The Serge said:
My issue with Lucas is that he doesn't know his own limitations as a filmmaker and that this lack of self awareness has resulted in "subpar" films.
And you know this...how?
I don't know that millions agree. As I've said before, SW is a cultural phenomenon and a spectacle. People watch it because of the hype, not necessarily because it's great movie making. Batman and Robin.
I can repeat myself as much as you can. Batman and Robin made money, yes. But it made no where NEAR the kind of money Star Wars did. People don't go and see Batman movies like they do Star Wars movies. Part of that IS because its a cultural phenomenon, but if Lucas is horribly incomptent then the rest of the movie going public wouldn't keep going and seeing it.
Star Wars isn't a cultural phenomenon just because of the spectacle. Do not judge the trilogy by Empire. Empire is the odd one out, and doesn't really fit in with the rest, even if it IS my favorite. The strengths of Empire could not possibly be keeping Star Wars afloat now. The strengths of the originals couldn't be helping to generate the huge income of the prequels if they WERE horribly directed. People wouldn't go and see them IN HUGE NUMBERS.
I was expecting the quality of story and acting in The Empire Strikes Back. Didn't get it. From TPM to AotC, there was also a transition and my expectations weren't necessarily met (for good and ill).
There's your problem right there. Empire is nothing like the rest of the movies, and NONE of them have the same quality of story. You're not going to get that with ANY Star Wars movie. Its odd to say, but Empire Strikes Back could be the 'problem with Star Wars'.
The best costume design in the world isn't going to mitigate terrible direction, storytelling, or action within context.
And the best directing, storytelling, and action within context aren't going to mitigate everyone wearing what they came to work in. Costumes help the ACTORS get into character more and help the viewers believe the 'reality' of the environment. They are all equally important. Take out one, and it all fails.
I hardly think that the various folks that have worked with him are going to say "negative" things about the man. Heck, he seems like a nice guy. I wouldn't want to say unpleasant things about a nice guy I personally knew. Especially if he paid me well for my effort. Their attitudes mean little to me with this regard and I find their opinions suspect on the matter anyway given their circumstances.
Uh-huh. So you're only going to believe what agrees with your point of view? Yes, people involved in the movies are going to be biased, but the enthusiam these projects are worked on, IN ALL ASPECTS, is beyond simply "I'm doing this because its Star Wars!!" or "Lucas pays me to say good things!".
And I was referring not to what these people say about LUCAS, but about the movies themselves. Rick McCallum and co are behind these movies just as much as Lucas is. Listen to interviews with EVERYONE on the films, from animators to producers. They all truly believe these are great movies and that Lucas is doing a wonderful job.
For all we know, many of them ARE saying to Lucas "Shouldn't you do this instead of that?" and he is listening. We have no proof one way or the other so saying things like "Lucas should get help!" is stupid because he has help. He's not doing all the movies by himself. The people working on these movies have much, much more influence that seems to be assumed by so many. Yes, in the end, its Lucas' decision, and yes, in the end, any problems should be attributed to him. BUT, that doesn't mean he's incompetent. Would so many people be working under him and believe in this project like they do if he is incompetent? SOMEONE would get frustrated and go crazy.
Look, I don't have any problem at all with saying you don't like how Lucas directs/writes/etc, but to say he's abyssmal and incompentent is a whole different level. I'll keep saying that if he was INCOMPTENT when it comes to those things, nothing could save the movies. Nothing could. Not even the Star Wars name and Lucas' vision.
