only a master of evil, darth
Were George Lucas directing his fantasy of Star Wars just two decades earlier with a few less capital ventures under his belt, so to speak, he would have been known as Ed Wood. I just finished watching Lucas’ first Star Wars, so full of errors, mistakes, unedited scenes that I can’t help but analogize his efforts to Ed Wood’s neverending array of theatrical flops (some of which I have also seen recently enough to recall details).
Ed Wood didn’t have money; Lucas was able to pull together a meager but ample stream of income for his film, but was by no means doing well. Ed Wood was able to get the assistance of a famous [burnt-out] actor, Bela Lugosi, while Lucas opted for no-names (something Wood also had to pull together throughout his career). Both directors had chimeric epiphanies for gigantic epics. Were Lucas doing his work in the 1950s like Wood, the two directors would be indistinguishable.
Lines like, “Visits? That would indicate visitors!” and “Get in there, you big furry oaf! I don’t care what you smell!” both reek of second-guessing scripting. Times when actors gaze off into the distance while waiting for their respective director to cut the scene flood the films. Neither director had much sense in trying to work out their epic (granted, not many do), apart from the passion to fulfill it. Lucas had the edge on film editing and special effects technology, yes, but his work doesn’t show the expected results to differentiate his movies from Wood’s.
I used to be enamored with Star Wars and there was a time in middle school when I played those VHS tapes weekly (pre-Episodes I, II & III). But after revisiting the film that enraptured me through a tumultuous time in my life, I ask myself if this was the source of my ensuing insanity. Or, at the very least, some of my awkward writing from that time period must have reflected the bent-genius of Lucas as he pursued after something unattainable, yet pursued with an unquenchable fire.
Right now, this realization of my hero-turned-ragamuffin is comical, but it actually makes me want to watch the other films. Things can only get better right? (Just wait until I watch Return of the Jedi again; I may cry in shame).
May 14th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Very interesting comparison, Ryan! I, myself, have never been interested in the Star Wars films so I can’t justly comment, but your entry has intrigued me to watch the first film again to see if I come to the same conclusion.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Ryan, I think you’re entirely right. I have a love-hate relationship with Lucas. I admire him for pushing movie innovation, but as a director and a screenplay writer, he is just plain awful.
It’s no wonder why Empire Strikes Back continues to be the best in the series. It’s the only film he did not direct!
You should consider seeing the remastered version of ESB if you can. I know most people have issues with the revisionist approach, but I actually think they help the trilogy. The enhancements Lucas made to Cloud City are particularly noteworthy. My first gut reaction was, wow!
May 18th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Armen-
Richard Marquand directed “Return of the Jedi,” meaning that their are two movies in the canon that Lucas did not direct.
Ryan-
Do you think your childhood ignorance of good writing and other technical elemements of film-making could actually be a source of your insanity? Like a subconscious “a priori” knowledge of such things? Or are you extending your critique, based on your current awareness of things, too far (as in to the past)?
May 20th, 2006 at 2:54 am
Cliff, I stand corrected! Gosh, I knew every bit of SW trivia way back in High School. I seem to have lost my edge.
May 20th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Cliff - I seriously doubt my childhood lack of experience in film techniques and production has any part to play in my current status - insane, it may be - but, it’s worth a conjecture. Certainly, some of my writings from that time period, all in-class assignments, I mean, were affected, yet, in a manner that is typical of the young, pre-teen American male.
After I watched RoTJ, however, I did realize why I was so enamored by the films - the creativity of special effects (particularly at the time) was incredible and certainly inspired my adoration.