I don't think any movie or any book or any work of art can solve the stalemate in the Middle East today. But it's certainly worth a try.

I've discovered I've got this preoccupation with ordinary people pursued by large forces.

Before I go off and direct a movie, I always look at four films. They tend to be The Seven Samurai, Lawrence Of Arabia, It's A Wonderful Life and The Searchers.

There's going to be no more digital enhancements or digital additions to anything based on any film I direct. I'm not going to do any corrections digitally to even wires that show... If 1941 comes on Blu-ray I'm not going to go back and take the wires out because the Blu-ray will bring the wires out that are guiding the airplane down Hollywood Blvd. At this point right now I think letting movies exist in the era, with all the flaws and all of the flourishes, is a wonderful way to mark time and mark history.

My dad's been responsible for a lot of my issues.

I basically took something that was extremely erotic and very intentional, and I reduced it to a simple kiss. I got a lot of criticism for that.

I just had a crazy, wild imagination all my life, and science fiction is the greatest outlet for me.