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The People vs. George Lucas To Premiere At SXSW

skatepark builder writes "David Prowse, the 74-year-old actor who has enjoyed a long and varied career filled with roles such as Darth Vader (Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI), is starting 2010 off with two major accomplishments. His victory over colon cancer earlier this month means he'll live to see his top billing in a film premiering next month at the South by Southwest Film Festival. The People vs. George Lucas is a documentary attempting a balanced examination of the love/hate relationship Star Wars fans have developed with the filmmaker and his work over the past three decades. Director Alexandre Philippe distances his film from the one-sided fan rage films that lambaste Lucas, even though the title would suggest otherwise. According to the trailer, The People vs.George Lucas exposes the full spectrum of opinions on Lucas, including those like Prowse, who still refers to him as a 'master.' Philippe captures these opinions through filmed interviews, but perhaps more interestingly, he crowdsourced the commentary by soliciting fan submissions over the internet. The clips seen in the trailer appear to be funny, highly inspired, and are probably more concise than the recently released 70-minute YouTube evisceration of Episode I."

33 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. More concise... by dirtygremlin · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes, quite possibly. More hilarious? No. Where are my pizza rolls?

    1. Re:More concise... by Simon80 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I second this. It seems possible that the submitter hasn't actually watched the Episode 1 review he linked to. Anyone who thinks it couldn't possibly be worth 70 minutes of their time will realize they are mistaken after 5-10 minutes.

    2. Re:More concise... by ThisIsForReal · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yeah, definitely worth your time. Vastly more entertaining than actually watching one of the prequels. If you have not yet seen the 70-minute review, make plans to watch it. Bookmark and come back to it. Don't let the annoying voice make you stop after 2 minutes - once you get about 5 minutes in, you're gonna thank me.

      --
      -THE END-
    3. Re:More concise... by skatepark+builder · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Simon,

      Actually, I watched that review a week ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. That guy echoes a lot of observations I had quietly held as my own, but also provides very tangible explanations of where George Lucas utterly failed to craft a proper story. It's so much more than a "What were you thinking, man! Jar-Jar?!?! You IDIOT!" rant. I think it's kind of funny that this commentary piece is nearly identical in size to the subject it's based on, and that's why I made the "concise" reference. But I agree it's fully worth watching for anyone who is interested in films as more than an excuse to eat popcorn in the dark. It's one reason I'm eager to see the People vs George Lucas.

      Skatepark Builder

      --
      Inspired skateparks designed and built in America.
  2. He still hasn't seen royalties from ROTJ by SOOPRcow · · Score: 4, Interesting
    1. Re:He still hasn't seen royalties from ROTJ by blackraven14250 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You know, I might be able to see them making the argument very early on. It's the fact that 30 years later, with the movies still selling copies, they haven't exceeded their original numbers given 30 years ago when they said "no money for you, we didn't exceed the X dollars it cost to make the film". Any additional expenses later on, such as marketing costs, remastering costs, etc., should not be allowed to factor in when this guy's royalties are calculated, so that he's guaranteed to get something once the original number for cost is surpassed.

    2. Re:He still hasn't seen royalties from ROTJ by hitmark · · Score: 3, Informative
      --
      comment first, facts later. http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm
  3. Who cares? by isaac · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The franchise is dead. Lucas killed it. Not worth the emotional investment to lament or analyze.

    Move on, people.

    --
    I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
    1. Re:Who cares? by grumpygrodyguy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The franchise is dead. Lucas killed it. Not worth the emotional investment to lament or analyze.

      Move on, people.

      Not quite that simple.

      I want the Original Theatrical Release of Episodes IV, V, and VI in stores, along with a promise from Lucas and his estate that these films will always remain untouched and available alongside any 're-mastered' versions.

      --
      The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
    2. Re:Who cares? by hitmark · · Score: 2, Informative

      makes me wonder if i should put those vhs's i got into a safe, or maybe i should dump them to hardrive and make them available via torrent tracker?

      --
      comment first, facts later. http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm
    3. Re:Who cares? by PCM2 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Why? They released the unedited versions to DVD. Granted that weren't cleaned up or anamorphic, but certainly will be better quality than your VHS transfers.

      Even before that, very high-quality DVD bootlegs were available that were mastered from laserdisc versions of the films. I still watch these when I want to revisit the trilogy, rather than pay Lucas for copies of the worthless "special editions" just to get "official" versions of the unmolested films that look little better than the bootlegs.

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    4. Re:Who cares? by AbRASiON · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes but they've been cheapened and reduced to just a product now thanks to his fiddling.
      They always were a product but the illusion was there initially.

      The Matrix sequels ruined the Matrix for me, I'm one of those people who gets invested in a universe and imagines things about it, Matrix is mostly dead to me and Star Wars hasn't been the same, between the editing of the originals and the prequels.

      GP was correct, forget it and move on and if you haven't seen Indy 4, don't (so I hear, I refuse to watch it!)

  4. A fandom i'll never understand by grapeape · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've never really understood the hatred of George Lucas. I was a Star Wars fan like most kids growing up in the late 70's had the action figures, the underoos, bed sheets, posters...all that crap and when the second trilogy was released I was excited about it. I took my kids to see the newer ones and they loved them like I loved the originals. I never expected the second series to have the same appeal because Lucas was farily consistant and aimed the new trilogy at the same age group he created the original for. The problem I saw was that many fans expected him to create new stories that were aimed at the now 30 year olds who watched the originals as children. I was still able to watch them and enjoy them just not with same wide eyed wonder, but then I wasnt supposed to, they werent made for me, they were made for my kids. What I really dont get is the hatred over the inclusion of jarjar as if Lucas had never stooped to funny critters to appeal to kids in the first trilogy, but I can remember by father rolling his eyes at Ewoks.

    I will admit to being irritated by the policical correctness of Greedo shooting first, but welcomed most of the other enhancements of the special editions, the xwing segment in episode 4 was particularly satisfying. I was equally upset with the guns being edited out of ET but I figure it just a sign of the times and it will likley correct itself in the future.

    On a side note Lucas has done something excellent for grown up's recently...check out the book Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success, its fantastic.

    1. Re:A fandom i'll never understand by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think Lucas really fucked up the new trilogy, but I could never hate the man or ever think less of him. I know he has done so much for film making, not just in investing in technologies/techniques/artists/pioneers... but also by inspiring many filmmakers, children, adults.. .etc

      I just think the guy has plenty to be proud of. If he hasnt earned your respect before Episode 1.... well you should really reassess your opinion of the man. I think he's done plenty to be placed in high regard.

      Yes, Jar Jar sucks dick. Poor Jake Loyd was a bad casting decision. Natalie Portman wasnt even good. and "NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" was just silly...

      But come on.. The guy is George Fucking Lucas! :)

      BTW I think the biggest problem with the new trilogy is that George was surrounded by a lot of yes men who were the "happy to be there" kind of folks. I dont think any of them had the balls to say "george.. uh... that sucks" when making the new films.

      Film making really is by committee. It takes lots of input, some fighting and some gut checking... I suspect too many people were just happy to be apart of history making, rather than trying to make history.

    2. Re:A fandom i'll never understand by Vellmont · · Score: 3, Insightful


      I was still able to watch them and enjoy them just not with same wide eyed wonder, but then I wasnt supposed to, they werent made for me, they were made for my kids.

      The difference is that the original movies weren't just designed to appeal to kids, and stood up on their own. Plenty of kids grow up liking a certain movie as a child, but later grow out of it and realize it's a crappy kids movie. Is their a real cult following for the Beethoven (the dog) movies for instance? It looks like they made 6 of the things, but I've never heard there's a serious collection of adults that love those movies on the scale of Star Wars. There's plenty of stuff I loved as a kid, but later realized just how terrible it really is. Buck Rogers comes to mind. So I don't agree with your idea that the original Star Wars movies were just kid movies.

      The hatred comes from just how bad the new movies ultimately were. Lucas just made a kids movie in space and forgot to hire decent actors, give them good direction, provide a decent storyline, etc. Jar Jar is merely the undeniable representation of this. I think a lot of the more extreme reactions come from some feeling of betrayal. Some people feel like Lucas was "one of them", and the new movies are a complete rejection of that perceived relationship.

      I'm really interested in the movie, as I'm fascinated by the whole love/hate relationship people have with Lucas. The only thing that really pissed me off was Han not shooting first. That's just utterly wrong as it changes the character of Solo (which is just a big no-no). You don't mess with character development after the fact. The FX changes I didn't really care about to much, though most of them looked like crap.

      --
      AccountKiller
    3. Re:A fandom i'll never understand by Hardtrance · · Score: 2, Informative

      The first trilogy appealed to "Children of all ages." The prequels just appealed to children.

      --
      This post is LAW where prohibited by VOID. Prosecutors will be violated.
  5. If you don't like it... by British · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ..don't watch it. I don't like how people think they can call changes to SW eps 1-3. As soon as you start making changes(remove Jar Jar, etc) it ceases to become Lucas' artwork, and moreso a "design by committee". Sure, this happens in meetings for filmmakers all the time, but I don't see how the fans have a say in someone else's art.

    1. Re:If you don't like it... by ClosedSource · · Score: 2, Insightful

      On the other hand, the changes made to episodes 4-6 ceased to be young Lucas' artwork too. I'm not confident that the 2010 version of Lucas could have made those movies.

    2. Re:If you don't like it... by Vellmont · · Score: 2, Insightful


      As soon as you start making changes(remove Jar Jar, etc) it ceases to become Lucas' artwork, and moreso a "design by committee".

      I think that's kind of the point.


      but I don't see how the fans have a say in someone else's art.

      Heh. There's an old cliche. "Good artists borrow, great artists steal". Obviously nobody has any legal rights to be able to take SW and change it around to their own pleasing. But you sound like you're going beyond that and claiming nobody should do this on some sort of moral or ethical grounds. If that's the case, all art is guilty of the crime you describe. I'd go so far as all creative works are guilty of it. If you think creation comes out of a vacuum, think again.

      --
      AccountKiller
    3. Re:If you don't like it... by Vintermann · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Let's forget George Lucas for a moment, and focus on another filmmaker who was in the news recently, James Cameron. Now tell me: Are you of the school of thought that James Cameron is the greatest filmmaker of all time, or do you think that perhaps the fact that he gets to play with new toys before everyone else has something to do with his success?
      How about Madonna. How about J.K. Rowling. Success may involve a lot of perspiration, but so does failures. Dumb luck is a far bigger part of it. Once you are established, you don't have to make the insane grab for people's attention again - they've invested in you, got to know you and your work, and they will want more - even if you strictly speaking don't deserve it.

      Commercial artistic success is rarely something people deserve. Certainly they don't deserve the insane compensation - if art worked as any other market, you could look at the huge number of would-be supplyers, and the ease of reproduction, and conclude art would be essentially free. The reason it isn't, is _not_ that George Lucas or J.K Rowling or Mick Jagger or bloody whoever is that much better than all the wannabees. Think about it: if you gave 10000 people James Cameron's resources and opportunities, set them to make movies, did a blind test, you think Avatar would stand out as clearly the best?

      Most successful artists think that they live by their art. They are wrong. They live by social inertia and network effects - lots of people wouldn't mind being obsessed about a film, few people would want to be obsessed about a film no one you care about has heard of. There can only be so many stars. What this means is this: Star Wars the movies, may be Lucas' work of art, but no one really cares about the movies. Star Wars the phenomenon is what people really pay for, and Lucas' role in creating that is small. It's almost non-existent. If Star Wars hadn't been created, we the people would have found something different to obsess about.

      This is why fans should "have a say in someone else's art". In fact, fans are way too subservient, and our culture is hopelessly locked into a view of "the artist" which appeared in the romantic period, and should have died a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, it became institutionalised (in large part through copyright legislation) and walks on as a ravenous zombie.

      That is all.

      --
      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
  6. How about space opera that doesn't suck? by Animats · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Look, everyone agrees Lucas should have stopped after three films. The Star [Wars|Trek|Gate|Craft] franchises have been done to death. Now a rehash of "Dune" is in production. Please.

    At least we have James Cameron's "Avatar". Cameron is a master of production value. He spends a lot of money, but it pays off. Unfortunately, everything he does looks too much like a "Terminator" movie.

    A film based on David Weber's work might be an improvement. But Hollywood would go for "March Upcountry", not the Honor Harrington novels.

    Of course, the fundamental trouble with space opera is that it's no longer a plausible future. Space travel hasn't improved much in 40 years.

    1. Re:How about space opera that doesn't suck? by hey! · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think Lucas nailed space opera in "Star Wars" (now retro numbered as "Ep IV"): the sense of wonder, the exuberant, don't look too closely at the seams where I stitched the archetypes together pacing. In large part its because he didn't have the budget or time to make it smooth and show you all the details. You'd see something just long enough to be interested (the Benny Goodman clarinet players in the cantina) then cut away before you had a good look.

      But he couldn't keep it up.

      Genres come and go in movies like any other kind of fashion. Once Hollywood turned out western after western. Most of them were dreck, a few are among the best and most thoughtful movies ever made (*The Searchers*). Space opera went from a new, full-blown maturity in Star Wars Ep IV to decadance in record time, driven by technology and vast amounts of money funding people who *could* be creative, but not on somebody else's hundred million dollar budget.

      If there is any hope, it's in the kind of people who make fan films. Bad as they are, they aren't ashamed to take risks because everyone *knows* they're probably bad.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  7. admire lucas for the original star wars by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Insightful

    because even if he made 20 movies after star wars and every single one were the most puerile piece of uwe boll crap... he still made star wars, and therefore still deserves your admiration

    if einstein became a creationist after his exposition of relativity, does that detract from his earlier genius?

    if edmund hilary fell down a flight of stairs, does that detreact from the fact he climbed mount everest?

    i don't understand a way of evaluating people that somehow their accomplishments are diminished by later missteps

    as if we only get better with every year, as if no one ever makes mistakes

    "what have you done for me lately" is a pretty selfish crude shortsighted and hypocritical way to evaluate people

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:admire lucas for the original star wars by Scrameustache · · Score: 2, Insightful

      if einstein became a creationist after his exposition of relativity, does that detract from his earlier genius?

      if edmund hilary fell down a flight of stairs, does that detreact from the fact he climbed mount everest?

      i don't understand a way of evaluating people that somehow their accomplishments are diminished by later missteps

      You're right! Hitler SHOULD be remembered as an ok painter. Doesn't matter if he did a thing or two later on that got some bad press.

      John Wilkes Booth: Remembered as the famous actor that he was, not for one teensy tiny misstep he might had near the end of his life.

      Good idea

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

  8. And people should also look at... by JoshuaZ · · Score: 3, Informative

    For people interested in the larger implications of Star Wars including the role of fans and other issues such as whether Star Wars has literary merit, and whether the philosophy is intellectually coherent or morally defensibl, I strongly recommend "Star Wars on Trial" edited by David Brin and Matthew Stover. The book is a series of essays by sci-fi authors, literature professors, and others discussing Star Wars in detail. The boo is tied together with an overarching narrative with Brin as the chief prosecutor and Stover as the chief defense attorney in a trial of Star Wars as a whole. Quite fun and and surprisingly stimulating.

  9. No, your kids did NOT love them. by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Episode 1 is now 11 years old, meaning your kids should be teens by now. Do they quote the movies? Has it seeped into every part of culture? Is it everywhere you can look?

    The toys you remember did NOT come out directly after the first movie, a lot of the merchandising you dismiss so easily came out DECADES later and was gobbled up. It is what makes Star Wars still the biggest earner out there.

    The entire proof that the prequels sucked can be found in the fact that TWO MMO's have skipped the era. Bioware wanted to do Star Wars, but were so desperate to stay away from the fall out that they invented an entire new era set so far apart (thousands of years) that they could completly distance themselves from it.

    If you study movies, Star Wars: A New Hope, must be included. It MIGHT be a simple story but its impact on society was enormous. If it had not been for Star Wars we would never have had Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but rather a new series. (Okay, so that is another thing we can blame lucas for).

    Kids now quote the Matrix, Lord of the Rings, etc. Episode 1 was just another blockbuster, made a lot of money but it has no lasting impact. It is the difference between Michael Jackson and McHammer... who?

    I enjoyed the blackhole as a kid too, but for the life of me I could not quote anything from it or even name the characters.

    My mom took me to see the first movies and she enjoyed them herself. Did you enjoy them? Really? The bit with the small droids on the fighter aircraft? Then there is no hope for you.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:No, your kids did NOT love them. by spud603 · · Score: 3, Funny

      McHammer... who?

      Indeed. Is McHammer some sort of Irish rapper who wears a super baggy kilt?

    2. Re:No, your kids did NOT love them. by spud603 · · Score: 3, Funny

      right you are, ac.

  10. Re:Cancer of the what? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2, Informative

    For the anatomically challenged among you, it's the hole you pee through, not the one you sh1t through.

    You pee thorough your urethra. Your prostate makes semen. The above reads like 'you digest food through your lungs' (because they both connect at the throat).

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  11. Hmmm... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    the full spectrum of opinions on Lucas, including those like Prowse, who still refers to him as a 'master.'

    So the retired Darth Vader refers to him as 'master'... can there be any further doubt that he's evil?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  12. Re:Title got my hopes up by guyminuslife · · Score: 2, Funny

    No. Unfortunately, the Court refused to hear the case for lack of standing.

    Interestingly, Mos Eisley does not have a criminal code, only a civil code. Han and Greedo's estate have settled the matter for an undisclosed sum, and have both launched a lawsuit against the Hutts for providing unsafe working conditions for both bounty hunters and their marks.

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  13. i wonder.. by jarong · · Score: 2, Interesting

    i was indifferent about star wars growing up until i read dune. and then after thinking about it, realized that george lucas had ripped off a lot of his ideas from frank herbert. now i can't really enjoy the films at all. i wonder if there will be any commentary in the movie about that?

  14. that hitler was a painter by circletimessquare · · Score: 2, Insightful

    or booth an actor doesn't matter, since neither endeavours are the most momentous things they ever did

    star wars is the most momentous thing lucas ever did

    hitler would be remembered as a painter, if he did nothing else of interest or moment after being a painter

    meanwhile, i thought it was funny to see an ad for "pirhanha 3D" before watching avatar. why? because cameron started his career with the "piranha ii" movie. if cameron got hit by a car or decided to become a painter in 1982, "piranha ii" would be the movie he would be remembered by. not terminator. not titanic. not avatar. but since terminator, titanic, and now avatar are far more impressive than piranha ii, we forget all about piranha ii. and in 50 years, cameron will be known primarily as the guy who directed "avatar", and even terminator and titanic will fade in relevance to that, UNLESS cameron directs a move even more impressive than avatar, then he'll be remembered for whatever that movie is

    get it? its the MOST IMPRESSIVE thing you do in life you are remembered for. that really is the truth

    which nullifies your comment completely about hitler and booth, and reinforces my comment about eintstein and hilary, and lucas, and cameron

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it