Celebration 2017 Speculation — Page 27

DominicCobb said:

I honestly don’t think George’s beating heart has jack shit to do with any of it, I doubt anyone cares about “not releasing the originals out of respect to him” and the idea some have floated that it might have been in the deal he signed with Disney is simply ludicrous.

Ultimately, I think the real enemy here is simply just apathy and indifference.

I felt the exact same way until now. But who the fuck knows anymore? Something is holding them back. I don’t think that’s the biggest factor but it could be a factor.

And as for apathy and indifference, well, yeah. That’s kind of my point. They don’t care enough to do it because they don’t see the reward as worth the effort. If every single Star Wars fan boycotted the next movie and any future releases until the OUT came out, then they would get off their asses and have it out faster than you can believe. But for the moment they have no reason to care. They know they are still going to bring home billions regardless, so they have much higher priorities as I said. Once they get those out of the way and farther down the list, once the “OMG NEW STAR WARS!!!” craze dies down and they have incidentally gained all the distribution rights they are going to get, only then may we see something.

Density said:

DominicCobb said:
Well I suppose when you consider how incredibly massive the number of Star Wars fans there are they might be a minority, but yeah I’d say it’s still fairly sizable. Sure I doubt most are unaware of the alternatives and have no problem sucking up the SEs (though Harmy’s work has gained some decent notoriety through the web), but I’m sure a great many would be willing to fork over cash if the original versions were presented.

Oh I’m sure plenty of people would buy it. They would turn a profit. But when compared to all the other things they could focus on instead? It’s chump change. So they have to weigh the value of that change against:

• Pissing on George while he’s still alive, which I didn’t think was a problem but apparently might be after all now that they seem to have kissed and made up
• Not maximizing the profits from it due to the extra money they could make if they waited until they are the sole owners and distributors of all but ANH
• Distracting resources and marketing attention from their own new films

So if I had to predict? It will either come out around 2020 as a tie-in to the newly completed sequel trilogy, likely again treated as bonus material, or it won’t come out until George is pushing daisies.

Whatever the case, it’s pretty clear now that it’s not coming this year.

Well, I still wouldn’t completely rule out a release happening this year (The GOUT was announced in early/mid May for a September release, and the bd has been reissued every two years since 2011 which means we’re potentially due for another release of some kind this year). Hell, even after hearing that George was showing up I still didn’t rule out an announcement with him in the room! We’ve known for three whole years now that there’s been a 4k remaster of his preferred version, which to me means he literally has no reason to care anymore. John Landis’ story would seem to support this.

The only reasons I can think of are, as stated:

-apathy
-misplaced sense of loyalty to George from Kennedy and the people at Fox… even though George doesn’t care anymore
-Disney wanting to maximize their profits by waiting until 2020

That is simply how I see it. After 2020 they are out of excuses.

It’s a very complicated situation. The frustration that I feel the most towards it is Disney/Lucasfilm not fully addressing the issue at all. Not a ‘it’s being looked into’, ‘no there are no plans’, nothing. At least when George was in charge he was upfront about it, one of the few things I can given credit for in this situation.

As far as the minority/majority argument goes well I look at like this. Let’s say 85% of Star Wars fans have the BD versions. Let’s look at that remaining 15%. Who are these people? We’ll say 80% of that 15% will only bite if the OUT is included while the rest maybe don’t have BD players and can’t own them or simply don’t want to i.e. they’re happy with the DVD versions or whatever version they have.

Now that original 85%. They have the BDs. We’ll say maybe 80% of that percentage are the casual fans or diehards who will buy anything and either don’t know about the changes, don’t care, or simply prefer the SEs. Then the other 20%. These are people who would like the OUT but realize they don’t have a choice.

Now let’s say 15% of that 80% I mentioned are willing to perhaps upgrade their sets if the OUT is released. Keep in mind people change their minds a lot and not to mention it’s easy for a lot of them to say ‘no I’m sticking with the set I have’, ‘I don’t care’, etc. when the chances of the OUT being released is pretty slim. Take the 15% and combine it with that 20% I mentioned as well as the 80% of the 15% who don’t own the current sets you’re still looking at a fairly decent number of people.

To add to what crissrudd is saying, I feel like waiting another three years has other advantages for Lucasfilm aside from just the rights issue.

Some people are only just now getting around to buying the 2011 set. I honestly feel like we weren’t going to see a major reissue with actual new content until the time came to put the movies out on the next format. We’re only a year into 4k discs being a thing, and Star Wars has taken a long while to hit each new format.

To me, this is yet another sign pointing to 2020.

Fang Zei said:

To add to what crissrudd is saying, I feel like waiting another three years has other advantages for Lucasfilm aside from just the rights issue.

Some people are only just now getting around to buying the 2011 set. I honestly feel like we weren’t going to see a major reissue with actual new content until the time came to put the movies out on the next format. We’re only a year into 4k discs being a thing, and Star Wars has taken a long while to hit each new format.

To me, this is yet another sign pointing to 2020.

That’s another thing I wanted to add. Fact is studios are ALWAYS looking for opportunities to resell their movies. They’re gonna milk as much out of their releases as much as they can til the end of time.

The Graudate was released on DVD/BD just a year or two ago by The Criterion Collection yet a brand new 4K restored print is being screened this year. So there you go. Studios wanna make as much off their movies at every chance they can take.

So the idea that some rerelease of the SW films, home media or theatrical, SE or OUT, will not happen is nonsense. Especially in Disney’s case. They’re not gonna wanna milk in that dough off those highly successful films after 2020? Absurd.

So I have no doubt, especially with home media continuing to evolve, that some new rerelease of the restored SW films will be inevitable. Whether it will have the OUT is another story.

If they really wanna be smart they should include both versions. Either camp is gonna be angered that one is included and not the other so you lose sales right there. Having both at least guarantees a certain percentage of both camps will take a bite. Many SE fans are angered by the coloring of the current sets so having the same SE restored will interest them while the OUT people will finally have their wish.

nightstalkerpoet said:
Casual movie fans almost always prefer a release with Theatrical and Director’s Cuts (which is far more accurate than the Special Edition moniker it has been given.) Two for the price of 1, awesome! I didn’t even know there were two versions, I gotta try it out.

Most of the time, casual movie fans don’t care or know the difference. In my experience if they even realize there are multiple cuts, they tend to just automatically assume the latest or “director’s” cut is better. Which, in fairness, it often is. Star Wars is a major exception.

crissrudd4554 said:
If they really wanna be smart they should include both versions. Either camp is gonna be angered that one is included and not the other so you lose sales right there. Having both at least guarantees a certain percentage of both camps will take a bite. Many SE fans are angered by the coloring of the current sets so having the same SE restored will interest them while the OUT people will finally have their wish.

Honest question: Is there such a thing as an SE “camp?” It seems to me that most either don’t know or care about the difference or prefer the OUT if they do. I’ve seen very few people actually straight-up defend the SEs as superior to the originals, save for a few of the TFN nuts I mentioned who would defend George if he released a 2 hour film of himself taking a shit. But I imagine you might be right in that while any SE fans out there are content now, they might be pissed if it is excluded from a re-release. The younglings who grew up on these films could therefore get to experience the same outrage we did. Or maybe they would just recognize the OUT as superior, who knows? Only one way to find out: Release it!

TV’s Frink said:

Thanks for letting us know!

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Can you please clarify what you are trying to say?

Density said:

crissrudd4554 said:
If they really wanna be smart they should include both versions. Either camp is gonna be angered that one is included and not the other so you lose sales right there. Having both at least guarantees a certain percentage of both camps will take a bite. Many SE fans are angered by the coloring of the current sets so having the same SE restored will interest them while the OUT people will finally have their wish.

Honest question: Is there such a thing as an SE “camp?” It seems to me that most either don’t know or care about the difference or prefer the OUT if they do. I’ve seen very few people actually straight-up defend the SEs as superior to the originals, save for a few of the TFN nuts I mentioned who would defend George if he released a 2 hour film of himself taking a shit. But I imagine you might be right in that while any SE fans out there are content now, they might be pissed if it is excluded from a re-release. The younglings who grew up on these films could therefore get to experience the same outrage we did. Or maybe they would just recognize the OUT as superior, who knows? Only one way to find out: Release it!

I’d put myself mostly in the SE camp. The new ending to ROTJ saves the movie IMO. (Not talking about Hayden, though I like that too. I’m talking about the song and montage).
And I grew up with the unaltered VHS tapes!

SwissArmyTin said:

Alderaan said:

TV’s Frink said:

Thanks for letting us know!

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

Disney is a piece of **** company and they refuse to release the OOT.

If I repeat my opinion as a mantra then it must be true.

If I repeat my opinion as a mantra then it must be true.

If I repeat my opinion as a mantra then it must be true.

If I repeat my opinion as a mantra then it must be true.

But when Chirrut did it, it was kinda endearing.

Yeah, I think even the people who liked certain things about the SE are sick of all the pointless alterations and would actually prefer the original versions.

That’s going to be an issue for Disney when they eventually release I-VI on 4k and the mostly older consumer base for the format decide they really don’t care to see Star Wars yet again, even in 4k with hdr, unless they can watch the original versions that way as well.

DominicCobb said:

I honestly don’t think George’s beating heart has jack shit to do with any of it, I doubt anyone cares about “not releasing the originals out of respect to him” and the idea some have floated that it might have been in the deal he signed with Disney is simply ludicrous.

Ultimately, I think the real enemy here is simply just apathy and indifference on the part of whoever makes the distribution decisions (which might overlap with the rights issues).

One thing that’s interesting is there’s no way these new filmmakers haven’t brought the OOT up (I know Rian Johnson is on record for criticizing them). I wonder if they know the lowdown and if they’re privy to versions we aren’t.

Damn, shoulda asked Rian about that when I met him…

Is Rian Johnson criticizing the OOT, or the people? Who is ‘them’? also do you have a link? I’d love to see what he has to say as i really like his movie, and am stoked he is helming TLJ.

SilverWook said:

At this point, haven’t we been patient enough? It’s the freaking 40th anniversary. If they can’t make a simple direct statement on the matter…

This is what drives me nuts, they (@StarWars @Disney) gush about how much they love the SW fans onstage at Celebration, but they don’t respond to tweets about the OT, or even acknowledge it.

Today, fans on twitter are sharing the '77 poster alongside TLJ one & saying what a cool reference it is - apparently without even being aware that '77 movie no longer exists (officially).

This is the weirdest situation regarding a movie release in cinema history but there’s nothing to see here so move along - that’s what LF & Disney’s silence on the matter says to the fans they purport to love & adore so much, when they just want us to get back in the kitchen to make them a fricking sandwich.

The Bull’s Eyed Womprat said:

DominicCobb said:

I honestly don’t think George’s beating heart has jack shit to do with any of it, I doubt anyone cares about “not releasing the originals out of respect to him” and the idea some have floated that it might have been in the deal he signed with Disney is simply ludicrous.

Ultimately, I think the real enemy here is simply just apathy and indifference on the part of whoever makes the distribution decisions (which might overlap with the rights issues).

One thing that’s interesting is there’s no way these new filmmakers haven’t brought the OOT up (I know Rian Johnson is on record for criticizing them). I wonder if they know the lowdown and if they’re privy to versions we aren’t.

Damn, shoulda asked Rian about that when I met him…

Is Rian Johnson criticizing the OOT, or the people? Who is ‘them’? also do you have a link? I’d love to see what he has to say as i really like his movie, and am stoked he is helming TLJ.

Sorry I fucked up my wording, them refers to the SEs, NOT the OOT.

Rian basically called the SEs “cartoons” around the time the Blu-rays were coming out. Don’t have a link on hand.

Kudos to RJ for tweeting that (& not removing it)

Sigh… “That which does not kill us might just annoy us over a long period of time.”