Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Michael24]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

I just like the idea of the unaltered OT being officially released. I'm not sure why I care that much. I guess it seems more exciting knowing that the general public could just walk in a store and buy the original versions.

For me, it's because the UOT are the culturally significant versions of the films. They were the ones that broke new ground in special effects, won awards and helped usher in a new era of filmmaking, not the tinkered, re-tinkered and re-re-tinkered versions. The UOT should be readily available for current and future generations of film fans and film students to see and study in order to fully understand their impact on film history, instead of being relegated to the darkest corners in the Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse where you have to jump through hoops in order to see them.

[ElvisForever]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

I might get the Complete Saga set though because it might be fun to watch them all in episode order in HD (I only have DVDs of the OT and prequels).

Please do because I swear if you watch with unprejudiced eyes and pretend you don't know how it is and truly let the story take you there, it is a much different yet enjoyable journey.

Not the Luke story, but the Anakin story. I hope you try it.

I stop crossing arms and really tried to see what Lucas wanted us to see.

[ElvisForever]

Originally Posted by Michael24

For me, it's because the UOT are the culturally significant versions of the films. They were the ones that broke new ground in special effects, won awards and helped usher in a new era of filmmaking, not the tinkered, re-tinkered and re-re-tinkered versions. The UOT should be readily available for current and future generations of film fans and film students to see and study in order to fully understand their impact on film history, instead of being relegated to the darkest corners in the Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse where you have to jump through hoops in order to see them.

Silly me, I thought it was because the individual wanted to enjoy it. Now I understand. It is a demand for what all others should be made to see!

Of course the creator feels differently about that...but hey...f him right?

How many times was the original put out? LD VHS DVD...but oh no, not enough. Now there are scans...nope not enough.

What is demanded is just like the Robocop thread the studios must be forced to keep those childhood memories alive! Newsflash, there are likely more fans that saw them altered then not, but again that doesn't matter. We must force them to see what we demand.

On a side note, when I built my arcade I stop caring about what others had. My enjoyment was ultimately what mattered. Hell still is. If other people are too dumb to play the classics right, not my fault.

I wouldn't care here, but it pollutes discussion about the box set that should be talked about!!

[Michael24]

I never said that only the UOT should be available and people should be forced to watch it. If there are multiple versions of a film, then they should all be readily available. Ridley Scott had the perfect idea when Blade Runner was released on Blu-ray with no less than five different cuts of the film and basically said "I want the viewer to be able to watch whichever version they prefer."

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

The way some people react towards the Forces of Destiny line, you'd think that they were 1st grade boys who don't want to be near girls because they have "cooties."

I'm guessing these are the same types that were mad Phasma didn't have boob armor... We don't have cooties, but we do bite if necessary and have knees that are perfect for groining if we get provoked.

[bobbyh64]

ElvisForever, are you talking about the original Mortal Kombat or MK II? Back in the day I used to play the first one but mostly MK II and Street Fighter 2. Fun times!

On a side note, did you know that JJ Abrams created the name Captain Phasma because he was a huge fan of Phantasm? I only point this out since you were posting in that thread. Also it's funny that both Star Wars and Phantasm have small hooded characters and neither production knew about the other (I heard they were filmed around the same time).

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Michael24

I never said that only the UOT should be available and people should be forced to watch it. If there are multiple versions of a film, then they should all be readily available. Ridley Scott had the perfect idea when Blade Runner was released on Blu-ray with no less than five different cuts of the film and basically said "I want the viewer to be able to watch whichever version they prefer."

That's because Sir Ridley isn't a jerk.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As much as I b*tch about the dreadful changes wrought on the 2011 versions, I'd rebuy this set if I could find it for £20. But not a penny more, sirs!

Whaaa why'd you get rid of it? Just cuz of the OT?

[ElvisForever]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

ElvisForever, are you talking about the original Mortal Kombat or MK II? Back in the day I used to play the first one but mostly MK II and Street Fighter 2. Fun times!

On a side note, did you know that JJ Abrams created the name Captain Phasma because he was a huge fan of Phantasm? I only point this out since you were posting in that thread. Also it's funny that both Star Wars and Phantasm have small hooded characters and neither production knew about the other (I heard they were filmed around the same time).

I love all MK's, but the first is the only perfect balanced one for me and is the darkest. No friendship crap and all that. In lots of ways it is similar to how I feel about first Star Wars compared to Empire.

But yes love all kinds of fighting games. My arcade accomidates all. It was quite a project.

As for Phantasm, I didn't know that. I like her on Game of Thrones. JJ is awesome and love Lost series and there are so many connections to other things I enjoy like Stephen King and Watership Down.

For me this whole UOT gets old. I wish we could all just talk about what is out there.

Prequels even flawed have great merit and tell a cohesive story...maybe not the same way, but still a good one. Machete order preserves the OT mindset, but it does nothing for new story. Like Yoda says, you have to unlearn what you have learned to appreciate new vision.

Lucas does't want Bladerunner. This is a whole different beast. It isn't a jerk to tell the story he wants to tell. Unlike Ridley, Lucas did huge marketing campaigns making his movies available for years and warned when they were going to be last available (and that is never enough for fanboys!!!).....Ridley just recently put all those cuts out. Are you for real calling Lucas a jerk????

[MPeriolat]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

I'm thinking about brainwashing myself and getting the Complete Saga even though it goes against every bone in my body. I want the unaltered OT in an official release but that doesn't seem likely so I'm considering caving in. Anyone want to try to persuade me one way or the other?

The UOT IS out there, just not on blu-ray. They released two disc sets, want to say around 2006 or 2007, that had Star Wars, Empire and Jedi with both unaltered 77, 80 and 83 cuts along with the special editions. I have the DVDs myself and play them whenever I'm in the mood. In any case, it may not be anamorphic, flawless, perfect, but it's as close as you are likely to get currently. If you want it, good luck on the hunt. Otherwise, it's the blu rays and the current version of the special editions.

[Michael24]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

The UOT IS out there, just not on blu-ray. They released two disc sets, want to say around 2006 or 2007, that had Star Wars, Empire and Jedi with both unaltered 77, 80 and 83 cuts along with the special editions. I have the DVDs myself and play them whenever I'm in the mood. In any case, it may not be anamorphic, flawless, perfect, but it's as close as you are likely to get currently. If you want it, good luck on the hunt. Otherwise, it's the blu rays and the current version of the special editions.

Last year I just happened to find used copies of those '06 DVDs for about $20 each and had to pick them up since I'd missed out on them when they first came out. A shame they're not Anamorphic (and there was no reason for them not to be) and the PQ is not that great playing on my HDTV. But for the time being it's better than nothing.

[Hardback247]

I know there are a lot of people who feel hesitant on the idea of watching the Star Wars saga in episodic order to their kids, because it would spoil the identity of Darth Vader's relationship to Luke. But maybe it could also work as the reveal to the question of when and how Luke ever finds out the truth.

[Alan_Grant]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

That's because Sir Ridley isn't a jerk.

Sir Ridley also hasn't been ridiculed without mercy since 1999, had his daughter bullied off of a social media platform, been sent death threats (from what I've heard), had full on documentaries made about how much he sucks, and how much his movies suck.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

The UOT IS out there, just not on blu-ray. They released two disc sets, want to say around 2006 or 2007, that had Star Wars, Empire and Jedi with both unaltered 77, 80 and 83 cuts along with the special editions. I have the DVDs myself and play them whenever I'm in the mood. In any case, it may not be anamorphic, flawless, perfect, but it's as close as you are likely to get currently. If you want it, good luck on the hunt. Otherwise, it's the blu rays and the current version of the special editions.

I have that DVD set you're talking about. Mine came in a nice tin box from Best Buy. I guess it's fine if you're watching them on a 4:3 TV but on a 16:9 TV they look strange and I haven't figured out how to zoom in on them without cropping part of the image. And having to zoom in on them so that they aren't windowboxed makes them look even worse. Of course there are "other" versions that can be watched that are much higher quality.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

I know there are a lot of people who feel hesitant on the idea of watching the Star Wars saga in episodic order to their kids, because it would spoil the identity of Darth Vader's relationship to Luke. But maybe it could also work as the reveal to the question of when and how Luke ever finds out the truth.

I think it's better for newcomers to watch them in release order. That way nothing is spoiled and they can go watch them in episode order later on if they want. If a newcomer watches them in episode order first, he/she can't ever rewatch them with the surprises that release order offers.

[Rodney-2187]

Those DVDs are not a legitimate release of The OUT.

http://savestarwars.com/gout.html

[shinobipopcorn]

But they're something.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by Alan_Grant

Sir Ridley also hasn't been ridiculed without mercy since 1999, had his daughter bullied off of a social media platform, been sent death threats (from what I've heard), had full on documentaries made about how much he sucks, and how much his movies suck.

Everything you listed (except the death threats and his daughter's bullying) is more than richly deserved, though. Everything he's touched since 1989 has turned to absolute crap. The SEs, the PT, Indiana Jones 4, Red Tails, and Strange Magic all attest to this.

Also, he always had held the key to reducing the amount of criticism he faced by 90%: Release the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy with a modern film-based transfer (i.e. not the ca. 1993 Lasderdisc-based one) on a current-gen format. Lucas' own stubbornness and lack of self-awareness is the millstone he placed around his own neck.

[bobbyh64]

I agree with the comment that Lucas is a jerk. That isn't even meant as an insult. It's a jerk move not to release the unaltered OT. There's no way in hell he didn't know he'd get an enormous amount of criticism for keeping them hidden away. He could've still had his complete saga while also having the original versions available. Sure, he's not obligated to release them. But I'm also not obligated to withhold criticism of him. Is there a single person on Earth besides George Lucas who doesn't want the original versions released to the public?

[ElvisForever]

Originally Posted by svenge

Everything you listed (except the death threats and his daughter's bullying) is more than richly deserved, though. Everything he's touched since 1989 has turned to absolute crap. The SEs, the PT, Indiana Jones 4, Red Tails, and Strange Magic all attest to this.

Also, he always had held the key to reducing the amount of criticism he faced by 90%: Release the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy with a modern film-based transfer (i.e. not the ca. 1993 Lasderdisc-based one) on a current-gen format. Lucas' own stubbornness and lack of self-awareness is the millstone he placed around his own neck.

I am sorry, but this is just psycho talk.

There are many Disney movies that never made it to modern....etc. This is all about popularity, not justice.

Lucas has not deserved being treated that way, and because of it, he let go of his creations....with no doubt the stipulation that the original versions are nevery released. I don't blame him.

Criticism is one thing, but threatening and going on like someone that needs an asylum is something else. Has anyone thought about the fact that it may never happen again?

It is like children wanting parents back together after divorce. Sooner or later you look at the old family pictures...smile....then STFU and move on.