4K restoration on Star Wars — Page 197

SilverWook said:

I think you can argue THX had a cult film status. At least two music videos have been inspired by it. Queen did one in the 80’s and a Hip Hop duo did their own homage in the 90’s.
The angry letters I saw printed in Cinefantastique magazine from readers who didn’t like Star Wars when it came out, wondered how such a film could even be made by the same man who made THX. 😉

Daft Punk referenced THX 1138 as well.

crissrudd4554 said:

SilverWook said:

I think you can argue THX had a cult film status. At least two music videos have been inspired by it. Queen did one in the 80’s and a Hip Hop duo did their own homage in the 90’s.

Here’s the Queen video. Funny enough even though I was aware of George Lucas even at a young age, I think I saw this video before I was even familiar with THX-1138.

https://youtu.be/2TnjmIMyG1M

I didn’t even know the song.

TK-949 said:

crissrudd4554 said:

SilverWook said:

I think you can argue THX had a cult film status. At least two music videos have been inspired by it. Queen did one in the 80’s and a Hip Hop duo did their own homage in the 90’s.

Here’s the Queen video. Funny enough even though I was aware of George Lucas even at a young age, I think I saw this video before I was even familiar with THX-1138.

https://youtu.be/2TnjmIMyG1M

I didn’t even know the song.

I don’t think a lot of people do. 😉

SilverWook said:

SwissArmyTin did a quick mockup. This is still the un-revised text.

Dear Disney and Lucasfilm,

Today is the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, the film that started it all. Yet, where is that film? No, not the special edition, but the original 1977 film. The one we grew up with. The film that changed our lives and world cinema forever.

It’s not hyperbole to say that. Those of us who were there that incredible summer of '77, as well as those of us who watched the original, Academy Award winning version on television and home video in the decades that followed, had never seen anything like it. Watching Star Wars was a major event in our lives. Etc. Etc.

Two things:

1. I think the letter should be more inclusive and not specific towards people who watched Star Wars in theaters when it first came out. There are those among my generation who watched the OOT on television and home video in the 1980s and 1990s. There are also younger millenials who prefer the OOT or would simply love to watch it alongside the SEs.

2. I would try to edit down the text and make the point as concise as possible. I think it’s a bit long, but a few good opening paragraphs to establish who we are, what we want, and why we should get it, followed up by the important message that the OOT and the SEs can both exist together in the same universe, would be a powerful message.

All in all, I like the letter and the layout. Good job Wook and OOTers!

What Alderaan said.

I don’t have many other suggestions.

Stating who we are and the site’s original purpose of getting the unaltered’s released on dvd, and why that’s no longer enough, is indeed a good idea.

Maybe something to the effect of “we speak not only for ourselves, but for the many other fans around the world who would love to see the original versions restored.”

We might even want to appeal to their sense of responsibility over owning a piece of our cultural history. Film materials do eventually deteriorate. Just look at what happened with John Wayne’s The Alamo. Saving Star Wars, as zombie named his site, is ultimately what this is all about.

Oh, and I still think it’s worth saying “all versions” and not “both.” Even if we’re not going into detail about it in this letter (and we probably shouldn’t, it risks muddying the issue), saying “all” at least subtly reminds them that the '97 version never made it past laserdisc and that the '04 edit is stuck on dvd. Maybe a quick mention of how these movies have now been revised multiple times and that every fan has their prefered version. The “movie we grew up with” might be '77 for one person, '97 for another and '04 for someone else.

I definitely agree it should be less ‘the versions we grew up’ and more ‘the versions that started it all’. And as everyone else has said not confining the issue to just those who saw them in the original theatrical run. There are indeed fans who wish to see the OUT restored that were introduced via television and home video and were not part of that first generation.

I think really it boils down to neither we grew up with (which I think is more precise) than that started it all.

I honestly think the best language is “something unforgettable that we remember.”

I think this is far more clear and precise and to the point. But I don’t mean to be rude or critical I just think something along those lines would explain it better and it is very simple.

That should be a simple strong sentence no more.

“Today is the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars something unforgettable we remember” (next Paragrapgh)

Scrub 2nd paragraph (delete) go straight on with 3rd paragraph talking about memories.

Then leave the rest as is.

That’s my take

Yeah but you’ll suggest changes two months after it has been sent.

No I wont. Promise… 😃

I think it is far better the usage of “We Remember” because you involve the reader on the same level that they also have not forgot and imply that they should feel the same way . There is no need to waffle on. It is very clear.

“Something unforgettable we remember” is redundant. Of course we remember it, you just said it’s unforgettable.

That would be catchy but it might downplay the Special Editions too much. We don’t want the message to come off as anti-Special Edition.

I agree with those who have said the letter should focus less on the impact the films had on viewers during their original runs, and more on the legacy of the films themselves. Those award winning elements, such as the sound and visual effects, have been tampered with or erased. Crucial parts of American cinematic history have been replaced with more modern technologies with no acknowledgement of what came before (not to mention, I saw a great post somewhere that pointed out how the CGI used to replace the practical effects has dated far worse than the original effects did). And I do think citing Lucas’ words about preserving films is important here.

How about something like this? Rough, but at least an idea…

"Dear Lucasfilm and Disney,

In March, 1988, a visionary film director stood before the United States Congress with a plea. This man had overseen the creation of a series of films that in just five short years, had become legendary installments in American cinematic history. He had seen his vision fulfilled, had made his fortune, and could have used his influence in many ways, yet he chose to use that power before Congress to speak on the importance of preserving the history his own trilogy had become a part of.

“Today, engineers with their computers can add color to black-and-white movies, change the soundtrack, speed up the pace, and add or subtract material to the philosophical tastes of the copyright holder,” this director claimed. “It will soon be possible to create a new ‘original’ negative with whatever changes or alterations the copyright holder of the moment desires. The copyright holders, so far, have not been completely diligent in preserving the original negatives of films they control.” His name was George Lucas, and his own contribution to the legacy of American cinema was known as the Star Wars trilogy.

Despite Lucas’ words, that legendary trilogy has indeed been altered in our own modern day, with the original versions of those films unavailable for purchase, and unrecognized by the very studio that produced them. Digital effects from the late 1990’s, that grow weaker in appearance with every passing year, have replaced the Academy Award winning practical effects that thrilled audiences worldwide from 1977 to 1983 (and still could today). The experiences that were had in theaters during those original theatrical releases inspired generations of people, sparked the imaginations of children who would go on to become today’s great filmmakers, and provided a true sense of wonder and escapism from whatever troubles plagued those who sought refuge for a couple glorious hours in a galaxy far, far away.

We fans of the original, unaltered Star Wars trilogy (affectionately called the “OUT” for short) do not expect, or necessarily want, the digitally enhanced “Special Edition” versions of the trilogy to be removed from official canon, as the ever expanding Star Wars universe depends on elements found in those versions, and vice-versa. What we do want, however, is for the “OUT” to receive a proper and thorough restoration to the highest standards possible with today’s technology. Furthermore, we would like this restoration to be released to honor such important entries in the great chronology of developments in American cinema, and to rekindle the tremendous amounts of nostalgia that would come with such a release for so many who would gladly purchase it.

To forever pretend that the only available versions of the Star Wars trilogy are the only worthy representations of the films’ contributions to film making history, with their digital enhancements, is a true injustice to the groundbreaking innovations made in 1977, 1980, and 1983. We hope that you realize this, and right this creative wrong by acknowledging and honoring these legendary parts of American culture.

Thank you, and with much respect,

The members of OriginalTrilogy.com, and Star Wars fans worldwide"

Thoughts?

“For those who remember. For those who will never forget. And for a whole new generation who will experience it for the very first time…”

Maybe something about the work of the original motion control pioneers deserving to be seen and to not have their revolutionary accomplishments be buried.

Possessed said:

Maybe something about the work of the original motion control pioneers deserving to be seen and to not have their revolutionary accomplishments be buried.

I think my draft a couple posts above generally captured that need - the need to preserve such technological and creative innovations. 😃

Not just the accomplishments themselves though. The actual workers and labourers who physically made it happen don’t deserve to have their hard work erased.

Possessed said:

Not just the accomplishments themselves though. The actual workers and labourers who physically made it happen don’t deserve to have their hard work erased.

Indeed. Some people even have Academy Awards on their mantles that are utterly meaningless now.

imperialscum said:

I find the whole Academy Award thing completely useless. Who cares about something irrelevant as Academy Awards. The only important thing is the current and future audience, for which these films should be preserved.

Especially since Disney and FOX have been banking on those special editions for nearly 5 years now. Like they really care.

imperialscum said:

I find the whole Academy Award thing completely useless. Who cares about something irrelevant as Academy Awards. The only important thing is the current and future audience, for which these films should be preserved.

If you had won one and then had the reason you won it for erased you might feel differently.