October 25, 2005

Giving George Lucas a Little Credit.

I like to rag on George Lucas. A lot. Oh sure, he's made some pretty solid movies that you've probably heard of. And he seems to be the reverend of all polished facial hair everywhere. So why the ragging? I dunno. I'm sure I could start out with a list, but we all know what I'd list before you got close to reading it. And some people would do that whole "you're just jealous" angle - which isn't the case, spare his facial hair talent. I mean, zing.

However, I was recently enlightened to something that George Lucas was pretty much a pioneer of. Not Blockbuster movies, not special effects, not 24 frames per second filming, not ILM, not digital theatres, not THX sound - none of that stuff. -I mean, who gives a crap about that piddly stuff anyway? I mean really.

So what was it that George did? Well, I'll let ya.. he got in a big pile of cow flop for doing it too. Got fined, what was it? Either a quarter million Or half a million.. I can't remember, either way, it was enough that if I had it, I might actually be able to impress a lady. And her family. Of Twins. Never mind....

Anyway, I'm glad that this little move of George's caught on, and I'll always have a little sliver of thanks for George whenever I see it, because I freaking love it... and that's simply: No Opening Credits.

That's it. No Opening Credits: Sit down. Bang. Movie Starts. George's Fault.
Granted, today it's: Sit Down. Watch feminine products. Watch cars driving. Watch almost everything else. THEN the movie starts, but that's another issue altogether.

I don't hate credits. In fact, I occasionally stay after and WATCH the credits. No really. And when people use the opening credits for the film's purpose like David Fincher of David Lynch does, then hey, Jim-Dandy. However, nothin' beats a movie that says 'Welcome!' and immediately packs movie up your hoop.

Perhaps that's a bad image.

All in all: Go George Go.
(oh...and quit fixing things that aren't broke)


Posted by at October 25, 2005 04:06 AM


Comments

Of course, anyone who's ever seen "Citizen Kane" will know Orson Welles beat George Lucas to that particular punch by over three and a half decades.

Are you also going to thank the Salkinds for beginning the trend of ridiculously long end credits listing everyone who had the slightest input into the film with "Superman" now?

Posted by: James Russell at October 25, 2005 09:28 AM

Hey James,

True... but Citizen Kane did it back in the day before you could have your ass fined or sued for NOT putting the opening credits in by the writters and directors guilds.

Lucas was a trail blazer in a new world where the rules were different.

Cheers!

Posted by: John Campea at October 25, 2005 10:01 AM

Star Wars is probably the best example of "no opening credits" in recent memory. You also have to give George props for making his little independent film outside of the Hollywood mainstream and for sharing the profits of the films with his employees.

He may have lost a lot of his "creative genius" over the years, but he's still a good guy ;)

Posted by: Alter Ego Comics at October 25, 2005 12:13 PM