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ESB director Irvin Kershner has passed away

Man, that sucks.

As time has gone on, I've found myself becoming more of an "Empire Strikes Back" fan than a "Star Wars" (series) fan. I still like (in varying degrees) the other films, but Empire is really the only one I love. It has what all of my favorite movies have... a flow, a perfect pacing, the film has just the right rhythm to it. Kersh directed so many great character moments. Even ANH feels dated and quaint, while ROTJ has a whiff of prequel-ish silliness... ESB feels neither. It holds up amazingly well. Credit to Lucas for mostly staying out of Kersh's way and letting him do his thing.

Yes, it's my favorite movie ever. And for making it, Kersh gets a lifelong thumbs up from me. RIP!!!!
 
While Kershner went on to direct many films after ESB, none were equal to it. But for ESB he will be remembered...

There was just something magical about the combination of Lucas's story, Kasdan's script, and Kershner's directing that was never reproduced after that, no matter how Lucas tried. And yes, one can tell how Kersher's great work with the actors made a big difference.

If he declined to direct more SW films (first I've heard of it), he sure knew when to quit. Always leave them wanting more. :)
 
Temis the Vorta said:
arch101 said:
10 times the Director Lucas was. Wish he had been chosen to do more SW films.
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I wish he had done the PT...sigh...

DWF said:
arch101 said:
10 times the Director Lucas was. Wish he had been chosen to do more SW films.
Click to expand...

He was asked but refused to direct another one.
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Why? Couldn't tolerate Lucas' meddling?
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Yes, Lucas was always too involved with the directors working on his SW movies...(Irvin Kershner )Empire Strikes Back and (Richard Marquand)Return Of The Jedi.
 
Actually, Kershner has said many times that George mostly left him alone on the filming, visiting the set only a few times.
 
Stone_Cold_Sisko said:
Actually, Kershner has said many times that George mostly left him alone on the filming, visiting the set only a few times.
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I recall one story where Lucas dropped by and Kershner had to specifically coax him out of the corner where he was hiding, because Lucas was so self-concious about not breaking his promise to be hands-off with the directing.
 
I am glad Lucas mainly stayed hands-off, but what bugged me the most is that, according to the Return of the Jedi commentary, his attitude about the films had equated them with routine exercises when he hired Marquand, they should never have been considered routines. I can't help but feel Lucas breathing down Marquand's neck with each and every shot as I watch Jedi.

Kershner was great, he gave the saga it's heart, soul, and its space to grow!
 
RIP. This has to be the loudest guy that ever lived though. Just listen to the ESB commentary for reference. :lol:
 
Hyperspace05 said:
There was just something magical about the combination of Lucas's story, Kasdan's script, and Kershner's directing that was never reproduced after that
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Aye. Full props to Kershner, but let's not forget Kasdan's role, particularly since he also just happened to write the best Indy movie, as well as the darn fun 2010 Clash of the Titans. :)
 
Lucas did offer Kershner the chance to direct ROTJ but Kershner turned it down. He worked on ESB for almost three years and it took a toll on him.

One of the major problems in making ESB was that Gary Kurtz, the "patron saint" of Star Wars to some, drove the film way over budget and over schedule. Gary Kurtz went over budget and over scheduled with a bunch of the films he produced (ESB, Dark Crystal, Return to Oz, etc.) It's probably the reason Kurtz hasn't worked in Hollywood in years. The result was Lucas having to go to the studio and ask them for a loan to cover the costs. That's where a lot of the problems with the filming of Empire Strikes Back came from.
 
Gaith said:
Aye. Full props to Kershner, but let's not forget Kasdan's role,
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How about a shout out for Leigh Brackett, noted planetary romance author? I have a volume of her short stories and they're cracking reads.

I know it's been disputed how much (if any) of the final script is Brackett's, but all the same.
 
Rinzler's "Making of Empire Strikes Back" coffee table book goes through Brackett's script in point by point detail, including reprinted sections verbatim. It's all very un-Star Wars, particularly Vader's dialogue. The overall story, as dictated to her by Lucas, bears some resemblance to the final story in broad strokes only, but that's about it. According to that book, the script was ditched entirely.

Lucas wrote the next draft from scratch, which was very different from Leigh's, but aligns pretty closely plot-wise with the final product - if extremely clunky in dialogue. Kasdan's drafts (3rd, 4th, and 5th) all build off of George's original 2nd draft.

(it's too bad Kasdan didn't do 3 draft rewrites to the prequel scripts, but i digress)
 
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