George Lucas to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award 277
KefabiMe writes "George Lucas is receiving the AFI Lifetime Achievement award. I will make no other comment."
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To be awake is to be alive. -- Henry David Thoreau, in "Walden"
Lucas Also Plans (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Lucas Also Plans (Score:5, Funny)
"I was only about 40% happy with the original award. There were things we just couldn't do when I first got it. The new award, I am 95% happy with. The fans of the awards may take some issue with it, but the award is for me, not them."
Spoiling the joke by explaining it here: The 40% figure is what Lucas said about how happy he was with the original Star Wars when it was finished in 1977. He then went on to say he was 95% happy with Episode I. Which proves that the less happy he is with a film, the more happy everyone else is... ;)
I wonder (Score:2)
I wonder how much he dislikes American Graffity. I bet he totally hates it.
Re:Lucas Also Plans (Score:2)
Re:Lucas Also Plans (Score:4, Funny)
Give it a few years, and they'll release a special edition of the award, where Lucas wins first.
Re:Lucas Also Plans (Score:3, Funny)
Remastered trilogy (Score:3, Funny)
Yoda Speak (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Yoda Speak (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Yoda Speak (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:Yoda Speak (Score:2)
Re:Yoda Speak (Score:2)
Re:Yoda Speak (Score:3, Funny)
You have to give Lucas some credit. What other filmmaker is so ridiculously lauded based on the strengths of two good movies?
Oh yeah, Quentin Tarantino.
*ducks*
I will. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I will. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I will. (Score:5, Insightful)
But anyway, the next time the special effects appear to be seemless and the sound quality vibrates your theater seat - remember Lucas for caring about that stuff. He's certainly moved some things along which is more than most people do.
Re:I will. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I will. (Score:2)
Re:I will. (Score:3, Informative)
It's not just stupid blockbusters. ILM type effects, as they trickle down to cheaper and cheaper production companies, have a huge influence on movies high and low, probably the largest change in the look of films since French New-Wave techniques. "Amelie" used CGI effects in nearly every scene (if just to increase contrast), low-budget "Eurotrip" inserted the Tower of London to a scene of Prague
Re:I will. (Score:4, Insightful)
George gave moviemakers better tools. He can't make other moviemakers make better movies.
Re:I will. (Score:2)
I liked his movies a lot, especially as a kid.
Ahh, those were the days...!
Only as I've grown older I'm seeing the flaws in his movies, but who's to say a prize should only be given because adults don't like something. I doubt these movies were intended for adults after all, because of the clearly defined "good and evil" so even ver
Re:I will. (Score:3, Interesting)
Hint 2: This award is being given to him BEFORE the theatrical release of Episode III.
Therefore, I think this Lifetime Award idea has a lot of merit to it...
Hmmmm... (Score:5, Funny)
Then again, everything depends on what you mean by "achievement".
Re:Hmmmm... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hmmmm... (Score:2)
I hope you're happy. I'll never be able to watch Shaft again without imagining an Ewok playing the role
Re:Hmmmm... (Score:4, Funny)
>
>I hope you're happy. I'll never be able to watch Shaft again without imagining an Ewok playing the role
Who's the furry private dick
That's a sex machine to all the chicks?
WICKET!
Yub dammmn nub!
Coatee cha tu goo (Shaft!)
coatee cha tu doo (Shaft!)
coatee cha tu too (Shaft!)
Allay loo ta nuv!
Re:Hmmmm... (Score:2)
I don't think that was the least bit conspicuous
Re:It's a tremendous achievement (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's a tremendous achievement (Score:2, Interesting)
Wait a sec... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wait a sec... (Score:3, Funny)
woohoo (Score:5, Funny)
Re:woohoo (Score:5, Funny)
Re:woohoo (Score:2, Funny)
Re:woohoo (Score:3, Informative)
Re:woohoo (Score:3, Funny)
"Steve, I'd like to do some work on Jones."
"George, we finished Jones a long time ago."
"Yeah, but you know, I was never really happy with it."
"I was. And after I saw what you did to Star Wars, you can keep your filthy fingers off my flick."
"What do you mean? Now I'm happy with Star Wars."
"If you were playing to an audience of one, that would be great. Now go away, I'm fishing."
"No you're not, you're making a movie."
"What are you, stupid? Why do you think I'm wearing this silly hat and vest?"
Its not over! (Score:5, Funny)
I thought (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I thought (Score:3, Insightful)
He has - you just weren't paying attention. He has caused a shit load of inventions to take place behind the camera. Because of him a ton of people got the money they needed to invent new effects, better sound systems, etc etc.
Lifetime Achievement Award (Score:4, Funny)
This one's got a bad motivator! (Score:3, Funny)
<Wilhelm-Scream>AHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH!</Wilhelm-Scream>
Re:This one's got a bad motivator! (Score:2)
George Lucas: I won the lifetime achievement award.
Luke Skywalker: No! That's not true. That's impossible!
George Lucas : Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
Luke Skywalker: Nooooo! Nooooo.
and maybe next year... (Score:4, Funny)
Although I will say they have finally found a good character for his over-acting on Boston Legal.
Re:and maybe next year... (Score:2, Interesting)
Lifetime Achievement Award Requirements (Score:5, Informative)
The criteria stated that "the recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time." In 1993, AFI trustees extended the criteria to encompass individuals with active careers and work of significance yet to be accomplished. "
(From http://www.afi.com/tvevents/laa/laasite/ [afi.com])
Re:Lifetime Achievement Award Requirements (Score:2, Funny)
Where do I submit my nomination?
Lucas was a visionary (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Lucas was a visionary (Score:5, Insightful)
This "emotional bond" you speak of is common among people who like a movie, or any art form for that sake, a lot. I feel sad for you if you've never found a good enough movie to experience it. I can listen to great pieces of music and it gives me chills, and I can watch movies that brings me to tears. A whole lot of us can. I hope you can feel some kind of emotions when watching movies, since it's great things to experience.
I can't imagine how boring going to the cinemas would be if you couldn't create an emotional bond to some of the characters, for example by humor, anger, love, sadness, or something else.
Star Wars was a good bunch of movies. But they certainly aren't anyhing to spend more than a few seconds reminiscing about.
What can I say... That's just your opinion, and if you have a hard time accepting others, feeling the need to look down on others, you're just narrow-minded.
Re:Lucas was a visionary (Score:2)
I can, though i wouldn't reccomend it.
quote (Score:3, Funny)
That is by far the coolest quote I've found on slashdot. I think it really speaks for itself. Someday, I dream of cobbling together such an utterance into such a form.
Re:Lucas was a visionary (Score:2)
Nothing has intrinsic value. Anything that has value has value because a human gave it value. That you only care about putting other people down is what is really sad.
The man deserves it (Score:5, Insightful)
The problem is that most people cannot understand the mind of a visionary and it isn't until long after they fade into irrelevance that they truly become appreciated. So too it is with Lucas, I believe. Many people are so worried about their childhood memories that they cry wolf every time Lucas decides to change a scene. Nevermind the fact that the whole Star Wars universe makes more sense when the updated (Director's Cut, if you will) scenes are added to the films.
Lucas truly does deserve this award not only for what rich memories he brought to us when we were still kids, but also for the memories he gives kids of the future. When we look back in 20 years and reminisce about the Star Wars Nonology we will finally see why Greedo had to shoot first and why Jar Jar was crucial to the story of Anakin Skywalker.
Re:The man deserves it (Score:5, Interesting)
As for Jar-Jar - we're supposed to hate him. He's the dumb bitch who hands the Republic over to Palpatine on a silver platter, so...
Re:The man deserves it (Score:3, Insightful)
The fact remains that it is perfectly possible to create a character that everyone is supposed to hate (say, Governor Tarkin, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, The Emperor himself, and of course all the lesser Empire underlings who were killed along the way) but Jar Jar was simply stupid, and Lucasfilms' mastery of digital effects didn't extend to making him a believable alien. Maybe they could now, renderfarms are bigger nowadays
Re:The man deserves it (Score:3, Insightful)
Look, I don't really like Jar-Jar either, but there's a little more going on in the Phantom Menace than the introduction of Anakin Skywalker.
First and foremost, the story in the Phantom Menace is about Naboo, the Queen, and some cultural changes that need to take place for them to keep their independence. Sure, we watch the movie and know that it's only a small episode in the grand scheme of things, and that what's really important in this movie is the introduction of Darth Vader, the beginning of his rel
Re:The man deserves it (Score:2)
Now, if that's not glowing praise for a film, I don't know what is.
Re:The man deserves it (Score:5, Insightful)
I totally disagree. I have tried not to care about the changes he continues to make, as I have copies of the original release that will keep me happy, but I just can't fathom his decisions. Well... No, that's not quite true.
I took a look at the comparison of the three releases, and the apparently dodgy censorship (the red flashes in the prison scene) and Greedo's shooting first, only appear to be ways of making the film more kid friendly. As of course Jar Jar and the awful slapstick he added in the Mos Eisley approach and other inserts also go to show.
I just can't understand why he is doing this. It removes about thirteen layers from Han's character, making him fairly uninteresting for a start.
It's not that I'm worried about my childhood memories. Like I say, I have the originals, my memories are intact. The problem is, now anyone who hasn't seen the originals will see the new DVD release, and it's not the same movie. I can fully appreciate a director's wish to go back and fix special effects, and even insert some new scenes to expand the scale - like with Mos Eisley. But I'd do it seriously. Adding laughs into those bits is lame and wrong pacewise.
Basically, he's taken his movies, and turned them into a cleaner, more child-friendly franchise. I almost wouldn't be surprised if he does release the unaltered remastered editions to get the rest of the available cash, but that depends on if he's willing to allow such violence to be seen! I've lost pretty much all my respect for the guy, aside from, as someone mentioned, what he did for sound and effects in the industry.
Re:The man deserves it (Score:2)
He's been quoted as saying something to the effect of, (massively paraphrased) "I don't like those movies, the special edition versions are the ones I wanted. If you want the originals I'm sure you can dig them up on VHS somewhere, but it won't be coming from me."
Re:The man deserves it (Score:2, Insightful)
You see, there's the problem. Great stories, and good movies, don't have to 'make sense' in that way. There's a trick in drama called the 'aesthetic distance' where the audience is supposed to 'buy into' the fact that the performance is an approximation, and expand the spectacle themselves, internally in their own mind.
Loose ends, paradoxes, etc. are suppose
Re:The man deserves it (Score:3, Insightful)
First of all, Lucas has made more than 5 movies. Second, Lucas has made more than 5 blockbuster movies. (He had to be doing something right.) Third, not only has he made blockbuster movies, but he's made meaningful movies, such as American Grafitti and THX-1138.
Regarding people's newfound hate of Lucas for his remastering/editin
Re:The man deserves it (Score:2)
OK (Score:2, Funny)
WHY!?!
past winners (Score:5, Informative)
1973 John Ford
1974 James Cagney
1975 Orson Welles
1976 William Wyler
1977 Bette Davis
1978 Henry Fonda
1979 Alfred Hitchcock
1980 James Stewart
1981 Fred Astaire
1982 Frank Capra
1983 John Huston
1984 Lillian Gish
1985 Gene Kelly
1986 Billy Wilder
1987 Barbara Stanwyck
1988 Jack Lemmon
1989 Gregory Peck
1990 Sir David Lean
1991 Kirk Douglas
1992 Sidney Poitier
1993 Elizabeth Taylor
1994 Jack Nicholson
1995 Steven Spielberg
1996 Clint Eastwood
1997 Martin Scorsese
1998 Robert Wise
1999 Dustin Hoffman
2000 Harrison Ford
2001 Barbra Streisand
2002 Tom Hanks
2003 Robert De Niro
2004 Meryl Streep
There are some pretty serious names on that list. My point is, why now? The nostalgia for the first trilogy of films is good and all, but really, they were only 3 movies.
Re:past winners (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:past winners (Score:2)
And keep in mind, he didn't even direct the only one of them that is a halfway decent movie on its own.
Re:past winners (Score:5, Funny)
YES! At least Han _won_ first and Lucas can't change it. ;-)
Re:past winners (Score:3, Funny)
Dude, this is slashdot. Where have you been?
Well deserved (Score:5, Informative)
All these techniques were developed for his projects, and there is not a film made today that does not use them in some way.
He is certainly more deserving than 2001's winner - Barbra Streisand!
Re:Well deserved (Score:2, Insightful)
Good (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Good (Score:5, Funny)
Oh... and I've heard in episode VIII Beau and Luke will run into a group of wrongly accused ex-rebel fighters, named Murdoch, Hannibal, Face, and B.A. Barachus. I pity the fool who misses this movie!
And finally, we might see N-Sync do a cameo in the movie (that would be awesome d00d).
Yeah, Lucas is a hack... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Yeah, Lucas is a hack... (Score:2)
Re:Yeah, Lucas is a hack... (Score:2)
Re:Yeah, Lucas is a hack... (Score:4, Funny)
Throughout my entire life, I was able not to create Jar Jar Binks.
Re:Yeah, Lucas is a hack... (Score:2, Funny)
It's all about special effects... (Score:5, Informative)
I absolutely agree. (Score:4, Insightful)
1. Industrial Light and Magic essentially pioneered the modern age of cinematic special effects. They took "traditional" special effects to new levels of excellence and helped pioneer CGI effects for movies.
2. Pixar pioneered much of what computer animation can do, and under subsequent leadership of Steve Jobs the company has produced several blockbuster hit movies.
3. Lucas Sound helped develop the THX certification for high quality movie presentation in the theaters, and it has extended that certification to DVD mastering, too. A THX-certified DVD tends to have high-quality picture and sound on average.
Hmm... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hmm... (Score:2)
Re:Hmm... (Score:2)
American Graffiti (Score:5, Informative)
Maybe "lifetime" is the wrong word... (Score:4, Insightful)
That's quite a successful run. Maybe not a "lifetime" of achievement, but a bunch of great and/or insanely popular movies in a short period of time.
It's unfortunate that the recent stuff sucks, but he's still got a pretty amazing record.
Who needs a hug? (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, c'mon, don't like that. You'll get yours too, eventually!
Short sighted posters (Score:5, Insightful)
Lets not forget that the award is not for Star Wars but for his achievements to the industry.
Lucas helped found ILM which helped get special effects to the what they are today. Skywalker Sound has contributed to hundreds of films. THX certification got cinemas, film and DVD production quality up.
And personally, I loved Howard the Duck...
Re:Short sighted posters (Score:2)
Re:Short sighted posters (Score:2)
He's done more for the business of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
He created one of the greatest (and first, I believe) movie merchandizing businesses in history. I would question whether there would be so many "Power Ranger Toys" or "Barney" tie-ins if the Star Wars franchise hadn't done been so successful.
He has continually expanded the frontier of digital effects in film-making, and although in recent years his studio's work has been eclipsed by other films (e.g., The Matrix, Shrek, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, etc.), I do believe that nevertheless he deserves credit for the push towards effective uses of digital imagery in cinema.
He has enhanced the audio experience in most large cinemas in operation today (at least in the US). I can't say how many times I've seen "THX-1138" digital surround sound by Dolby--that sound system was developed in conjunction with Lucas' team.
He was first to expand the idea of film sequels (and series) in modern cinema. Would we have had Die Hard, Die Harder were it not for Lucas? Would we have The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions were it not for Lucas? What about Star Trek the Movie I-IV? Back to the Future I-II? If the original trilogy had not been so popular with audiences, would subsequent sequels & series concepts have been developed other major film studios?
There may be other such achievements as well, but with the above I think there is a strong case that Lucas reshaped how the business of movies does it's business.
Re:He's done more for the business of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
I would dispute that.
Pixar really plays to different market segments than Lucas's films, so they haven't really eclipsed Lucas's work. (And to be fair, Pixar itself started out as a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd. It was purchased by Steve Jobs for $10mil in 1986 and rechristened "Pixar".). No Pixar = no Toy Story, and no Toy Story means we probably wouldn't have seen a good wholly computer animated picture yet.
ILM was the special effects studio for Sky Captain and the World fo Tomorrow, so Lucas's company was part of that one.
That leaves the Matrix. Although bullet time generated more buzz than massively digitally created armies of Phantom Menace, it's about equivalent on the revolutionary scale. Matrix got perceived as better by having a more well-executed story.
The fact is engraved into Pixar's HQ: "No amount of technology can turn a bad story into a good one" (Although TPM and AOTC were good stories, poorly told).
Re:He's done more for the business of movies (Score:2)
He has a lot to answer for!
We'll Ignore... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm probably the only one in the world who thinks (Score:2, Informative)
Well, up until the screwed up, and then canceled Sam and Max 2 and Full Throttle.
I will make no other comment (Score:2)
The distributors spat on it at the time.
Considering his subsequent work, I've always figured you want the definition of "embittered cynic" you look up George Lucas.
One Word... (Score:2)
Great Award (Score:2)
Awful Films (Score:2, Flamebait)
In Star Wars, Luke comes off as some petualant child who went to the sooky child school of acting. If was hard to get involved with his badly written character, and Han Solo co
you would think (Score:3, Interesting)
1) Made Sci-fi movies Mainstream
2) Set ground work for technology to make better sci-fi movies
3) Created the most Kick ass Sci-fi movie of it's time.
4) Independant film maker
What's with the haters?
Quite frankly this 'it's big and worth a lot of money so lets hate it attitude has gotten old.' Except for Google. Speak bad about Google and you'll be moderated down to hell.
Re:you would think (Score:3, Funny)
1) Made Sci-fi movies Mainstream
2) Set ground work for technology to make better sci-fi movies
3) Created the most Kick ass Sci-fi movie of it's time.
4) Independant film maker
You forgot:
5) PROFIT!
(disclaimer: I've loved Lucas' work since THX1138, and think he deserves the award. But this is Slashdot, and the rules clearly state that All Lists Must End With Profit)
Although ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:This is embarassing (Score:3, Interesting)
Some folks around here have taken to hating Lucas with a sort of religious zeal and nothing you can say will change that. I grew up with Star Wars as a massive component of my life, and I think the new ve