My defense of George Lucas...

"Fellowship Of The Ring" was better though. If that were included the vote would probably go to that.

 

This works as a brilliant analogy for Lucas who is obviously not at ease with dealing with love stories. He cannot write or direct love on screen. This does not rtake anything away from his talents and it is a fact with proof and that proof is AOTC.

Al, you hinted at something I think is so true and that is he's "not at ease with dealing with love stories." I'm not sure it's a simple matter of Lucas not having the ability to write love stories. I think perhaps the ability is there but latent...which is true for everyone to some degree. He has a certain modus operandi and he prefers to work within it. I also think that, perhaps, in some way love stories are too personal for Lucas. For the most part what ends up on screen for any movie are bits and pieces of the director. By the same token all of the characters in the Star Wars universe could be considered fragments of Lucas' own personality. Love is an area where Lucas could be particularly jaded...his wife left him around the time of ROTJ. As his good friend Steven pointed out in a 60 Minutes interview, "he was pulverized!" I think Lucas is dating again but I'm sure he's not at the point where he can comfortably write a love story. On the other hand some people wouldn't be comfortable with it under the best of circumstances. I think George is one of those people. It's not his fault. It's just the way he is. Which is all the more reason why he should get someone else to write the 'damn' love story for crying out loud! The love story between Anakin and Amidala was supposed to be the main theme of movie for god's sake! If 'that' doesn't work then one could say the whole movie failed. Of course, a lot of people don't see it that way but what else can be said when a film fails to develope it's main theme? It could even be argued the George let 'himself' down in this case.

Oh well It's his own fault. He could've called in the troops but instead he wanted to do everything 'Rambo' style.

...pure hubris


Shelly - Kraytt_Dragon actually went so far as to accuse Spielberg of having to kiss up to Lucas in order to preserve their friendship.

I pointed out that Spielberg is not afraid of publicly criticizing Lucas.

I notice he didn't bother to respond.

You have a penchant for twisting my words around, Shelley, and 'that' is why I don't bother to respond to you

Go back and give my previous posts another run and just maybe you'll be able to derive their actual meaning.

* Congratulations on being the first user to elicit an angry emoticon from me, Shelly.

 

Actually, the Cinescape poll is about favourite summer film, with AOTC currently in the lead over "Spider-Man" with 57%("Spider-Man" originally had a small lead). Of course, I don't give much credence to such "internet polls" because they are voluntary and not scientific.

But still, its a myth that TPM and AOTC were universally panned. They did very well in initial audience exit polls. Maybe they didn't hold up as well upon repeat viewings, or perhaps people now feel pressure to bash the prequels because it's "hip". I find it funny when people say "I'm the world's biggest 'Star Wars' fan, but I hate the prequels.". It's like saying "I'm not a racist, but I don't like black people.".

If you go to rottentomatoes.com both TPM and AOTC are in the "fresh" category with 63% positive reviews. That's not great, but considering most films wind up below 60% approval in the "rotten" category it isn't bad. The original trilogy films rate much higher, but most of the reviews are from the "special edition" re-release. The older, original reviews are more mixed. Gene Siskel gave "Return of the Jedi" a thumbs down and one critic said "The Empire Strikes Back" was boring and compared it to the Michael Caine stinker "The Island".

Such is common in film criticism. "2001: A Space Odyssey" got mixed reviews and few awards when it was released. Now it's considered one of the greatest films of all time. Do I think TPM and AOTC will one day be hailed amongst the all-time greats? No. IMHO, they feature mixed acting and occassionally cheesy dialogue - but so did the OT, and as a whole I think all the SW movies work well as sequels with a purpose that are designed to tell a story, not just make more money. And they are also really good as just fun kids' films in a Saturday matinee sort of way.

BTW, here's how I rate the SW films in order of greatness:
1. TESB
2. ANH
3. AOTC
4. TPM
5. ROTJ

-Dubya Fett
Fettism of the Day: COUNT DOOKU: "Join me, Gandalf... I mean Obi-Wan, and we can destroy the Dark Lord Sauron... I mean Sidious."

 

You have a penchant for twisting my words around, Shelley, and 'that' is why I don't bother to respond to you.

I have a penchant for twisting your words around, Kraytt_Dragon?

I don't recall replying to you that often, but my method is to cut and paste what that other person says, and reply to it. Several bashers have whined at me about it, saying it's "extremely annoying."

Here is your reply to what I said:

ROTFLMAO...apples and oranges Shelley.

*Love having you around, Shelley.

Go back and give my previous posts another run and just maybe you'll be able to derive their actual meaning.

I did. You evidently think you have some great insight into Lucas and Spielberg's friendship, and you consider it so tenuous that Spielberg had to say he loved TPM to preserve it.

Please explain to me how I twisted around what you said.

 

A guy who hasn't had luck with women isn't expected to be able to write a fantastic love story, in my book.

 

Will these debates ever end!!!!!!!!

 

Nope.

 

How ya doin Pooja

 

I'm well, good sir.

And yourself?

 

Not bad. I still can't belive these same discussions are going on.

 

Well, believe it, Darth_OlsenTwins. Anyway, I think that GL doesn't have a knack for writing love stories, but that's why AoTC was NOT a love story! Everyone says that it was, but it wasn't by any stretch of the imagination. But I would say that if Ep. II had been a total love story, it would've sucked. Because as we all know, George isn't the smoothest fella when it comes to matters of the heart!

 

Actually, like it or not, Lucas perfectly wrote parts for two characters, young characters, who loved each other and were nervous as heck around each other. This causes "stupid lines."

Everyone says Hayden and Natalie act wooden during love scenes-

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE! I've had crushes, and when I was around those particular women, I didn't know what to say, how to act- and I would just STIFFEN UP LIKE A BOARD.

Okay that was perverted.

Anyway, Dooku SEZ:

[image=http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/211f178b/bc/Other/__hr_DOOKUPUFFS.jpg?bcYira9APEShPFue]

"Gusher's LOVE Count Dookula brand cereal. It contains the vitamins and minerals necessary for a long, hard day of fighting bashers."

 

LOL Pooja! I'll never stop fighting GL critics 'cause I eat my Count Dookula!

 

So anybody know what the score is??

Are the GUSHERS still winning???

 

Wooden...gah.....do you know how irritating that word is becoming? How limited people's critical vocabulary is these days!

 

Pooja

You get mad love for that last post:

Everyone says Hayden and Natalie act wooden during love scenes-

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE! I've had crushes, and when I was around those particular women, I didn't know what to say, how to act- and I would just STIFFEN UP LIKE A BOARD.

Okay that was perverted.

[face_shocked]

Freud had nothing to to with that.


AND:

"Gusher's LOVE Count Dookula brand cereal. It contains the vitamins and minerals necessary for a long, hard day of fighting bashers."




EDIT: Pooja, I just gave a shout out to you in the Love Story thread. Hope you don't mind.

 

COUNT DOOKULA SEZ:

Hayden Christensen was a valuable opponent. I took him down- and he acted good! Mwahahaha!!!

 

Actually, like it or not, Lucas perfectly wrote parts for two characters, young characters, who loved each other and were nervous as heck around each other. This causes "stupid lines."

Some people just can't stand it when kids act like kids in a movie. Just look at all the bashing poor Jake Lloyd got even though his depiction of an excitable 9 year old was spot on.

 

Are the GUSHERS still winning???

The gushers always win, because when the end comes, all that will be left is us!

 

I agree. Jake isn't the best child actor ever, but he has this youth karma that I enjoy. I liked his presence in Episode I. It's just something we have to accept.

Everyone used to be kids. Even Jar Jar.

 

I'm new relatively new to these forums. I've been flicking through the 1000's of posts in these boards. I'm absolutey amazed. There seems to be a whole WAR going on. I never new Star Wars fans had been so split down the middle. Every where I Look I see people arguing over the PT. It's chaotic.
Wow.

 

Well that's because...

[image=http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/211f178b/bc/Other/DOOKUPUFFS.jpg?bc47kk9AWt2LM0Do]

COUNT DOOKULA SEZ:
I bring good news Master. The war has begun.

(months ago)

 

Now 'that' looks like a cereal I'd like to try

...too bad I'm on a diet from refined sugars

 

No, COUNT DOOKULA sez you can't try it- you are a basher. Bashers are void of this cereal.

 

Count Dookula is good, but I prefer Wat Tam-Berry cereal.

[image=http://members.aol.com/invalidrequest/tamberry.gif]