With Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull due out on May 22, George Lucas wants everyone to know that it's "just a movie." I did think the unused tagline "This will be the greatest piece of visual material your eyes will ever witness" was just a tad too much. Instead, I like "George Lucas says 'it's just a movie'" a whole lot better. USA Today sat down with The Lucas to talk about the hype surrounding this fourth installment, and how similar hype (with regards to those newer Star Wars flicks) has hurt the way fans have viewed the films in the past.
He says, "When you do a movie like this, a sequel that's very, very anticipated, people anticipate ultimately that it's going to be the Second Coming. And it's not. It's just a movie. Just like the other movies. You probably have fond memories of the other movies. But if you went back and looked at them, they might not hold up the same way your memory holds up." Really? Sure, I'll give you Speed 2: Cruise Control, but Raiders of the Lost Ark holds up quite well, IMO. He continues, "We came back to do (Indy) because we wanted to have fun. It's not going to make much money for us in the end. We all have some money. ... It would make a lot of money if you weren't rich. But we're not doing it for the money."
I absolutely love the line ... "it would make a lot of money if you weren't rich." Yeah, thanks George for reminding us that half a billion dollars (or more, probably) is, like, the equivalent of a couple nickels and dimes for you. Indiana Jones and the Quest for More Money No One Needs arrives in theaters on May 22.
p.s. Is it just me, or is anyone else dying to spot Lucas wearing a "Don't Believe the Hype" t-shirt?
Insert Caption: Indiana Jones DVDs_thumbnail.jpg)
Cinematical Seven: When an Animated Series Goes Live Action ... and Gets it Right_thumbnail.jpg)
Full 'G.I. Joe' Cast Photos!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-25-2008 @ 2:24PM
Mike said...
He's going to catch a lot of flack for these comments, but personally, I found them light hearted and refreshingly honest.
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 2:25PM
GL said...
He has such a way with words.
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 2:34PM
Liam said...
George gave you his honest opinion of what to expect from the movie. I agree. How many times have you gone to see a flick that was supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread and what do you get..."a lot of mold". You sit there with the credits rolling saying to yourself..."that's it?", and then you get mad, very mad. Thanks George for telling it like it is...it's just a movie. Nothing more, nothing less.
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 2:59PM
Joseph said...
Nothing can top seeing George Lucas wearing a "Han Shot First Tshirt" on the set of Indiana Jones. O priceless irony.
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 3:11PM
david copeland said...
This could smack of a little bit of hesitation on Lucas's behalf, based on how the rabid masses got all worked up over a little stinker of a movie called 'Episode I:The Phantom Menace"...
I don't know if Spielberg or Lucas can recapture that feeling of old when the first 3 came out, but there's no doubt that people are hoping they can.
Still, his comments are disconcerting...
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 3:34PM
Kevin said...
It seems like every interview Lucas does he has to have some sort of underhanded comment about Star Wars. He's always blaming the fans for expecting too much of those films, like its our fault that they weren't well received, and he never acknowledges the poor dialogue, bad casting, and awful plot points that came out in those prequels. What he doesn't seem to realize is the fact that people hoping for a great movie is a GOOD THING. It doesn't mean that if you make a great movie people will be upset. If he could get over himself and look honestly at some of his mistakes with the prequels he could work on not making them again. And if he does that, and makes an Indy 4 flick thats on par with the others, then people aren't going to be disappoint/angry/etc. they are going to be ecstatic.
Reply
3-25-2008 @ 3:54PM
Robert said...
So you're saying you have fond memories of Speed 2? lame.
Reply