Raiders of the Empty Box

If there were a Gorge Lucas talking doll, nine times out of ten when you pulled the string it would probably say “think outside the box”*.
Ironically the fact that he needs to repeat this phrase so much indicates it is not something he actually does.
In preparation for the upcoming film, Indiana Jones and the The Kingdome of the Crystal Scull. I decided to watch the bonus material disc for the Indiana Jones “trilogy”.
As I did so one thing became clear to me, Gorge Lucas has not lost his touch; but rather it seems more likely that he never had much real talent to begin with. The script for “Raiders” was written by a mirepoix in which it seems Lucas was the celery. The film was directed by Spielberg, the character was realized by Ford, and John Williams gave Indy his most enduring quality. Even Jones’ name (probably Lucas’ most significant contribution to the project) was not entirely his creation.
Lucas does have a real talent for marketing and promoting…especially himself. The problem came when he actually began to believe his own propaganda. He actually started believing he was the one producing the cinematic art. Instead of surrounding himself with truly brilliant talent, who could turn his barest husk of an idea (which he had probably raided from some comic book or cereal any way) and turn it into something worth watching over and over again. He began surrounding himself with yes-men, trained seals, honking and clapping at his insipid drivel for their lousy peace of fish. As a result very little true art has come out of Lucasfilm since "Raiders" and I expect none from the new film. But no matter how empty Lucas' art box may be, there is another box he never thinks outside of, the box-office. I am sure that, thanks to Lucas' true talent, that box will be full.


*The other 1/10 would probably be “poodoo”.