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This upcoming feature documentary, The People vs George Lucas, intrigues me because it features so many Industry types talking about Lucas in a negative way as they debate his legacy. (Like calling him the “anti-Christ” and “evil genius of marketing”….) Those interviewed include Lucas intimate and producer Gary Kurtz, Sandy Lieberson (former head of production at 20th Century Fox), Dale Pollock (author of Skywalking), producer Anthony Waye, and David Prowse (aka Darth Vader). But also, sadly, second-rate film reviewers and writers. Presumably, the top ones were too scared to diss George. The documentary comes out in 2010:
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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These are bitter out of touch trendy followers. They got old. The prequel trilogy is excellent in its own right and it has many more layers than the original trilogy. For a new generation and future generations it will age just as well as the original trilogy. Each of the six Star Wars films contains good things and bad things. Jar-Jar is not the problem. If anything Jake Lloyd was the problem. But the 10 year olds who loved Phantom Menace in 1999 are now 20 year olds who still love it and still love Jar-Jar and they will soon be making movies and teach film courses. The prequels will eventually be accepted and loved. Many people I speak with are already pulling revisionist theory on Phantom Menace and seeing its one of the better entries.
I find it weird that George Lucas is held personally responsible for the dumbing down of the film industry over the last thirty years — which, in my opinion, is a burning bag of dog poo that can more fairly be dumped on Steven Spielberg’s doorstep. (How someone of Spielberg’s obvious talent keeps getting green-lights to work out his Daddy issues is a mystery for the ages.) But I guess George Lucas doesn’t run a studio, and have a fair amount of clout in this town.
Although I appreciate the passion by which we are throwing everyone and anything related to Lucas and the cinema of the late 70′s under the bus, I have to speak up about Spielberg. I fundamentally disagree with putting Spielberg in the same seat as Lucas. Despite many notable ‘sell outs’, and a being a principal participant in the creation of the ‘blockbuster’, Steven’s films have had a far greater reach and impact on audiences, culture, and public opinion that all of the Star Wars films combined. He knows how to speak to audiences in a way that is universal and powerful. Can you honestly say that these films were sell outs? No impact? or worse…bad films? : Jaws, Close Encounters, ET, Raiders, Shindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich. I’m saddened by the lack of respect given to great artists of our generation INCLUDING George Lucas, a visionary filmmaker.
I won’t go as far as Lawrence re: the prequel trilogy, but I agree these folks are haters. And I find it amusing that the filmmakers and their subjects are so disdainful of the person whose work pays all of their bills. Without “Star Wars” how could anyone pay their rent writing a “Star Wars Sucks” book? An entire cottage industry of pop culture parasites would never have been born. And this documentary would never have been made.
(Saved the silver lining for the end.)
I am the one who’s on screen with the “anti-Christ” quote. I’m sure that when the finished documentary appears, it will be obvious that what I’m saying is that this is the label that has been applied to Lucas by many folks — unfairly. As for the second-rate label — well, hell, it’s still a work in progress. I’m sure there’s still time for them to get around to talking to the third-raters.
It’s no big secret that David Prowse has had a mad-on for George ever since Lucas replaced his voice with James Earl Jones, not to mention that fact that he feels slighted because he wasn’t asked to wear “the suit” in Episode 3. I met him at a convention a few years ago and he seemed pleasant enough though I could sense the hint of bitter in his voice when he spoke about the voice change and how he found out about it.
Damn you George Lucas! Damn you and the ton-ton you rode in on! And in other news… Many hobbits are outraged with Peter Jackson’s decision to pass on directing Bilbo Baggin’s bio pic.
Well, the film is called The People vs. George Lucas not the Elite vs. George Lucas so I think that explains the “second rate” participants.
And yes, I get the Larry Flint reference but come on, let’s not be completely elitist here. (Although it would be interesting if they did compare the Star Wars fetishists to actual porn hounds)
Well, George is talented, and very lucky too. He had the good fortune to work with Francis Coppola. And he turned his space fascination to making a breakthrough film in 1978.
He’s been cursed to try to outdo what was a breakthrough film, and despite the fantastic CGI, technically superior films of recent years, his stories (scripts) just haven’t held up…
Whiz bang only goes so far… without a good story those films will fade…
…but the original trilogy will survive and thrive after we’re all dead and gone.
Someone else will be debating these points 100 years from now.
After INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, I have no faith left in both Lucas and Spielberg. It was an abysmal sequel, 19 years in the making, a campy homage to AMERICAN GRAFFITY and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS wrapped in a NATIONAL TREASURE cloak, featuring the worst cinematic elements of both filmmakers.
So? A bunch of losers, nobodies, resentful people opine on Lucas. Whatever.
There are haters but let’s be honest, some people are giving him more credit than he deserves. Lucas is cursed? I really don’t get how someone who is worth 4.1 billion dollars can complain that he can’t make the movies he wants. He either did a piss poor job of playing his cards when it came to the prequels or he saw the trials and bankruptcies that Coppola went through and didn’t want to risk it.
The Lucas bashing got old within two seconds of it beginning. People are bitter because they had convinced themselves that Lucas would magically be able to make them feel like the 9 year old being awed for the first time in 1977. Even if Episode 1 had been a better film on all layer, the initial first time experience can not be repeated. If the original Star Wars were to be released today it would not be as revered as it was then. How is it that 3P0s, Chewbacca’s and R2′s silly antics acceptable when Jar Jars is not. (anf if you don’t remember the silly stuff from the original trilogy then you need to watch them again)
I am not crazy about the digital enhancements made to the original trilogy but to proclaim that my childhood was raped and go on an endless and pointless tirade about how the shock waves around the exploding death star ruins the film experience well… that’s just pathetic
To those who proclaimed Indiana Jones as the worst movie ever. Well quite frankly you need to watch more movies. Was it as good as Raiders? No. Most people I talk with have an opinions that range from “Just OK to Great” I thought it was good. I hated the refrigerator and gophers but you know what? That was less then 1 percent of the film and by not focusing on it it I was able to enjoy the better moments.
Whatever. Modern filmmaking and exhibition techniques would be virtually unrecognizable or would still be seriously lagging without Lucas’ direct and indirect contributions over the past 30 years.
What a bunch of no count mouth breathers.
I agree that the original trilogy is only bit better than the prequels. Where the other commentors lose me is when the proclaim the original trilogy to great films. The first three were entertaining pop-corn films covered with a cloak of Campbellian/Jungian mysticism in order to create some artificial heft. Lucas essentially made a serial. That’s all it was and all it’ll ever be. Entertaining? Yes. Transformative to the business of film? Certainly. Great filmmaking? No. There is no way anyone with an ounce of culture would rate any Star Wars film higher than 2001, Mean Streets, M, or The Third Man.
Also, people aren’t “hating” when they espouse rational criticism. Calling names does not prove your point.
I find it amusing, ironic, and a bit pathetic that so many folks on this site are unable to understand that most of these ‘no count mouth breathers’ are not totally serious in the vigor of their disdain for the modern Lucas flicks.
Sure they- and I guess I would lump myself in there as well- feel the recent movies are not that great (even horrible really with the exception of the last one…and the latest Indy was pretty bad). But what, you think we REALLY spend all our time caring about this stuff? I assure you, it’s not the case. We have jobs, families, lives. BUT we are also passionate about our hobbies- as everyone should be, be it sports, movies, or scrapbooking…otherwise, why have a hobby?
Whoever made this movie just happened to ask questions about this specific topic to folks who have strong opinions about it. So what?
I mean, hell, why are you even HERE on a movie rumor site if you didn’t care about movies so much?
I mean, do you REALLY think those two guys singing about Lucas raping their childhood REALLY think that? Or do you think they were doing what Lucas does: using whatever talent they have to stand on the backs of others in order to make a living? You think Star Wars and Indy were created out of thin air? No, Lucas took many of the ideas from films he grew up on and that he loved.
David
Please remember that the ‘no count mouth breathers’ and the ‘bunch of losers, nobodies, resentful people’ opining are largely the ones buying the tickets and the truckloads of merch. You might not want to offend them so directly if you all are as ‘business-minded’ and sophisticated as you claim to be.
That said I’m personally done with the Star Wars merchandising money-extracting treadmill machine. Return of The Jedi was the beginning of me getting over my childhood crush-like love for Lucas’s universe. It could be that I was a young teenager then and characters like the teddy-bearish Ewoks felt so juvenile, like what most teenagers were trying to leave behind.
Seeing films #1 & #2 in what was conceived as a 9 part saga and after so many years had passed was like looking back at an old childhood infatuation and laughing at myself as much as Lucas. I haven’t even bothered to see Film #3 the same way I wouldn’t make the effort to look up the guy I had a crush on in junior high. My interests and Lucas’s (and Junior High Crush’s) have diverged and that’s okay with me. No harm no foul. I grew up and apart from the Star Wars Universe and found other things in entertainment to thrill me (although sadly most of them are older films than Star Wars…films & TV shows today are really hit & miss).
Other than hearing from Dale Pollock whose Skywalking book riveted & fascinated the 12 year old version of myself (I am wondering how time has changed Pollock’s perspective) this documentary strikes me as something that uber-geeks will put on their must see lists and debate endlessly. But I’ve also moved on from the ‘I’m a bigger SW/Star Trek/Sci-Fi fan geek than you are’ competition phase of my life. So even this documentary looks a little quaint to me. But if you’re still part of the marketing mini-industry that Sci-Fi & comic & horror fandom that events like Comic-Con etc serve well I guess you’ll feel obligated and/or excited to go see this film. I don’t begrudge others their chosen form of entertainments but I know that I’m just not that into those genres anymore.
Live & let live people. It’s just another movie.
The guy gave us Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and THX among other things. You hate him why?
To: Lawrence & Tammanycall
With all due respect, you’re both seriously full of shit and sadly missing the point. This is not Fanboy irrationality run amok. Yes there are whiners from certain circles that perpetuate the petulent jabs thrown at Mr. Lucas. But the participant roster in this doc, the real tip off being Gary Kurtz, shows that these people’s skepticism as a whole isn’t coming from a place of malice, but a place of pity of where the franchise has devolved to. Therefore justifying the intense criticism leveled at George Lucas.
Compared to what the man gave us in the late 70′s and early 80′s, these movies are shit. And that’s why us fans of the mythology are upset. This is an issue of quality. Not personal hatred or jealousy of the man, but of his output as a filmmaker. Period. The writing was on the wall. Prequels were nothing but cash grabs to inflate Lucasfilm’s profit margins. How else can you explain the shockingly subpar acting mixed with the now outdated special fx? Easy, George doesn’t give a flying fuck about drama, about emotional involvement, or even movies for that matter, ‘ehh just feed ‘em some flashy lights for a couple of hours and we got’em.’
The dude just wants to make money, and he will suck the lowest common denominators pockets dry with a smile on his face knowing well that he’ll get a reasnable rate of return on his investment. He’s traded quality control for superficiality. And that’s why so many are pissed. By his own greed he’s become the very thing his hero protagonists were fighting against. Damn shame.
You have got to be kidding with this. This is really sad and about four years too late to make any sort of impact. As for Dave Prowse, that guy is nothing more than a whore who has used the product created by the guy he’s dissing for the past three decades. Sorry Dave, but any idiot over six feet could have played Darth Vader. You brought NOTHING special to that role.
The biggest laugh of this trailer? That the filmmakers acutally think it’s going to play in theaters. Good luck with that!
I think the anti-hater contingent present on he boards this morning might be typing too fast to acknowledge the simple fact that, while profitable, everything after Jedi that Lucas has made has been pretty mediocre. Not bad in the sense film industry people might consider; by this standard Rush Hour or X-Men 3 or Fantastic Four (2006) wasn’t bad, but the first three Star Wars films were really sui generis and something special, a great story arc with good characters, superb action and a lot of heart and love of filmmaking. A very operatic kind of cinema, and a lot better than the “whiz bang” stuff that followed.
I don’t think you can attribute the change between the first trilogy and the second as any kind of artistic development. The first three films had a very self-consciously Wagnerian aspect to them, and I think it’s possible Lucas had that kind of potential as an artist (or at least a impresario), but where Wagner had Loehngrin (awesome!), then the Ring cycle (awesome!), then Meistersinger and Parsifal (awesome awesome!) and many works inbetween, Lucas sorta set down his pen in 1983.
I guess this is a very high-minded way of looking at it, and not in a good way, but the Star Wars trilogy is in the first rank of great cinema, up there with Bridge on the River Kwai and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Brazil (yeah I’m a weirdo), and we never saw David Lean do 2-hour toy commercials, nor Capra become a lobbyist.
I’m not going to defend the guys that dress up like stormtroopers and piss on Lucas in chat forums, but I’ll point out that there are a lot of people under the age of thirty working throughout the business that wouldn’t be in LA right now if not for those movies, and when George acts like he did the whole thing for the money, it’s a little unsettling. We certainly didn’t come out to LA for the money — those of us that did have long since left to get law degrees.
I love how much anger in both directions this post has inspired.
I love the original series and I have no interest in the prequel series. But they’re movies and life is too short to live then to hate on anything.
I say we all move on and make babies!
I am one of the producers of this film and just wanted to say a few things. First, we are not haters (pay attention to the last section of the trailer) – we are doing this because we are fans of George’s work, even if we disagree with some of his decisions. I can honestly say Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Art were a large inspiration for me to get into the biz to begin with. Secondly, we do have many arguments for Lucas and have approached the subject intellectually as well whimsically. It is impossible to convey what we have so far in 3 minutes and on top of that we are only half-way through production! The fact that people are even commenting as much as they are, in a negative way or not, proves that people still feel strongly about the debate. If you really don’t like what we’re doing, submit an interview to us and say so – details for submissions are on our website.
P.S. Not every person we have interviewed is in the trailer, and I wouldn’t call Todd Hanson, Glenn Kenny and Joe Leydon second rate!
If you really want to laugh about this subject listen to Patton Oswalt’s routine about George Lucas and the prequels.You will fall out of your chair laughing.
Well Nikki your website is a constant source of new knowledge for me, I had *never* heard praise for Phantom Menace before. Star Wars nuked the fridge with that digital turd, big time.
& no matter how many times Lucas rewrites history (it was a three part movie, a nine part movie a six part movie…) it does not disguise the fact he sells out every opportunity he gets.