[Devout Catalyst]

I'll start off the thread by listing two of the most egregious examples:

1.) Boba Fett. I remember reading interviews with Lucas, pre-PT, in which he confessed to being mystified by the overwhelming popularity of Boba Fett. If I recall correctly, Lucas even referred to him as a "nothing character." Maybe that's why he polished him off so abruptly in ROTJ.

So what did he do with this "nothing character"? He created a whole backstory for him. And a lame one at that, which seems like nothing more than an afterthought. And then what did Lucas do? Promptly abandoned the character yet again.

It's pretty obvious that the only reason Boba Fett figured into the PT at all was because there was a massive fan base for the character, and Lucas wanted to take advantage of it somehow.

2.) Jar Jar Binks. Here we see the polar opposite of the Boba Fett phenomenon--George Lucas diminished the role of the character in response to fan disapproval.

While I'm willing to grant that Jar Jar's role would have been diminished anyway (it's hard to see how he could have figured into the rest of the trilogy), I have no doubt that Lucas would have employed the character as alleged "comic relief" to a far greater degree, had there not been such a huge outcry of hatred for the Gungan among the general public.

I'm sure there are plenty of other examples that others can come up with....

This post has been edited by Devout Catalyst: 23 May 2005 - 10:22 PM

[Renegade]

Not only did he pander to fans, but he also pandered to his own CHARACTERS. Samual L Jackson had no right to demand stupid shit like a purple lightsaber or dying "cool". When Harrison Ford (someone who actually had a REAL valuable character, plus knew how to act) asked to die in ROTJ, Lucas rejected him.

Then all of a sudden Sam L Jackson makes demands and Lucas is like OK ILL CHANGE THE STORY SO YOU CAN BE HAPPY. WTF?

[diligent_d]

I'm surprised he didn't put Darth fucking Timberlake in one of the movies.

[ernesttomlinson]

He didn't have to - Darth fuckin' Christensen is every bit as bad.

[Bohrok Awakener]

I agree that Lucas allowing Samual L. Jackson to have exactly what he wants is a stretch. If Lucas was going to come up with a crap idea like Mace having a multicoloured lightsaber that shot out blaster bolts, then Jackson would be right to step in. But Jackson's ego got the better of him, and he demanded a stupid purple lightsaber when everyone else had a green or blue one. Huh? Is Mace really that great? No, he isn't. The shit about him going out in a cool death scene was dumb, too - it's obvious that Jackson only cares about himself in these movies.

I was pleasently surprised that Jar Jar had no real lines of dialogue in Revenge of the Sith. I was half-expecting him to have a regrets scene, where he breaks down because the Empire's creation was all his fault. Now I think about it, that may actually have been an okay idea. Especially if he had to sacrafice himself in a violent, brutal manner.

[Richard]

I agree with everything said in this thread.

What irritates me is that he has no reason at all to do what 'the fans' want. He should have a vision of what Star Wars is, and he should follow that. It's his story. So why does it matter what a bunch of kids or critics have to say about it? I think it shows that he himself doesn't care about the continuity or about the original movies.

For instance, apparently he was worried about the religious implications etc. How is that his problem? Bah I just don't get it. I don't see why he'd want to change it just to satisfy whoever made that complaint. And who cares anyway. Plus the force has always seemed like at least like a spiritual thing, meditation, realization etc, and it can almost be compared to religion, although there is no real worship or belief in a higher being. But I don't see why there is harm in this comparison.

[Twig Bear]

The shit about him going out in a cool death scene was dumb, too - it's obvious that Jackson only cares about himself in these movies.

Can you blame him? Its obvious that Lucas didn't care about the characters... or anything else apart from fancy 3D stuff.

[Devout Catalyst]

What irritates me is that he has no reason at all to do what 'the fans' want. He should have a vision of what Star Wars is, and he should follow that. It's his story. So why does it matter what a bunch of kids or critics have to say about it? I think it shows that he himself doesn't care about the continuity or about the original movies.

Yep, that's exactly it.

I would have a lot more respect for him if he just followed his vision, period. Maybe the PT would have been better that way, or maybe not, but at least GL would have integrity.

But no. Instead, Lucas talks a good game about "not caring" what everyone thinks and claiming that he did the PT on his "own terms," but then he so obviously tries to cater to everyone. Honestly, I think that's what all this harkening back to the OT and beating the audience over the head with ham-fisted foreshadowing boil down to. "Wow, the audience loved the OT. Better make sure they know they're watching a Star Wars movie."

[Richard]

The crazy thing is, no matter WHAT he did, everyone in the world would go and see Star Wars. So he may as well do what he thinks is best and be true to himself.