ID:1058
 
Keywords: movies
The comparison of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg has always fascinated me. From my viewpoint, Lucas started out with amazing displays of virtuosity from TXH 1138 to American Graffiti to Star Wars to his involvement in Indiana Jones, while Spielberg was doing fun stuff that didn't seem like it was going to ever reach that wonderful pinnacle when pop-culture and art intersect in a way that means a work will never be forgotten. Of course, Spielberg was also heavily involved in Indiana Jones, but at the time it wasn't clear what that meant.

Fast forward 20+ years and who would have guessed...Spielberg continually grasping for higher artistic levels with Schindler's List and portions of Saving Private Ryan, and interesting if flawed works like Minority Report, while Lucas had...well, exactly what he'd had 20 years ago. His best hope being to kinda sorta get back to form with the final Star Wars film.

This Slate article has an interesting take on exactly this subject, with some fascinating historical perspective.

Somehow George and Steve are inextricably linked...two artists whose work just can't be viewed without the context of the other.
...and now, spielberg is getting involved with a TNT mini-series which actually looks as though it could turn out quite good... while lucas is whoring out his star wars characters to everything from burger king to mr. potato head...
is lucas a hack now? and what's with the concept for the new indiana jones movie thing? we shall see.
Interesting, thanks Deadron. =) You always have the most interesting blog posts!
Lucas always seemed very self absorbed and inflexible, very childish compared to Spielberg's expansive, adaptive style. I remember reading in interviews and a few people I know in film that many people refuse to work with Lucas because of his browbeating methods on set. Indeed, during the filming of the latest Star Wars movies, it apparently was very common to have cast and crew leaving the set complaining about Lucas. His script editing alo seems woefully inadequate compared to Spielberg. Just compare Anakin's hollow, trite lines with anything from Saving Private Ryan, or even Indiana Jones' quips.

I don't think Lucas was ever really that good, though. Star Wars is vastly over rated (sorry fans) and appeals alot more to men's power fantasies then most like to admit (glowing sword fights, psychic powers, space ships, fighting against the evil empire to save a princes and the univers). Even though I like the premise, I think later writers have done a much better job with it then Lucas ever did. Lucas' main strength was that he pioneered a powerhouse FX company. His inability to follow up on his success, even when riding their coat tails, indicates a real lack of vision.
I don't think Lucas was ever really that good, though.

I rewatched the first two movies when they were re-released a while back, and I still found them excellent. Tight story-telling, fun in the tradition of old Saturday morning serials, fascinating universe. Saddled with some pretty bad writing, still, but that was overcome by actors who somehow pulled off amazing clunker lines.

And thanks for the compliment, Elation! Believe it or not, I have found that the community helps make the blog. I tried some blogging at 1UP.com (which was the inspiration for the BYOND Member site) and I didn't even find myself interesting, because I was trying to project into an audience I didn't know, and so I didn't know what to talk about or how to talk about it. Within the BYOND community, rightly or wrongly, I just feel like saying whatever comes to mind, figuring people will put up with it or ignore me...:)
Keep in mind also that here you are established as a very proficient programmer and a stable personality. This gives you a good deal more credibility, I suspect, than some random person who just posts random stuff.
Interesting article (though pretty obviously biased against Lucas...). Spielberg has made some great movies, no question -- but IMHO, Lucas' movies, whatever their faults, lend themselves to more frequent repeat viewings.
Yeah. I tried an LJ blog, but I left it after one post. If I don't know the people who are reading it, then it doesn't interest me to write there.

That said, my friend has a blog who I don't think anyone reads (apart from me, rarely). She still posts frequently, however.

I guess I just like the attention. We are story-telling apes, afterall.
We are story-telling apes, afterall.

So, in other words, not apes...
Heh, they had a casting call here looking for extras to that TNT western thing Steve is doing. I had considered it (my look was what they wanted, I guess), but decided I didn't want to commute to Santa Fe on my Chevralegs. -.-'

~X