Thursday, May 12, 2005

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This article on George Lucas both makes me more endeared of him, and less. I have never been a big Star Wars fan, and its continuing popularity with grown men annoys me (my son loves it, but then, he is 8; there are occasional exceptions, but in general, I just think it is rather pitiful when adults haven't progressed beyond juvenile tastes). Anyway, this article points out the enormous number of technology spin-offs that have come from Lucas technology investments after the first Star Wars film. Moreover, the fact that he hardly profited from them, and really wasn't upset by that, because he just wanted to be able to make "better" movies. That attitude is beautiful, and refreshing. OTOH, the article notes: "Special effects had fallen out of favor in the 1970s when Lucas began the ''Star Wars'' saga, Lucas recalled as he promoted his final ''Star Wars'' movie last week. Some studios had dismantled their special-effects departments entirely." I certainly think the quality of movies would be better if the pendulum swung back in that direction, away from movies as little more than vehicles for special-effects. Not that that will happen--the enormous overseas market ensures that movies can not rely, in the least, on linguistic or cultural subtlety to achieve big success. They most conform to a global lowest-common-denominator of action, violence, and generally providing unending "eye-candy". 3:56:50 PM    comment []

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I have never been a crossword puzzle do-er, though I have often been asked if I am. In the past few years, I have dabbled with them on plane flights. For the first time ever, on the way to Spain, I completed a New York Times daily puzzle. A feat I repeated on the way back. Maybe on our Italy trip in July I will tackle the Sunday puzzle! 8:56:05 AM    comment []

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Okay, jet-lag is getting a little better. I went to bed at 9:30 last night, and woke up at 5:30 this morning. So at least I managed 8 consecutive hours. 7:36:15 AM    comment []