Quote from: ticopelpPeople like to complain about the Ewoks, and lay it right on George's doorstep, conveniently forgetting that Richard Marquand directed Jedi.

Just a point of clarification: Putting Ewoks in it would've most likely been a producer's decision, not a director's.

Quote from: ticopelpThis doesn't surprise me. It's been fashionable for some time to lay all the virtues of Star Wars at the feet of someone else, and blame all its sins on George.

He's already addressed this point...

QuoteSo, do you hate George Lucas or something?

There is, i have noticed, a group of Star Wars fans who love the creator of the series as any fan does, but have developed a defensive and apologetic stance of insecurity towards anything resembling criticism towards the man and his work. Some of them, no doubt, may interpret this book as one which is criticial of Lucas, his company and the series and that i must hold them in disregard. This is not true. However, it is indeed true that the book is at times critical of all of the above. Like any human being, George Lucas is not perfect, nor is the work which stems from him. Just as Walt Disney was not a perfect being, whose films were not always masterpieces, nor was his company always a noble organisation, Lucas, the Star Wars series, and Lucasfilm are entities that are imperfect. Why should any work examining these things for what they are be considered derogatory?

Ive read and heard many anecdotal stories of the making of Star Wars in which the British film crews were shocked by George's inadequacies as a film-maker, and virtually took over the filming process from him. This would explain his (a) dislike of the process of directing films (b) his poor direction and set control.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Just a point of clarification: Putting Ewoks in it would've most likely been a producer's decision, not a director's.

The Ewoks were definitely George's choice, not Richard Marquand's.

An early draft of the original Star Wars had a concurrent land battle at the same time as the space battle at the Death Star.  The land battle was Wookies versus the Empire.

So Return of the Jedi had a concurrent land battle at the same time as the space battle at the Death Star.  Except instead of big, long haired space dogs they had little space pets with short hair instead.  It was much easier to get a lot of little actors than a lot of exceptionally tall actors like Peter Mayhew as well.

Look at the names:

Wookie.  Ewok.

:haw:

Yeah, man, I know.  One of the great missed opportunities.

Quote from: LawbagIve read and heard many anecdotal stories of the making of Star Wars in which the British film crews were shocked by George's inadequacies as a film-maker, and virtually took over the filming process from him. This would explain his (a) dislike of the process of directing films (b) his poor direction and set control.

Several American directors who have worked with British film crews have publicly complained about them being tempermental, bossy, and/or plain lazy.  From the American POV, British film crew members are worse than guys in the Teamsters union.  Another hugely successful filmmaker, James Cameron, was practically ready to get violent with them on the set of Aliens.


As for old George, I see him having a very similar personality to Kevin Seimbeida.  They both come up with some good ideas, some terrible ideas, and can't really tell the difference between the two.  They both have very passionate feelings about their work and make a huge deal about keeping ownership and control.

I've read the first couple hundred pages of the book the OP mentions.  The thing I like best is how it completely refutes George's bullshit, blatant lies about how he conceived everything ahead of time.  It was obvious to me, even as a child, that even Empire Strikes Back was clearly made up after Star Wars (even then, I felt the inconsistencies were obvious).  

I wish George would have retained some of his earlier humility and willingness to listen to others - he's yet another victim of his own superego like so many other celebrity types.  The lesson here is to never buy into your own hype.

Quote from: jgantsI've read the first couple hundred pages of the book the OP mentions.  The thing I like best is how it completely refutes George's bullshit, blatant lies about how he conceived everything ahead of time.  It was obvious to me, even as a child, that even Empire Strikes Back was clearly made up after Star Wars (even then, I felt the inconsistencies were obvious).

Did anyone else read the "Star Wars 2" comic?  I had it in paperback (kinda like an early 80s Manga) when I was a kid.

It was so cool and weird.  More like Star Wars meets Forbidden Planet.

Actually... now that I think of it... all the Marvel Star Wars comics from the 70s were awesome like that. :haw:

Quote from: jgantsSeveral American directors who have worked with British film crews have publicly complained about them being tempermental, bossy, and/or plain lazy.  From the American POV, British film crew members are worse than guys in the Teamsters union.  Another hugely successful filmmaker, James Cameron, was practically ready to get violent with them on the set of Aliens.


As for old George, I see him having a very similar personality to Kevin Seimbeida.  They both come up with some good ideas, some terrible ideas, and can't really tell the difference between the two.  They both have very passionate feelings about their work and make a huge deal about keeping ownership and control.

I've read the first couple hundred pages of the book the OP mentions.  The thing I like best is how it completely refutes George's bullshit, blatant lies about how he conceived everything ahead of time.  It was obvious to me, even as a child, that even Empire Strikes Back was clearly made up after Star Wars (even then, I felt the inconsistencies were obvious).  

I wish George would have retained some of his earlier humility and willingness to listen to others - he's yet another victim of his own superego like so many other celebrity types.  The lesson here is to never buy into your own hype.

Ego. Superego is the opposite of the id.

Other than that nitpick, I agree with you.

Quote from: StuartDid anyone else read the "Star Wars 2" comic?  I had it in paperback (kinda like an early 80s Manga) when I was a kid.

It was so cool and weird.  More like Star Wars meets Forbidden Planet.

Actually... now that I think of it... all the Marvel Star Wars comics from the 70s were awesome like that. :haw:

No but I WANT IT WANT IT WANT IT

Here are some panels from Star Wars 2: World of Fire

Oh man, I forgot how awesome these comics were! :haw:

Actually I saw the Ewoks as sort of fun. Made a good counter weight to all the super cool jedi stuff.