is a little... delusional at times, not necessarily understanding why fans don't like some the things he does, but again that's no reason to bully him.

Part of me can't help feel that he's been forced about of the industry by fans, and that's his main motive for not doing much else other than Star Wars. Sad really.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Jezza

I can't be the only who thinks Lucas gets a very unfair beating from fans? I've never had any major issues with the Prequels or the most of the changes in the Original Trilogy, although I do agree there's no reason why he can't release the unaltered orginals. But I do think the kinds of things fans say about him is just vile and they take everything he does to Star Wars/Indiana Jones too much to heart. At the end of the day they're just films and to make personal insults about Lucas himself just because they don't like what he's done is the lowest you can get.

Yes, he's a multi-billionaire and does own a massive ranch, but does that make him a bad person? No. I will agree he is a little... delusional at times, not necessarily understanding why fans don't like some the things he does, but again that's no reason to bully him.

Part of me can't help feel that he's been forced about of the industry by fans, and that's his main motive for not doing much else other than Star Wars. Sad really.

No, you're not the only one...have you read this thread?

Re: him being forced out by fans --- that's the entire point of the article in the OP.

[Donat96]

Originally Posted by Jezza

I can't be the only who thinks Lucas gets a very unfair beating from fans? I've never had any major issues with the Prequels or the most of the changes in the Original Trilogy, although I do agree there's no reason why he can't release the unaltered orginals. But I do think the kinds of things fans say about him is just vile and they take everything he does to Star Wars/Indiana Jones too much to heart. At the end of the day they're just films and to make personal insults about Lucas himself just because they don't like what he's done is the lowest you can get.

My thoughts exactly.

[Jumpman]

But here's the thing about releasing the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy: he has released them.

VHS, Laserdisc, non-anamorphic DVD.

If you judged the criticism online about the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy, you would've thought Lucas NEVER released them to the public for home video use. EVER!

How many VHS editions? How many Laserdisc editions?

There's no law that states that a filmmaker has to re-release his product with every new advancements in home video technology. That's a choice.

If you've had or have any of the three previous format releases of the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy, then the criticism towards Lucas isn't really valid in my eyes...

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by Chordata

No, you're not the only one...have you read this thread?

Re: him being forced out by fans --- that's the entire point of the article in the OP.

Yes I have read the rest of the thread, but when I started writing my post, all the similar ones to mine hadn't been posted yet.

And I didn't reall see my final statement as the whole point of the original article. I just read it as someone backing GL for all the stupid bashing, rather than specfically being about him being forced to retire.

[Batman1980]

Still one of my favourite film-makers of all-time, even if he hasn't done anything I've enjoyed since 2005, I will miss him greatly.

[Member-115369]

There was a very good (and lengthy) feature on him in the NY Times yesterday.

http://www10.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/...%20roll&st=cse

Not sure if that link will work as it goes to a log-in page. If not just search the NY Times page for "George Lucas is Ready to Roll the Credits"

[Silo5]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

These words don't really sound as intelligent as George's usual words. I'm wondering if it's for real.
Hell, if it is, I say good for George. He should't let a bunch of whiney nerds get at him. So freaking what if nobody likes the prequels or the changes to the movies; it's his freaking franchise. Let him bow out with his dignity, and he'll get back to his original passion of making films. And maybe all the Internet trolls will direct their negativity to some place that actually deserves hate.

That's exactly what I was thinking. It's hard for me to believe that after all of these years of sticking to his guns when it comes to his movies, that he would now suddenly "listen" to fans & critics alike. I can see him retiring for personal reasons, but not because of what fans think of him. I sense a hiatus and possible return in the future for him.

[Kryptonic]

Can anyone copy and paste the NYTimes article? You have to subscribe on their site.

[Guydowood]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

But here's the thing about releasing the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy: he has released them.

VHS, Laserdisc, non-anamorphic DVD.

If you judged the criticism online about the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy, you would've thought Lucas NEVER released them to the public for home video use. EVER!

How many VHS editions? How many Laserdisc editions?

There's no law that states that a filmmaker has to re-release his product with every new advancements in home video technology. That's a choice.

If you've had or have any of the three previous format releases of the theatrical cuts of the original trilogy, then the criticism towards Lucas isn't really valid in my eyes...

Not so much so for the Holiday Special turd......lol

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

Can anyone copy and paste the NYTimes article? You have to subscribe on their site.

You can sign up for a free account, that lets you read 20 articles a month for free. You don't have to buy a subscription.

It's far too long to copy and paste as it's multiple pages on the website.