Something about Star Wars I am confused by

[phatrat1982]

Ok this is not a when is Star Wars coming to Blu Ray thread this is an observation thread, a WTF kinda thread.


Ok here it goes, now I won't compare person to person because that takes too much time but it seams to me that whenever a movie gets announced be it Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Lord of the Rings, Alien, etc, EVERYONE swears that it better be the "directors cut" "extended cut" or basically anything *other than* the Theatrical Release, and it goes that way for EVERY MOVIE that has a directors/extended/alternate edition EXCEPT Star Wars, WHY!?

I don't get why Star Wars is Theatrical Release is held in such high regard when the general concensus is if it's not Star Wars the directors cut is always better. Seriously it boggles my mind why everyone wants every movie altered BUT Star Wars, I love Star Wars like most of us here, and I liked the originals as much as the next guy don't get me wrong, but am I alone in the universe in loving Star Wars so much that I enjoy seeing additional footage and enhanced special effects because let's face it the original movie has not aged well in the FX departments and those tiny changes that were made only helped make it look like it fit in more with the rest of the series.


Sure I too like most real fans had issues with all three prequels but like most real fans I learned to accept the decisions of the GUY WHO CREATED IT and take them as true Star Wars rather than crying about how annoying Jar Jar turned out to be. Although looking back and whenever I re-watch the movies truth be told The Phantom Menace is actually my second favorite of the series, first favorite being now and for always Empire Strikes Back.

Sure just like everyone else I was annoyed at Jar Jar and his gungan speak, but I thought about it some more and remembered when I was a kid I hated C3PO for the same reason, his voice annoyed the shit out of me. And When I was a kid I just wanted as much Star Wars as I could get my hands on, so I watched not only the Ewoks cartoons but forced myself to watch both movies, as well as every documentary that has ever even mentioned Star Wars, even in passing.

But in 1997 when the Special Editions hit theaters I could not contain my excitement and like most people I had to immediately go home and re-watch my now aging VHS tapes and compare shot for shot what was changed. Ok sure the "Han Shot First" debacle kinda sorta alters ones perception of Han being a bad ass, um if and only if you really make it. I never even gave that so called perception a second thought until reading countless complains on the net. So I think unless someone else hadn't said it first most people also would not have cared either.


Then there is the scene with Jabba, hey ok he looked like shit, but no worse than the over sized rubber suit they used in the original Jedi film. Yeah it kinda was like weird seeing Jabba in a scene you were not used to, but after a while you get used to it, um if you just watch it and stop stressing about it.


What else? Um well nothing major or really worth *****ing about even changed in A new Hope aside from the Mos Eisley scene ok so it now takes 2 minutes instead of a minute and a half, big deal. I liked how it opened things up and made it look more epic.

Honestly I still to this day wish they had made just 1 more tiny change, those lightsaber effects on the Falcon and between Obi and Vader could have used some touching up but everything else just added to the movie and in no way made it unwatchable.


Now Empire I have idea what anyone would complain about, other than some sets changed colors and added to the scenery and oh yeah the ice monster when we were kids we hated *not* seeing and now for some reason hate seeing?


Jedi is the only movie in the SE I do have issues with, first the song is not the same as the original but after re-watching the original um that's not really a bad thing the old song while catchy and nostalgic was awful. Ok so was the remixed song but not quit as awful.

The only real issue I had with Jedi I think we all agree on, Hayden whateverhislastnameis who most of use despise with a passion, and that supposedly tiny little unnoticable until someone points it out and then it';s unavoidable appearance of Jar Jar. Oh and a few extra seconds, mere seconds, added to the ending. And another song got changed.


When Fantastic Four Extended Edition came out they added like 20 minutes to the movie, 20 minutes of footage that was NOT in the original, was not nostalgic, in some cases dragged things on too long, yet that version is the favored version? Or Elektra which adds in the one thing I hated the most about Daredevil and somehow that makes it a better movie? Honestly I don't get why every movie that has a directors cut except Star Wars the fans always want the DC but with Star Wars it originals or DEATH.

[al cos.]

This new Star Wars Saga must be the only movie series that has it's own jehovah's witnesses going around telling people why they should accept it all into their life. Get off my porch, leave me alone already.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by phatrat1982

Ok this is not a when is Star Wars coming to Blu Ray thread this is an observation thread, a WTF kinda thread.


Ok here it goes, now I won't compare person to person because that takes too much time but it seams to me that whenever a movie gets announced be it Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Lord of the Rings, Alien, etc, EVERYONE swears that it better be the "directors cut" "extended cut" or basically anything *other than* the Theatrical Release, and it goes that way for EVERY MOVIE that has a directors/extended/alternate edition EXCEPT Star Wars, WHY!?

I don't get why Star Wars is Theatrical Release is held in such high regard when the general concensus is if it's not Star Wars the directors cut is always better. Seriously it boggles my mind why everyone wants every movie altered BUT Star Wars, I love Star Wars like most of us here, and I liked the originals as much as the next guy don't get me wrong, but am I alone in the universe in loving Star Wars so much that I enjoy seeing additional footage and enhanced special effects because let's face it the original movie has not aged well in the FX departments and those tiny changes that were made only helped make it look like it fit in more with the rest of the series.


Sure I too like most real fans had issues with all three prequels but like most real fans I learned to accept the decisions of the GUY WHO CREATED IT and take them as true Star Wars rather than crying about how annoying Jar Jar turned out to be. Although looking back and whenever I re-watch the movies truth be told The Phantom Menace is actually my second favorite of the series, first favorite being now and for always Empire Strikes Back.

Sure just like everyone else I was annoyed at Jar Jar and his gungan speak, but I thought about it some more and remembered when I was a kid I hated C3PO for the same reason, his voice annoyed the shit out of me. And When I was a kid I just wanted as much Star Wars as I could get my hands on, so I watched not only the Ewoks cartoons but forced myself to watch both movies, as well as every documentary that has ever even mentioned Star Wars, even in passing.

But in 1997 when the Special Editions hit theaters I could not contain my excitement and like most people I had to immediately go home and re-watch my now aging VHS tapes and compare shot for shot what was changed. Ok sure the "Han Shot First" debacle kinda sorta alters ones perception of Han being a bad ass, um if and only if you really make it. I never even gave that so called perception a second thought until reading countless complains on the net. So I think unless someone else hadn't said it first most people also would not have cared either.


Then there is the scene with Jabba, hey ok he looked like shit, but no worse than the over sized rubber suit they used in the original Jedi film. Yeah it kinda was like weird seeing Jabba in a scene you were not used to, but after a while you get used to it, um if you just watch it and stop stressing about it.


What else? Um well nothing major or really worth *****ing about even changed in A new Hope aside from the Mos Eisley scene ok so it now takes 2 minutes instead of a minute and a half, big deal. I liked how it opened things up and made it look more epic.

Honestly I still to this day wish they had made just 1 more tiny change, those lightsaber effects on the Falcon and between Obi and Vader could have used some touching up but everything else just added to the movie and in no way made it unwatchable.


Now Empire I have idea what anyone would complain about, other than some sets changed colors and added to the scenery and oh yeah the ice monster when we were kids we hated *not* seeing and now for some reason hate seeing?


Jedi is the only movie in the SE I do have issues with, first the song is not the same as the original but after re-watching the original um that's not really a bad thing the old song while catchy and nostalgic was awful. Ok so was the remixed song but not quit as awful.

The only real issue I had with Jedi I think we all agree on, Hayden whateverhislastnameis who most of use despise with a passion, and that supposedly tiny little unnoticable until someone points it out and then it';s unavoidable appearance of Jar Jar. Oh and a few extra seconds, mere seconds, added to the ending. And another song got changed.


When Fantastic Four Extended Edition came out they added like 20 minutes to the movie, 20 minutes of footage that was NOT in the original, was not nostalgic, in some cases dragged things on too long, yet that version is the favored version? Or Elektra which adds in the one thing I hated the most about Daredevil and somehow that makes it a better movie? Honestly I don't get why every movie that has a directors cut except Star Wars the fans always want the DC but with Star Wars it originals or DEATH.

It all depends on the movie. In the case of Star Wars, the DCs actually do hurt the movies more than they help. The only change I myself like is Hayden Christensen's ghost at the end of Jedi, that's it. Wonder how long it will be before the prequel trilogy gets its own "DCs".
P.S., Han shot first.

[skatalite]

Here's all I have to say on the subject:

How do you top perfection?

[swifty7]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

It all depends on the movie. In the case of Star Wars, the DCs actually do hurt the movies more than they help. The only change I myself like is Hayden Christensen's ghost at the end of Jedi, that's it. Wonder how long it will be before the prequel trilogy gets its own "DCs".
P.S., Han shot first.

Well!!! any last words before the firing squad? Would you like to see the bullets coming or would you like to be blind folded.

[F-Man]

I don't get this topic. Surely the original poster knows the answer to his question? How can he not?

People prefer the director's cuts of most other movies because most are better than the original cut. The one for the Star Wars trilogy isn't. End of topic.

[solott55]

Originally Posted by F-Man

People prefer the director's cuts of most other movies because most are better than the original cut. The one for the Star Wars trilogy isn't. End of topic.

End of topic? Not really - you've got one opinion, the original poster's got his - there's no facts involved here.

Here's my opinion: Loved Star Wars as a kid, had a renewed nostalgic love for them as a teenager/young adult (as the new ones came out), but a few years back I watched these with my spousal equivalent (she had never seen them before) and it was almost embarassing. I think a lot of us need to realize that these are and always will be essentially children's movies, and a lot of them pretty much suck.

Just my opinion...

[F-Man]

Originally Posted by solott55

End of topic? Not really - you've got one opinion, the original poster's got his - there's no facts involved here.

You're right. I didn't think of it this way. But then this is sort of similar to asking why Hitchcock is preferred over Uwe Boll. I would just say that it is because Hitchcock is a better director, but this is just opinion and I know people personally who prefer Uwe Boll.

Pretty extreme example, I know. But my point is that when everyone prefers something over something else, the reason is usually obvious. The OP even mentioned himself all the points that are brought up every time like Han not shooting first and so on.

[Chiyo_chichi]

Originally Posted by swifty7

Well!!! any last words before the firing squad? Would like to see the bullets coming or would you like to be blind folded.

But you know, as someone who grew up watching the OT religiously when I was younger, I truly don't mind this change either. I mean it makes sense to me. If Anakin never looked like the actor portrayed in the end of ROTJ, why would his ghost? Christensen may not be the way we want to remember Vader, but for better or worse, he is his face So I accept it.

[swifty7]

Originally Posted by Chiyo_chichi

But you know, as someone who grew up watching the OT religiously when I was younger, I truly don't mind this change either. I mean it makes sense to me. If Anakin never looked like the actor portrayed in the end of ROTJ, why would his ghost? Christensen may not be the way we want to remember Vader, but for better or worse, he is his face So I accept it.

take it back or I'll have to call the Bear Jew.....

your choice!!!!!!

[Al_The_Strange]

I personally don’t mind the changes made in “Star Wars;” the only ones that make me cringe would be the added Jabba the Hutt (which is pretty pointles IMO, and looks hideous in the ’97 cut) and the jazz song in ROTJ (which is still not too terrible, just a little over-the-top). But for the most part, I agree that the small changes make it a little sleeker and more compatible with the series overall. As a kid, I was rather impressed by all the added SFX, and these days I still don’t mind them.

What I don’t get is why most people who are offended by the changes go so far as to say “George Lucas raped my childhood!” Okay, first of all…EWWW!! Secondly, get over it. The original cuts are available on DVD, and nobody is forcing the new versions down your throats (at least I assume not). Thirdly, your childhood is intangible, a thing of the past, and it cannot be altered by any external force. To say that someone else’s efforts are impeding on your nostalgia indicates that you are insecure and unable to adapt to change. Nothing can take away the joy and nostalgia that has been ground into your childhood, except yourself of course. So please, enough with this cliché. I hate it.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

I myself like is Hayden Christensen's ghost at the end of Jedi, that's it.

He said it

[phatrat1982]

I understand the Han Shot First being silly, but is it so silly to destroy the rest of the movie? Honestly? I mean I had an problem with it at first but not because Han Shot first because like you said it was silly he could miss at so close a range, but until re-watching the originals and realizing that it had been changed, I probably wouldn't have noticed as much.

I also agree in the 1997 release the addition of Jabba did look bad and a tad out of place, but I did like having the completed scene put back in since as a kid all I had was that un finished fatguy scene I watched a thousand times over on some old crappy making of vhs documentary I had when I was a kid.

I mean I understand not liking the changes, what I don't understand is how extreme people take it. But I am in the minority I know in not only liking the Special Editions but also liking the new ones, for the most part.

I guess I just read all those comments in the Lord of the Rings thread and it got me thinking, why changing 1/3 of a movie is ok but changing mere minutes is outrageous.

I guess I was hoping to have a intelligent discussion on the issue.

I mean like I said don't get me wrong *I TOO* love the original unchanged movies, but I also enjoy the special editions and don't let one version detract from my enjoyment of the other. The only real issue I have is Phantom Menace was changed in it's first release and the true theatrical release of that movie is likely lost forever and nobody cares. Even though of the new trilogy that is my favorite and top 2 overall *puts on flame shield*

I am I guess what you would call inconsistent myself 90% of the time I hate directors cuts, extended editions, etc, even when the changes enhance the movie usually I don't like change. But with Star Wars it is the total opposite, I can't get enough Star Wars even adding 10 new seconds of footage is like getting a brand new movie for me, for me I wish they would add in all those unfinished scenes still left out, redo the light saber scenes from A New Hope and clean up the computer screens to match the style of the prequels. But I know I am in a small group of (in)sane individuals who just love Star Wars too much to let some changes ruin the experience for me. I kinda figured that a true fan would align themselves with my line of thinking but I am starting to realize most people out here don't think like I do... but that is a topic for another day, another website even.

[Chester Lime]

I actually liked both the theatrical and the special editions of STAR WARS. Could there be a simple solution to this? OF COURSE!!!
Does anyone own a DVD of E.T. ? The original version & the special edition (the one where the government agents are carrying walkie talkies instead of guns), are both in the DVD package.
Seems to me that STAR WARS on BLU should do the same and satisfy ALL fans.
Alas, this will never happen.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by al cos.

This new Star Wars Saga must be the only movie series that has it's own jehovah's witnesses going around telling people why they should accept it all into their life. Get off my porch, leave me alone already.

This post made my day! Thanks!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Chester Lime

I actually liked both the theatrical and the special editions of STAR WARS. Could there be a simple solution to this? OF COURSE!!!
Does anyone own a DVD of E.T. ? The original version & the special edition (the one where the government agents are carrying walkie talkies instead of guns), are both in the DVD package.
Seems to me that STAR WARS on BLU should do the same and satisfy ALL fans.
Alas, this will never happen.

Didn't know that about ET having both the original version and the walkie talkie version.

Lucas won't release the old editions on blu-ray or even give us a decent transfer on DVD, as I understand it, it has to do with his ex-wife and not wanting to fork over the cash to her for the sales it would generate.

[RichM]

Originally Posted by Chester Lime

I actually liked both the theatrical and the special editions of STAR WARS. Could there be a simple solution to this? OF COURSE!!!
Does anyone own a DVD of E.T. ? The original version & the special edition (the one where the government agents are carrying walkie talkies instead of guns), are both in the DVD package.
Seems to me that STAR WARS on BLU should do the same and satisfy ALL fans.
Alas, this will never happen.

+1

I liked both also, and would hope that both come on blu ray at some point. But I can't see that.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by phatrat1982

I mean I understand not liking the changes, what I don't understand is how extreme people take it. But I am in the minority I know in not only liking the Special Editions but also liking the new ones, for the most part.

I'm 100% with you there.

[JBL4645]

Originally Posted by phatrat1982

Ok this is not a when is Star Wars coming to Blu Ray thread this is an observation thread, a WTF kinda thread.

Even if it does come to Bluray, it not will not have the original not.

I’d go out and buy a laserdisc player and first widescreen editions of Star Wars on laserdisc that’s the closet, you’ll get to it.

[richieb1971]

I'm not biased but I'll give my opinion.

Most directors cuts have footage shot at the time of the original release that was not able to fit in the elotted time frame. It existed from the very beginning though and therefore it was part of the original vision.

With SW EP4,5,6 the DC's are not part of the original working material, it was added 25 years later.


Lucas doesn't admit it, but EP1,2,3 were advertisements for his ILM special effects studio and EP4,5,6 DC's were his advertisement for people that wanted older movies made into newer looking movies. However, the trend didn't take on.

However, if you would like Raiders of the lost Ark, Back to the future or any other classic altered and screwed with as well, then you'd be in the minority.