Pajiba

I think you hit the nail on the head in the article. I wouldn't have a problem with Lucas messing around with the films if he weren't such a dick about properly remastering the originals for DVD/Blu-Ray release.

once a hack, always a hack.

I wonder how Red Tails' director Anthony Hemingway feels about Lucas all but usurping his credit for his efforts? Maybe it's because Lucas is so (in)famous, but I've already seen three interviews with Lucas and I had to look up who directed this movie. To hear Lucas talk about this, it's as though this was his idea, his movie to direct, and was the first person ever to cover the movie's subject. Wrong on all counts. You know I recall Spielberg producing many films, but while he did put his (brand)name to these movies even though he did not direct, he also gave uncredited help in their productions and insisted that the filmmakers promote and take credit for their work as their own. While Spielberg's contributions usually helped promote a movie, I've already seen signs that Lucas's has already hurt it. I've already heard some people claim that should this movie be successful, Lucas will climb over everyone to claim the accolades. It might not be true, but he's thought of as such an egotist that it might not matter. The fact that other people's hard work will suffer for his glory-hogging is seemingly oblivious to him.

I recall interviews of Lucas earlier in his career when he spoke of the ills he saw of studios and executives interfering with the creative process and insisting on getting credit for things that someone else did. The irony is in his founding a studio and becoming the very thing his younger self would loathe. If the Spirit of Cinema Yet-To-Come ever came around and showed the 1976 version of George the rich but hollow mogul his future self would become, I imagine if the things he said were honest and sincere he'd go back to Modesto and stay there.

I still think he should just go ahead and remake the original trilogy so there is a smooth fit between 1-3 and 4-6.

That way, he might be less inclined to keep tinkering with the older ones in some vain attempt at modernizing them and making them look like they weren't filmed in the late 70's early 80's.

What I think is interesting about Lucas is that he started out being Luke-ish, with his independently made successful films...and then he became Vader-ish by ruthlessly ruining what we loved, because of his ego and greed. But I don't think he likes being that, because the prequels are all about how Anakin was just this kid with a little extra skill, but he became evil. It's not Darth's fault he was bad! THEY made him that way! And by the end of Return, he's sorry, really, really sorry, killing himself to kill the Emperor. But, you know, not sorry enough to stop himself from capitalizing on (and cannibalizing, and in the case of the last Indiana Jones, ruining entirely) his previous efforts. I think it's a riot that he pretends not to know why. I'd like to smack that greedy bastard with a shovel, too, just for that.

I never had a problem with Lucas tinkering around with Star Wars, he made it and he can do whatever he wants to with it. You fanboys never miss a chance to bash Lucas, nor do you never miss a chance putting money in his pocket by buying any and every iteration of Star Wars that he pulls out of his ass. It is as though Lucas sits at home and says to himself, "I need to remodel Skywalker Ranch, let me throw some new shit into Star Wars." And then you fanboys run out and buy it, and then complain about Lucas changing Star Wars. The guy has been running the same scam for thirty-five years and you guys keep falling for it.

I'm of the opinion that Lucas' neck goiter is actually a mind controlling demon, bent on destroying Lucas' career. See, I'll bet that the only way to get funding for the first three movies was to make a deal with the devil and now the devil is collecting his dues.

I'm to the point where I truly believe that Lucas fucks with everything on purpose. He probably sits in his office surrounded by everything that Star Wars fanboys love reading the dispair and seething hatred on the internet because that's the only way he can bust his nut anymore. Trust me, Lucas has learned to browse left-handed because the right never leaves his junk. Every time the internet screams their outrage, Chewy gets a new money shot. That fur is never coming clean.

As a matter of fact, where do you think the inspiration for Jar-jar came from? "Hmmm, Chewy's looking a bit rastafarian now...

"Lucas thinks it’s his film, and, well, in a certain, very literal sense, this is true. But when films strikes such a resounding chord as the original Star Wars trilogy did, then it becomes ours. His and ours."

Interesting, and reminds me of this passage from Alex Ross's tremendous New Yorker article about Kurt Cobain. He's writing about pop music, but I think it's true for all art:

"Music is robbed of its intentions and associations as it goes out into the great wide open; like a rumor passed through a crowd, it emerges utterly changed. Pop songs become the property of their fans and are marked with the circumstances of their consumption, not their creation."

Oh, good grief, for once I agree with Pookie. On both accounts. I've said the thing about Star Wars...and about all those comic book movies coming out (and yet the fanboys STILL run out to see them!)

vote. with. your. dollars.

And Greedy...I have to agree with Pookie again - costing Netflix money does not teach Lucas a lesson, moral or otherwise. That's like me punching Pookie to teach you a lesson. See how you don't feel anything at all?

Sara Tonin,

I think maybe I did feel a little something, but I can't identify what it is. Punch him again.

I picked up a trilogy a few years ago (in the US). I don't know what the occasion was. I guess it was some new and improved version. I've never watch the new discs. I got it because each came with a "Bonus" disc that is, I believe, the original theatrical version. It's not remastered or anything, but it looks good and it's tinker-free as far as I can tell. So, stealing them from Netflix isn't the only way.

I believe a writer on the site said something to this effect. Lucas didn't direct episodes V and VI, so he has less of a "right" to mess with those. Whatever, I quit buying all the special editions when I realized they were better and were actually worse. However, not remastering the originals is a dick move.

I've also been working on an idea where George Lucas and the history of Star Wars pretty much directly matches the career trajectory of Kings Of Leon if anyone is interested...

It's true Pookie, and I don't see what he "took away" from any of you. As has been pointed out, you can find the original versions on DVD. So watch those. Only those, if it please you.

Frank Black re-did a bunch of Pixies songs a while back, and they sucked. So I don't listen to them. Doesn't make the originals any less awesome.

I remember all the way back to 1977/78 and going to see Star Wars multiple times. Even back then Lucas was messing wit' it. The first time I saw the movie there was an extended scene where Biggs Darklighter came home and complained to Luke about politics and the Empire (you know, the usual teenagers' topics).

The next time I saw SW Biggs never came home, although he still met up with Luke before the Death Star assault and they talked about events turned out just like how they discussed back on Tattooine. Huh?

The next time I saw SW it was pretty much "Hey, Luke."/"Hey, Biggs. Howzit going?".

For years I told (younger) people about this and they blew me off. So go search for the Biggs-actor guy's website where he complains about being edited out over the years. He has/had production stills of the very scenes I saw as a little kid.

If it annoys a 10-year old, Mr. Lucas, that should tell you something. Dammit.