George Lucas- Hack or no?

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Blu Man

Like what? Everything I said in that statement is true.

Not at all.

The Prequels are more enjoyable for me as a lifelong Star Wars fan than the OT at this point. I enjoyed seeing the Galaxy "Before the Dark Times, Before the Empire", as Obi-Wan stated in A New Hope.

As for milking it, I don't agree. Yes, it's still a huge merchandising cash cow. Big deal. So is a lot of other things. If people want to spend their money on toys, and books, and games cause they love the Saga and it's characters... who cares. I enjoy buying the stuff myself. Though I'm more into collecting Marvel these days.

If it's about re-releasing the films, so what? Most of the time they're straight up-releases in new packaging to tie-in to something. If anyone feels the need to buy the same exact movie they already own with new packaging, then they have issues... not Lucas. It's not like he's got a gun to people's head and making them buy it.

[Sussudio]

my 2 cents on the prequels: first off, i didn't think they were that great, but they were definitely entertaining. secondly, i disagree with people who say they were only made to make more money. obviously part of making movies is about making profits, so yes part of continuing with the original trilogy involved gaining more profits off a franchise that was wildly successful. but george also made them to finish up his original stories which he intended to do so from day 1 (as stated in numerous numerous interviews). i dont necessarily agree with the prequel's plots or casting choices, but in no way do i think they are as bad as people make them out to be. it's because they are attached to the original trilogy that so many people think they are "the worst movies of all time" since they didnt live up to the hype (imo). it was unquestionably difficult to live up to originals, i dont think the prequels did, but i also don't think they were horrendous pieces of crap that people make them out to be.

[Beast]

Well said Sussudio.

I also believe that 20+ years really changed how people took the films. Not only were people older, and more jaded by the world and by movies in general. They also went in with HUGE preconcieved notions about what the films were supposed to be. There was no way that the films were going to live up to the hype, no natter what.

People change from the 70's and 80's. And they weren't kids any longer, they were jaded adults seeing new chapters in a franchise that was made for children. Hell, I know kids who were my age when I saw Star Wars... who love the Prequels. It spoke to them, much like the Original Trilogy spoke to us.

[P@t_Mtl]

I said I would not make a comment but I figured why not?

I am the biggest geek in the universe when it come's to Star Wars and the original are just as cheesie as the prequel. That most people now decide not look at them that way, that is their problem and not Lucas. The original Star Wars from the 70's where done in the fashion of the old Flash Gordon serials and you can't be more cheesie then that. For all of you who claim that the prequel are junk compare to the original I say this, go back in listen to them. Don't watch them as you did back when you were a kid this time, watch them as you watch movies now, looking at all the details, at the writing, at the actors. Be true to yourself and look at them and you will see just how cheesie they truly are. I mean come on, I have seen them over a 1000 times probably by now and I love them and I can see just how cheesie they truly are. I don't care because I love them, their amazing and fun. Look at some of the lines said by the actors, truly look at Harrison Ford and how wodden and stiff he is sometimes when he's saying certain lines. Listen to the Tarzan scream when Chewbacca swing on the wine with the Ewoks. Just look at them not with your heart but with your eyes and see what they are. Look at R2-D2 falling over after being blasted by the Jawas with that little AHHHHHH!! That stupid mouse robot running away from Chewbacca after his scream on the Death Star. The dancing around in Jabba's palace. It's full of little moments like that in all 3 movies.

In the end people went into the prequels expecting the find nirvana forgetting that time had change, the world at change and they had change. They expected to be blown away like they were at 6-7 or 8 years old and that was no longer the case, they were older and they now saw Star Wars with different eyes and so they complaint and ***** and moan and said things like "Lucas robbed my childhood" and calling him a hack. I know many young kids who love the prequel and look at them the same way I looked at the original back in 1977 when I was 9 years old. Lucas never change and did not turn into a hack, he is the same. If you want to call him a hack now well you have to call him a hack for THX-1138, American Grafitti, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He as not change, the world as change, we change but he stayed as he was back them. You might want to say that he did not evolve or grow up maybe but not a hack.

In the end I am sorry for those who do not like the prequels, I wish they could enjoy them the same way as the originals, they are just as fun. Afterall that's all Star Wars as ever been, it's just fun to watch Star Wars.

[uziel5000]

Hack? Absolutely NOT!

As a director, he made Episode IV, Episode I, II, III and American Graphitti. Some directors wish they had a resume like that.

As a producer he did all of those plus the rest of the Star Wars saga AND the Indiana Jones saga. Not too shabby...

The hack comment I think has a lot more to do with Episode One than anything else. After the years that have passed since its release I realize that NOTHING was going to live up to the hype that film generated. Episode I is not a bad film in any sense. If anything, it gives a glimpse into the life and way of the Jedi, which is something that every fanboy(myself included) and most of the general public wanted to see. It also has one of the most memorable villians of the whole saga in Darth Maul. Of course, its not perfect and it can't touch Empire. And the whole "there was no father" debacle was laughable but terrible movie? No way!

Apart from his incredible film resume(mentioned above) you cant forget he is the one of the founding minds behind Pixar, which he later sold to Steve Jobs. And every Home Theater freak in here should be worshiping at his knees for THX. (ok, maybe not worshiping but at least some thankful reverence lol) Should I even metnion ILM? I could go on...

Luca's legacy in film history is huge, both in his directorial work as well as the things he promoted, pushed and advanced (Pixar, ILM among others)

Hack? think again.

[Sussudio]

what's funny is that if the prequels had never been made, most people would never think to call him a hack. they're basing the insult on 3 movies, as if completely ignoring or forgetting everything else he's done. he's done more for the film industry than the sub-par prequels, people, and i dont just mean the original star wars or indiana jones. he's been revolutionary in both special effects and audio technologies, not to mention donating numerous amounts of money toward film education for up and coming directors, producers, editors, etc.

[Blu-Benny]

i think he gets to involved w/his movies and wants to do everything himself.

if he would write the script and have it reworked/retooled by someone else to clean up any "oddities" (yipppeeee anyone??) or is an exec. producer and not direct, i think all of his movies could be on the same level as the original star wars trilogy.

this was his biggest downfall w/the perquel trilogy in my opinion. he took on too much and the movies suffered a bit.

also, he's a bit ahead of himself w/the CGI in some things. parts of the original trilogy just looked a little too fake for my liking.

but i do have to agree, what he has done for sound is amazing!!!

[Col. Zombie]

Lucas has made some entertaining movies that I would run out and buy day 1 of release....

...but the dude is the douchebaggiest hack of all Hollywood directors (Spielberg's beginning to run a very close second in my mind).

He's not a hack b/c of tampering with his movies. If he wants to do that and milk whatever he can out of it, he can have at it. I for one won't pay to see another pre-released Star Wars movie in theaters and based on The Clone Wars, probably not even a new one.

I think he's a hack (with Spielberg running to catch up) b/c he won't release his flicks on BD.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

Lucas has made some entertaining movies that I would run out and buy day 1 of release....

...but the dude is the douchebaggiest hack of all Hollywood directors (Spielberg's beginning to run a very close second in my mind).

He's not a hack b/c of tampering with his movies. If he wants to do that and milk whatever he can out of it, he can have at it. I for one won't pay to see another pre-released Star Wars movie in theaters and based on The Clone Wars, probably not even a new one.

I think he's a hack (with Spielberg running to catch up) b/c he won't release his flicks on BD.

seriously?? he said he doesn't currently have plans to, but that definitely does not mean he never will. blurays still in its early stages, it took a LONG TIME for star wars to come to dvd. just because we've all bought into bluray earlier than everyone else doesnt mean every single title we want is going to automatically be available. i personally dont think one's own impatience is a legit reason for calling him a hack

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

seriously?? he said he doesn't currently have plans to, but that definitely does not mean he never will. blurays still in its early stages, it took a LONG TIME for star wars to come to dvd. just because we've all bought into bluray earlier than everyone else doesnt mean every single title we want is going to automatically be available. i personally dont think one's own impatience is a legit reason for calling him a hack

Glad you responded before I did. I was going to be a tad less tactful. Well said.

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

seriously?? he said he doesn't currently have plans to, but that definitely does not mean he never will. blurays still in its early stages, it took a LONG TIME for star wars to come to dvd. just because we've all bought into bluray earlier than everyone else doesnt mean every single title we want is going to automatically be available.

Really? Wow, I am so glad you told me that. Here I was losing sleep every night wondering why every movie that has ever been filmed hasn't already been released on blu?

Originally Posted by Sussudio

i personally dont think one's own impatience is a legit reason for calling him a hack

So you're in the business of telling people what they can and can't legitimately do with their impatience?

Well, I think he's a hack for wating as long as he did to release his flicks on SD-DVD and I think he's a hack for waiting as long as he probably will to release them on Blu.

Why don't you go wallow in your own arrogance for a while.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

So you're in the business of telling people what they can and can't legitimately do with their impatience?

Well, I think he's a hack for wating as long as he did to release his flicks on SD-DVD and I think he's a hack for waiting as long as he probably will to release them on Blu.

Why don't you go wallow in your own arrogance for a while.

Yeah. Got forbid he wants the format to be widely adopted before putting a lot of time/money into a release.

Especially when movies typically do massive business when they're new releases, and sell slower afterwards.

How dare he have a release policy that makes sense and want to take some time with things!

"I WANT IT NOW!!!"

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

Really? Wow, I am so glad you told me that. Here I was losing sleep every night wondering why every movie that has ever been filmed hasn't already been released on blu?

So you're in the business of telling people what they can and can't legitimately do with their impatience?

Well, I think he's a hack for wating as long as he did to release his flicks on SD-DVD and I think he's a hack for waiting as long as he probably will to release them on Blu.

Why don't you go wallow in your own arrogance for a while.

wow. im not going to dignify this with a proper response until you mature up. take a chill pill, dude, dont exaggerate what i say and twist my words around, and stop acting like you're 5. then i'll be happy to discuss this with you rationally.

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by Beast

"I WANT IT NOW!!!"[/center]

In what part of my post do I indicate that "I WANT IT NOW!" ?

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

wow. im not going to dignify this with a proper response until you mature up. take a chill pill, dude, dont exaggerate what i say and twist my words around, and stop acting like you're 5. then i'll be happy to discuss this with you rationally.

So there was no condescension intended in your original post? If not, then my sincerest apologies.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

In what part of my post do I indicate that "I WANT IT NOW!" ?

Right here...

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

I think he's a hack (with Spielberg running to catch up) b/c he won't release his flicks on BD.

Cause you know damn well that he'll release it eventually. Just not now.

But thanks for playing. Clearly you can't even recall what you said.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

So there was no condescension intended in your original post? If not, then my sincerest apologies.

no, i was not trying to be insulting toward you. i was, however, pointing out that i felt it was somewhat illogical to call someone a hack just because you personally are annoyed he will take a long time before allowing his movies to be released on what's still a fairly new format. it makes sense financially for a studio to hold off on releasing their big hits until more people buy into the new technology, and even though it is annoying to us blu-rayers, that's how it works. i wasn't being sarcastic when i said we shouldn't expect every movie to automatically come out on blu just because we've bought into it; i said that because it seemed like that's what you were expecting based on your previous post. whatever your reasoning for calling him a hack is, that's fine it's completely your opinion. i was just offering a counterargument because i thought parts of yours were weak. i find someone who's revolutionized cinema in several ways with his movies and techniques to be far from what i consider a hack. but to each his own

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by Beast

Right here...



Cause you know damn well that he'll release it eventually. Just not now.

I apologize Col.Zombie. You're right. You didn't indicate in your original post that you wanted them released right now.

Fixed!!

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

Fixed!!

[Halcro 1]

I liked American Graffitti ..... His best movie .. I dont like Star Wars ....And he knows nothing about audio THX is very overrated