Breaking up is hard to do? Not for George Lucas
Posted by dailypop on January 17, 2012
Back away from the trilogy, Lucas!
When Star Wars was released in 1977, who could have foretold that it would launch a massive franchise or that it would be re-released in various formats, each time with more alterations. A vanguard in high technology film making, Lucas’ ILM studio would progress to the point where not only the plot and effects but even an actor’s performance could be altered to fit the director’s whim.
But with this ability to reshape his previous films, Lucas has earned the ire of the very fan base that made him such a success to begin with… and he’s done with it.
A stormtrooper no more?
George Lucas has heard the criticism over the changes he’s made over the years to his “Star Wars” movies. He just doesn’t really much care.Since Lucas first retouched the space opera saga for a theater relaunch in 1997, he has made a number of tweaks to the films. Those changes include having Darth Vader yell “Nooo!” when attacking Emperor Palpatine in “Return of The Jedi,” and having the alien Greedo shoot at Han Solo first before Solo shoots and kills him; in the original film, Solo shoots him without coming under assault.
“On the Internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie,” Lucas tells the New York Times in a new profile, referring to YouTube fans who have re-cut his films in retaliation for the small changes he has made. “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.’”
Combine that experience with the cool reception the three “Star Wars” prequel films received in the late 90s and early 2000s, and Lucas says he’s done making new films in the canon.
“Why would I make any more,” Lucas says, “when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?”
Still, Lucas is producing an animated “Star Wars” show, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and is planning a live-action show, as well.
(More at the Huffington Post along with some info on the excellent Tuskagee airmen film, Red Tails)
What I find interesting is that he is so dismissive of fans yet continues to develop new Star Wars projects… just not movies. How is that so different?
Hal said
Answer: It isn’t any different.
For a billionaire (?) to be so petulant is pathetic. And you’re right making Star Wars tv series *is* no different. If he was as annoyed as he claims to be he wouldn’t re-release the Star Wars saga on new format after new format but of course he likes the money he gets from the people he excoriates. Funny that.
ratchet said
Exactly Hal… he cries “no fair, I’m an artist” while having his hand out to collect more profits from all the fans he continues to screw over.
Hal said
“No fair, I’m an artist”, ha, very good! I don’t think you’d have gotten Leonardo da Vinci going “you know, the Mona Lisa looks a little *too* enigmatic – I think I’ll repaint her with a big grin and throw the original in my cellar, because I obviously know better NOW than I did then. Oh, and it’s not pointless jerking off, oh no”