Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by Treadwell

No.

An editor in England did the first assembly, mostly while the film was still being shot and on his own, and Lucas hated it, and couldn't get across to the man what he wanted. The man was not retained and the edit was started over when production returned to California.

It was not a "George Lucas cut".

Yeah, that was just to get the first workprint cut. Lucas didn't like it and he was the one who wanted a new cut so I'm not sure why people keep calling it his cut.

I'm beginning to worry as lately I see a lot of made up stories about Star Wars history. At least watch or read the making of books first.

[Breather]

If any of you guys discussing the editing are looking for info on the first cut of Star Wars and what happened in the editing process, it's down below, running from 53:33-56:28.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoQ1mOrV8Nc

There's much more detailed information out there if you look, but Empire of Dreams gives a quick summary.

[AlexSing]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Lucas helped start American Zoetrope, Lucas also shot and edited the newspaper montage (the gang war that erupts after Michael kills The Turk and the captain in the restaurant).

Watch Hearts of Darkness for Lucas' contribution to Apocalypse Now.

Not meaning to intrude but just as a point of fact, I've seen Hearts of Darkness several times as I'm sure many people on here have. Could you please point out where George Lucas had a direct influence on the editing, direction, story or practical design of the film as I think I missed that part.

[RiseDarthVader]

It bothers me after this many releases and the fact that they went back to fix some problems from the 2004 restoration that the red lightsabers in the OT still look pink most of the time.

[Shin sam]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Yeah, that was just to get the first workprint cut. Lucas didn't like it and he was the one who wanted a new cut so I'm not sure why people keep calling it his cut.

I'm beginning to worry as lately I see a lot of made up stories about Star Wars history. At least watch or read the making of books first.

It is a little known fact that the ghost of Abraham Lincoln told Lucas to redo the special effects and re-edit each film just to p*** off us fans.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

It bothers me after this many releases and the fact that they went back to fix some problems from the 2004 restoration that the red lightsabers in the OT still look pink most of the time.

I sometimes wonder if Lucas intentionally uses the amendments as a kind of value-add, to provide a sales incentive with each new release. Some of them — such as the background cityscapes in several of the Lando scenes at the end of Empire — genuinely add to the films, in my opinion. But the "fixes", such as the lightsaber issues you mention, RDV, are so darned inconsistent or incomplete.

If they're so essential to his "vision" of the films, why such a piecemeal approach? Why wouldn't he fix all occurrences of an issue such as the lightsabers, even if it's just in one film, in the one go, so that they're consistent? He certainly has the resources.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by AlexSing

Not meaning to intrude but just as a point of fact, I've seen Hearts of Darkness several times as I'm sure many people on here have. Could you please point out where George Lucas had a direct influence on the editing, direction, story or practical design of the film as I think I missed that part.

D'oh. Shows what I get for trying to remember a doc I last saw in the mid 90s on LaserDisc.

In any case, Lucas was thought to direct it at one point and was friends with the original screenwriter John Milius. According to Wikipedia (not sure if it's true) it was Lucas & Spielberg that encouraged Milius to write it as a Vietnam movie.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Livelong420

Alright guys, you seem to know exactly what Lucas should do. So let's tackle this here. Say there will be a remastered original trilogy released on blu.

What to/not to include:
1. SE changes.
2. Removing the mattes.
3. Standardized lightsaber hues.
4. Color, saturation.
5. Ep IV vs just "Star Wars"

You guys will think of more.

Nah, there's no thinking to it. Just restore the film negatives and release the films as people saw them in '77, '80, and '83.

Basically, the "bonus material" laserdisc ports were fine original editions of the films as far as content goes, but restored 4K scan transfers like what was done for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[Howdy]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

It bothers me after this many releases and the fact that they went back to fix some problems from the 2004 restoration that the red lightsabers in the OT still look pink most of the time.

Actually, the lightsabers in ANH still remain true to the original source. Most people just don't remember correctly! Check out this the photo of Vader on this original 1978 Kenner cardback. http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?i...arded%20Figure

[al cos.]

Originally Posted by Livelong420

Alright guys, you seem to know exactly what Lucas should do. So let's tackle this here. Say there will be a remastered original trilogy released on blu.

What to/not to include:
1. SE changes.
2. Removing the mattes.
3. Standardized lightsaber hues.
4. Color, saturation.
5. Ep IV vs just "Star Wars"

You guys will think of more.

There's nothing to "tackle". Put out the movie. Like they do with every other movie. There is NOTHING SPECIAL about this. No sob stories apply.

[Canuck21]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

All I've read is tons of immature rants about how someone thinks this or that is bad, without any kind of explanation or suggested alternative.

If I think the dialogues are beyond bad, what else can I say? You will deem it as immature rants anyway.

Originally Posted by Livelong420

Alright guys, you seem to know exactly what Lucas should do. So let's tackle this here. Say there will be a remastered original trilogy released on blu.

What to/not to include:
1. SE changes.
2. Removing the mattes.
3. Standardized lightsaber hues.
4. Color, saturation.
5. Ep IV vs just "Star Wars"

You guys will think of more.

Just give us a cleaned-up version like a normal movie. Do it like the Indiana Jones movies.

[ahossein79]

I know this is a copy and paste of a post I used in another thread but this seems to sum up pretty well how I feel about people and their gripes:

I know I will alienate a lot of people by saying this but a lot of people were not Star Wars fans to begin with they just liked a lot because it was ingrained in pop culture. Believe it or not in the mid to late 80's a few years after Jedi being a Star Wars fan was not a cool thing and it was more a nerd thing. I think some people were just Han Solo fans which is fine, but you want to know why his character works in the OT and their is no need for a character like him in the prequels....well because the OT takes place in a time of rebellion and Han is the perfect example of a renegade REBEL who answers to nobody, and Luke and Leia also are outlaws going up against the mighty empire. The heroes in the prequel trilogy are not meant for the common viewer to relate to, for example a 14 year old queen, a boy at 9 year old who separates from his mother to be told by these powerful all ruling Jedi that he is the "chosen one". People have to really ask themselves did I really love Star Wars to begin with in the first place?

[mrr1]

I just randomly threw on Revenge of the Sith tonight because I was bored and watched the full movie for the first time in at least 9 months.

And you know what? That movie rules. And it looks better than at least 95% of the movies out there.

*&%^ the haters. Star Wars is awesome. And George Lucas is a god. Not "the" God, but a god nonetheless.

[Monolithium]

Originally Posted by mrr1

*&%^ the haters. Star Wars is awesome. And George Lucas is a god. Not "the" God, but a god nonetheless.

Like the Buddha. Except fatter.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Canuck21

If I think the dialogues are beyond bad, what else can I say? You will deem it as immature rants anyway.

Not necessarily; you may want to start with suggesting exactly how certain things could be improved, instead of following the popular trend of "everything Lucas does sucks", etc.

Originally Posted by Monolithium

Like the Buddha. Except fatter.

Actually, the Buddha was atheistic; he even abandoned his own family in a search for "enlightenment". He also named his son Rahula ("impediment" or "obstacle").

[nametag]

Originally Posted by mrr1

I just randomly threw on Revenge of the Sith tonight because I was bored and watched the full movie for the first time in at least 9 months.

And you know what? That movie rules. And it looks better than at least 95% of the movies out there.

*&%^ the haters. Star Wars is awesome. And George Lucas is a god. Not "the" God, but a god nonetheless.

I watched it for the first time since it came out a couple of weeks ago and was surprised by how much I liked it. In my mind it was only JUST the best prequel, but now I can safely say it is in another level to them entirely. Lots of that has to do with Ian McDiarmid

However, Padme was terribly written/performed compared to Ep 1+2. Her character was completely useless, weak and undeveloped. And don't get me started on her death.

[Aquel]

Originally Posted by nametag

I watched it for the first time since it came out a couple of weeks ago and was surprised by how much I liked it. In my mind it was only JUST the best prequel, but now I can safely say it is in another level to them entirely. Lots of that has to do with Ian McDiarmid

However, Padme was terribly written/performed compared to Ep 1+2. Her character was completely useless, weak and undeveloped. And don't get me started on her death.

Yep, they really should have added those Rebellion scenes so she has something more than do than just waiting for Anakin to show up..

[Canuck21]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Not necessarily; you may want to start with suggesting exactly how certain things could be improved, instead of following the popular trend of "everything Lucas does sucks", etc.

As I'm not a good writer, I'm not going to point out what I find wrong, but I can tell you that I pretty much agree with everything RedLetterMedia says. Forget about the Lucas bashing in the videos, concentrate on the points and I agree with all the points.

[mrpink134]

Wow major deletion detected

[JamesKurtovich]

Things I loved about Episode III: the Emperor, Kashyyyk battle scene, beginning shot above Coruscant (I likely butchered the spelling), and the scene with Lars/Beru/Luke and the binary sunset.

There was a lot of "fan service" too, like the Yoda/Sidious fight in the Senate chamber. This fight was just meaningless action but it looked pretty damn cool.

Still.. if the stuff in between had been better, those scenes would be even cooler. But we got what Lucas gave us so oh well.