George Lucas came up with "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones" and changed cinema
Educational Program Cinema / / December 19, 2019
Name George Lucas is inextricably linked to two names known by virtually every "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones." In the world there are many more prolific writers and directors, but it was Lucas once with Steven Spielberg and James Cameron I changed the mass cinema.
Major works of the master are considered a cultural phenomenon. They have a huge fan base. But some believe Lucas manager rather than a creator. This is partly true. After all, with its filing all kinds of merch studios began to bring more profit than the films themselves.
But without George Lucas and his ideas for certain movie would be quite different. After all, he sees what stories are popular with people and turns them into new stories. Familiar enough to them immediately fell in love, but the original, to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
George Lucas began making movies
Lucas first I wanted to become a racing driver, and belonged to the movie, as a hobby. But in 18 years, George car collided with a truck and nearly died. After that, he decided it was time to switch to more secure employment. Although even during the drag races he started shooting short films. Some of them were devoted to cars.
As a student, George Lucas is increasingly making short films, mostly documentaries. But success has found it fantastic dystopia "Electronic maze: THX 1138 4EB». In 1967, the 15-minute picture even got to the National Student Film Festival, where it was seen gaining popularity Steven Spielberg.
Lucas decided to refine the story, and three years later he directed his first feature film, THX 1138 on XXV century world where all people live in bunkers under the supervision of computers. Painting without the knowledge of the director remounted at the studio and released in rent. The film flopped, barely beaten off your budget. So that the company Warner Bros. He remained in the red. THX 1138 evaluated over the years, and even then probably against other merits of the author.
Sponsored shooting producer Francis Ford Coppola suggested that Lucas had just founded his own studio Lucasfilm, to try to force in a more simple genre. As a result of their collaboration resulted in the youth comedy "American Graffiti." But the director had to go by the other company, and the money allocated to the shooting is not enough.
"American Graffiti" - a nostalgic story about the graduates of the early sixties. That is about the time of his youth of George Lucas. In the film, there was a place for love storiesAnd for racing. Due to the lack of budget for the main roles were invited novice actors. Now their names are known. This Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss and future major star of films Lucas - Harrison Ford.
Simple sincere film has attracted audiences far more grim dystopia THX 1138. Contrary to expectations, Universal Studios, the picture is shot in the box and took the third place at the box office for the year 1973 second only to "scam" with Robert Redford and Paul Newman and a future legend of horror - movie "Exorcist the devil. "
"American Graffiti" were once five nominations for "Oscar", including the script and direction, and even fell into the category of "Best Film". Against the background of a real success story began a wave of nostalgia for the culture of the sixties, which resulted in the production of such films and all kinds of retromercha.
But George Lucas at this time preparing for the creation of his main work.
Where Lucas gathered ideas for "Star Wars"
The idea to make space opera in which to mix comics, science fiction, westerns and stories about samurai, appeared in George Lucas before his debut. His early career count on the fact that someone will take up the expensive project was not necessary, but in the early seventies, the author has already started to write the script.
Lucas has combined a number of popular topics, taking from them the very best. Because of this "Star Wars" is often referred to as compilation. It became the basis for the famous comic book of Flash Gordon. They figured the planet Mongo, where the evil Emperor Ming flew on space and destroy other worlds with the help of radiation - an obvious prototype of "Death Star." A villain Duck Tula could communicate telepathically and kill the enemies that took over Darth Vader.
But if you still have doubts, just look screensaver series "Flash Gordon conquers the Universe" in 1940. It is now all familiar opening credits, which fly away into the distance.
Prototypes of the Jedi become samurai. Even the name came from the word "jidaigeki" - a genre of Japanese historical dramas. Like the samurai, the Jedi follow the laws of honor and use machetes. And the plot of the first franchise explicitly relied on related to jidaigeki Akira Kurosawa "The Hidden Fortress".
Classical painting begins with the fact that the two are constantly arguing peasants fleeing from the battlefield, and soon met a general who secretly carries the princess. Immediately suggests an association with the robots C-3PO and R2-D2 and former general Kenobi, which should help the princess Lee.
The use of cold weapons in space sends more to the legendary one source - the book series "Dune"Frank Herbert. According to legend, after the release of "Star Wars," the writer said: "I believe that Lucas should I even dinner."
The plot of "Star Wars" begins on the desert planet Tatooine, which has several moons - is not Arrakis, known as Dune?
Fuel to the fire adds the fact that up to this director Alejandro Jodorowsky spent several years working on the script for the film adaptation of "Dune". He made a detailed storyboard and sent it to various studios, but gets about 12 hours of film. Of course, no one dared to take on the production of paintings. According to the Jodorowsky, some of the scenes in "Star Wars" is completely copied from his script. But there is no evidence.
Also, C-3PO can see the prototype of the movie "Metropolis"1927, hints at some of the characters - in the comics" Valerian and Lorelin ". Later, their artist Jean-Claude Mezieres directly stated about copying. A scene at the bar and in general the image of Han Solo is very close to the characters of classic westerns. The inspiration of "Star Wars" dedicated dozens of articles and videopodborok. And over time, it has become difficult to distinguish from the real prototypes of fan speculation.
But the main thing that did not hide himself, George Lucas: The main plot of the film is based on the classic "path of the hero" of the book "Tysyacheliky hero" American researcher Joseph Campbell. He once showed that almost all the myths and legends of any nation built around the same pattern. Lucas just added a reference to the well-known stories and created his own world.
As the first movie filmed
Picture came into production immediately. Lucas began working on the script back in 1973 and premeditated significant part of the story to continue. He gradually emerging global idea. He divided it into two parts, and then each of them - in the trilogy. But first he wanted to shoot the film, where there are "Death Star."
Release of large-scale battles in the history of space required large investments. And even though everyone knew about the success of George Lucas with the "American Graffiti," the failure of the fantastic THX 1138 has not been forgotten. And at that time the cinema is more focused on the solvency of the adult audience, and "Star Wars" were clearly designed for teens.
But the director was lucky with the studio 20th Century Fox. The company then was on the brink of ruin, and she urgently needed new ideas. Lucas gave them a 200-page script for future films, which like the producers. Then, the main character's name was Luke Starkiller more. Lucas allocate considerable time to the budget: about $ 10 million. And yet, the company has decided to save money by working with the novice director.
George Lucas paid the minimum fee for the script and shooting, but given the right of all the characters.
Before you start, George Lucas founded Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) to create special effects. Four young enthusiasts came up with new shooting techniques to show the most realistic space battles. For example, the camera was moving along the same trajectory at a constant speed when creating each take. This greatly simplified the overlay effects and combined shooting.
Work on the first film was with great difficulty. The director did not want to take too become familiar stars, and the studio was worried that the new actors do not attract viewers. But stubborn Lucas insisted on her. He invited serial actor Mark Hamill in the main role of Luke Skywalker. Han Solo played by Harrison Ford, has already worked with the director in "American Graffiti." And Princess Leia - Carrie Fisher, for which it was only the second shooting in a movie. The only real star with a major role was Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Filming sand planet Tatooine took place in Tunisia, where at that time was the heat, because the work was far behind schedule. Actors on the set does not trust the novice director and often argued with him. criticism after the fact even noted some laziness in their game. According to rumors, some scenes were winning back reluctantly and formally. Yet delays and scandals have finished shooting.
Composer to create a soundtrack Lucas suggested new friend Steven Spielberg. John Williams has composed the music for "Jaws" of the latter. Lucas originally came to music as well as to the scenario: put together the soundtrack of your favorite epic compositions. But Williams convinced him that you need to write your own tunes, which will most accurately reflect the atmosphere of what is happening. Thus was born the famous "Imperial March" and other recognizable composition.
When post-production there were many problems. Lucas scenario demanded new ideas and revolutions in the shooting, but a significant portion of the budget allocated to the special effects have spent only a couple of short scenes. As a result, the director forced employees to work for the rest of the money, and in the course went savvy. For example, almost all the spaceships in the first film - just small models. Even the scene of the attack on the "Death Star" is removed by using thumbnails.
Yet treatment resulted in a disaster, resulting in even fired editor on. The prime minister was postponed for six months. All this is not passed in vain - Lucas landed in the hospital with a suspected heart attack, and the studio was expecting a grand failure.
To somehow attract viewers, ahead of the film launched a series of comic books by Marvel. And the market entered a literary script, adapted to the book. Studio checks to see how much it will interest readers. The book became a success, sold over half a million copies, and Lucas later even got for her literary award "Hugo".
But the director managed to almost give up on their work, and after the first night my wife and I went on vacation. On his return he found that the film was a hit and rolled beats all kinds of records.
The picture has collected more than $ 300 million (with a budget of 11) at the global box office, received 10 nominations for "Oscar" and won six of them. It was mostly technical awards. But for the sci-fi movie directed by novice such recognition was a breakthrough.
Resounding success saved the 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy. A tenacious Lucas has established the mass production of T-shirts, toys, meshes and other trinkets attractive to teenagers, because the rights to the characters belong to him.
What has changed in the sequels
By working on the sequel to "Star Wars" George Lucas came up already as a professional. By the release of the new film's first part was subtitled "A New Hope", and later added a number of episodes. We started from the fourth to leave room for the prequel.
Contract extensions allowed Lucas to engage on their own without the studio control. However, because of failing health Lucas rejected the idea of making films himself. For the picture "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", he hired his former teacher and far more experienced director Irvin Kershner.
The script has modified Lawrence Kasdan. At that time he had already sold the studio Warner Bros. scenario of the future hit "The Bodyguard," but on the screens the film was released only 15 years later, and began working with Lucas on the history of Indiana Jones.
Involvement of professional colleagues allowed to fix all the flaws of the first scene. The plot became more slender and dynamic, and Kershner better able to deal with the actors on the set.
At this time in the film we have invested about 30 million dollars, which almost ruined the young company Lucasfilm. Landscapes icy Hoth filmed in Norway with the helicopter. A studio ILM developed new special effects. They turned out to be significantly higher than in the first part. The abundance of large-scale scenes and the complexity of processing greatly delayed the process and increased the already considerable budget.
The main advantage of the new part of the new steel vivid characters and a darker tone of the picture. The audience really loved the mysterious bounty hunter Boba Fett, do not show the person (his name is not pronounced in the film, it appears only in the credits), and a charismatic businessman, Lando Calrissian.
Surprise for all was the scene where Darth Vader was Luke admits that he is his father. This information is kept in the strictest confidence, avoiding leaks. As Vader played by one actor, and the voice of another actor playing even issued a fake text by changing it to the stage of post-production. As a result, on the set of the secret identity of the villain knew only three: Mark Hamill, who played Luke (he was told just a few minutes before the start of filming), and director George Lucas.
The masses entrenched belief that Darth Vader utters the phrase: "Luke, I am your father." But in fact, the conversation sounds a bit different.
Attachments again paid off with interest. The picture has collected in hire more than half a billion dollars. Although critics were initially skeptical about it, over time this part of the "Star Wars" was seen as the best, and sometimes the top of the entire film. Picture of long headed Empire magazine's top films and only in 2014 gave way to The 100 Greatest Movies championship "godfather."
Also, the film released novelization scenario, a series of comic books, and a couple of years more, and video games.
Earnings allowed George Lucas to arrange a single company for their companies. It is located in California and is called the ranch "Skywalker." There and started working on the final part of the trilogy, "Return of the Jedi" (first film appeared as "Revenge of the Jedi" - collectors even have posters with this title).
Although the picture in advance waited with enthusiasm in the production again had problems. George Lucas wanted to invite some original director. But David Lynch He refused due to adaptation of "Dune," which later will hate, and even asked to remove his name from the credits. And David Cronenberg chose to do "Videodrome" and "dead zone."
As a result, called are not the most popular Richard Marquand, and Lucas had to take used againaboutmost of the work themselves. Formally, it is listed only a screenwriter and producer. In fact, almost all secondary filming author personally commanded and led the creation of special effects. Markuand responsible for the fact that Lucas was given not the best way - to work with the main actors.
Then there were problems with Harrison Ford. He did not really want to appear in the third part, as more became interested in "Indiana Jones" and even asked the authors to kill Han Solo at the beginning of the film. Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan almost agreed, but Lucas did not want to withdraw one of the most beloved heroes.
The final part of the trilogy was sending back to the classics, reminding theme, costume characters and scenery the film "The Guns of Navarone" 1961. The original group of saboteurs should blow great guns Nazis to allow the evacuation of several thousand soldiers. Lucas team destroys rebel force field generator on the moon of Endor. The similarity can be traced even in the new form of imperial soldiers, the design of the entrance to the casemates and the final explosion.
Shootings were shorter than in the previous film, but the team managed to overtake a lot of different locations. Work began in the halls, in a couple of months, the group moved to Arizona (where the sand was removed Tatooine), then in the forest of California (the moon of Endor), then filmed backgrounds in Death Valley.
To shoot on the flying motorcycle chases personally invited Garrett Brown - the inventor of Steadicam, which eliminates shaking while driving. Brown became known after the release of "Rocky" movies and "Radiance"Where for the first time showed the long passages dynamic hand-held camera with smooth movement. But this time came more interesting. Flying removed slowed (about 1 frames per second). When playing at normal speed it gave the effect is very rapid movement.
But if further twists and turns in the relationship with the father of Luke and Leia - Khan was interested in all the fans, it is another scenario the decision of George Lucas' many still considered to be controversial.
He introduced into the plot Ewoks: local Aboriginal folk. Strangely enough, these underdeveloped natives with sticks and primitive traps will give a fitting rebuff to the Imperial stormtroopers - the best forces in the galaxy, conquering many worlds.
After the release of "Return of the Jedi" was called the weakest film of the trilogy. But this does not prevent him from becoming a hit rolled. Fees again close to the mark of 500 million, the picture has won all the major awards "Saturn"And he was nominated for" Oscar ".
From that moment the full-length "Star Wars" went on a long break, but Lucas did not forget about the side projects. Out telefilms and cartoons about Ewoks and Droids comics, books, toys and much more.
Lucas and Spielberg came up with "Indiana Jones"
In parallel with the creation of a great franchise George Lucas reflected on the other. The history began in the author's mind in the early seventies. He wanted to retell classic novels and serials 30-40s and came up to this image of archaeologist and adventurer, skilfully holding the whip. Lucas named him in honor of his Indiana Alaskan malamute - partial prototype Chewbacca in "Star Wars." Surname first hero was another - Smith.
Lucas came up with the plot, along with the future author of the film adaptation of "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Philip Kaufman, who was to assume the post of director. Kaufman said some things associated with magical artifacts. And with his own storytelling we decided to devote finding the Ark of the Covenant, in which are stored the tablets of the Ten Commandments. But the work is still delayed due to the "Star Wars", and then went to work for Kaufman Clint Eastwood.
After the release of the first part space saga Lucas told Indiana Smith, Steven Spielberg. Tom liked the idea: he just thought to do a film about James Bond, but here we obtain an analogue without spyware tools. But Spielberg advised to change the name of the character on Jones.
It was then that Lucas met with Lawrence Kezdanom, which later will finalize the picture of "The Empire Strikes Back." The three of them finished writing the script, we came up with new ideas and moves and made a storyboard. The film was called "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark."
It is now difficult to say who the author creates a specific scene. But the famous escape from the boulder, which opens the first film, Spielberg offered. But Lucas belongs to the idea of a collision with a submarine and a clever point about the monkey, which gives the Nazi salute. Kezdan managed to make the story more colorful, adding to it a lot of humor.
The project moved slowly at first, as Lucas and Kezdan diverted to "Empire." But then they switched to a new project and finished writing a detailed script. Oddly enough, once again there was a problem with the search for funding. Spielberg already known as the creator of "Jaws" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", but shortly before the launch of "Indiana Jones" movie had failed "1941", and once again did not want to risk the studio.
Still, the company Paramount Pictures has signed a contract with the authors, but only if the filming of four more units. Then they decided to clear as much as possible to prepare for the shooting, invited artists of comics for more storyboards and story even made miniature models of the main locations.
However, Spielberg and Lucas are having disputes over the choice of actor for the lead role. The director just wanted to ask Harrison Ford, but the author was against it. It turned out that he will play in all successful films Lucas. And at first Spielberg generally seen character darker and more prone to alcoholism, and George did not want to move away from the idea of positive youth film and was looking for new faces.
Compromise became not yet known Tom Selleck, who had just started to appear in the TV series "Private detective Magnum». There are only listening to the recording in the role. Then Lucas still gave up and called Ford. Many believe that this is what ensured the success of a new franchise.
The foundation was ready, and friends took up photography. In the story it required a lot of locations. In France, we filmed a scene with a submarine, then in England have created most of the scenes with decorations Well of souls. Here the authors decided to have a little fun in the hieroglyphics on the walls of the added image droids of "Star Wars."
Famous scenes with snakes removed from the real, but non-poisonous reptiles. According to rumors, the pavilion brought about nine thousand reptiles (but other legends, they are supplemented with scraps of hoses). Snakes periodically bite someone from the crew.
For scenes with cobra did not find the animal without teeth and had to remove this poisonous snake. For security between it and Ford put glass, which can be seen at close viewing.
After that, the group went to Tunisia, where they filmed scenes of Egypt. There was hot 30 ° C, and half of the crew and Harrison Ford picked dysentery.
Related to this is a funny moment. Indiana Jones initially encounter with the Saracens had to turn into a duel: the villain attacked with a sword, and fought Jones whip. But because of the heavy-duty Ford offered just shoot the villain. Wittily turned, but the stunt Saracen was very upset, because for a long time rehearsing a fight.
The remaining material is finalized in the United States. And Spielberg was able to complete the survey even ahead of schedule. soundtrack John Williams was engaged.
Again, the authors of waiting for success. "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the highest grossing film of the year, ten paid off at the box office, received eight nominations for "Oscar" and took four of them.
As the authors dealt with criticism sequels "Indiana Jones"
Harrison Ford initially doubted whether to appear in the trilogy, but to continue waiting for all. After finishing work on "Return of the Jedi," Lucas returned to the "Indiana Jones". But in the second and third parts of the author's contribution is less. He wrote the history of the foundation, advised and mounted, and ILM company worked on special effects. The rest of the burden fell on the director and screenwriters.
The second part is called "Temple of Doom", the action takes place in India. But in this country the authors were not allowed to take off, so the full-scale survey conducted in China and Sri Lanka. A significant part was created in the US studios and England. And it played a role.
The sequel has turned much darker first film: dark catacombs, a hard story. Even the jokes were of discharge black humor. That only is the scene of the feast, where they eat monkey brains. A majority of the tricks come up with more for the "Ark", but they did not fit into the story. Therefore, the action came not so slender.
At the very beginning of filming Harrison Ford hurt his back, and then was injured in a fight with a bear - this time in the end removed. Therefore, further action scenes the actor appeared only in close-ups, everything else win back the stunt.
But here's improved special effects. Many people remember the crumbling bridge and colorful race on trolleys. And when the camera follows the incident in the pit body, was the top technology of the time. Here again, the company has tried to ILM.
Although the film has collected and excellent box office, it has been criticized for excessive gloom. Many said that Spielberg and Lucas have gone too far with the desire to scare the audience with all sorts of abominations. Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr called it an attempt to 10-year-old boy to death scare little sister, waving her right in front of the face of a dead worm.
Therefore, the third part of the "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," returned the audience wit and positive, on which so bored fans. Lucas originally wanted to focus more on ghost stories.
Preliminary outline of a script called "Indiana Jones and the Monkey King." The main character struggled with the ghosts in Scotland, and then went in search of the source of eternal life in Africa. This story finished the next director of the first part "Harry Potter" Chris Columbus. There appeared 200-year-old pygmy peaches of immortality, a Nazi with a mechanical hand and the king of monkeys in the final resurrects Indiana Jones.
From this version, they refused, and after the second version is just as strange scenario Columbus left the project. At this time, Spielberg George Lucas offered to enter into the plot of Indiana Jones's father, who, in response insisted that appeared in the center of the search for the Holy Grail.
The plot is copied twice more. The final version of the main driving force became not the search for artifacts, and the relationship with the father of the hero. On the role of Henry Jones - elder invited Sean ConneryWho made a lot of edits in the image of his character. A new screenwriter Jeffrey Boam offered to show more character and youth, to tell us more about his past.
And on the final authors have laid one of the great jokes.
It turns out that the main character named Henry Jones - younger. And Indiana - a nickname the family dog. So Lucas again honored their beloved pet.
Filmed around the world, the authors could already afford it. Budget has more than doubled relative to the first part. But it did not save a picture from a negative. Many noted returned humor and a great game actors. But the film did not reach the level of the first part, it is sometimes called simply a set of car chases and special effects.
Lucas updated the "Star Wars"
Lucas Other projects are mostly unobtrusive. If "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" on television were not bad, the film produced by George "Howard the Duck" resounding failure (sometimes called the worst superhero movie in history). A "Murder on the radio" and "Willow" from a screenplay Lucas did not even recaptured their budgets.
But in the nineties already being developed computer effects. And then Lucas and ILM conceived to handle the classic "Star Wars" by adding a new stage and improve quality. Originally planned to upgrade only "new hope", but after a successful experiment and took the rest.
Special program cleared personnel from microscopic dust particles on the film. Then we add graphics backgrounds, removed inconsistencies in the scenery, did more 3D-holograms. In the first film the episode even included a fan favorite Boba Fett. For a special edition to the twentieth anniversary of the "New Hope" even dosnyal few background scenes, which no one has ever done.
Some of the more notable innovations split the fans into two camps. Sparked controversy in the bar scene where Han Solo killed Greedo mercenary. In the original, he threatened the hero, and Han simply shot. The new version of Solo kills in response to Greedo shot. So Lucas wanted to emphasize that Han is not a killer. However, fans were very unhappy with it even resulted in the action with the slogan Han shot first.
In addition, Lucas replaced some of the characters who play dolls on CGI. Jabba the Hutt began to show more emotion, but they looked unnatural.
To this day, fans of "Star Wars" are divided into those who recognize only the classic version of the episodes, and who rejoice updates. And Lucas has twice revised the classic episodes: in 2004 and 2011.
How were prequels "Star Wars"
Remastered classic series was only a preparation for the main event. George Lucas has decided to release three more episodes. Parts 1-3 disclose the history of the formation of Anakin Skywalker - the future Darth Vader. This time Lucas himself wrote the script and directed all episodes.
The basis of the story he came up with back in the seventies, but now has decided to modify the background. Lucas opened the reasons for Anakin to go to the dark side, the very essence of the Force and told about the appearance of the Galactic Empire under the rule of a tyrant.
The first film was called "The Phantom Menace". About how he was expected, it indicates a story. In 1998, screens out the picture "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. She gathered a good cashier at the box office. but tellAn epic history of the movie trailerThat many of the audience left the hall immediately after the advertising block in the beginning.
The thing that was shown before the movie trailer for "The Phantom Menace". Fans spent money on a ticket, only to see the movie first.
The new trilogy became a triumph of special effects by ILM. In "The Phantom Menace" is the only one scene where not using computer graphics. In the second part of "Attack of the Clones" no such episodes. An important role in the plot plays absurd alien Jar Jar Binks - this is the first central character in the film, is completely created on the computer. His voiced Ahmed Best.
For the rest of the cast of the approached very carefully. Who played the young Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor the first film is not similar to Alec Guinness, but the sequels are increasingly coming to that image. On the role of Princess Padme Amidala took increasingly popular Natalie Portman.
On the role of the last double invited the young Keira Knightley. Actresses incredibly similar to each other. According to rumors, even their parents could not make out which one of them was shot in a particular scene, and after the premiere Portman sometimes sent less known colleague autographs.
On the role of Senator Palpatine called Ian Val McDermid, that was some spoiler. The actor has already played the Emperor in "Return of the Jedi", from which it is easy to understand who will be the main villain.
His apprentice Darth Maul played stuntman and martial arts master Ray Park. It was his first film role, and because everything was limited to only a couple of fights and phrases. And in the future the Park will be known characters who do not talk and fight perfectly. For example, Toad from "X-Men" and Snake Eyes from the "Throw Cobra".
Samuel L. Jackson He played one of the most powerful Jedi Mace Windu. The actor was ready to fulfill even a small part in the cult franchise and was very happy invitation. A second film he has already put Lucas only condition: Jackson wanted a purple lightsaber. All other Jedi were blue and green, while the Sith - red. But the director could not refuse.
Staging fights changed radically. If in classical paintings fight lightsaber resemble traditional fencing, but now the real Jedi masters of all possible techniques of martial arts. Therefore, the collision of Obi-Wan and his master Qui-Gon with Darth Maul was removed almost a month.
To plot Lucas came originally. He decided to show the cyclical nature of history, and so each of the prequels is very similar to one of the original films. Especially noticeable parallels between "The Phantom Menace" and "A New Hope". Anakin is involved in the destruction of the droid base - his son Luke blew up "the Death Star", Obi-Wan saw the death of his teacher - in the classics he was dying in front of the pupil. And like a lot of matches.
These replays, special effects and plenty of strange director's moves caused a mixed reaction of spectators. The audience was divided again. Some thought that George Lucas has successfully supplemented and expanded the franchise, others - that it is simply trying to capitalize on nostalgia. But even the critics and put a picture mediocre evaluation, viewers in droves to the cinema.
Next followed the second episode of "Attack clones". From the outset, the film was criticized because of too simple names - many were expecting something like "Embrace the Empire."
And also criticized the young actor Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin matured. And in countries where the film goes to the dubbing, he was treated much better. After all, the main disadvantage in the inability to play Christensen's voice, and with sound arrangement is lost.
Also raised questions and some plot twists. For example, Lucas revealed that Boba Fett is actually a clone. But the picture has made a significant contribution to the development of special effects. This is the second film, shot entirely on digital video camera (the first was the lesser-known "Vidocq").
Master Yoda is the first time completely replace the computer character, and in scenes of mass fights a lot of movement in the background added to the computer. In the scene of the battle Yoda Dooku understudy fought against an imaginary opponent. And then on the face already imposed image of Christopher Lee. Moreover at the time of the shooting was over 75 - he was not involved in the action movie.
"Attack of the Clones" for the first time in the history of "Star Wars" has not become a major box-office hit of the year, losing to the second part of "The Lord of the Rings" and the initial episode "Spider-Man». After Lucas threw all their forces for the final part of the saga, "Revenge of the Sith," in which he showed the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. Many find this title similar to "Revenge of the Jedi" - early version of the title "Return of the Jedi."
The film was shot with the end: the final battle over Obi-Wan and Anakin worked even during the "Attack of the Clones." McGregor and Christensen trained for months in order to do without the accelerated movement on the set. The picture put maximum effort and money - it was the most expensive part of the franchise at the time.
Lucas returned to the cyclical history. The scene where Windu dies is very similar to the time of the emperor's murder in the classics. And everything leads us to already known junction and gloom because there was no escape. The picture got even more mature rating from the distributors.
Lucas again criticized for its flat dialogue and strange scenario moves. For example, when Padmé dying for no reason. Yet the intensity of the story caught the public, and "Revenge of the Sith" was rated significantly higher than its predecessors. The worldwide box office picture lost film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," but that did not stop her earn more than $ 600 million. But George Lucas is no longer directed any film.
What happened next
Further activities Lucas more focused on producing and promoting the old franchises. In 2008 he, along with Spielberg produced the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which went well at the box office, but scolded by most critics.
At the same time he launched the animated series "Clone Wars" in the universe of "Star Wars." The action takes place between the second and third episodes. In 2003, the cartoon has already appeared with the same name, but it passed almost unnoticed.
And in 2012 the company became part of Lucasfilm Disney. From this point on, all subsequent films and series produced under the control of the studio.
"Star Wars" is increasingly expanding. Have already reached the seventh and the eighth episode of the film, with the first one again repeats the classic story of "A New Hope". Launched a series of prequels, "Stories" cartoons "rebels" and "Resistance", and at the end of 2019 is expected to the first game series "Mandalorian".
To all this he Lucas already has little relevance. He directs, advises and produces projects. Its special effects studio Industrial Light & Magic was one of the main suppliers of special effects in the movies - most of the top blockbusters made it with their support. Only in 2015, Lucas had written the script for the animated film "Strange fascination," which flopped.
As a result, only two known franchises and six personally choreographed films. Yet the contribution of George Lucas in the film industry is huge. In the seventies it showed that fiction can be perky and energetic. That we should not be afraid to retell the classics, you need only to add in it something of their own.
Lucas risked and experimented. He took up a big-budget projects and invested them with all the power. And that is why he developed the special effects and took up advanced filming technology. He re-created the adventure film and science fiction, and because it is still valued and respected by fans around the world.
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