Joe Brody said:
Let me re-watch Munich and get back to you. Put simply, I assume (extreme) negative intent when a guy goes from making a film like Munich to the steaming pile that is KotCS. Though I do like the way you put #3 -- I don't think i can say it much better (and I would say Spielberg was acting consciously).
The article overlooked Fury but agreed.
I still don't get why you'd blame Spielberg. It wasn't THAT bad of a film IMO. But Spielberg didn't write the script. He just realized the clock was ticking on making an Indy film with Harrison, realized George would never budge on his idea, and signed on for the fans' sake. He didn't really
HAVE to do KOTCS if he didn't want to, I mean, it wouldn't have killed him or his career to not direct an Indy movie...He could've easily been an executive producer, sat back and said "Okay George, do your thing, but I'm not directing it." He could have easily really stuck it to Lucas by not directing it, because then Lucas would've taken the full blame for KOTCS' weaknesses. Instead, you have South Park showing both Spielberg AND Lucas raping Indy. I don't think Steven was spiteful enough to cut off his own nose just to spite George. He just made do what with he could in a situation that he didn't want to be in. If you recall, he even defended George publicly by saying that some of the less-desired elements like the nuclear fridge were
his idea, not George's. If I'm feeling passive-aggressive, and I'm wanting to screw over someone, I'm not going to defend them and drag myself through the mud while doing so. Makes no sense.
While I do think Spielberg did feel a bit resentful toward Lucas and just kind of put up his hands and said 'whatever' I don't think he purposefully sabotaged the film. I think he just the least amount of effort on his part, and viewed it as a vacation with his family. But even if Spielberg had put 1000% of his effort in, I don't think KOTCS would've been so much different. The script was going to be the same regardless because it's what George wanted it to be, and the script is the film's weak point I feel. And at the time, George had the final word. He turned down what I feel was a much superior script (City of Gods) that Steven actually really loved. What could Steven really do at that point? He didn't want to let the fans down but at the same time I don't think he wanted to be there. It was a tough position to be in. Lose-lose, really.