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Originally posted by: Jambe Davdar
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It's a real shame that Lucas doesn't want to bring out the OT in it's original form. But hey, I am have come to terms with it, particularly after getting hold of the anamorphic set and the TR47 set. I still have respect for Lucas, he obviously went through a lot to get his vision onto the screen and it has clearly taken a toll on his life. But I guess we all have the power to make different choices. I for one am going to let up on the Lucas bashing for a while. It is begining to tire.
It's nice to see that I'm not the only one that feels this way.
Seriously folks. Lucas doesn't owe any of us a damn thing. We pay $7 to see a movie, we get a movie. The deal is done. Later the movie comes out on video: we buy it, the trade is complete. Best years of your life spent with a girl who later dumped you for the high school football hero? Hey man, it sucks, I know. But you had your time with her, if she doesn't wanna give up the goods to you anymore, then are you gonna spend the rest of your days slandering her name across the internet? I certainly hope not.
Lucas doesn't want to put the original movies out on DVD? That sucks as well. I will write my letters pleading with him and I will sign the petitions, but I don't hold a thing against the man personally. If he were doing a federally enforced recall of the copies of Star Wars that I own, that would be one thing. But he's not. I can keep what I've acquired so far. It's mine. He provided them for me and I bought them. I don't owe him anything and vice versa.
The bashing is ridiculous. It's silly that he's not doing a DVD release of the original edits, but it's not a crime against anybody. They had their chance, and if we want them preserved, it looks like we will have to do it ourselves. Is it his fault that VHS deteriorates over time, regardless of our preservation methods, due to the Earth's magnetic field? No. It's not his fault.
Think about the new line of Star Wars figures they've got out now. There's a series that recreates the original packaging, down to the original photos even, but the figure itself is a new sculpting. Now, looking back on my childhood, I can easily say that those original action figures were as much a part of my development as the movies themselves. I played with them every day and invented a million new adventures from sun up to sun down in my back yard in Nebraska. (The treehouse my dad built was made even better by the addition of some Biker Scouts and Ewoks!) But those figures are gone. Hasbro isn't making any more from the original Kenner molds. They have their new models and if we want the originals, we have to search for them. Do I hate Hasbro for screwing with my childhood and denying my children the opportunity to experience the same things I did, spending hours every day playing with those poorly articulated 3.75" plastic figurines? No. I have my memories, and a good collection of the vintage figures to display on my shelves because I took it upon myself to make sure and collect a number of them. I wanted it the old way and I got it through perserverance and a little bit of luck.
And look at it this way, take my earlier example of the dame that left you for the jock. If you go to her and tell her that she's an idiot, fucking up your life, has no talent and that you're going to hunt her down and kill her if she doesn't take you back... do I even need to finish this analogy? Sweet talk her and remind her of all the good things... you can catch a lot more flies with honey than you can cyanide, I promise you.
I could go on... and on and on and on and on. But I won't. Sorry if this came off as a little volitile, but this is how I feel. Lucas created these movies that helped shape my childhood and make me what I am today, and that positive influence takes precedent over mistakes he may be making in recent years. I've been lurking on these boards for a year or two (HAS is been that long?!?), but never chimed in until recently because, quite frankly, there just seems to be so many non-constructive, childish opinions running around. Talk about finding Lucas and punching him in the gut? [sarcasm-mode]Nice. Very Jedi-like of you, it obvious that his movies had some influence on your development.[/sarcasm-mode]
*whew* Boy am I glad I cut that rant when I did.
So basically, I'm just saying that Jambe has the right idea. Everyone needs to calm the fuck down, take a breath, and if it's so important to them, take matters into the own hands. A peaceful petition and the proper show of respect for the man will do our cause a LOT more good than name calling and threats of violence.