Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Lope de Aguirre]

I remeber (but ain't 100% sure) to have read in the "The Making of Star Wars" book that Lucas fired the first editor cause it was a poor and conventional edit.
I even think to remeber that Lucas did some or all the editing after that...???

Has anyone else read that book and can say something about that?

[ozzsoad]

I love coming to a message board about a Blu-ray release and yet no one talks about the Blu-ray. Instead, we continue to talk about the same thing people on the internet have been saying for, what, 15 years now?...fun.

We get it, Lucas ruined you're childhoods, but yet you seem to still allow him to affect the rest of your life. Maybe it's time to move on? Just a suggestion.

[phansson]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Because of money and union rules. With The Godfather Lucas was helping out his friend Coppola who was battling time and the studio (and helped him again with Apocalypse Now).

So, I can't find ANYTHING saying that Lucas helped Coppola on the godfather and apocalypse now....

How would Lucas have had time to help Coppola edit "Apocalypse Now" from 1977-1979? I doubt that he would have had one spare minute.....

[Captain Mal]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

I remeber (but ain't 100% sure) to have read in the "The Making of Star Wars" book that Lucas fired the first editor cause it was a poor and conventional edit.
I even think to remeber that Lucas did some or all the editing after that...???

Has anyone else read that book and can say something about that?

Not sure about that, but I do remember reading about how Lucas' ex-wife influenced his original trilogy. For example, when Leia kisses Luke "for luck" before they swing across the Death Star canyon in Episode 4, George wanted to edit out the kiss, but his wife told him to keep it. Later on Lucas had a really bitter, knock down, drag out, never speak to me again divorce that changed him. Perhaps if not for that, the prequels would have been better.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

I highly doubt he sees the changes as being of any inherent damage to his legacy. I don't even think he made the prequels for the money; he has more than enough as it is. The licensing was still going strong after almost 20 years, so he didn't have to make them if he didn't want to.

I don't worship George Lucas, or fawn over every decision he makes, but I don't think its right for folks to condemn him personally over them. In the end, they're his movies, that he created to entertain people with common themes in storytelling...and it worked. If folks get angry over the different versions, they can either put up or shut up. Anything else won't make much of a difference.

A person's legacy is defined by the people based upon the actions of that person, not by the person them self. Lucas has indeed trashed his legacy and continues to do so, as evidenced by threads like this all over the internet. People are ticked, and Star Wars is no longer universally loved like it once was.

He can still partially redeem himself by showing his so called love of restoring film and releasing a fully remastered GOUT while declaring the importance of those films in their original form to the annals of movie history.

Or he can continue to digitally insert Jar Jar and pals into everything.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by phansson

So, I can't find ANYTHING saying that Lucas helped Coppola on the godfather and apocalypse now....

How would Lucas have had time to help Coppola edit "Apocalypse Now" from 1977-1979? I doubt that he would have had one spare minute.....

Lucas helped start American Zoetrope, Lucas also shot and edited the newspaper montage (the gang war that erupts after Michael kills The Turk and the captain in the restaurant).

Watch Hearts of Darkness for Lucas' contribution to Apocalypse Now.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by wormraper

Lucas is a FANTASTIC concept designer. he has an incredible mind with some great imaginative ideas, but as a director and nitty gritty detail man he's HORRIFICALLY amateurish

Fully agree. With the exception of A New Hope, he literally does not have a single directing credit that can stand up to the big directors. His movies often feel like they were made by a child, or at best a very inexperienced filmmaker.

But he really understands how to compose a shot from a visual perspective and he has a great imagination in many ways. I'd want him on my filmmaking team, but he would not be allowed to have any writing input or any time in a director's seat.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Troy73

His vision for the saga? That would be a lot easier to believe if he didn't make alterations and tweaks with every release of the films. Back in 1998 when he spoke of new scenes and effects for the OT it was one thing, now it just seems like every couple of years he has a fresh batch of changes. Now, I really have no problem with that or Lucas, but lets not BS each other here and call it like it is. Also, let's not tear down Steven Spielberg in an attempt to defend Lucas because an argument on that foundation will crumble and fall.

I'm not tearing down Spielberg at all, just responding to someone who did. As for Lucas, it seems that with improving tech, he gets new ideas, and sees no problem in using them; that's his prerogative. Just so you know I'm not blowing smoke, here's some things I don't like...

• The remaining inconsistent lightsabers, especially on board the Falcon in "A New Hope".
• Jar Jar being treated as dumb enough to go with Palpatine's plan in "Attack of the Clones".
• Obi-Wan's "absolutes" line in "Revenge of the Sith".
• The musical sequence at Jabba's palace in "Return of the Jedi".
• Leia's provocative "slave girl" outfit.
• A lack of explanation for how Vader originally discovered that Luke was his son.
• The digital rocks appearing in front of R2-D2, and later vanishing.
• The new Palpatine hologram not matching his appearance from "Jedi".

I'm just a fan like so many others, but I'm not going to condemn Lucas with hateful remarks, or demand certain things because I supposedly "deserve" them; I don't.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by phansson

In interviews with Irvin Kershner (director of the consensus best Star Wars movie ESB) I seem to remember him saying "Lucas would tell how to do a sceene and I would say , why don't we try it like this." Also a lot of the more memorable dialogue was "improved" by the actors.

As Carrie Fisher said, "You can write this s***, George; but we can't say it."

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Fully agree. With the exception of A New Hope, he literally does not have a single directing credit that can stand up to the big directors. His movies often feel like they were made by a child, or at best a very inexperienced filmmaker.

But he really understands how to compose a shot from a visual perspective and he has a great imagination in many ways. I'd want him on my filmmaking team, but he would not be allowed to have any writing input or any time in a director's seat.

Wow! I never knew this board was fully of geniuses! I am eternally grateful to be able to discuss amongst gods.

How about some humility?

[42041]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Fully agree. With the exception of A New Hope, he literally does not have a single directing credit that can stand up to the big directors. His movies often feel like they were made by a child, or at best a very inexperienced filmmaker.

But he really understands how to compose a shot from a visual perspective and he has a great imagination in many ways. I'd want him on my filmmaking team, but he would not be allowed to have any writing input or any time in a director's seat.

American Graffiti is an excellent film.

[mrpink134]

GL is everything he helped with The Godfather, LOTR, ET, he even helped Nolan and Weldon with the latest block busters

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Didn't he also write and direct all the Harry Potter films too?

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by 42041

American Graffiti is an excellent film.

Okay, I take that back. He has two solid directing credits.

[stvn1974]

George Lucas wrote and directed three classics and then three pieces of garbage. He later went and ruined two of those classics so he is actually only 1 for 6 as a director. I am sure he would have gone back and ruined American Graffiti if given the chance.

[mrpink134]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Didn't he also write and direct all the Harry Potter films too?

I forgot about those, he gave Rowling permission to use her name because of union rules.

[Coov]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

You must be a real genius!

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Wow! I never knew this board was fully of geniuses! I am eternally grateful to be able to discuss amongst gods.

How about some humility?

Humility? Is that what you have, and they don't? Genius is based off of them having your opinion? You must be pretty awesome in your mind. It ends there, I promise.

Posts disappear being off topic and these stick around? Wow, mods. Good job!

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

How about some humility?

In a world where many people are convinced there's no right or wrong anymore, humility doesn't get much recognition.

[The Apocalypse]

Wise man.

George Lucas' Advice - YouTube

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

GL is everything he helped with The Godfather, LOTR, ET, he even helped Nolan and Weldon with the latest block busters

Your deny his accomplishments? He helped with a couple Coppola films and your need to rewrite history just to get in an insult is getting beyond ridiculous.

How about a positive post for a change?