Lucas on Original Star Wars Films: 'Not Very Good'

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Luke
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Lucas on Original Star Wars Films: 'Not Very Good'

Post by Luke »

The Associated Pressinterviewed George Lucas recently. In it, he talks about the Star Wars DVD release, and the original films.

Some of the comments I found kind of interesting:

Why it's coming to DVD now: "A lot of people are getting very worried about piracy. That has really eaten dramatically into the sales. It really just came down to, there may not be a market when I wanted to bring it out, which was like, three years from now."

About not releasing the original films: "The special edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. ... I'm not going to spend the, we're talking millions of dollars here, the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn't really exist anymore. It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I'm the one who has to take responsibility for it. I'm the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they're going to throw rocks at me, they're going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished."

Millions of dollars...how would he survive?! After all, I don't think those half-completed Star Wars movies made much money, did they?

Oh well, I won't take him to task anymore, since others have. But I thought it was interesting to hear it straight from his mouth. Still seems kind of silly, but it's not like anyone's opinion but his ultimately matters.
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Post by DisneyChris »

I'm not really against Lucas on frequently changing the Star Wars movies, but I still feel he has a responsibility to release the original, un-altered theatrical versions of the films at the same time.
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Post by MickeyMousePal »

The only thing that I'm against George Lucas is that he made the presequels so lame and cheesy. I really enjoy the original Star Wars films. Now, is the best time to have the film release on DVD. :D
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Post by Loomis »

George Lucas wrote:"I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it."
Can we have our money back on the original releases then? :D

Glad to know he appreciates having fans all these years...
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Post by DisneyGirl »

I guess I can understand how he feels, as a writer and an artist, I have a really hard time letting go of my work. When I have to turn in an essay or term paper, I get very anxious over it. Or when I sketch or paint a picture or sculpt something, I'm very slow to fire the clay pieces or frame the picture because as far as I see my own work, it's never really finished, it's just abandoned. (As stated by George Lucas in the VHS Special Edition). When someone tells me, "What are you doing, it's FINE the way it is." I pretty much ignore them, it's MY essay or MY painting, I'll do what I like with it until I'M happy with it. They don't have to live with their name on the results, I do.
There have been times where I've gone back to essays I've written years ago and edited them again, and printed out a new draft, I become happier with the new version, but at the same time I'm thinking "What in the world was I thinking when I wrote that?"
So I guess I understand what Lucas means. Personally, I find the original three films to be wonderful, they were way ahead of their time, and had they been filmed with the technology we have now, people wouldn't be making the fuss over any changes, however, at the same time, Star Wars may not have become the phenomenon that it is if it hadn't been released when it was.
On another note, the first two films I found to be very good. While I don't exceptionally like the actor that plays the adult Anakin, the rest of the movie (and the first movie) are wonderful and belong in the Star Wars dynasty. Fans are so critical of Lucas, his work, and opinions, but when it comes down to it, he's George Lucas we, the fans made him famous, if there's anyone to blame it should be ourselves. Had the fans not loved Star Wars, he wouldn't have any reason to fix the movies. (Although, technically, I wasn't alive when any of the original movies were released.)
Of course, I hear a few of you saying "Well, that doesn't give him the right to be so arrogant and pig-headed." To that I say, "Yes it does. When it comes down to it, they're HIS films. For all the power we have, Lucas could make a sequel to Return of the Jedi where Han Solo and Chewy have five kids together and Leia kills Luke and brings power back to the dark side. It's all up to him. We have no say in any of it."

Either enjoy the films for what they are or stuff it. I'm tired of 'fans' complaining about how stupid Lucas is or how dumb the prequel movies are. "They are what they are and they ain't gonna be no more."

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some flack for what I've just said, but on a final note, I think Lucas should release the original unaltered films, perhaps he could have added a few more discs to the set coming out. I'd be VERY willing to pay more for two versions of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD.
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Post by DisneyGirl »

BTW DisneyChris, AWESOME av!
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Post by DisneyChris »

DisneyGirl wrote:BTW DisneyChris, AWESOME av!
Thanks, DisneyGirl.

And by the way, do you know what I saw this morning at my local DVD store? THE STAR WARS TRILOGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :float: :party: :) :up: :twisted: :thumb: :star:

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! This DVD is absolutely fantastic. The sound and picture are excellent, and so is the bonus disc. I can't believe my luck!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:
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Post by Mr. Toad »

I am mostly in agreement with Lucas. I think those complaining about what he had done are going way too far. The changes he made are fairly minor to the movie and don't really impact the important elements such as plot, theming, acting and pacing.

Would I have done it, probably not, but no big deal really. They will still be classics.
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Post by Jack »

Well, I'm sure this thread will lead to the usual Lucas bashing about how screwed up he is.

Once again, I'll sum up my feelings simply: I'd rather have the original versions, but Lucas can do whatever he wants and I'll still respect it as a filmmaker's decision. While he can be hypocritical when it comes to his views on changing classic films, he makes some good points too. In the end, I'll still like Star Wars nomatter what he does to it.
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Post by toonaspie »

DisneyChris wrote:I'm not really against Lucas on frequently changing the Star Wars movies, but I still feel he has a responsibility to release the original, un-altered theatrical versions of the films at the same time.
I agree, as crappy as he thinks the first version is, I'm sure he does have the money now (look at giant fan base)

He knows that there are Star Wars purists out there. His excuses makes him sound very disrespectful to his fans.

not me, though I dont care
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Post by Loomis »

JimmyJackJunior wrote: The changes he made are fairly minor to the movie and don't really impact the important elements such as plot, theming, acting and pacing.
So why make those changes at all? If they are only minor, surely the films could have survived without them?

Having watched the first DVD at least, and then rewatched the 1997 VHS of the other two, I can say that the changes aren't THAT bad. But some of them are CGI that just looks out of place. It is the practical special effects that often look better than the new ones. I mean, he already made changes to the 1997 changes for these DVDs (the Jabba scene, which was in fact not needed at all - most of the dialogue Han has is EXACTLY the same as the dialgoue with Greedo, and the changes Greedo is a whole other kettle of fish). In that case, you have changes to a changed scene which wasn't needed dramatically at all, as Lucas made the wise choice of leaving it out in the first place.

"The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. ... "

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Post by 2099net »

The thing is, I'm sure most directors will say that their first films are "not very good". Its part of the cycle. Directors get better (in theory). Budgets get bigger based on past success or failure. And life moves on.

Most of the other great directors - Copella, Speilberg, Polanski, Lynch, Forman, Scott... even Brest who's one of the most particular directors at choosing his projects (bless him after Gigli, and even before then the less than stellar reception for Meet Joe Black)...

They all do something radical after making films that they consider "not very good" - they make new films, with the aim of making them better. Lucas just, well, didn't. They don't have to be big films - Copella, Polanski and Forman have all made small personal movies as well as high budget movies.

And no Maerj, I'm not on the old "Lucas isn't like Speilberg" rant again. I'm on a "Lucas isn't like 99% of all Directors of all time" rant.

Does Lucas really want to better himself through his own work? Or is he just happy to have all his techhies at ILM design and create the work for him? (Because watching the Docs on the prequel discs, it looks like 99% of the work is done for him these days)
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Post by Maerj »

2099net wrote: And no Maerj, I'm not on the old "Lucas isn't like Speilberg" rant again. I'm on a "Lucas isn't like 99% of all Directors of all time" rant.
Well that's good, at least its a somewhat new rant. It's been at least a few days since you ranted about Lucas. This is a good rant too, I agree that he isn't like 99% of the directors out there mainly because each one is different. Finally a rant we can agree on! :D

I'm sorry, I will try to make it better.

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