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Science Explains Why You Hate George Lucas

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Science Explains Why You Hate George Lucas

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The posse of Bill Nye may be able to explain why nerds hate the Star Wars creator, but they still can't justify midichlorians.

The George Lucas of my childhood is a brilliant visionary that brought us the joy of lightsaber duels, bringing guns to sword fights and the single greatest throwaway character in sci-fi history, Admiral Ackbar. It's the George Lucas that brought us Lucasarts and in turn, all those incredible point-and-click adventure games. If it weren't for George Lucas, we wouldn't have the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland, and then what would you use your quick pass on?

Unfortunately, it's the same George Lucas that brought us a world of midichlorians, Jar Jar Binks and the rape of Indiana Jones. Anything good you can say about the man is crushed under knowing that, were it not for the Star Wars prequels, our memories of Transformers, GI Joe and more wouldn't be so rife for ruining. I hate George Lucas, but at least now, there's science to back it up.

"Every time you recall a memory it may become subtly altered and associated with what ever it was that triggered that old memory," explains Very Evolved. "If this trigger happens repeatedly, then you're adding new layer of interpretation that will be recalled automatically with the old memory next time it's called up."

"A great example of this in action that also demonstrates fluid nostalgia, is the backlash against George Lucas. A large portion of 70's and 80's children had grown up owning Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader figures and playing in the backyard pretending sticks were light sabers. Fond childhood memories.

"When the first abysmal Star Wars prequel was released the strong feelings against the film weren't just those of disappointment at a bad movie. If it were that simple, we should also feel the same way about Police Academy 7."

So really, this could happen with just about anything. For example, my fists wash over cold every time I see my old videogame favorites exploited for hipster chic. It's just easier to blame everything on Lucas.

Via: io9

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So science has proved George is a prick?

TsunamiWombat:
So science has proved George is a prick?

No all the crappy movies he's been making lately proves he's a prick.

Meh, never was a fan of either Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

all science is showing me now is, that it misses the point, and often times delves too deep into what should be a completely obvious justification.

Another scientific reason: Lucas is getting older, and I believe his advancing age and the amount of time he spent sitting at a desk writing and reading late have addled his mind to the point where he doesn't know what's going on anymore.

TsunamiWombat:
So science has proved George is a prick?

I didn't need science to tell me that.

My theory is that we hate him most of all for creating an awsome fictional universe, only for science to prove that half the stuff in "cooland" is most likely physically impossible and even then the cool stuff that may be possible will most likely not existice in our lifetime. My point is that he got our hopes up for a cool sci-fi futrue, only for us to be thourly dissapointed that we most likely will never experience said future. I still think that the films were pretty cool though.

zombiepandaman:

TsunamiWombat:
So science has proved George is a prick?

No all the crappy movies he's been making lately proves he's a prick.

Science simply proved his movies are crap. :D

This is old psychology news, but I never even thought to apply it to Lucas.

I may be fifteen, but I realize what a lot of adults had to go through. I grew up with those movies, and then... Jar Jar happened... I still shudder at the thought.

Ugh, why does everyone think the prequels are so bad? They're ten times better than the originals just by having a somewhat coherent plot line. And before you say anything, yes I am aware that the original movies did unheard of things in terms of special effects. Yay for them, they still suck.

Science- man kinds Best freind(Especially When Cloning Dogs)

Funny, I think this sh*t might be right. I used to love episode 4, 5 & 6 and was totally hyped when I heard episode 1, 2 & 3 were coming out. After episode 1 came out I became disenfranchised with the whole series and only managed to sit through 2 & 3 because my friends gave a damn (and because I was secretly hoping to see Natalie Portman in the buff). Now I can't sit through any of them, not even Empire Strikes Back which was my favorite Star Wars movie (and favorite movie over all for a long time). I think episodes 1, 2 & 3 might have ruined all things Lucas for me (and Natalie Portman, lol). I would have never blamed it on nostalgia; I just thought I hated the use of CG in movies (I maintain that the effects were better when it was all models and double exposures). Now I have to mull this over.

Jeigan:
Ugh, why does everyone think the prequels are so bad? They're ten times better than the originals just by having a somewhat coherent plot line. And before you say anything, yes I am aware that the original movies did unheard of things in terms of special effects. Yay for them, they still suck.

I see you like Jar Jar.

NooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Pigeon_Grenade:
Science- man kinds Best freind(Especially When Cloning Dogs)

That's one hell of a hard to understand sentence. EspecIAllY wiTh thE RaNdoM CapiTAlizATion.

Jeigan:
Ugh, why does everyone think the prequels are so bad? They're ten times better than the originals just by having a somewhat coherent plot line. And before you say anything, yes I am aware that the original movies did unheard of things in terms of special effects. Yay for them, they still suck.

...? How did the originals not have a coherent plot? And how do the new ones, with the teenage angst of young Vader, the politics of boredom, and Jar-Jar Binks make them better than the first ones, especially given the only angst from Luke is flatly told to stop being a dumb ass?

Doug:

Jeigan:
Ugh, why does everyone think the prequels are so bad? They're ten times better than the originals just by having a somewhat coherent plot line. And before you say anything, yes I am aware that the original movies did unheard of things in terms of special effects. Yay for them, they still suck.

...? How did the originals not have a coherent plot? And how do the new ones, with the teenage angst of young Vader, the politics of boredom, and Jar-Jar Binks make them better than the first ones, especially given the only angst from Luke is flatly told to stop being a dumb ass?

Totally, agree. The plots of the new movies couldn't even be sufficiently described as "clusterfucks'.
You're reducing the originals only to special effects? Maybe you also cherish the lancer as something better than the lighsaber...

TsunamiWombat:
So science has proved George is a prick?

You needed proof?

Let's be fair. Through fresh eyes, the original trilogy (IV-VI) has its fair share of issues. (I mean, come on. Ewoks.) But a whole lot of the prequel trilogy looks like Lucas just threw some ideas (angsty kid destined for the Dark Side, pretty princess love interest, zany sidekick designed to sell toys) into the Story-Creator-Izer-O-Tron, let it print out a rough draft script and went straight to shooting. Seriously... "midichlorians"? Huh?

It also didn't help things that Hayden Christensen's acting was flat and wooden enough to make a 2x4 jealous. He basically took what was supposed to be a slow, morally-conflicted descent into evil and turned it into a brooding emofest.

So does this mean The Nostalgia Critic is a scientific experiment?

Maybe it's just too early, but I don't grok what this guy is saying. Let me see if I understand: our memories of Star Wars are fond, so when we went to see the prequels, those fond memories were conjured up, and our fond memories of the original compounded our reaction to the prequel. Is that right?

I find Lucas to be a fine storyteller, but not a very good writer. The prequels would have been much better if he had produced them, drew up a narrative sketch for all three, and let somebody else write and direct them.

level250geek:
Maybe it's just too early, but I don't grok what this guy is saying. Let me see if I understand: our memories of Star Wars are fond, so when we went to see the prequels, those fond memories were conjured up, and our fond memories of the original compounded our reaction to the prequel. Is that right?

If I've got it right, that's the first half of it as that's the classic description of nostalgia. The second half is that our memories of the original trilogy get associated with the sense of disappointment in the newer trilogy and are retroactively "tainted" by that feeling... the whole "my childhood is being mauled" thing seems to have a basis in medical fact.

Hunh.

-- Steve

Science rules.
Oh well, I'll still always cherish growing up on Episodes 4-6.
(Original) Star Wars FTW!

Someday I plan to buy replica stormtrooper armor. Not even the Lucas can make me hate Stormtroopers.

But I don't hate George Lucas!

On the other hand the first Star Wars movie I saw was Episode I, which I liked.

I don't hate George Lucas for trying to make more money, I hate George Lucas for not making The Force Unleashed worth the money I paid for it, but then again, I did get a full refund at EB games because of a deal they were running :)

So its officialy proven now? lol

level250geek:
I find Lucas to be a fine storyteller, but not a very good writer. The prequels would have been much better if he had produced them, drew up a narrative sketch for all three, and let somebody else write and direct them.

I agree. Having watched all six as a "grown up", I think 5 (Empire) was the best for acting and character development of the series. The way Han and Leia interact and their relationship takes root, the way Luke really starts to grow up. That was some good story production. And Lucas didn't direct.

Compare the "You like me because I'm a scoundrel" scene with "Ever since you came back into my life, I've been dying", if you dare.

the 80's transformer animated movie is a classic example of this, when i saw this in the 80's it was amazing, seeing optimus prime getting blown to bits was jarring, fast forward to 2005 my brother picked it up on dvd, and it was pretty crap to say the least. but i remember it being so unbelievably awesome.

TsunamiWombat:
So science has proved George is a prick?

actually no it's saying that all the fans that dump on Lucas are the pricks not him.

it's saying that fans hyped up both Indy and Star Wars in their minds so much and made it seem "so awesome and teh best evah" that no matter how good something is newer additions to the story won't live up.

it's something i've said for a while, Star Wars is a mediocre but well written story at best, it's cheesy sci-fi based on the old pulp serials from the 40s/50s which is what the new Clone Wars show is

the other thing that's in there is it's become "cool" to say he sucks and when you actually point out just how on par the original is with the prequels most don't have a response.

Brotherofwill:

Doug:

Jeigan:
Ugh, why does everyone think the prequels are so bad? They're ten times better than the originals just by having a somewhat coherent plot line. And before you say anything, yes I am aware that the original movies did unheard of things in terms of special effects. Yay for them, they still suck.

...? How did the originals not have a coherent plot? And how do the new ones, with the teenage angst of young Vader, the politics of boredom, and Jar-Jar Binks make them better than the first ones, especially given the only angst from Luke is flatly told to stop being a dumb ass?

Totally, agree. The plots of the new movies couldn't even be sufficiently described as "clusterfucks'.
You're reducing the originals only to special effects? Maybe you also cherish the lancer as something better than the lighsaber...

the only clusterfucks are the fans, seriously Lucas told everyone what the story was YEARS before hand for the prequels. it's the fans that made it bad because they had the totally wrong idea about the stories

when Lucas did interviews for Star Wars most ppl heard this "blah blah blah new Star Wars blah blah blah awesome blah blah blah Star Wars blah blah blah" and not much else besides that

as for bad characters and ruining things in the originals, well there's whiny emo Luke and then of course as the Simpsons put it oh so succinctly "the gay robots from Star Wars" aka C3P0 and R2D2. if you think that Jar Jar was bad, just ask older ppl what they thought of golly gee Luke and his annoying robot sidekicks. the Simpsons, especially in earlier seasons put in rather funny and hidden jokes and social references that were still funny if you didn't understand the joke, ie the gay robots from Star Wars one, because there were a LOT of ppl who think that C3P0 and R2D2 ruined the whole original trilogy

I love George Lucas and I think anyone that honestly hates him is a complete and utter retard.

I mean, I'm not a fan of the prequels myself, but come on; the man gave us two of the greatest movie franchises ever created (Star Wars and Indiana Jones). Uwe Boll doesn't get anywhere near the amount of hate that George Lucas gets, which is really fucking pathetic.

CyberKnight:
I agree. Having watched all six as a "grown up", I think 5 (Empire) was the best for acting and character development of the series. The way Han and Leia interact and their relationship takes root, the way Luke really starts to grow up. That was some good story production. And Lucas didn't direct.

Compare the "You like me because I'm a scoundrel" scene with "Ever since you came back into my life, I've been dying", if you dare.

Oof. I have the same impression. I had the first vhs set of the director's cut. The one with three new effects, and some polishing, but without the extra and altered scenes. And I think that was the best way to do it. It made sense - if you really wanted to brush the movies so they would look more modern (without the Gorgon Sarlac monster, the shaky focus on the Star Destroyers, the clearly painted in laser blast and saber sparks a few times, that kind of thing). And just with doing that - it's not Shakespeare, but it's not a bad set of films.

So it was ok - I had seen the originals right before that (when I was 12 or something), but episode five of that first special edition was still the film I liked best, with the others being entirely watchable. And I mean, I confidently can put on this movie and know that any kid will like it. It's a really great adventure film.

And I can't do the same with episode 1-3. I mean, these films are violent for one. They have a war, and it's fine because Jar-jar is running around being a clown? It's like watching a fake smile, and someone telling you that it's all right when something clearly terrible is going on. At the same time, you have Anakin who seems depressed and angsty, like any other kid will be at some point and recognise - and you know that he's going to be evil. It's not clear whether he's that way from the beginning, or that it develops over time.

But these films are apparently geared towards the same teenager appeal as the first four..? With the full endorsement of Lucas and friends? :/

level250geek:
Maybe it's just too early, but I don't grok what this guy is saying. Let me see if I understand: our memories of Star Wars are fond, so when we went to see the prequels, those fond memories were conjured up, and our fond memories of the original compounded our reaction to the prequel. Is that right?

I find Lucas to be a fine storyteller, but not a very good writer. The prequels would have been much better if he had produced them, drew up a narrative sketch for all three, and let somebody else write and direct them.

here here at last some 1 who sees thru the mire.

CyberKnight:

level250geek:
I find Lucas to be a fine storyteller, but not a very good writer. The prequels would have been much better if he had produced them, drew up a narrative sketch for all three, and let somebody else write and direct them.

I agree. Having watched all six as a "grown up", I think 5 (Empire) was the best for acting and character development of the series. The way Han and Leia interact and their relationship takes root, the way Luke really starts to grow up. That was some good story production. And Lucas didn't direct.

Compare the "You like me because I'm a scoundrel" scene with "Ever since you came back into my life, I've been dying", if you dare.

when Lucas directs his actors can only do 1 expression hammy.it borders on cheesy aka natalie portman scrunching her face whilst asking anakin if he had really killed younglings. there seems to be no room to express the full spectrum of phychological development with his characters or his direction. bottom line is as said he is a great ideas man but can't exucute his own ideas.

Yu can see geroges utter sellout into kiddie commercial garbage, by return of the jedi, hence the ewoks. But star wars, end the best of the lot empire, were solid teen/adult movies.

What is really baffling about the prequls is the fact the script seemed like it was written buy a grade schooler with stuff just making 0 sense, dialogue that no adult would buy, characters that had no emotion or chemistry because they were acting in empty rooms, but the content of the movies was VERY dark, annikin killing women and children, tuscans, humans, aliens, etc.

Go watch redlettermedia's reviews of the star wars films and it covers each and every one of the movies horrid storytelling horrid character, horrid fights, horrid marketing, and so on.

Lucas sold his soul to making toys and underoos, and lunchboxes and stuffed animals and yadda yadda, and lost and sense of the renegade film director, that burst on the scene and had so much promise.

Consider this speilberg and lucas hit the scene about the same time and had the same ahh factor when they first broke out, people thought both these guys would be huge in the years to come. speilberg makes art, lucas makes money.

 
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