Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by Beast

I frankly applaud Lucas for not giving in to a few shouting fanboys, and rather choosing to satisfy his own artistic desires.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Beast

I frankly applaud Lucas for not giving in to a few shouting fanboys, and rather choosing to satisfy his own artistic desires.

Applaud? He's a billionaire. Ignoring public sentiment and doing whatever he wants hardly requires a great deal of fortitude on his part.

It requires even less so when you consider that nobody is really trying to keep him from satisfying his own artistic desires. Sure, a lot of people have said some of those artistic desires have sucked but is that really the same thing?

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Beast

I couldn't disagree more. The additions to Mos Eisley make it a much more active and living city. Where as before, it seemed exactly what it was... a set. A set with not enough money or extras to really convey the feel of a real living and breathing city. Yes, there are some fun little additions to the scene, like the aformentioned droid or the bucking Ronto. But the Star Wars films have always had their lighthearted moments. So it didn't seem out of place.

Gotta disagree with you on the inclusion of Jabba the Hutt also. Especially since the scene was always meant to be included, but time and money issues required it being removed before the stop motion Jabba could be included. Sure some of the dialogue is repeated from the meeting with Greedo. But it's not as redundant and unneccessay as you claim it to be. As for the tail scene, I can somewhat agree to that. But given Jabba wasn't designed at the time, it's the only way of using the footage without replacing Harrison Ford entirely with a CGI figure to better fit the scene.

Sorry. Never going to agree with anyone on the RotJ dance number being bad. Lapti Nek was mediocre at best. And the Sy Snootles puppet never worked right and just screamed puppet. Where as Yoda and others in ESB and RotJ never looked that badly fake. The replacement with the CGI Sy and the more spirited musical number just seemed to feel more real. Also made Jabba's Den of Thieves feel more wild and alive.

I frankly applaud Lucas for not giving in to a few shouting fanboys, and rather choosing to satisfy his own artistic desires.

But see, I would agree with JoshKelhoffer-- I don't like the additions, I think they are distracting and unnecessary. I especially couldn't agree less with your take of the dance number-- the new version I find cringe-inducing. The fact that I see it one way and you see it completely different shows the importance of retaining both versions.
Also, the Greedo scene was added in to replace the Jabba scene, which is why the scene feels so redundant. If anything, Lucas should have cut the Greedo scene entirely if restoring the Jabba scene (as a bonus, they wouldn't have even had to bother at awkwardly adding the Greedo shooting first bit).

Finally, I'm pretty sure that the amount of people who want the originals isn't limited to a "few shouting fanboys." I actually don't often hear too many people who find the Special Editions superior (and I still don't understand why anybody would) outside of some Star Wars discussion boards like what we have here. So I could just as easily say that the ones who defend the Special Editions are the "few shouting fanboys."

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

But see, I would agree with JoshKelhoffer-- I don't like the additions, I think they are distracting and unnecessary. I especially couldn't agree less with your take of the dance number-- the new version I find cringe-inducing. The fact that I see it one way and you see it completely different shows the importance of retaining both versions.
Also, the Greedo scene was added in to replace the Jabba scene, which is why the scene feels so redundant. If anything, Lucas should have cut the Greedo scene entirely if restoring the Jabba scene (as a bonus, they wouldn't have even had to bother at awkwardly adding the Greedo shooting first bit).

Finally, I'm pretty sure that the amount of people who want the originals isn't limited to a "few shouting fanboys." I actually don't often hear too many people who find the Special Editions superior (and I still don't understand why anybody would) outside of some Star Wars discussion boards like what we have here. So I could just as easily say that the ones who defend the Special Editions are the "few shouting fanboys."

BRAVO!

Well said.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Finally, I'm pretty sure that the amount of people who want the originals isn't limited to a "few shouting fanboys." I actually don't often hear too many people who find the Special Editions superior (and I still don't understand why anybody would) outside of some Star Wars discussion boards like what we have here. So I could just as easily say that the ones who defend the Special Editions are the "few shouting fanboys."

Big +1. Whenever I see the original trilogy mentioned in the mainstream press, or Lucas in relation to the trilogy, it is always negative on his deciding not to include the original versions... so I'd actually say the common opinion is one of disappointment at the lack of the originals inclusion, and the fanboy minority the ones who defend them as superior... not that the fact that it's a common opinion means much, but in this case it happens to be right.

The "Satisfying his own artistic desires" defense is rubbish - he did this before he released them in the cinema, and if he didn't, then that's too bad, because they got released to the public that way, so for him to say 'those versions you all fell in love with, well, they weren't the right/finished ones, WATCH THESE INSTEAD' is absurd. They were the definitive ones to that audience and they should count for more than his 'artistic desires' post-release - they're the ones that bought the product and who made it a cultural phenomenon. It's not a question of 'which version is better', which will always be debated, its a question of preserving something of huge cultural import as it was originally seen and not letting it get lost or only available on obsolete technology. I would count the Final Cut of Blade Runner as the definitive/ 'best' version of it, for example, even if it was released 25 years later... but I'd be really annoyed if the original theatrical version that many people fell in love with, and had the impact that it did, was lost and completely 'replaced' by the new one in that case as well.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

I went to the Return of the Jedi screening held today on the Paramount studio lot, for the california parks film series (showcaseing films shot at california parks) which was introduced by Billy Dee Willams and followed with a Q&A with Mark Hamill and not one person in the audience of over 600 complained about it being the special edition that was shown today.

(it was kind of funny watching this 20th century fox film on the Paramount studios lot )

[spidey0115]

You know what. They're his movies. If he wasnt completly happy with them then so be it he can fix them up if he wanted to

[Wings80]

The Unaltered Original Trilogy Box Set for me. The other 3 films are crap.

what won't make it to Blu-ray are the original versions of the movies; Lucas told the New York Times that only the special editions will be included, since restoring the original versions in high enough quality would cost too much.

Cost to much? With all the money he made off the films with toys etc.

[Trekkie313]

I wanna know who are the fools who voted for #1?

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by spidey0115

You know what. They're his movies. If he wasnt completly happy with them then so be it he can fix them up if he wanted to

That's not the point. I am sure that everybody here agrees with that.
It is ALSO providing the unaltered versions along with them too.

Even though Star Wars (1977) is my personal favorite movie, I would still like to see him do an 'Original Trilogy' REBOOT, as the prequels do not mesh with the originals at all.

Originally Posted by Wings80

The Unaltered Original Trilogy Box Set for me. The other 3 films are crap.

what won't make it to Blu-ray are the original versions of the movies; Lucas told the New York Times that only the special editions will be included, since restoring the original versions in high enough quality would cost too much.

Cost to much? With all the money he made off the films with toys etc.

Come on...he is ONLY a measly BILLIONAIRE. He cannot afford it.

Now when his net worth equals the 'National Debt', he may then decide that he has enough money to tackle a restoration of them.


.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by backgroundactorman

I went to the Return of the Jedi screening held today on the Paramount studio lot, for the california parks film series (showcaseing films shot at california parks) which was introduced by Billy Dee Willams and followed with a Q&A with Mark Hamill and not one person in the audience of over 600 complained about it being the special edition that was shown today.

(it was kind of funny watching this 20th century fox film on the Paramount studios lot )

Maybe not vocally, but I'm sure there were some people in the audience rolling their eyes at the dance number or the fake cgi beak on the sarlaac. Plus I'm sure if you were going to that screening, you know what you're getting into. I'm sure nobody was taken aback or shocked.

Sounds like a cool event anyway though. I'm not morally opposed to the Special Edition or anything, and I wouldn't mind watching it to see Billy Dee and Mark Hamill. Just out of curiosity, was it the 1997 version, or did they create a film-print of the 2004 DVD edition?

[sfmarine]

I can't wait to see what the Boxset will look like. I hope it's done well. There will probably be a bunch of different editions coming out like BTTF had.

I remember picking this up like it was yesterday. I was going to get the Gold because it looked better than the Silver and then I realized it was for the Full Screen version

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Come on...he is ONLY a measly BILLIONAIRE. He cannot afford it.

Now when his net worth equals the 'National Debt', he may then decide that he has enough money to tackle a restoration of them.


.

Once again, so easy to mix thing up to fit one's own definition of things. Lucas being rich as nothing to do with it. The cost of making a restauration of the original prints who have not been touch in almost 20 years are not done with Lucas personal money but with the money of Lucasfilm, the company. A company does not do thing as a individual person does things. They look at chart, bottom line, see if it's worth it and then if they see that very little money can be made out of it they will just say, nope we are not doing this. It's funny how so many of you spend your time in other threads saying that movies are a business and yet forget that exact same point in the Star Wars thread when it no longer fit what you want.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

Maybe not vocally, but I'm sure there were some people in the audience rolling their eyes at the dance number or the fake cgi beak on the sarlaac. Plus I'm sure if you were going to that screening, you know what you're getting into. I'm sure nobody was taken aback or shocked.

Sounds like a cool event anyway though. I'm not morally opposed to the Special Edition or anything, and I wouldn't mind watching it to see Billy Dee and Mark Hamill. Just out of curiosity, was it the 1997 version, or did they create a film-print of the 2004 DVD edition?

It was the 1997 version.
Though they didnt announce which version it was ahead of time.

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by backgroundactorman

I went to the Return of the Jedi screening held today on the Paramount studio lot, for the california parks film series (showcaseing films shot at california parks) which was introduced by Billy Dee Willams and followed with a Q&A with Mark Hamill and not one person in the audience of over 600 complained about it being the special edition that was shown today.

(it was kind of funny watching this 20th century fox film on the Paramount studios lot )

Wow! Now that must have been awesome!

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Once again, so easy to mix thing up to fit one's own definition of things. Lucas being rich as nothing to do with it. The cost of making a restauration of the original prints who have not been touch in almost 20 years are not done with Lucas personal money but with the money of Lucasfilm, the company. A company does not do thing as a individual person does things. They look at chart, bottom line, see if it's worth it and then if they see that very little money can be made out of it they will just say, nope we are not doing this. It's funny how so many of you spend your time in other threads saying that movies are a business and yet forget that exact same point in the Star Wars thread when it no longer fit what you want.

I'm positive the restored originals would sell fantastically.
And in this case it's more about the preservation aspect. There's a chance that if Lucas doesn't act quick enough, the originals might be gone forever. I don't think anyone would want that to happen, no matter which version you prefer.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

I'm positive the restored originals would sell fantastically.
And in this case it's more about the preservation aspect. There's a chance that if Lucas doesn't act quick enough, the originals might be gone forever. I don't think anyone would want that to happen, no matter which version you prefer.

It would be a sad thing if they were to be lost, true. Sad or not it come's down to his decision and only him as the power to change it and who can say. His true preferences are the Special Edition and that is what he want's out of Star Wars. Maybe his film maker side wil ltake over and he will restore the original as well, I would buy them also if he did. But I would not think they wil lsell as well as you might think. Me, you and a lot of nerds would double dip yes but the rest of the world, they won't, not after they already got the Special Edition.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It would be a sad thing if they were to be lost, true. Sad or not it come's down to his decision and only him as the power to change it and who can say. His true preferences are the Special Edition and that is what he want's out of Star Wars. Maybe his film maker side wil ltake over and he will restore the original as well, I would buy them also if he did. But I would not think they wil lsell as well as you might think. Me, you and a lot of nerds would double dip yes but the rest of the world, they won't, not after they already got the Special Edition.

Let me preface this by saying I completely agree that Lucas' wealth is irrelevant to whether he should or shouldn't market, well, anything. The fact that he can afford to take a loss on something in no way obligates him to take that loss. He doesn't owe me or some amorphous 'fan base' or an even more amorphous 'cultural heritage' a single dime. I bought my tickets, I saw some movies - we're square financially.

That said, I find it very hard to believe theatrical releases wouldn't at least break even. Obviously none of us can know for sure but when you see an extra few minutes of Avatar going for thirty bucks you can't help but think multiple Star Wars editions would probably do okay.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I can't wait to see what the Boxset will look like. I hope it's done well. There will probably be a bunch of different editions coming out like BTTF had.

I remember picking this up like it was yesterday. I was going to get the Gold because it looked better than the Silver and then I realized it was for the Full Screen version

I would love for the back side of the box to just have the gold Star Wars logo on black. That would look awesome! Then maybe have the art collages of each trilogy on either side of the box.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

I'm positive the restored originals would sell fantastically.
And in this case it's more about the preservation aspect. There's a chance that if Lucas doesn't act quick enough, the originals might be gone forever. I don't think anyone would want that to happen, no matter which version you prefer.

That doesn't seem too likely to me. My strong hunch is that every piece of film/negative/paper Lucasfilm has gotten its hands on has already been scanned to within a molecule of its life. Whether we ever see theatrical cuts again is obviously an open question but I would be very surprised if we have to worry about deterioration of physical film.

That was probably taken care of quite some time ago.