George Lucas Wants Press, and You Just Gave It to Him

For a guy the Internet claims they can't stand, they can't stop talking about him. Look, George Lucas is a smart guy. He wouldn't have been able to turn his low-budget Flash Gordon-inspired, space opera adventure serial into the biggest film series if he wasn't. He knows exactly what he's doing when he makes provocative statements as he just did recently to Heat Vision, regarding the tired debate of Han Solo shooting first in Star Wars. You know it's topical when there are t-shirts about it.

Cut to many movie-news/commentary outlets (Many of whom I read and the webmasters I interact with on a regular basis and consider good, smart guys) getting up and arms and further bringing into discussion how out of his mind Lucas is.

Here's the thing though, fellas. Old George knew exactly what he was doing by saying that. He knew you'd all get livid and give him press...because that's exactly what he wanted. Not to mention, he's said this stuff about Greedo shooting first before. Many times over the years since he first made that change to the original Star Wars in 1997.

Like I said, Lucas is a smart guy. The Phantom Menace is back in theaters today, now in 3D, and all the attention/press it can get, the better in Lucas' mind. He's not wrong thinking that. But right now, it's all about riling up the hardcore fans that grew up adoring Star Wars, Empire and Jedi. Oh sure, they were angry Lucas tinkered with the trilogy for the Blu-Ray releases, for the umpteenth time. Yet most of those fans shouting the loudest I guarantee bought the damn Blu-Rays. He's just going to keep egging you guys on until the inevitable time comes when he gives the go-ahead on releasing the original trilogy in their unchanged forms with state of the art sound and picture transfers and talk up how "wrong he was to deprive fans of what they really wanted," or some nonsense to that effect. And he'll have played you all for suckers.

By complaining this loud, all you're doing is giving him more power, guys. Next time, Lucas makes another remark like this, just ignore it.