Maybe they'll give it to Irvin Kershner to helm. Even though he turns 77 this year, he'd do a better job than Lucas as proved with Empire Strikes Back in 1980.

Don't get me wrong... George Lucas WAS a great director. American Graffiti is one of my all time favourite films. It's just that he didn't direct a single feature from Star Wars in 1977 until that slop last year (why not, I don't know... )and the rust he accumulated in those 22 years of non-directing will take some eradicating.

He produces well...he should stick to that now.

Just a few morsels from my universe...
- Strangelove is pure genius... but I don't think Kubrik should be canonized for his career... he should simply be listed among the top 50 or so directors of all time... which, considering how many people want to direct, is not that bad.
- Spielberg would also be on that list, so let's just be glad that A.I. isn't being done by Brian DePalma! It could be worse!
- My only complaint is that this project could postpone Minority Report... anxious to see what Steve does with Tom.
- Back before Episode 1, there was lot's of talk about George not directing 2 & 3. One person mentioned was Joe Johnston (October Sky, The Rocketeer, Jumanji, Honey I shrunk the Kids, and currently... Jurassic Park 3, a.k.a. "Extinction" or "Embryo"). I'm obviously a fan. Anyway, since "Jar-Jar and the Cute Kid Who Got Lucky" was released, I have heard nothing of George giving up his director's chair. Maybe he's afraid that he won't find a director that'll put up with Yoda's endless on-set antics.

Okay, that's my three cents.
Any other Joe Johnston fans out there?

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Scott A. Magie

One more thing, if I may. You blast "liberal film critics" who applauded Kubrick for being a cinema rebel. What exactly is wrong with being a rebel? Do you feel that conformity and repitition are important to cinema? I would much rather see a film that was to the director a deeply personal statement then any
mass produced exit poll modified mainstream piece of celluloid (ooops, polyester)crapola.
"American Beauty" and "Boys Don't Cry", or "Scream 3" and "What Planet are You From"?
Anything that can be described as "art" is personal. All of it, including film.

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I've always heard the rumor Ron Howard directed more of that film than Lucas ever did.

On "Eyes Wide Shut" I was all hyped about it until I popped it in the VCR. An hour and a half later,I turned it off and when to bed.

1. The point has been made that Kubrik is not mainstream. This is good. Have you seen the number of mainstream movies these days. THEY SUCK. Kubrik is independant, and he does make films that make him feel good. The great ones always do. Not everyone is going to get it, it is art and as far as that goes that is what art is. It is open to interpretation by each and every person, and the director makes no bones about trying to explain it for the masses of fat munching couch pototoes that slob out 9 bucks for a movie and the equivalent of a house payment for popcorn. This is what makes independant film so great is that it becomes a different film for each viewer, no common demoninator exists. The films that pander to box office grosses often are thin of plot and weak in story, and filled with no talent bums like decaprio.

2. Films should be an extention of the director, not the writer. Yes you need a great script or story line, plot, actors, but the real storytelling is by the director. A powerful director can twist and turn you in your seat, a weak director will leave you wondering if that was a finger in your hot dog. If the director just takes the project, its a job, if it is something close to thier heart, it becomes a story. Case in point: I myself am putting on the reins of directing. A film called "from the winter snow" about a man who through the course of one therapy session comes to terms with what he has always seen as failures in his life and discovers that he never recovered from a near fatal car accident just one year earlier. The basis of the story is if you wanted to die and were ready to take your own life, would you fight to save yourself if fate stepped in to do it for you? Now this movie is going to be a total loss and a disaster at the box office, because it has absolutely no pretense of mass pandering, no special effects, no pretty leading ladies. It is a story special and close to me and will be told with my heart and not with my pocketbook. I estimate fewer than 10 thousand will ever see it, but thats ok, because I make this film of my valition and not to make a buck. That is what is wrong with hollywood these days. More bang for the buck is not such a good thing.

3. My 17 cents were up i think about a dollar and 22 cents ago..

Done it did it! ;-P

Actually it was on a Flat screen but it was at the MacArthur theatre in Washington DC (my personal favorite of all time). A pair of Norelcos, Futura IIs, Dolby CP-200 and 70mm (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn) and later, the reissue of Raiders of the Lost Ark (the final film to play at the beloved MacArthur before it was cut-up <sniff>. For trivia buffs, the MacArthur was the World Premier theatre for STAR TREK:THE MOTION SICKNESS....er Picture

Steve

Just to show that everybody has their own opinions...

I have long considered Kubrick to be one of the best directors ever and while living, the best alive. Spielberg, on the other hand, I have at best mixed feeling about and normally find his film "directions" annoying and incompetent. Spielberg makes popular films, no question and picks good topics to film about. I just don't care one nit about the look of his films nor the direction. Of the Spielberg offerings, Raiders was my favorite and in my opinion, still his best offering to date.

As a Kubrick fan, Spielberg would not have been my first choice. I guess some will be pleased nobody consults me on such things as Spielberg is a popular director. I do wonder as film students study directorial techniques in the future how Spielberg will measure up with the likes of Kubrick, Wells, D'Mille, and Lean, to name a few.

Jean Caro: City of lost children

Alex Proyas: Dark City

either of those would be the choice to direct AI, not speilberg. These two have styles all thier own, inventing movie making as they go along... thats what its all about...

So what about the rest of you? who are the greats?

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