Is it just me....?

[BishounenStalker]

Or should George Lucas quit making movies (at least by himself)? I recently watched all the Star Wars films currently out (Episodes I and II plus the original trilogy), and the quality gap between old school and new school made me want to vomit. Hell, Episodes I and II the first time in the theatre made me want to kick something.

::braces for Star Wars rant::

I finally figured out why the old school trilogy rocked so damn much, after going through the credits with a fine-toothed comb, and why Episides 4 and 5 were the best of the entire saga: they weren'r directed by Lucas, and he had a co-writer for the screenplay.

The problem with the new films is that he's let the fame go to his head, and he's doing everything (writing, directing) by himself. Bad move. Because he can't direct, and he couldn't write a decent screenplay if his career depended on it (which sadly enough it doesn't).

The script in Episode II is what killed the film. The deplorable acting just made it worse. The fact that Lucas could take Darth Vader, possibly THE greatest villain in the history of cinema, and turn him into a whiny, disaffected member of N*Sync that just stepped out of a Pepsi commercial is beyond my comprehension. But at least Hayden Christensen looks like the deplorable actor he is.

Christopher Lee, on the other hand, isn't a good actor. He isn't a great actor. He's a phenomenal actor. I don't think anyone else could've pulled off such a horrible script with the finesse he did. And if Lucas can make Lee look like an idiot on screen, there's definitely something wrong there.

As far as the directing goes, there's something seriously wrong in a live action film when you have more CGI on the screen than live scenes. The "Clone War" wasn't a war. Hell, it wasn't even a battle. It was a freaking puppet show without real puppets.

The romantic sequences in Episode II were cold and foundless. I swear I could see the "add emotion" tag on the cue cards Portman and Christensen were so obviously reading. And the transitions from plot to romance were choppy and jarred.

What took the cake was Anakin's mother's death, and his subsequent fit of homicidal rage. It wasn't dramatic or moving, but comically cheesy. And whereas been nice to have seen Anakin go Shinji nuts and hack up every Tuscan Raider in sight in a nice battle sequence, we got a couple lightsaber slashes and and a closeup on Pepsi-boy's contorted face that looked like he was trying to pass a kidney stone.

All this wasn't much different than Episode I, except Jake Lloyd was a better actor (which is pretty damn sad). He wasn't half as annoying as his older self. Even without the zit on the face of Star Wars that is Jar Jar Binks, Episode I was still a wretched film. I'll admit the story was good, but the details are sorely skimped upon.

Darth Maul was a stupid villain. Hell, he wasn't even really a villain. Just a mindless lackey who only said two lines that weren't even his own voice. What made Darth Vader such a kickass "lackey" is that he did evil things that made people hate him (blowing up Alderaan, for instance). Darth Maul just stood there and looked scary.

Add to that his impossibly stupid weapon. How the hell did he train with that thing without cutting himself into strip steak? He was NOT just "that damn good." You don't get to be that damn good without practice of some kind. Hell, Luke himself was the "Jedi's Jedi", and even he had to train. Quite painfully I might add.

I really don't feel like ranting all damn day. Let's just say that Lucas was able to make good movies a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...because he had HELP! But now that he's decided to fly solo (no Han joke intended), we're able to see just how much he actually sucks when it comes to the meat of a good film (the screenplay and directing). The story is still kickass. He just needs to get the hell off his high horse and admit he needs help executing it, or quit making movies altogether. I'd prefer the former, personally.

::end of rant::

I need coffee

[AKH257]

dude the maul fight was the best duel in the prequel series way beter than the dooku. but thogh lucas is an ass today he old movies are gonna be great. but u have to take this in terms. lucas was rushed to put out episodes I and II but visually it was great though there were plot holes

[Eilleen]

I finally figured out why the old school trilogy rocked so damn much, after going through the credits with a fine-toothed comb, and why Episides 4 and 5 were the best of the entire saga: they weren'r directed by Lucas, and he had a co-writer for the screenplay.

I thought that 4 was directed by Lucas, and it was 5 and 6 that he didn't do?

Anyhow, I agree with almost everything you said. Things seem to be better when he stays away from the director's chair. Star Wars has been pretty much destroyed for me... And I'm sorry, but what the fucking hell was he thinking with Jar-Jar? I could maybe understand making him a recurring character in the movie, but whatever possessed him to make that annoying little shit a main character in ep.1 is beyond me. (*deep breath* Sorry, had to get that off my chest.)

[The Wired Knight]

Maul looked cool and had the potential to be a good villian, he was just terribly undermined by Jarjar binks -_- also he was really left in the background as an enigma of sorts. As for Lucas, he has good movies still A.I. for one but the quality of the star wars series minus the special effects has been lost.

[RichLather]

Artificial Intelligence: AI was a Spielberg movie.

But to get back on point, yeah, Lucas needs to hang up the reins and let someone else handle it.

Heck, get Lawrence Kasdan back (The Empire Strikes Back screenplay) so that Episode 3 doesn't suffer from hamfisted romantic diologue.

[BishounenStalker]

I thought that 4 was directed by Lucas, and it was 5 and 6 that he didn't do?

Erk! ::curses lack of an edit button:: Yeah, I meant 5 and 6...damn typos

Anyhow, I agree with almost everything you said. Things seem to be better when he stays away from the director's chair. Star Wars has been pretty much destroyed for me... And I'm sorry, but what the fucking hell was he thinking with Jar-Jar? I could maybe understand making him a recurring character in the movie, but whatever possessed him to make that annoying little shit a main character in ep.1 is beyond me. (*deep breath* Sorry, had to get that off my chest.)

I totally agree. I forgot to mention that the ethnic stereotyping in Episodes I and II was in so much poor taste. Why did the Trade Federation have to sound Chinese? Or the Gungans Jamaican (BAD Jamaican I might add)? Or Waato like an Italian Mobster? Yet aother thing that annoyed the hell out fme.