George Lucas, on his own, made a wonderful and iconic trilogy, and he certainly will be remembered as a visionary with a massively successful story.
However, let's look at his career. He got his break with a movie that is really not good, American Graffiti. It was an instant hit at the time due to Lucas' ability to target a particular generation (those in high school in the late 1950s/early 1960s) at a time in their lives when they felt a nostalgia for their high school years. I have yet to find a lot of people in younger generations who have any strongly positive feelings about the movie.
Then let's look at the Star Wars trilogy. Lucas only directed the first movie of the trilogy (in fact, according to Wikipedia, Lucas has only directed six movies in his entire life). And while he wrote the screenplays for all three, let's not forget how bad some of the lines really are. He directed and wrote all three of the second trilogy, but I think we can agree that, although commercially a success, the writing was even worse and the movies had mixed reviews.
He also wrote the screenplays for all the Indiana Jones movies (including the fourth one that many wished never existed).
Other than that, he hasn't really done much except act as a producer (read: paid for the movies in question).
He certainly isn't "the most influential filmmaker of all time". His studio may have had an influence, but again, that's not Lucas, that's a studio he set up.
If I had to pick someone, I'd pick Martin Scorsese. His movies are at once blockbusters, entertaining, and also significant in a deeper sense.
Look at his first big movie: Mean Streets, for which he was the director, writer and producer. While not as fully developed as later pictures, it certainly beats American Graffiti in all categories, and it launched De Niro's career. Then let's look further
As writer, director and producer:
Goodfellas
As writer and director:
Raging Bull
The Last Temptation of Christ (co-writer)
Casino
The Age of Innocence
As director:
Taxi Driver
The Color of Money
Cape Fear (remake)
Gangs of New York
The Departed
He has directed 22 films (to Lucas' six) and almost every single one is nominated for awards as well as making a decent showing at the box office.
Other options that easily beat Lucas in terms of significance include Coppola (who directed about 27 films by my count, produced countless more, including Lucas' dubious American Graffiti, is known for such classics as The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and was the screenwriter for Patton), Woody Allen (over 40 movies and he keeps going, so many nominations for awards I can't even begin to name them all), or Hell, how about John Ford, who directed over 140 movies, including greats like Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath? What about Spielberg, who directed all the Indiana Jones movies but did tons of other iconic movies, like Schindler's List, Jaws, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, who wrote Poltergeist?
Lucas had one big hit, and yes, it was huge, particularly when we look at the residuals (the toys, the books, the cartoons, the costumes, the comic books, the fandom, the geekdom), and yes, his special effects studio is now ubiquitous, but as a filmmaker? No way. Not even close.
However, let's look at his career. He got his break with a movie that is really not good, American Graffiti. It was an instant hit at the time due to Lucas' ability to target a particular generation (those in high school in the late 1950s/early 1960s) at a time in their lives when they felt a nostalgia for their high school years. I have yet to find a lot of people in younger generations who have any strongly positive feelings about the movie.
Then let's look at the Star Wars trilogy. Lucas only directed the first movie of the trilogy (in fact, according to Wikipedia, Lucas has only directed six movies in his entire life). And while he wrote the screenplays for all three, let's not forget how bad some of the lines really are. He directed and wrote all three of the second trilogy, but I think we can agree that, although commercially a success, the writing was even worse and the movies had mixed reviews.
He also wrote the screenplays for all the Indiana Jones movies (including the fourth one that many wished never existed).
Other than that, he hasn't really done much except act as a producer (read: paid for the movies in question).
He certainly isn't "the most influential filmmaker of all time". His studio may have had an influence, but again, that's not Lucas, that's a studio he set up.
If I had to pick someone, I'd pick Martin Scorsese. His movies are at once blockbusters, entertaining, and also significant in a deeper sense.
Look at his first big movie: Mean Streets, for which he was the director, writer and producer. While not as fully developed as later pictures, it certainly beats American Graffiti in all categories, and it launched De Niro's career. Then let's look further
As writer, director and producer:
Goodfellas
As writer and director:
Raging Bull
The Last Temptation of Christ (co-writer)
Casino
The Age of Innocence
As director:
Taxi Driver
The Color of Money
Cape Fear (remake)
Gangs of New York
The Departed
He has directed 22 films (to Lucas' six) and almost every single one is nominated for awards as well as making a decent showing at the box office.
Other options that easily beat Lucas in terms of significance include Coppola (who directed about 27 films by my count, produced countless more, including Lucas' dubious American Graffiti, is known for such classics as The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and was the screenwriter for Patton), Woody Allen (over 40 movies and he keeps going, so many nominations for awards I can't even begin to name them all), or Hell, how about John Ford, who directed over 140 movies, including greats like Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath? What about Spielberg, who directed all the Indiana Jones movies but did tons of other iconic movies, like Schindler's List, Jaws, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, who wrote Poltergeist?
Lucas had one big hit, and yes, it was huge, particularly when we look at the residuals (the toys, the books, the cartoons, the costumes, the comic books, the fandom, the geekdom), and yes, his special effects studio is now ubiquitous, but as a filmmaker? No way. Not even close.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
This message last edited by Tom on 18/10/2012 at 10:19:46 PM
When the career of George Lucas is reviewed, will he be the most influential film-maker of all time?
10/10/2012 12:27:59 AM
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Shrug. He might be the most influential special-effects artist *NM*
10/10/2012 08:43:05 AM
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It is going to be the same way with Steve Jobs
10/10/2012 02:38:25 PM
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Steve Jobs shouldn't be remembered for the Apple II, it was Woz's creation.
18/10/2012 04:37:38 AM
- 587 Views
He deserves all the credit he gets, he's a superior artist to his pals Spielberg & Coppola
10/10/2012 04:15:29 PM
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My point is that his greatest contribution is horrifically overlooked.
11/10/2012 06:14:53 AM
- 645 Views
Hell has frozen over
11/10/2012 04:31:56 PM
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I'm going to start making a list of people who say stuff like this to me.
12/10/2012 03:48:36 AM
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That's giving a single man way too much credit and influence, and under the wrong title
12/10/2012 01:13:07 AM
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I'm not sure the OP was saying he was the most influential director
12/10/2012 08:34:02 PM
- 667 Views
Pretty sure I said film-maker. (Checks the Subject line.) Yep, I did. *NM*
15/10/2012 05:28:50 AM
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That's precisely the problem. You said filmmaker, not effects studio owner. *NM*
18/10/2012 10:31:26 PM
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Re: That's precisely the problem. You said filmmaker, not effects studio owner.
19/10/2012 03:46:33 PM
- 644 Views
Short answer, no.
15/10/2012 06:19:52 PM
- 725 Views
So who beats him out?
16/10/2012 02:23:19 AM
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Thats the point, he didn't actually change anything; he demanded that others change things.
16/10/2012 02:35:03 PM
- 794 Views
You have a strange definition of influence.
16/10/2012 09:55:59 PM
- 667 Views
Not really, influence is somthing actively done, his role was too passive.
17/10/2012 03:23:40 PM
- 707 Views
Spielburg, Howard, Coppola, Tarrentino... There is a long list, even only among the modern filmakers *NM*
16/10/2012 02:39:28 PM
- 332 Views
Maybe, no, no, and no. Lucas had a much bigger impact that any of the film-makers .....
18/10/2012 04:40:41 AM
- 614 Views
Absolutely not.
18/10/2012 10:19:20 PM
- 790 Views