By: Dominic Jones
When Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens open next month it will be the first Star War movie not directed by George Lucas since 1983. Lucas, who retired and sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, spoke with Vanity Fair about his hopes for the new Star Wars films and why he doesn't want to direct any more Star Wars movies.
On why he doesn't want to direct any more Star Wars, Lucas said,
“You go to make a movie and all you do is get criticized. And it’s not much fun. You can’t experiment.”
As for what he hopes for from the new Star Wars films, Lucas had a few ideas,
"There’s more to it than just spaceships," and that "the Force doesn’t get muddled into a bunch of gobbledygook."
The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams also spoke with Vanity Fair, where he thanked Lucas for creating Star Wars and for giving him the opportunity to make a Star Wars film.
You can see Lucas and Abrams discussing this and more in the video below,
I think Lucas is on point with everything he says in the video. It's important that The Force remain mysterious and mystic (and before you comment, midi-chlorians are not The Force!) and that Star Wars doesn't become just another action movie. As for why he's not making Star Wars movies any more, it's completely understandable. When you have clowns like Simon Pegg running around insulting Lucas for making movies they don't like, it understandable that this would be tough to take. I have a lot of respect for Lucas for experimenting so much in the prequel trilogy and one my concerns is that the new films won't experiment as much because Disney and Lucasfilm are concerned appeasing fans who hate the prequels.
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I like what you have written at the end of the article! BOW!
ReplyDeleteKevin: the Darth Plagueis novel, despite its events being mentioned in Episode III, is no longer considered canon. Only the films, the CGI Clone Wars, the recent crop of books, and the new Rebels TV show on Disney are canon. There was never any mention of midichlorians in the first three films, even from the Jedi Masters. One would expect them to pass that knowledge on to their hope for the future (Luke). That they didn't leaves the Force to be considered a mystic energy field rather than something explained, however oddly, by something scientific.
ReplyDeleteThey did mention midiclorians in the movie....when ani was a kid when they found him.
Delete.
The first three films, as in the originals!
DeleteAm I the only one noticing they are showing the cantina scene, captioning it by "Star wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back"?
ReplyDeleteJonathan, there was mention of the midichlorians in phantom menace. There was a lot of midichlorian comments in that movie, they used scanners to detect midchlorian readings to determine how powerful with the force someone was, and then Qui-Gon explained what midichlorians were to Anakin.
ReplyDeleteLove the last paragraph, the over the top bashing on the prequels is uncalled for
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I loved the prequels. He said all along that people might not take to them as much because they're more complicated than the classic trilogy's simpler good vs. evil theme. As the creator of it all it's his story to tell, so if people didn't like them then that's their loss for not appreciating the entire scope and nature of that galaxy far, far away.
DeleteI think it sucks that the criticisms of the prequels have made him disillusioned about his own talents as a filmmaker.
I still want to see Lucas make a pure race car movie perhaps centered around Formula 1. I know he could make a modern classic going back to his speedster roots.
I enjoy the prequels as well. Sure, some of the criticism is valid (too much CGI, wooden acting, etc) but they certainly weren't awful films. Plus it is difficult to make any prequel because it must fit what has already been out there. Ib this case, three films had to do that. The new films only have to build on it and can go anywhere.
DeleteYou cannot bash the prequels enough. Totally out of keeping with the originals, totally dull plot, flat script (which is to blame for the "wooden acting"). Midichlorians are the least of its problems. The unforgiveable crime of those movies is that they are effectively the origin story for Darth Vader - one of the most dark and evil characters ever created - but they turn him into a petulant and utterly pathetic character. It is completely unbelievable and unacceptable as an origin for Vader and an explanation for his becoming so utterly evil. Complete tripe and something I would never watch again.
DeleteAs to why the scientific approach wasn't passed down in movies 4, 5 and 6 has to do with the Jedi being a part of an old, dead religion. Remember? A lot of them were killed off. The only Jedi Master left was Yoda. Perhaps you need to read into things a bit. But as with everything seen or not seen, there is a reason.
ReplyDeleteI don't hate the prequels, but they don't feel right either. Too much cgi. I really think both actors who played Annikan ruined it for me. To think Darth Vader was such a whiny hitch is just impossible for me.
ReplyDeleteLucas is a misunderstood filmmaker and the Prequels are a misunderstood bunch of films. I'm not saying they were great (because they weren't) but they certainly also weren't awful. They'll never measure up to the OT but that is really neither here nor there. Lucas isn't a sci-fi director.
ReplyDeleteHardcore SW fans demanded a sci-fi universe for what was originally intended to be a simple fantasy story set in an extraordinarily rich sci-fi setting. What got utterly lost amidst all of Palpatine's political espionage and oversaturation of the universe with half a dozen new planets was the simplicity of the fantasy element; aka the traditional RPG fellowship model (luke + han + leia + chewie + droids = melee caster + range + brains/caster + muscle melee + comic relief/support) and the eternal fight between good and evil. That's why the PT ultimately "sucked"... it completely deviated from the model. Sci-Fi isn't Lucas' forte and his error was deciding to helm the PT entirely on his own rather than simply acting in a producer's capacity as he did in EpV and EpVI. It's like trying to force a west coast offense QB into a vertical passing scheme for those familiar with the football analogy. It can sorta look like it works but it is far from optimal.
A great filmmaker can certainly make a sht film... but their sht film doesn't make them a sht filmmaker. I for one am glad Lucas is moving on from SW and returning to experimental film if it means more of the brilliance that gave us THX 1138, American Graffiti and Star Wars.
i agree with what GL tells about the critism for the prequels. and i liked the prequels. but i dont agree that they would experiment with the new movie an they only listen to OT fans. i mean kylo ren feels like a crossover for Vader/Maul with experiment with a new lightsaber. that is also citict by fans. look at interviews with Ewan mc gregor. i love the complete story including TCW and rebels. And im excited for TFA
ReplyDeletemy favorite movies are ROTS and ESB
ReplyDeleteBenovite: yes! I've been waiting for a racer movie from him for decades lolol and I'm a huge fan of the pod race in TPM; I think it is the most redeeming quality of that film (along with the duel of fates, of course lol)
ReplyDeletehe just has such a great sense for car culture!
Poor guy. He seems really hurt by the fans.
ReplyDeleteThe prequeIs weren't very good and i think he actually made the prequels for his kids. But he really didn't deserve the hate he got, it crushed his spirit.
ReplyDeletewhat upsets me most of all is the hate gets worse every day. so darth maul isn't a cool character? i would never be mean to people who have opinions though. of course can't wait for the new movies. but characters from darth plaguies were into the canon book Tarkin. which means that it is canon. and the story group knows this. midichlorians are not the force but part of it. i know it wasn't mentioned in the originals.
ReplyDeleteThe Originals, Prequels, and the Sequels will always be together as one big franchise.
ReplyDelete@Groot
ReplyDeleteLucas was trolling moronic haters like you, NOT Star Wars fans.
And he didn't say Jar Jar was his favorite, he said that's who he'd like to be.
Pay attention next time, moron.
J.J. Abrams is a ''real filmaker'' and Lucas is a hack?
What planet are you from dude?
Jakkassu?
BTW, Screw you and your ignorance!
You're a nobody! Accept the truth!
P.S. He took his 4$ billion and (like may times before) gave/pledged to give to charity.
That's wothy of praise alone you pretensious f@ck!
i hate those prequel haters they dont know good films at all but im glad that george created a world of imagination and wonder for us fans ive been a fan since the beginning and big thanks for making a perfect anakin
ReplyDeleteGroot, right now u sound like a total douchebag.
ReplyDeleteEvery dozen or so articles becoming laden with prequel love/hate drivel is getting pretty old...
ReplyDeleteWow, Groot. Where do people like you come from and how do you find your way here? What kind of Star Wars fan calls George Lucas a hack?
ReplyDeleteSimon Pegg is a hypocrite...he sits there and totally abuses George, the prequel films, and those of us who love them and yet, when people criticized his lovely Star Trek Into Darkness, he told them to f*** off and explained how they don't understand how much love went into making it...maybe Simon didn't think about how that applies to Episodes I-III, as well. I still love Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz/Spaced, but Simon Pegg is just dead wrong when it comes to treating the prequel films.
Furthermore, Dominic, I'm always super impressed with your writing when it comes to actual Star Wars "issues" whether it be prequels or Leia's slave bikinis. For a fan on the younger side like myself, you possess a great maturity when presenting ideas (a maturity lacking in many internet posters) and I really value that, so thanks!
I don't blame the guy. Some of the fans are way over the top and it must feel like a pair of hands wrapped around his neg with all the negativity. Maybe the films were bad,eh ok they were. But he's old, his views on things changed, he was and will always be the genius that made the universe, and i can't forget that. I'm glad he gave the series to Disney. not so that we can see someone else approach the idea of what it is. But so that Lucas can get the hell away from the craziness and enjoy the films and let Disney deal with all the b.s. He's at the age where he shouldn't have to deal with obsessed fans,good on him for letting go and making other films or ideas,or whatever it is he wants to do. I still love the guy for making me excited when I was 10 years old,bless the guy for giving us the films. Prequels weren't that bad either. Not nearly as bad as these drama queens going around screaming so damn much.
ReplyDeleteIm glad he doesnt want to direct any more.. he is a horrible director. He doesnt know how to bring out the best in an actor, he just wants them to act like its 1938 and doing this over dramatic delivery like its being broadcast over the radio.
ReplyDeletenothing is better than the Originals. i totally agree with that. that's not what the prequels were trying to do. but u know.....haters gonna hate.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the critique stopped him. Now let's hope it stops Disney from ruining the goose that can lay golden eggs too.
ReplyDeleteI've been saying all along that the prequel haters were one of the main reasons Mr. Lucas walked away from Lucasfilms. And to top the insult off, Disney didn't even use his ideas for TFA. What a terrible thing to do! I don't blame him at all for washing his hands of the whole deal. It makes me respect the man all the more. However, it's a sad, sad day for true Star Wars fans all over the world. Good luck and God bless Mr. Lucas!
ReplyDelete