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2010 Kurtz inteview: How Lucas ruined Star Wars
Posted on 11/30/14 at 9:59 pm
Posted on 11/30/14 at 9:59 pm
LINK /
quote:
“We had no idea what we were starting,” said Kurtz, who was the producer of the first two “Star Wars” films and also a second-unit director. “That simple concept changed Hollywood in a way….”
There was a bittersweet tinge to Kurtz’s voice, and it’s no surprise. This year is the 30th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back,” the “Star Wars” sequel that many fans consider the pinnacle moment in a franchise that has pulled in $16 billion in box office and merchandising. But 1980 was also the year that Kurtz and Lucas realized the Jedi universe wasn’t big enough for the both of them.
“I could see where things were headed,” Kurtz said. “The toy business began to drive the [Lucasfilm] empire. It’s a shame. They make three times as much on toys as they do on films. It’s natural to make decisions that protect the toy business, but that’s not the best thing for making quality films.”
Empireposter
He added: “The first film and ‘Empire’ were about story and character, but I could see that George’s priorities were changing.”....
“I don’t like the idea of prequels, they make the filmmakers back in to material they’ve already covered and it boxes in the story,” Kurtz said. “I think they did a pretty good job with them although I have to admit I never liked Hayden Christensen in the role of Anakin Skywalker. I just wished the stories had been stronger and that the dialogue had been stronger. It gets meek. I’m not sure the characters ever felt real like they did in ‘Empire.’”
After the release of “Empire” (which was shaped by material left over from that first Lucas treatment), talk turned to a third film and after a decade and a half the partners could no longer find a middle ground.
“We had an outline and George changed everything in it,” Kurtz said. “Instead of bittersweet and poignant he wanted a euphoric ending with everybody happy. The original idea was that they would recover [the kidnapped] Han Solo in the early part of the story and that he would then die in the middle part of the film in a raid on an Imperial base. George then decided he didn’t want any of the principals killed. By that time there were really big toy sales and that was a reason.”
The discussed ending of the film that Kurtz favored presented the rebel forces in tatters, Leia grappling with her new duties as queen and Luke walking off alone “like Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns,” as Kurtz put it.
Crystal
Kurtz said that ending would have been a more emotionally nuanced finale to an epic adventure than the forest celebration of the Ewoks that essentially ended the trilogy with a teddy bear luau.
He was especially disdainful of the Lucas idea of a second Death Star, which he felt would be too derivative of the 1977 film. “So we agreed that I should probably leave.”
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:03 pm to prplhze2000
quote:
The discussed ending of the film that Kurtz favored presented the rebel forces in tatters, Leia grappling with her new duties as queen and Luke walking off alone “like Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns,” as Kurtz put it.
Crystal
interesting. As someone who has Jedi at the top of my list, not sure how that would have played for me. I saw it as a kid and that is why I loved it but this alternate where it was in tatters would have probably put a bad taste in my mouth for the series.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:07 pm to prplhze2000
Star Wars can't decide what it is. Is it dark? Is it a kid movie? No stability.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:08 pm to abellsujr
quote:
Star Wars can't decide what it is. Is it dark? Is it a kid movie? No stability.
like he said, toys and tie-ins are where the money is. You have to keep it family friendly to sell the toys and fast food sponsorships.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:10 pm to Warfarer
quote:Hopefully JJ Abrams does not think this way. That is such bullshite. So much opportunity ruined.
toys and tie-ins are where the money is.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:12 pm to prplhze2000
I've read this before and it makes a lot of sense when I think back. ROTJ had the best toys. I'd still cut my mothers throat for the Han Solo in Carbonite figure. Couldn't find that fricker anywhere.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:27 pm to abellsujr
quote:
Hopefully JJ Abrams does not think this way.
if he doesn't, Disney certainly does
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:29 pm to Brosef Stalin
I'm not gonna judge it based off of that teaser. Why they decided to put that little soccer ball thing in it, I have no idea. That lightsaber was also horrible. I'm reserving full judgement for the time being.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:34 pm to abellsujr
quote:
Why they decided to put that little soccer ball thing in it, I have no idea.
because its cute like Wall-E and kids will want to own the toy, not to mention the fanboys who will buy anything Star Wars related
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:34 pm to prplhze2000
Fanboys have ruined Star Wars far more than Lucas ever could.
This post was edited on 11/30/14 at 10:35 pm
Posted on 11/30/14 at 10:45 pm to Tactical1
They quite literally have not.
Posted on 11/30/14 at 11:18 pm to prplhze2000
Here's to hoping JJ can avoid Lucas' terrible ideas
Posted on 12/1/14 at 7:53 am to prplhze2000
quote:
“The toy business began to drive the [Lucasfilm] empire. It’s a shame. They make three times as much on toys as they do on films. It’s natural to make decisions that protect the toy business, but that’s not the best thing for making quality films.”
this is kind of like the prequels just being a way for lucas to give 7+ hours of free advertising for ILM
Posted on 12/1/14 at 7:56 am to prplhze2000
quote:
“We had an outline and George changed everything in it,” Kurtz said. “Instead of bittersweet and poignant he wanted a euphoric ending with everybody happy. The original idea was that they would recover [the kidnapped] Han Solo in the early part of the story and that he would then die in the middle part of the film in a raid on an Imperial base. George then decided he didn’t want any of the principals killed. By that time there were really big toy sales and that was a reason.”
The discussed ending of the film that Kurtz favored presented the rebel forces in tatters, Leia grappling with her new duties as queen and Luke walking off alone “like Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns,” as Kurtz put it.
ROTJ could have been a lot better, this was not the way to make that happen.
Lucas clearly had in mind to wrap up the trilogy. It needed a definite "ending".
quote:
I don’t like the idea of prequels, they make the filmmakers back in to material they’ve already covered and it boxes in the story,” Kurtz said. “I think they did a pretty good job with them
Wow. Maybe this guy isn't the genius we thought he was. Prequels are hot shite on a plate.
This post was edited on 12/1/14 at 7:59 am
Posted on 12/1/14 at 8:20 am to alajones
quote:
Wow. Maybe this guy isn't the genius we thought he was. Prequels are hot shite on a plate.
Sounds like he was just being polite.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 8:24 am to Murray
quote:
I'd still cut my mothers throat for the Han Solo in Carbonite figure. Couldn't find that fricker anywhere.
Here you go.
And here you go:
Posted on 12/1/14 at 8:39 am to CocomoLSU
quote:
Kurtz said that ending would have been a more emotionally nuanced finale to an epic adventure than the forest celebration of the Ewoks that essentially ended the trilogy with a teddy bear luau.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 8:47 am to FT
I never liked te Ewoks and I also thought Fett didn't do enough
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:44 am to prplhze2000
quote:
It gets meek. I’m not sure the characters ever felt real like they did in ‘Empire.’”
That's an understatement.
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