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4K restoration on Star Wars — Page 307

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Creox said:

Does anyone know WHY Lucas stubbornly clings to his decision? Is he embarrassed about the original release or is he just being that controlling of his creation? or is it something else?

I find his decision to date quite puzzling on the surface of it.

Spite. He’s pissed the fans didn’t take to his prequels the way they did the original films. So he denies them the originals they hold dear. That’s my take.

He also believes the original versions came up short (for whatever reasons) and wants to improve them, but that’s no excuse for trying to bury them. All versions can coexist as other box sets (CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, etc) have demonstrated.

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“Own the originals last time” was 1995. The prequels wouldn’t come out for another 4 years.

He went back on that anyway 10 years later.

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Broom Kid said:

“Own the originals last time” was 1995. The prequels wouldn’t come out for another 4 years.

He went back on that anyway 10 years later.

The 2006 disc release was bonus material and hardly an acceptable way in which to view the unaltered versions.

The 40th anniversary celebrations was the perfect opportunity to release them - or even just the first film. Yet he (and DISNEY) chose not to.

The new 4K set may prove to be as disappointing as the last two sets (2004 & 2011) for fans of the OUT.

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Slavicuss said:

The new 4K set may prove to be as disappointing as the last two sets (2004 & 2011) for fans of the OUT.

At this point my only hope is that the quality of the SE is good enough to be used for fan edits or restoration. I even don’t care anymore if there are going to be more changes or not.

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Roobyoo said:

At this point my only hope is that the quality of the SE is good enough to be used for fan edits or restoration. I even don’t care anymore if there are going to be more changes or not.

The 4k masters have already proven to be a BIG step up from the DVD/BD masters. Adywan is using this master for Jedi Revisited and other restorative editors have said that this will be a big help.
Not as big a help as having a good scan of the OUT, but.

The other positive I’m taking from this set is that it’ll save me from spending around 200$.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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Slavicuss said:

Broom Kid said:

“Own the originals last time” was 1995. The prequels wouldn’t come out for another 4 years.

He went back on that anyway 10 years later.

The 2006 disc release was bonus material and hardly an acceptable way in which to view the unaltered versions.

Sadly some people actually believe that’s the only way to see them.

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Slavicuss said:

The 2006 disc release was bonus material and hardly an acceptable way in which to view the unaltered versions.

I know what they were. And I know how useful they became on the way to this place becoming THIS PLACE and doing all the great things it did.

But what I was responding to was the notion that Lucas is at open war with his fans and that’s why he’s withholding the original cuts from us. It’s a take that looks at Star Wars in terms of an absentee, abusive father mistreating his children, and that’s kind of an unhealthy, presumptive, and unrealistic take on it. It also doesn’t line up with what we know about what came out and when it did. Not releasing the OT can’t be “punishment” for disliking the Prequels when the decision to vault the OT happened years before the Prequels even started production.

His reasons are weird and complicated, like he is. He’s a weird, introverted guy who isn’t easy to predict - it’s part of the reason he ended up being the success he is. So to ascribe very simplistic (and often sort of solipsistic, i.e. “he’s doing this TO ME! PERSONALLY!”) motives to him seems questionable. It’s the same as people who love to suggest the Special Editions only exist as a middle finger to Marcia Lucas. That’s sort of tasteless, honestly, to get that soap opera about the man’s personal life to that level as a means to express bitterness about not being able to buy a movie you’ve already bought 30 times.

It sucks we can’t just go to the store and buy a version of Star Wars that looks like it did when we watched it 30,000 times on VHS growing up. I absolutely agree with every historical, logic-grounded argument people at this site have lodged, made popular, and embedded in the public consciousness for the last 15 or so years, and I think a lot of other people agree with those arguments too. But this weird sort of neverending anger and bitterness towards Lucas also sucks.

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Broom Kid said:
But this weird sort of neverending anger and bitterness towards Lucas also sucks.

All the anger and bitterness could have been easily avoided if he released the originals alongside his preferred SEs. Sure he gave us STAR WARS - then takes it back - arrogantly assuming fans will accept his ‘improved’ versions without complaint - nor caring if they do complain. He brought it on himself.

Sadly, he’ll never wise up, and it seems DISNEY won’t release them either.

I’ll be saving myself $250.00 - or whatever the absurd amount is for next year’s 4K set - unless the unaltered versions are included - highly unlikely.

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“All the anger and bitterness could have been easily avoided”

Definitely, but on the other hand, it’s not his fault people are being like that. People are in control of their own behaviors and reactions, and people don’t HAVE to be assholes about it. And their asshole behavior isn’t justified at all. I just don’t agree with “He brought it on himself” or “he deserves it.” Very few people deserve to be treated so poorly, and people shouldn’t really want to act that way - especially not to someone none of us even know or have ever met, and especially not over something as ultimately small-stakes as a movie.

You can want these things released in a pretty big way, without taking it that personally.

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He made it personal by declaring himself a genius (when it was in fact a clear collaborative effort) and saying the films he changed were the only version (when the cultural impact, the awards, the rest of it were not those versions). People act like that because it’s only natural.

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Broom Kid said:

“All the anger and bitterness could have been easily avoided”

Definitely, but on the other hand, it’s not his fault people are being like that. People are in control of their own behaviors and reactions, and people don’t HAVE to be assholes about it. And their asshole behavior isn’t justified at all. I just don’t agree with “He brought it on himself” or “he deserves it.” Very few people deserve to be treated so poorly, and people shouldn’t really want to act that way - especially not to someone none of us even know or have ever met, and especially not over something as ultimately small-stakes as a movie.

You can want these things released in a pretty big way, without taking it that personally.

Lucas would have known that burying the originals would cause upset - even anger from long-time fans. Yes, people are ultimately responsible for their own behaviour as Lucas is.
He knew doing this would incite anger from a section of STAR WARS fandom.

If he’s so upset about the way he’s being treated by people (regarding the unaltered films) then release them in a state that is fit to be viewed in the 21st century. Instead, he’s hurt when people (rightfully) tear apart his prequels, selling everything off, washing his hands of the whole matter. Now DISNEY have gotten their hooks into his ‘baby’ and are showing it even less respect.

STAR WARS has been systematically trashed since 1997 and the end is nowhere in sight.

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I just disagree with the idea that you HAVE to behave like that in response to some guy you’ve never met and don’t know, and I choose, personally, not to justify being mean-spirited and angry for all this time at the guy, and I definitely don’t agree with the justifications I’m seeing for indulging that behavior and essentially victim-blaming. I know that’s a phrase that is sort of loaded and might even seem unfair, but “he brought it on himself” and “he basically made us do this” is the vocabulary victim blamers tend to use.

I don’t think he ever declared himself a genius, btw, but even if he did, if YOU choose to take that personally (I don’t even understand why you would, he’s not talking about YOU) that’s on you, and I think you should take responsibility for your decision to do so. It’s not his fault you’re taking that personally, it’s yours. You’re making a choice to do that. You’re not helpless.

Anyway - hoping for the isolated scores.

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Slavicuss said:

All the anger and bitterness could have been easily avoided if he released the originals alongside his preferred SEs.

Broom Kid said:

Definitely, but on the other hand, it’s not his fault people are being like that.

So, it’s his fault, but it’s also not his fault?
Hmm…

It is his fault. He could have released the original versions that we already loved along side each of his SEs. Many directors have done this very thing.
He took what we loved away & childishly refuses to give it back. I do not feel bad for any greif he gets over it.
I don’t care that he made a PT that I don’t like. I don’t care that he wants to constantly change the OT. I only care that he’s suppressing history.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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ray_afraid said:

Slavicuss said:

All the anger and bitterness could have been easily avoided if he released the originals alongside his preferred SEs.

Broom Kid said:

Definitely, but on the other hand, it’s not his fault people are being like that.

So, it’s his fault, but it’s also not his fault?
Hmm…

No - I agree that anger and bitterness would have been avoided if the thing that happened hadn’t actually happened. But that doesn’t mean he deserves to be blamed for other people’s actions and behaviors. Again, that’s some victim-blaming thought process going on. “You made me do this. You made us do this. Look at what you made me do.” It’s pretty poor justification for acting in a way you don’t have to act. You have a choice to take things that personally. You’re not helpless.

And to be clear, I’m not any different here. I used to indulge the sort of easy, cynical, and mean-spirited demonization of this guy despite never knowing him, meeting him, hanging out with him, or having really anything to do with him other than watching his movies and buying the stuff. The whole of my “relationship” with George Lucas is consuming product, and that’s it. And after seeing the toll the internet and people’s behaviors have taken on so many people, not just associated with Star Wars but associated with ANYTHING remotely popular, there is no amount of product consumption that bestows upon me the absolute right to treat another human being like dirt. Even when I convince myself it’s justified, or worse, that it’s okay because he’ll never see me doing it. I’m still contributing to a pretty mean-spirited and shitty atmosphere towards a man who never did anything to me personally, for no other reason than he didn’t let me buy a blu-ray.

I think it sucks I can’t buy that blu-ray. It’s why I’m here, obviously. But I can think it sucks, and I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults. That’s my choice to make. I used to make a different one than I do now. And making that other choice back then didn’t make me feel any better, in hindsight. It certainly didn’t get me what I want, either.

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Broom Kid said:

I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults.

There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.
I’m not attacking the man or anything, but I don’t like his stance on this.
Suppression of history is wrong. It’s something George himself used to preach about.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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ray_afraid said:

Broom Kid said:

I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults.

There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.
I’m not attacking the man or anything, but I don’t like his stance on this.
Suppression of history is wrong. It’s something George himself used to preach about.

Facts.

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ray_afraid said:

Broom Kid said:

I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults.

There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.
I’m not attacking the man or anything, but I don’t like his stance on this.
Suppression of history is wrong. It’s something George himself used to preach about.

Back in the day he talked a lot about how it was wrong to suppress history. Now his actions demonstrate it.

“That Darth Vader, man. Sure does love eating Jedi.”

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ATMachine said:

ray_afraid said:

Broom Kid said:

I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults.

There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.
I’m not attacking the man or anything, but I don’t like his stance on this.
Suppression of history is wrong. It’s something George himself used to preach about.

Back in the day he talked a lot about how it was wrong to suppress history. Now his actions demonstrate it.

Oof… that’s sad & true.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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ray_afraid said:

Broom Kid said:

I can think he’s wrong, but I don’t have to let it personally affect me to the point where I’m indulging in conspiracy theories and ugly insults.

There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.
I’m not attacking the man or anything, but I don’t like his stance on this.
Suppression of history is wrong. It’s something George himself used to preach about.

Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

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ray_afraid said:
There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.

This really isn’t true. And even if it was true, that wouldn’t make it acceptable. All I’ve said is that it isn’t acceptable, people aren’t helpless to engage in it, and I’ll I’ve really gotten back is “Yes it is, yes they are, and on top of that he brought it on himself.”

It’s not a small fraction of sad weirdos. It’s a lot of people. It’s happened in here many times. I don’t agree with it, is all. I can’t stop people from doing it, but I can choose not to join in, and that’s my choice. I can disagree with the man without maligning him personally and attributing things to him out of spite and anger. And if I’m in a position to debunk false accusations and ugly conspiracies, I’ll do that, because I think that’s only fair.

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Broom Kid said:

ray_afraid said:
There’s only a very small fraction of sad weirdos doing that.

This really isn’t true.

It really is.

And even if it was true, that wouldn’t make it acceptable.

That’s why I called them sad weirdos.

It’s not a small fraction of sad weirdos. It’s a lot of people.

It is a lot of people, but that group is still very small compared to the rest of us.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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 (Edited)

It’s an odd one but persuading George that his film that he originally made is not rubbish is a difficult thing to perhaps persuade him it is not the case.

That is what you must do though and I don’t think George will comprmise on all of it but you never know perhaps he will roll back on the horrible way Mos eisley was treated Greedo, Jabba and so on.

That is the real damage but there are still many things that I could question about ignoring the editing goofs but only visually trying to upgrade the effects. So really you could conclude it is devoid of much thought and it is more of a promotion of ILM rather than any other film he wanted to make. Perhaps a tiny bit but not much.

But in the process he is erasing ILM’s work and humble beginings rather than celebrating his effects house first creation. It is weird and Odd and makes not much sense.

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Eh, I think it’s just that George sees the films as something that solely belongs to him, (despite all of the other people who worked on them,) and he wants to be able to constantly do things that he sees as improving them. He hates the studio process and believes in total director control over a project. He hates when studios order films to be altered like Warner Bros. did to THX but loves when he gets to tinker with his films personally.

Also, IMO, the worst thing about the 2006 DVDs is that it’s zoomed out so horribly. If you play the DVDs in VLC and crop the top and bottom by 100 pixels it’s at least watchable, at least on my TV. (My dad’s TV is newer and bigger and it doesn’t seem to help as much as it does on my TV, and unfortunately a little more than 100 and it’s cutting off parts of the picture.)

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You can change the aspect ratio to 2:35:1 also in VLC and it will put it across the screen which is perhaps easier. At least it then goes anamorphic.