Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

If by "experimental films" he means original ideas/stories, that is sad, but true. I only go to see about 5-6 movies in a given calendar year, most of which are between May & July. But most of these will be sequels to established franchises, or based on existing material I am already a fan of.

That's all just...LIES. It's lies. If George Lucas REALLY wanted to make experimental movies, he would. He's a billionaire ($5.1 billion net worth). He could afford to self-fund a small little experimental movie. He doesn't WANT to, if he did, he'd have done it by now. His recent, non-Star Wars movies (with varying levels of involvement) are:
Indiana Jones 4
Red Tails
Strange Magic

That's in 10 years. And NONE of those are experimental movies.

Not trying to defend him, I know he is caught up in his own thinking but... Other than Indy 4, I have never heard of those other two films. If they are not original or "Experimental" films, perhaps in his skewed since they are, and if they failed, he doesn't want to try.

If I had Billions, I'd make films for both myself (where I didn't care what anyone thought), and also other films for fans (assuming I had any ). Sure nobody likes to be negatively criticized, but if the films are "for you" then who cares? I think he wants to be liked, which is only natural, much more so than he lets on, which is sad.

I'm having a Lucas/Star Wars marathon before The Force Awakens. What really struck me for the first time is the pseudo-documentary tone THX, American Graffiti and the original Star Wars have. Graffiti I feel is his best film, and it makes me curious for the first time to check out the sequel More American Graffiti.

With Lucas out of the director's chair for Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, those movies have a more traditional cinematic feel to them. Which is quite fine and everything, Empire is about as classy and well made as a big movie like this can get. It moves in ways no other Star Wars films does. It's remembered as the 'dark' one, but it's also quite funny in places to balance this out. I think a lot of modern movies (especially sequels) forget about this.

As for Jedi, I don't think it balances light and dark as well as Empire. The teddy bear-like Ewoks really clash with the heavier Luke/Vader/Emperor scenes. I wish Lucas wasn't as intent on having primitive beings help defeat the Empire, I would have much preferred Wookiees.

MACLUNKEY! MACLUNKEY! MACLUNKEY!
(The girl who's hard to get)
MACLUNKEY! MACLUNKEY! MACLUNKEY!
(But you can win her yet)