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George Lucas says that the original versions of SW will probably be released on DVD

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Obi-Wan Spicoli brought this up in another thread, but it's buried and did not get any attention. There's a recent interview with George Lucas. In it is the following exchange:

Daily Bruin: You've said the last time you would issue the original versions was on VHS several years ago. But with VHS potentially becoming obsolete one day, will you release them on DVD?

George Lucas: I don't know. I mean, when VHS becomes obsolete it will probably get released on DVD, I imagine. But I'm not going to spend the effort to restore them (to) what I consider to be the real film.

The article can be found here: Star Wars article

Lucas also admits to having tried on Anthony Daniel's C-3PO suit.


But what he's saying now is that he "imagines" that the original cuts will "probably" get released to DVD, just not restored. An interesting change in opinion.

Thoughts?

Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side

Emperor Jar-Jar
“Back when we made Star Wars, we just couldn’t make Palpatine as evil as we intended. Now, thanks to the miracles of technology, it is finally possible. Finally, I’ve created the movies that I originally imagined.” -George Lucas on the 2007 Extra Extra Special HD-DVD Edition

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He'll only release the O-OT just for $$$$$$$$.
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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Heck, I don't care why he releases it, only that he does.

Good news
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I remember reading this post way back. I read the article too. I also wonder how it slipped under our radar. Even I didn't seem to pay much attention to it.

Maybe it was the PROBABLY in LucASS' statement that made most of us gloss over it.

It would be extremely nice to get these versions on DVD, but they will be bare bones and probably shit transfers.

He said he wouldn't spend the effort (or money) into doing a proper restoration, so we can just guess what kind of quality we're going to get.

My guess is that it will just make all these various fan edits a little easier to do, but the fan edits are going to be the defining legacy of the OOT, sort of an underground passing-down from generation to generation.

Sounds pretty dramatic, huh? But it's pretty cool to me.
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Originally posted by: Jedikev
He'll only release the O-OT just for $$$$$$$$.


Uh, isn't that the only reason to release *any* home video? I mean, the filmmaker already created their work and it played in cinemas.
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Uh wait a sec, he said that making the SE was a labor of love and was fulfilling and an enjoyment that his dream was to be real.

Lucas "Oh the O-OT, uh i'll just release anyway and shut those bastards up".
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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Originally posted by: greencapt
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Originally posted by: Jedikev
He'll only release the O-OT just for $$$$$$$$.


Uh, isn't that the only reason to release *any* home video? I mean, the filmmaker already created their work and it played in cinemas.



Actually, I am almost dreading this release. Cuz it's going to be a slipshod job and we're going to be disappointed with it.

I know I'm sounding overtly negative and it seems like I'm whining just to whine, but we've gotten less than steller releases from LucASSfilm that should have gotten royalty treatment (SW DVD release).

Sorry, I know I sound like a whiney fan, but if he's not going to put effort into it, then we're not going to get something that is the best possible release of the films.

Sad, really.
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Originally posted by: Jedikev
Uh wait a sec, he said that making the SE was a labor of love and was fulfilling and an enjoyment that his dream was to be real.

Lucas "Oh the O-OT, uh i'll just release anyway and shut those bastards up".


Basically, that is what I'm afraid of.....

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Originally posted by: Cable-X1
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Originally posted by: greencapt
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Originally posted by: Jedikev
He'll only release the O-OT just for $$$$$$$$.


Uh, isn't that the only reason to release *any* home video? I mean, the filmmaker already created their work and it played in cinemas.






Actually, I am almost dreading this release. Cuz it's going to be a slipshod job and we're going to be disappointed with it.

I know I'm sounding overtly negative and it seems like I'm whining just to whine, but we've gotten less than steller releases from LucASSfilm that should have gotten royalty treatment (SW DVD release).

Sorry, I know I sound like a whiney fan, but if he's not going to put effort into it, then we're not going to get something that is the best possible release of the films.

Sad, really.



Well put, LucASS will never please us and give us what we want.

"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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Well, if he does release it, as long as it's a fairly decent print in widescreen that hasn't been touched by his special edition-ing hands, I'll be happy enough to quit complaining.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
...as long as it's a fairly decent print in widescreen that hasn't been touched by his special edition-ing hands, I'll be happy enough to quit complaining.


Make that two.

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Make that 3.
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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When VHS becomes obsolete!? Walmart is supposed to stop carrying VHS movies next year. If that isn't the death knell, I don't know what is.
Was the trilogy even released on tape last time out?
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Where were you in '77?

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Not the most convincing interview, but there is some hope we'll get nonrestored films ... yay. I don't know, with them not being restored, I can now pretend I'm back in '77, '80, and '83, I suppose.

Maybe I'm clueless, but over 90% of the original films have already been restored. Can't you just restore scenes that were taken out, then just re-edit them back into the original film? I don't get why it'd be so difficult.

I don't know, if they don't look any better than some of the projects going on ... I'm not going to be too motivatied to buy them.

Whatever, I'll guess we'll see what happens.

And isn't VHS pretty much obsolete, already. It's grainy, it's ugly, it wears out ... even Wal-Mart just announced they will no longer be getting VHS tapes in their stores. We have everything we need in DVD format, you can now even record right of the T.V. with DVD-RW/recorders.
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I agree that i don't see what would be so hard with restoring what wasn't restored the first time around. Again this reeks of Take What You Can Get.

And for the record, I buy my anime on VHS whenever possible. I love my S-VCR and digital TV.


Made for IE Forum's Episode III theme month - May 2005.

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Originally posted by: Seiji
And isn't VHS pretty much obsolete, already. It's grainy, it's ugly, it wears out ... even Wal-Mart just announced they will no longer be getting VHS tapes in their stores. We have everything we need in DVD format, you can now even record right of the T.V. with DVD-RW/recorders.

Didn't Walmart back track and say as long as there is demand they'd still sell VHS (I'm thinking cause of some out-rage)? I don't see what the big deal about VHS is though, DVD players can be had for $25 and movies cost $10+ (average being $20). Cost certainly aint an issue and you can get converters to hook up the dvd player if your TV doesn't have the right inputs. But I just say buy a new TV at that point.

Reading the inteview I think it was published the 1st week after the OT DVD was released so it's been a while since it's come out. Nothing really new or ground breaking since then. And he seems to be saying it half assed and I somehow don't believe him. Bring on the X0 set baby! * j/k *
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DVD is not the killer of VHS- Tivo and other DVR machines will be soon. As prices continue to drop and people see the benefit of DVR--- *then* you won't hear about VHS any longer.
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Originally posted by: yanksno1
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Originally posted by: Seiji
And isn't VHS pretty much obsolete, already. It's grainy, it's ugly, it wears out ... even Wal-Mart just announced they will no longer be getting VHS tapes in their stores. We have everything we need in DVD format, you can now even record right of the T.V. with DVD-RW/recorders.

Didn't Walmart back track and say as long as there is demand they'd still sell VHS (I'm thinking cause of some out-rage)? I don't see what the big deal about VHS is though, DVD players can be had for $25 and movies cost $10+ (average being $20). Cost certainly aint an issue and you can get converters to hook up the dvd player if your TV doesn't have the right inputs. But I just say buy a new TV at that point.

Reading the inteview I think it was published the 1st week after the OT DVD was released so it's been a while since it's come out. Nothing really new or ground breaking since then. And he seems to be saying it half assed and I somehow don't believe him. Bring on the X0 set baby! * j/k *



Yes, I do recall hearing that Walmart backtracked on that cuz there was a lot of pissed off people about the VHS tapes. So, the death bell hasn't been rung yet. It will though in the next few years. The format is pretty much dead....
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Originally posted by: greencapt
DVD is not the killer of VHS- Tivo and other DVR machines will be soon. As prices continue to drop and people see the benefit of DVR--- *then* you won't hear about VHS any longer.
To use a Magic: the Gathering board expression:
Quoted for Truthery.

I still have a VHS deck hooked up, but I haven't even set its clock (power outages) for several months, let alone use it.
When I got my Toshiba DVR/DVD burner, I transferred a few things from VHS to its hard drive, but that's it. I now use the DVR daily. I'm going to be taping the Lucas AFI ceremony Thursday on Bravo. July 15, I start taping Stargate and Stargate Atlantis again (Battlestar Galactica starts at 10, so I have no trouble seeing it...my work schedule makes me miss SG1 and the beginning of Atlantis).
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$10 says Lucas just has Fox burn a ton of copies of Cowclops/TR47's new set and just sells them at WalMart

This is a sign of some hope, but Lucas has lied before so we'll just have to see what waits for us. And another thing: didn't Lucas say the originals don't exist anymore?

Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the war room!

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Most intriguing quotes from Lucas - I hope he decides to release them soon - though I imagine he has SW releases planned for some time to come, along with the new 3-D versions he was talking about not long ago.

Even if he does do a botched job of releasing the OOT on dvd - there are enough talented and determined people on this board to enhance them to what we all know, love and want.

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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As was pointed out, that's an old quote. He's not said anything recent about it.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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it figures Lucas release an uncleaned up version. The @@@#$@#!!
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I posted this link A long time ago.... Around the time the dvds were released. Oh how soon we forget. You don't have to have over 5,000 posts or love the PTs to be a long time member. Is there any way to look at your old posts on here?
"Drink the Kool-Aid. Wear blinders. Cover your ears. Because that's the only way you can totally enjoy Revenge of the Sith -- the final and most futile attempt from skilled producer, clumsy director and tin-eared writer George Lucas to create a prequel trilogy to match the myth-making spirit of the original Star Wars saga he unleashed twenty-eight years ago. Fan boys, of course, have convinced themselves otherwise. So have several critics, if you go by early reviews."
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That would be nice, but I'm not sure that we're ready for that level of notoriety just yet. GL seldomly sticks to statements he makes, so don't take his word as the golden rule as he often times will change his mind at a whim. When it is actually released by LFL, I will believe it-until then, it's just hearsay, even if it is from "the man" himself. Besides, he's already said in a newer interview that the films are now "done" and no further tweaking is necessary. Of course this contradicts earlier statements but this is how he is.