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Francis Ford Coppola says George Lucas's attachment to Star Wars was "A Pity"
- Thread starter Oddduck
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LaserBuddha
Member
Coppolla wishes Lucas hadn't gotten swallowed by the Star Wars franchise because it caused Lucas not make anything at all for decades, and then just make three more Star Wars films. He wanted to see more films by Lucas. So if that pisses you off then it must mean you REALLY didn't want Lucas to continue directing through the years.
teruterubozu
Member
I don't know. That Bill Murray Christmas special was bad. Really bad.
Coppola said that Lucas was too focused on Star Wars to work on anything else and he esstentially abandoned making small films after it.He wishes that Lucas woudl have taken out some time to make a few small films here and there rather than focus the vast majority of his time on Star Wars.
LaserBuddha's post is inferring that you don't like Lucas because Coppola wanted Lucas to make more movies rather than devote 90% of his career to six films.
Dixon's Jet
Banned
Coppola is right. Star Wars can be good, but it's massively overrated. It's a legit pity that George became shackled to it. He should have stepped away from it much sooner.
teruterubozu
Member
I was talking about Coppola's wine. Not sure how that unfolded into all this career analysis.
bonesmccoy
Banned
That's a fair point, but a bit like someone saying that it's a shame Steve Jobs got so wrapped up in that ''Apple' thing.
Lucas managed to turn a movie that the studio figured was a pile of crap into one of the most successful brands of the past 30 years, earning himself (and charities) billions in the process. That's got to be worth a few experimental films, no?
PS: Dracula > all other Coppola flix
Lucas managed to turn a movie that the studio figured was a pile of crap into one of the most successful brands of the past 30 years, earning himself (and charities) billions in the process. That's got to be worth a few experimental films, no?
PS: Dracula > all other Coppola flix
| Praxis |
Banned
American Graffiti is still my favourite Lucas film. So I agree.
He's right. THX-1138 is a really well done Sci Fi/Experimental film. It's the only Lucas film I like and I wish he had continued in that direction.
I'm not a Star Wars fan at all, I've seen most of the movies maybe once (I liked the Clone Wars mini series helmed by Gennedy Tartakovsky and yes I fucked up his name). And from everything I've seen it looks like the first Star Wars was a fluke. Had Lucas gotten his way, Han Solo would have been a lizard creature and Luke would have been a 50 year old man and C3PO would have sounded like a used car salesman. A lot of the iconic parts of Star Wars that you guys love are the results of other people. One of the storyboard/costume designer guys created Darth Vader. Lucas' original script described Vader as a figure with a black cloak, that's it. Plus the film was terrible until it was saved in editing.
Stop putting Lucas on a pedestal.
I'm not a Star Wars fan at all, I've seen most of the movies maybe once (I liked the Clone Wars mini series helmed by Gennedy Tartakovsky and yes I fucked up his name). And from everything I've seen it looks like the first Star Wars was a fluke. Had Lucas gotten his way, Han Solo would have been a lizard creature and Luke would have been a 50 year old man and C3PO would have sounded like a used car salesman. A lot of the iconic parts of Star Wars that you guys love are the results of other people. One of the storyboard/costume designer guys created Darth Vader. Lucas' original script described Vader as a figure with a black cloak, that's it. Plus the film was terrible until it was saved in editing.
Stop putting Lucas on a pedestal.
Yep, this guys got it. George Lucas had NOTHING to do with Star Wars. Fuck all. It was everyone else. Lucas was asleep on set 99% of the time anyways.
Future PhaZe
Member
Lol George had plenty of time to work on other projects
They're outright awful films, but I agree. It's sad.
Future Foundation
Member
I can see where's he's coming from. He wishes George had allowed himself more space to do creative exploits. Which is true - from ANH on, it's mostly Star Wars/Indy stuff, correct? He's not ragging on him, they're still buds. Coppola's just looking out for him.
On another point:
You're not any better with horseshit like this. It's weird that this thread has become people lashing out at other people for not liking shit they do. The funny thing is, the Coppola fans are acting no less reactionary and childish than the Lucas fans.
On another point:
You're not any better with horseshit like this. It's weird that this thread has become people lashing out at other people for not liking shit they do. The funny thing is, the Coppola fans are acting no less reactionary and childish than the Lucas fans.
old manatee
Banned
Lucas gave his heart and soul to technological advancement. Star Wars was just a little red wagon he could dump his new toys into. Same with Cameron and Avatar.
It's funny how the Star Wars fanboys immediately jump into defense force mode despite the fact that what Coppola was talking about has nothing to do with the quality of the prequels.
This thread would be less of a disaster is some of you took 30 seconds to read a couple of paragraphs.
p.s. Coppola has reserved the eternal right to say whatever the fuck he wants.
This thread would be less of a disaster is some of you took 30 seconds to read a couple of paragraphs.
p.s. Coppola has reserved the eternal right to say whatever the fuck he wants.
uncelestial
Member
Not a general put down of Coppola; he's forty times the filmmaker that Lucas is, but he has taken from the franchise teat as well and really doesn't have much good work to show for the last 30 years, so I doubt Lucas, who has been very richly rewarded for Star Wars and didn't need the money when he made the prequels, is taking his words to heart. Nor should he. Frankly, I'm not convinced Lucas has the talents that Coppola thinks he does.
Also, Coppola is not a god. He has churned out some real stupid crap. Godfather III being just one example.
DoctorFling
Member
I would love the opportunity to talk to George Lucas, I'm really fascinated by him. Listening to the commentary tracks for the original Star Wars films he really seems to understand what made them so good (except his comments about CGI) so I would love to know how/why his thought processes changed.
neogaffer1
Banned
lucas redeemed himself for the mistakes of the prequels through the clone wars cartoon
What the fuck am I reading
Yeah, what people forget was Godfather 3 was still nominated for Best Picture.
It didn't win but still got the nod.
BronsonLee
Member
What the hell is this thread right now
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
I think that while Coppola is right, George Lucas could never go back to the indie, small movie director. He created the most endeared IP (maybe ever) and I could see from a artist standpoint the difficulty in going back to the smaller scale, even thought GL would flourish in the realm.
Fancy Clown
Member
For some reason I thought FFC was dead lol. I'm glad he's not.
I think that is what might be upsetting people, they are not defending the honour of Lucas but are instead defending Star Wars. After all Star Wars fans have no problem shitting on Lucas.
old manatee
Banned
He hangs out on his winery and every so often pops his head out to throw shade on one of his more successful contemporaries.
This. Lucas basically stopped making movies after Jedi. With only a few here and there.
Coppola is being nostalgic here. Lucas was probably "crazy" in his 20s, but like almost everyone he got older and more reserved. To think he would be this big experimental director without Star Wars is a joke
I guarantee if Star Wars would have been a massive bomb, only a small portion of the population would know his work. And it's doubtful he'd even have the funding to make new films.
Lucas became obsessed with technology perfectionism. It shows In the creation of THX, Avids, and ILM, and even the CG heavy prequels.
To think he's this lost Kubrick or something is asinine.
BronsonLee
Member
AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGG
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
You don't have to think he was a lost Kubrick to think there was a more interesting, talented filmmaker who wasted his life making popular dreck. He's not the first nor the last artist to be ruined by having too much success too early.
-ImaginaryInsider
Member
Lucas has done plenty outside of movies, I'd give him a pass on "wasting" his post ROTJ years for whatever part he played in the creation of Lucasarts.
OrlanisWorks
Banned
Georgie should've taken some writing classes and worked a lot more beyond Star Wars. I actually really liked American Grafitti.
He didn't pratice his craft enough.
He didn't pratice his craft enough.
For decades I've heard 'George is wasted on big films / should do small experimental films'.
For decades Star Wars has given him more money than God to experiment and play with whatever he could possibly want.
Have we seen anything remotely resembling the promise of his early work in his regard? No.
George is a technological force of nature and has amazing strengths but this 'going back / would have done brilliantly in the small autuer film market' - don't buy it. He could have indulged himself silly in this regard anytime '83 - '99. Even accounting for the prequels its been 10years.
For decades Star Wars has given him more money than God to experiment and play with whatever he could possibly want.
Have we seen anything remotely resembling the promise of his early work in his regard? No.
George is a technological force of nature and has amazing strengths but this 'going back / would have done brilliantly in the small autuer film market' - don't buy it. He could have indulged himself silly in this regard anytime '83 - '99. Even accounting for the prequels its been 10years.
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