Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[RyanPom]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

The conversions?

Yes, the 3D version of Clones will be shown at SW Europe Celebration II. so, I know that was finished.

[jamesdevil]

Originally Posted by Monolithium

Although I would kill for a commentary on all three originals by George. Has there ever been a commentary consisting entirely of heavy sighs?

I literally laughed.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by RyanPom

Yes, the 3D version of Clones will be shown at SW Europe Celebration II. so, I know that was finished.

They can keep conversions as far as I am concerned.

[JackKnightStarman]

Sorry to burst all your bubbles but Disney/Lucasfilm own all six. Lucas negotiated getting ep. four when he was trying to get the financing for the special editions and distribution for all three prequels back in the nineties. Lucas held the distribution rights for the prequels and shopped them around. At one point Warner Brothers was in the running. But Fox stepped up to the plate and sold Lucas the rights to ep. four and got the distribution rights to the prequels and exclusive rights to air first ep. one on the Fox network. Lucas also financed Indy without help from paramount. Lucasfilm owns Indy outright. All Paramount has to do was marketing and distribution. It was well known that George had all the power after the money he made from just licensing alone. It is also well known that George hated working within the studio system. All his early films suffered from studio interference and insistence. Just like his mentor and friend F. F. Coppola. So relax. Disney/Lucasfilm is in control. But I wouldn't expect them to pay off Fox, like they just did for Marvel properties distributed by Paramount. Two really different beasts.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by kemcha

I wouldn't count on Disney releasing any "theatrical versions" of the Star Wars films on home video. Disney is looking at recouping the money they paid out to acquire Lucasfilm. They're not going to be willing to dump even more money into the process to go back and release what Lucas himself said is "an unfinished" product.

Despite the fact that Disney owns the right to the Star Wars films, they're not going to be willing to tarnish the very image that Lucas created for Star Wars just to appease some fanboy purists out there who are throwing a temper tantrum over the "unedited" versions of the trilogy.

No, I'm not trying to stir up that debate, but once Disney gets the rights to the five Star Wars that Fox currently has, I do think that they'll probably take the masters for each film and do a better restoration job for those films. The one thing I have to give credit to Disney for is that they seem to always hit the mark when producing high quality Blu-ray disks.

As far as Disney investigating about getting their hands on "A New Hope"? Unless they plan on throwing a lot of money at 20th Century Fox, there's no way that they're going to get their hands on that film. First, Fox funded that film out of their own pocket and Lucas made a bad deal to begin with but it's hardly grounds for taking the film away from Fox. It would be like Disney trying to revoke the rights to to the Indiana Jones series, even though it was produced and distributed by Paramount.

I just don't see Disney getting their hands on that filmn and 20th Century Fox is probably going to want a lot for the rights to that film, unless Disney decided to make some kind distribution deal with Fox. I think we might end up seeing 20th Century Fox licensing "A New Hope" to Disney in exchange for something but I just don't see Fox giving up their perpetual rights to that film. Fox knows what they have and they're not going to let that go. I suspect that not even the courts will be able to force Fox to relinquish that film.

I'm sure Disney will try but in the end, that film belongs to Fox, not Disney.

I think we'll see Disney trying to make the argument that "A New Hope" belongs to them since they purchased Lucasfilm but that argument is flawed since "A New Hope", while it was produced by Lucasfilm, was actually financed and owned by 20th Century Fox. It's sort of like how Star Trek was produced by Paramount, even though it was created by Gene Roddenberry. It wasn't until after CBS acquired Paramount that the rightds issues started getting a little fuzzy. Even after they acquired Paramount, it wasn't until after Paramount decided to sign over the rights to the previously released Star Trek shows and movies that CBS gained control of the previously produced content, leaving Paramount ot produce the new movies.

It's just going to turn into an ugly fight but I think we'll either see some kind of joint distribution deal between the two companies or see Fox licensing the distribution rights to Disney for a percentage of the sales on the two trilogies. Say what you want, but Fox will most likely be involved in some type of joint distribution deal with Disney, which could still serve to profit both companies.

But it's not just about pleasing fanboy purists, it's about preserving a huge piece of pop culture history. You have to remember that it's the Theatrical Cuts that won all these awards and acclaim over the years. Do you see the Special Editions winning any awards or the getting the same amount of acclaim? All they've really done is bring negativity. The Original Trilogy is a perfect example of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Not to mention that the Special Editions replaced footage that filmmakers spent hours trying to perfect, mainly FX work. Now it seems like they did it for nothing because their work isn't being presented properly on home video.

Also a whole generation of people grew up with with those versions. To deny those very people the chance to revisit the versions they grew up with in the best quality possible is harsh imo.

They were also the versions that made Lucas filthy rich and set up his huge empire, no pun intended.

The best thing to do is a Blade Runner type set with all the versions of the films presented in the highest quality possible, that way everyone would be happy, both fans old and new. Lucas has finished tweaking the films now that he's sold the rights so the best time really to do a new set is either now or in the next few years. People will pay good money for high quality transfers of the Theatrical Cuts.

Why is it that other filmmakers that have tweaked their films over the years have the common courtesy and treat their fans properly and include the original versions with the same amount of care gone into the transfers as well even if they might not prefer the original versions?

[kemcha]

Disney doesn't own all six. They only currently have the rights to make new films. Even when the distribution rights to the previous Star Wars films expire with 20th Century Fox/Fox Home Video, Disney only gets the rights to Episode 1-3 and Empire and Jedi.

Despite what you might think, Disney does not get the rights to "A New Hope". According to sources, 20th Century Fox holds "in perpetuity in all media worldwide." A deal that Lucas signed just to try and get the movie released back in the late 1970s.

Some forget that Lucas had shopped the idea around for "Star Wars" to every studio in Hollywood, all of which politely declined to make the film. That was until he approached 20th Century Fox, who, at the time, decided to take a chance on the film. As the film's budget began to increase, it didn't look likely that the movie would get finished. Not to mention there were production problems that almost shut the production down completely.

While the distribution rights to Episodes 1-3, 5-6 revert back to Lucasfilm in 2020, Fox still retains the rights to "A New Hope" which Lucas signed away in order to get the movie produced. You have to remember that Lucas had no plans beyond "Star Wars" to produce any sequels, even though he had produced outlines for an extended story.

It's simply highly doubtful that Disney will succeed in taking the rights to "A New Hope" away from Fox and any legal court battle over the film is likely to drag out for a long period of time, wrapping Disney up in a very costly legal battle. The only hope that Disney might have is just to simply negotiate for the rights to "A New Hope", much in the same way that Lucas negotiated the distribution rights to the five Star Wars films to 20th Century Fox.

In any event, there's really nothing that Disney can do in a courtroom over the rights issue because the Federal and appellate courts have been siding with companies who originally produced that content. Take a look at the battle over the Superman rights as well as Ghost Rider and the various court fights between Jack Kirby and Marvel Entertainment. Each time, it's the companies for whoim the work was produced for who have been retaining ownership over that content.

Even though Lucas produced "A New Hope", he did so as a "work for hire" for Fox Home Video and that's what 20th Century Fox will argue. He didn't have the foresight to include in his contract with Fox that the rights revert back to him. This is the way that movies are produced in Hollywood. The studio financing the production of the film retains exclusive worldwide media rights to that film. If they didn't, we would be seeing lawsuits being filed for every film that has ever been produced.

[al cos.]

Fox's distribution is not ownership or control. It just means they are the pipeline for any release that happens and they get a cut of the action. They have no control over the when and the content. If disney wants to put out a gay porn enhanced version of episode 4 they can, it'll just come out through Fox video and fox will get 10 % (or whatever it is) of the take.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by al cos.

Fox's distribution is not ownership or control. It just means they are the pipeline for any release that happens and they get a cut of the action. They have no control over the when and the content. If disney wants to put out a gay porn enhanced version of episode 4 they can, it'll just come out through Fox video and fox will get 10 % (or whatever it is) of the take.

Starring Jabba The Butt?

[Falaskan]

Originally Posted by al cos.

Fox's distribution is not ownership or control. It just means they are the pipeline for any release that happens and they get a cut of the action. They have no control over the when and the content. If disney wants to put out a gay porn enhanced version of episode 4 they can, it'll just come out through Fox video and fox will get 10 % (or whatever it is) of the take.

Luke and Han and Ben and Tarkin?

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

Luke and Han and Ben and Tarkin?

That's just grim lol.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by al cos.

Fox's distribution is not ownership or control. It just means they are the pipeline for any release that happens and they get a cut of the action. They have no control over the when and the content. If disney wants to put out a gay porn enhanced version of episode 4 they can, it'll just come out through Fox video and fox will get 10 % (or whatever it is) of the take.

LOL, thank you.

Seriously, the armchair stuff saying that Fox owns anything is just misinformed.

I think it's very, very clear now why we got such a bare-bones Star Wars release on Blu. And I know some would try to have me hanged for saying that - but it was. Recycled commentaries, a disc of spoof crap, and while some of the vintage docs were great to have, the motherload doc wasn't in there, and they didn't even have all the known preserved deleted scenes. I almost felt like the menus were overly long and slow just to make it feel like there was more content there.

Don't get me wrong, I like the releases and I'm terribly glad we have them on Blu - but it's clear that was a selling point to Disney - if it had been a "definitive" set, the property wouldn't have been worth quite so much. Disney will undoubtedly be announcing a really deluxe set to go along with new theatrical releases. And my guess is, a lot of the archival stuff was already pulled for the last one and is just sitting and ready to go.

And yup, I'll buy it again. Because Disney does Blu right. It's yet another reason I am so happy they bought the franchise - so many fanbois cried about it being the end, but in truth - it's the beginning. We are finally getting the sequels we have wanted for thirty years. In my whole life I never heard anyone say, "Gee, I really want to see a movie about Darth Vader as a little boy! Actually, I want three so we can see him grow up to be a bratty teenager and a reprehensible young adult! Oh yeah, and make Leia and Luke's mother die of a "broken heart" when she should have wanted to live on and protect her children." Basically, while they have their positives, the entire subject was just nothing that anyone ever really asked for or cared about. Obi-wan pretty much described it in a few sentences in ANH, and that was enough for most of us. We wanted to see continuing adventures. And seeing how Disney has handled Marvel, and with a talent like Abrams (who is the polar opposite of Lucas - Abrams writes women in a league that only contains him and Whedon) - we are in for quite a spectacle. I can't wait.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

LOL, thank you.

Seriously, the armchair stuff saying that Fox owns anything is just misinformed.

I think it's very, very clear now why we got such a bare-bones Star Wars release on Blu. And I know some would try to have me hanged for saying that - but it was. Recycled commentaries, a disc of spoof crap, and while some of the vintage docs were great to have, the motherload doc wasn't in there, and they didn't even have all the known preserved deleted scenes. I almost felt like the menus were overly long and slow just to make it feel like there was more content there.

Don't get me wrong, I like the releases and I'm terribly glad we have them on Blu - but it's clear that was a selling point to Disney - if it had been a "definitive" set, the property wouldn't have been worth quite so much. Disney will undoubtedly be announcing a really deluxe set to go along with new theatrical releases. And my guess is, a lot of the archival stuff was already pulled for the last one and is just sitting and ready to go.

And yup, I'll buy it again. Because Disney does Blu right. It's yet another reason I am so happy they bought the franchise - so many fanbois cried about it being the end, but in truth - it's the beginning. We are finally getting the sequels we have wanted for thirty years. In my whole life I never heard anyone say, "Gee, I really want to see a movie about Darth Vader as a little boy! Actually, I want three so we can see him grow up to be a bratty teenager and a reprehensible young adult! Oh yeah, and make Leia and Luke's mother die of a "broken heart" when she should have wanted to live on and protect her children." Basically, while they have their positives, the entire subject was just nothing that anyone ever really asked for or cared about. Obi-wan pretty much described it in a few sentences in ANH, and that was enough for most of us. We wanted to see continuing adventures. And seeing how Disney has handled Marvel, and with a talent like Abrams (who is the polar opposite of Lucas - Abrams writes women in a league that only contains him and Whedon) - we are in for quite a spectacle. I can't wait.

Not to mention that Lawrence Kasdan is writing the script for Episode VII.

With him aboard and J.J. Abrams. We might just have the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

LOL, thank you.

Seriously, the armchair stuff saying that Fox owns anything is just misinformed.

I think it's very, very clear now why we got such a bare-bones Star Wars release on Blu. And I know some would try to have me hanged for saying that - but it was. Recycled commentaries, a disc of spoof crap, and while some of the vintage docs were great to have, the motherload doc wasn't in there, and they didn't even have all the known preserved deleted scenes. I almost felt like the menus were overly long and slow just to make it feel like there was more content there.

Don't get me wrong, I like the releases and I'm terribly glad we have them on Blu - but it's clear that was a selling point to Disney - if it had been a "definitive" set, the property wouldn't have been worth quite so much. Disney will undoubtedly be announcing a really deluxe set to go along with new theatrical releases. And my guess is, a lot of the archival stuff was already pulled for the last one and is just sitting and ready to go.

And yup, I'll buy it again. Because Disney does Blu right. It's yet another reason I am so happy they bought the franchise - so many fanbois cried about it being the end, but in truth - it's the beginning. We are finally getting the sequels we have wanted for thirty years. In my whole life I never heard anyone say, "Gee, I really want to see a movie about Darth Vader as a little boy! Actually, I want three so we can see him grow up to be a bratty teenager and a reprehensible young adult! Oh yeah, and make Leia and Luke's mother die of a "broken heart" when she should have wanted to live on and protect her children." Basically, while they have their positives, the entire subject was just nothing that anyone ever really asked for or cared about. Obi-wan pretty much described it in a few sentences in ANH, and that was enough for most of us. We wanted to see continuing adventures. And seeing how Disney has handled Marvel, and with a talent like Abrams (who is the polar opposite of Lucas - Abrams writes women in a league that only contains him and Whedon) - we are in for quite a spectacle. I can't wait.

Couldn't agree with ya more, I love that the Saga is on Blu-ray, but I felt like it was "put together at the last minute." Sure Lucas and the crew fixed some of the things the 2004 DVDs screwed up on, but they weren't consistent with the improvements they were making to the films, plus they used the old 2K transfers rather than making brand new 4K transfers of the films (besides Revenge of the Sith of course). The audio could still be tweaked but these films sound amazing on blu! The special features are ok, but I would have liked to see more, or even as I said previously, have all the old special features that were on the DVDs on there in one place, I've always been impressed with the quality of Disney's releases and I have full confidence that once they get things all sorted out and own all the distribution rights to these films, they will make sure Episodes 1-6 will get the proper treatment the next time they come out on Blu-ray!

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Not to mention that Lawrence Kasdan is writing the script for Episode VII.

With him aboard and J.J. Abrams. We might just have the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back.

Umm, I agree that I am optimistic abiut the J.J. Abrams film, but it is being written by Michael Arndt.

[Falaskan]

I just spent over $100 for the UK steel book versions on blu. I can't stop spending money again and again on this series.

[RyanPom]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Not to mention that Lawrence Kasdan is writing the script for Episode VII.

With him aboard and J.J. Abrams. We might just have the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back.

I cal already see the over expectations starting.

[kemcha]

In any event, the courts will decide on what happens in regards to ownership over "A New Hope". I'm just judging my viewpoint on how courts have been ruling in recent years when it comes to who owns what.

What isn't in dispute is that when 2020 comes around, the distribution rights to Episodes I-III and Episodes V and VI revert back to Lucasfilm when the distribution deal with 20th Century Fox ends. The contention regards "A New Hope" and what exactly are the rights issues. Disney could claim ownership over the film's rights since they purchased Lucasfilm but there are a lot of complicated copyright issues regarding that film since George Lucas produced the film for 20th Century Fox and that he didn't know what was involved in getting a movie produced.

I wasn't trying to turn this into a long debate but the best thing for these two companies would be either for both companies to enter into a joint distribution deal for the six films or for Fox to simply license "A New Hope" to Disney in exchange for some kind of profit sharing deal. We could also see some kind of arrangement between Fox and Disney similar to what happened with the "Friday the 13th" film series where Warner Brothers gave up limited rights to the movie series in exchange for co-producing Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie, Interstellar.

One curious thing I discovered is that 20th Century Fox and Disney could be involved in some type of limited partnership, the same way that Disney is now a limited partner with Paramount over the Indiana Jones series.

The one thing that could happen is that Fox could make some kind of deal with Disney where Fox continues to distribute (or co-distribute) the first six episodes of the Star Wars saga with Disney while Disney continue to produce new Star Wars films and release those to Blu-ray, keeping the entire Star Wars saga together.

[GuruAskew]

You literally don't know what you're talking about.

[stvn1974]

The day that the World Series is played on Atlantis and the Cubs win it after Big Foot throws out the first pitch I will expect the announcement for the unaltered Original Trilogy on blu-ray.

[BluProofie]

I loved Star Trek(2009). But, I thought Into Darkness was awful. I don't have high hopes at all for the new Star Wars films and I will not see them. I'll just stick with the original saga.