Originally posted by O2Destroyer@May 9 2005, 09:57 PM
You know, I've finally come to a decision regarding Lucas. I'm just going to stop treating the man like he's smart. I've seen documentaries about him emphasizing his deep understanding of folklore and storytelling and his connections to Joseph Campbell, but honestly, like any educated person I've read Campbell too, and what Lucas takes from Campbell you could get from reading the blurbs on the back of his books.
I'm tired of thinking there is any depth behind Lucas's designs or story--honestly, I find it remarkable at this late date that Star Wars ever worked at all; it is afterall a pretty wacky sci-fi pulp story that lacks both the maturity of good science fiction or the true strangeness of the pulps. Star Wars is the stuff of future power metal albums!
It all hits home when you realize Lucas has never really made a good film...well, maybe one. A new hope was probably some lucky accident, a work of dedication and love that would have put him in the poor house forever if it failed.
Lucas didn't make Empire.
Return of the Jedi? *sighs* Willow? *even bigger sigh* The new star wars movies??? c'mon!
Why do people give Lucas the credit for having put so much thought into everything he's done--I think if anything the fans have done more to create the star wars universe than Lucas ever did.
Then of course he keeps making his movies worse (I refuse to buy the 'improved' versions of star wars).
Actually, when it comes down to it, I think Lucas is out right nuts, and if the light sabers of the bad guys are all red, its probably because he thought it looked cool at the time
Sorry to be so down on the man, but as someone who saw A New Hope as a kid at its premier and grew up convinced that Star Wars WAS the greateest thing ever, perspective adds something. You start to see all the things you thought were cool or insightful and realize they were just ripped right out of something else, and when Lucas finally did get his chance to do things precisely the way he wanted, we get a sort of sci-fi disney out of the man.
Blah!
I have read some Campbell and also seen the interview at Skywalker ranch. I fully agree that in Luke Skywalker is found the Hero's journey as expressed by Campbell. He exemplifies the struggles in many people. When one is faced by such a situation as Luke was, he first turns away. "It's not my problem." Then, he finds himself drawn into it , as though there were no other course of action to take. Luke's relatives were dead, the farm was a smoldering wreck, he had nowhere else to turn. So, he began the Hero's journey, just like in
The Hero with 1000 faces. I think many people identified with these phases as they viewed the first film made (ep 4), and that in part is what accounts for its popularity.
I think the characters and their relationships and conflicts also contributed much toward the success of this series. Han Solo's peasant origin and his promotion to general and his acceptance by the princess. Rags to riches. Their initial conflict eventually yields to love. Hence, the romantic content.
Ok, I thought the Ewoks were really dumb, and the ending of 'Jedi' was mushy, but it was entertaining, none the less. I think that it was designed to be more appealing to kids, than any of the others before it. & that is important because the 'r' rated films are not nearly as popular as 'PG-13,' which are not nearly as popular as 'PG.' Many people want movies that are kid-friendly. They want to spend time together, doing something that might not be so appealing to adults, but is to kids. Hence, the popularity of 'ET,' and other 'PG' rated films. 'Nuff said.
I will admit that the prequels did not meet my expectations, except for the inclusion of Christopher Lee as the villian.
About the light sabers: I believe the red and green together create a brilliant contrast. Other than that, I see little significance in the colors, except that red is associated with 'stop' while green is 'go'. Thus the negative and positive connotations of these colors. The bad guy uses red, 'stop' while the hero uses green 'go'.
Anybody can sit around and criticize movies. The popularity speaks for itself, though.
Who will say that to Lord Vader? :huh:
not my throat :wacko:
Personnally, I enjoy them almost as much as lightsabers duels 
so that will be tough.
