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leftybrown's review
5.0
An exhaustive work that reads really well. I am amazed by how well the narrative is and how well researched this unauthorized biography of Lucas is. What a fantastic book!
dfmjr's review
4.0
While Star Wars will always dominate the life of George Lucas, it would be interesting to hear more about items later in his life that people will only reveal as either time goes on or they have nothing to loose. Very good, could be great if done later.
philrobichaud's review
3.0
As a huge Star Wars fan I was very interested in learning more about George Lucas's life. A lot of it I knew (like how much of a control freak he is, his dislike of directing actors, etc), but still found quite amazing how he almost died in his last year in high-school in a car accident. Just like that, the world almost never had Star Wars in it.
Overall a great read, although I did find it a bit long. I liked that the author gave a balanced portrayal of Lucas (as this was an unauthorized biography). Lucas is shown as a visionary and creative genius, but as well as a man who had terrible skills at communicating with other people and letting go of creative control.
Overall a great read, although I did find it a bit long. I liked that the author gave a balanced portrayal of Lucas (as this was an unauthorized biography). Lucas is shown as a visionary and creative genius, but as well as a man who had terrible skills at communicating with other people and letting go of creative control.
adrockgreybeard's review
5.0
Biographies can often feel bloated and at nearly 500 pages I was afraid this would be one of them.
It most definitely isn't.
From the very beginning the author knows who his reader is and so while he explores Lucas' youth he always has the larger narrative in mind.
It's an excellent read and I'd highly recommend it to any fan of film, creativity, and yes, even Star Wars or Indiana Jones.
It most definitely isn't.
From the very beginning the author knows who his reader is and so while he explores Lucas' youth he always has the larger narrative in mind.
It's an excellent read and I'd highly recommend it to any fan of film, creativity, and yes, even Star Wars or Indiana Jones.
tom_f's review
2.0
An uninspired and unimaginative biography, well researched enough to do justice to the serendipitous salad days of American Zoetrope and the improbability of Lucas’ emergence from the ranks of ambitious post-Hopper independent scene, but elsewhere mercilessly chronological, desperately overstuffed with circular primary quotations and shortsighted on Lucas’ legacy. Reams on the comic and TV serial fanboy Lucas’ inconsequential revisions of character and setting names in the genesis of Star Wars; scraps on his radical tunnelling of visionary image-making inside the mainstream media machine for the already reevaluated prequels:
“It would take Lucas a long time to really begin writing Episode III — and with each passing day, artists and designers became more and more anxious. In a November 1 meeting with McCallum and Rob Coleman, who would be animating Yoda, Lucas casually mentioned that he’d start writing “when the reality hits”. McCallum was stunned. “You said you’ve BEEN writing,” he said gently. Lucas waved him off. “I’ve been THINKING about it,” said Lucas. Three weeks later, Lucas met with designers to review drawings of planets and a few characters. “Keep up the good work. The stuff was great, guys,” he told them as he left the room. “I just have to figure out a movie to go around it.””
“It would take Lucas a long time to really begin writing Episode III — and with each passing day, artists and designers became more and more anxious. In a November 1 meeting with McCallum and Rob Coleman, who would be animating Yoda, Lucas casually mentioned that he’d start writing “when the reality hits”. McCallum was stunned. “You said you’ve BEEN writing,” he said gently. Lucas waved him off. “I’ve been THINKING about it,” said Lucas. Three weeks later, Lucas met with designers to review drawings of planets and a few characters. “Keep up the good work. The stuff was great, guys,” he told them as he left the room. “I just have to figure out a movie to go around it.””
scoobyramone's review
4.0
Paints a great portrait of a very interesting filmmaker. Undoubtedly a genius in some respects but not insightful enough to realize when he's getting in his own way. Rejected the studio system and built an empire of his own only to give it up to the most soulless corporation in Hollywood. It's a fascinating and often frustrating story, and serves as great inspiration for filmmakers. Lucas' accomplishments are inspiring and his faults are cautionary tales. He's quite a character.
egates08's review
5.0
I have to say, this is one of the best books I have ever read. It might sound a little odd to say about a biography but it was very engaging, fun, and informative, especially if you love any of these things: George Lucas, Star Wars, American Graffiti, Indiana Jones, history, the film industry, game changers, tenacity, or just all around fun facts.