logo Sign In

Send the extra discs back!

Author
Date
Author
Time
Post link
Here's the letter I sent to Lucasfilm:

Jim Ward
Senior Vice President
Lucasfilm Ltd.
5858 Lucas Valley Rd.
Nicasio, CA 94946

September 22, 2006

Dear Sir:

I recently purchased the "Special Edition" DVDs of the original Star Wars trilogy with the "bonus" discs. I am returning the "special editions"and keeping the "bonus" i.e., original versions of these classic films, which I began to watch back in 1977. At $17.87 per disc (from Amazon), I consider the deal a bargain. Please sell or give the "Special Edition" discs to someone who may appreciate them, or keep them if you like; I have no interest in them whatsoever. I believe George Lucas' artistic vision has become... clouded, shall we say, in the past few years.

"[T]o attempt to patch a faulty work into the perfection it missed at its first execution, to spend one's middle age in trying to mend the artistic sins committed and bequeathed by that different person who was oneself in youth - all this is surely vain and futile." -Aldous Huxley

Sincerely,
Henry M. Steffee

Think if enough people send in their discs, the corporate types will get the message that there's a substantial number of potential
customers who just want the original flicks?

By the way, thanx to the other forum member (I was browsing, don't remember which post it was) for finding the Huxley quote, and I
hope you don't mind my using it for my letter, I thought it was apropo.
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: HammerinHank
Here's the letter I sent to Lucasfilm:

Jim Ward
Senior Vice President
Lucasfilm Ltd.
5858 Lucas Valley Rd.
Nicasio, CA 94946

September 22, 2006

Dear Sir:

I recently purchased the "Special Edition" DVDs of the original Star Wars trilogy with the "bonus" discs. I am returning the "special editions"and keeping the "bonus" i.e., original versions of these classic films, which I began to watch back in 1977. At $17.87 per disc (from Amazon), I consider the deal a bargain. Please sell or give the "Special Edition" discs to someone who may appreciate them, or keep them if you like; I have no interest in them whatsoever. I believe George Lucas' artistic vision has become... clouded, shall we say, in the past few years.

"[T]o attempt to patch a faulty work into the perfection it missed at its first execution, to spend one's middle age in trying to mend the artistic sins committed and bequeathed by that different person who was oneself in youth - all this is surely vain and futile." -Aldous Huxley

Sincerely,
Henry M. Steffee

Think if enough people send in their discs, the corporate types will get the message that there's a substantial number of potential
customers who just want the original flicks?

By the way, thanx to the other forum member (I was browsing, don't remember which post it was) for finding the Huxley quote, and I
hope you don't mind my using it for my letter, I thought it was apropo.


I don't think it will radically change anything, but hopefully someone will notice.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Post link
If this gesture even gets noticed at Lucasfilm, I'll be ecstatic. With enough little protests we might get a snowball rolling, although the big payoff (if any) is bound to be way off in the future. I figure it's worth a shot. And thanx for the reply; I know there's at least one other forum member who cares that much!
Author
Time
Post link
Along with Lucas' own words about colorization, Jay should put that Huxley quote on the home page.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
Author
Time
Post link
Good letter, HammerinHank!

BTW, it was darkhelmet who I first saw post the Huxley quote and it is darkhelmet that is currently using the quote for his signature. I'm sure he'll be delighted to see the use you've put it to.

Remember, even if the letter doesn't have a massive impact in and of itself, at least you've remained true to yourself and put your point across.
Don't you call me a mindless philosopher...!
Author
Time
Post link
Thanx to all for the kind responses. Thanx especially to darkhelmet; I usually try to acknowledge not only original authors, but also the people who dig up the quotes I use, but this time around I was so eager to cut and paste interesting snippets to my "scrap" document while I was trying to decide what I wanted to say in my letter that I forgot to make a note of the source, then I couldn't remember exactly where I'd found it. My sincere apologies for being an overeager newb!
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
Along with Lucas' own words about colorization, Jay should put that Huxley quote on the home page.


I wish Jay would start up a new petition or something. We're gaining ground, and we really shouldn't give up now. I've hardly seen him lately.

I wonder how many people sent their back? Strength in numbers.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death