The New Star Wars
Never before in the history of man has such a culture been set in place by mass media than with George Lucas' wonderful creation of the Star Wars saga. Star Wars has encompassed generations. It has been so well received over so many generations that it has become timeless. It has brought imagination to those who lacked it beforehand, it has given inspiration to creative introverts young and old, it has brought science-fiction fans right out of the closet, it has turned non-believers into active promoters of the nerd lifestyle. And for those of you who don't care about Star Wars or any kind of supernatural, "sci-fi"-type anecdotes, boo on you, because it's just a great story.
Now when George Lucas created Star Wars, he introduced it in such a way that no other director had. He started from the middle of the story. He had the idea for his cinematic spectacle all mapped out in his head, and didn't reveal his plot until it was absolutely necessary. The initial Star Wars endeavor was a huge success. It became bigger than George could imagine it, or any movie studio executive or critic could, either.
After finishing the third movie, the thrilling climax and happy ending, the tale was over, but the saga was left unfinished. With the first three Star Wars films, George Lucas left a mark on the film making industry that was unmatched by any other storyteller in cinema. He had triumphed. His movies quickly became classics and would be passed on to future generations to cherish forever. They left nerds analyzing the mythology of the story, wondering what happened before that let these amazing things take place in this mystical galaxy far, far away. And really, George Lucas could have left it as it was. He could have left people guessing and wondering without ever satisfying their curiosity. He finished the story. Everybody was happy, and he ended up with more money than God.
But, like all happy endings, they don't take place without some sort of tragedy preceding them. And in George Lucas' case, the tragedy was the last three movies that he made, which are actually the first three in the series.
When George rereleased his films in the late 90s with the special edition extras, he claimed that he had been waiting to update his movies until the technology caught up with the ideas in his head.
Personally, I love the special editions of the first three Star Wars films. I've never seen them without, and they are how I got to know and love the series. They are, I feel, in just the right state because they keep the essence of the story that everyone has come to know and love, without making them look dated.
BUT, when George Lucas released his 96% digital versions of the first three movies, he went over the line, and thus ruined his saga. With the release of the highly-anticipated Episode I, he set the precedent for what would end up being one of the biggest collective disappointments in cinematic history. He used nothing but digital cameras, introduced a 100% digital character that everyone ended up hating, disposed of the Yoda puppet that everyone loved, and essentially ran away from the roots that brought him so much success in the first place, for the sake of technology and getting his wily imagination harnessed and brought to the silver screen.
It was a big mistake for George Lucas, and Episode I quickly became the biggest letdown moviegoers would witness, that was until his latest and final installment was released earlier this year. Episode III was the biggest chunk of one the biggest stories ever told. And George had made five movies leading up to this one. There are not many filmmakers out there who are willing to make six movies all about the same thing. George Lucas is exclusive that way, his whole career is essentially based on this one story that his fans have been waiting thirty years for him to finish. Presumably, he would have put A LOT of thought and effort into the signature of his masterpiece. But, I feel like I was cheated out of the third episode of Star Wars that I feel was really necessary.
Lucas used way too much computer animation, and way too many fantastic drawings, creatures, and sound effects to satisfy the simplicity of what Star Wars once was. George Lucas turned his masterpiece, his legacy, into a proverbial Saturday-morning cartoon show (Yoda in an Air Conditioning vent? What the heck was that?!?). Star Wars, which was fantastic and wonderful and somehow relative to life on earth became totally outrageous and unfathomable. It's hard to believe that George Lucas would believe that his fan base would accept a Star Wars that ended up so far away from where it started.
It has left the films gaping with inconsistency and with far less relativity than before he finished them. The children of this generation who grew up with the Star Wars of computers and outlandish special effects will never know how Star Wars came about. They will never know how gracefully Star Wars pulled away from every other movie of its time and conquered them all. They will only know the raw sensationalism that overwhelms them in every other Hollywood movie that they see, which is quickly becoming every TV show and video game they see as well. George Lucas waited for the technology, then ran away with it, and he left the necessary facets of storytelling somewhere in the distance.
George Lucas ended his masterpiece, his crowning achievement. He ended it with gusto, with pizazz, and with millions of people watching. But what he ended up with left lots of those millions feeling empty-handed. And with a little more care, I feel that George Lucas could have left everyone with a little something, a little something that would have felt like what they already had before.
Now when George Lucas created Star Wars, he introduced it in such a way that no other director had. He started from the middle of the story. He had the idea for his cinematic spectacle all mapped out in his head, and didn't reveal his plot until it was absolutely necessary. The initial Star Wars endeavor was a huge success. It became bigger than George could imagine it, or any movie studio executive or critic could, either.
After finishing the third movie, the thrilling climax and happy ending, the tale was over, but the saga was left unfinished. With the first three Star Wars films, George Lucas left a mark on the film making industry that was unmatched by any other storyteller in cinema. He had triumphed. His movies quickly became classics and would be passed on to future generations to cherish forever. They left nerds analyzing the mythology of the story, wondering what happened before that let these amazing things take place in this mystical galaxy far, far away. And really, George Lucas could have left it as it was. He could have left people guessing and wondering without ever satisfying their curiosity. He finished the story. Everybody was happy, and he ended up with more money than God.
But, like all happy endings, they don't take place without some sort of tragedy preceding them. And in George Lucas' case, the tragedy was the last three movies that he made, which are actually the first three in the series.
When George rereleased his films in the late 90s with the special edition extras, he claimed that he had been waiting to update his movies until the technology caught up with the ideas in his head.
Personally, I love the special editions of the first three Star Wars films. I've never seen them without, and they are how I got to know and love the series. They are, I feel, in just the right state because they keep the essence of the story that everyone has come to know and love, without making them look dated.
BUT, when George Lucas released his 96% digital versions of the first three movies, he went over the line, and thus ruined his saga. With the release of the highly-anticipated Episode I, he set the precedent for what would end up being one of the biggest collective disappointments in cinematic history. He used nothing but digital cameras, introduced a 100% digital character that everyone ended up hating, disposed of the Yoda puppet that everyone loved, and essentially ran away from the roots that brought him so much success in the first place, for the sake of technology and getting his wily imagination harnessed and brought to the silver screen.
It was a big mistake for George Lucas, and Episode I quickly became the biggest letdown moviegoers would witness, that was until his latest and final installment was released earlier this year. Episode III was the biggest chunk of one the biggest stories ever told. And George had made five movies leading up to this one. There are not many filmmakers out there who are willing to make six movies all about the same thing. George Lucas is exclusive that way, his whole career is essentially based on this one story that his fans have been waiting thirty years for him to finish. Presumably, he would have put A LOT of thought and effort into the signature of his masterpiece. But, I feel like I was cheated out of the third episode of Star Wars that I feel was really necessary.
Lucas used way too much computer animation, and way too many fantastic drawings, creatures, and sound effects to satisfy the simplicity of what Star Wars once was. George Lucas turned his masterpiece, his legacy, into a proverbial Saturday-morning cartoon show (Yoda in an Air Conditioning vent? What the heck was that?!?). Star Wars, which was fantastic and wonderful and somehow relative to life on earth became totally outrageous and unfathomable. It's hard to believe that George Lucas would believe that his fan base would accept a Star Wars that ended up so far away from where it started.
It has left the films gaping with inconsistency and with far less relativity than before he finished them. The children of this generation who grew up with the Star Wars of computers and outlandish special effects will never know how Star Wars came about. They will never know how gracefully Star Wars pulled away from every other movie of its time and conquered them all. They will only know the raw sensationalism that overwhelms them in every other Hollywood movie that they see, which is quickly becoming every TV show and video game they see as well. George Lucas waited for the technology, then ran away with it, and he left the necessary facets of storytelling somewhere in the distance.
George Lucas ended his masterpiece, his crowning achievement. He ended it with gusto, with pizazz, and with millions of people watching. But what he ended up with left lots of those millions feeling empty-handed. And with a little more care, I feel that George Lucas could have left everyone with a little something, a little something that would have felt like what they already had before.
posted by Leland J. Fischer at 4:43 AM
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