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Make your voices heard! (again) - re the 2006 GOUT DVD being in letterbox format — Page 5

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A favor!? Sorry. I'm just still amazed at that. And I've been defending Lucas for years until recently and it feels weird to finally "cross over to the other side" of the Internet. They lost a real Lucas loyalist with this one.
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you know i was jsut looking over all of it, and it really doesnt make sense why lucas is do this, i wonder if this is just a bait and he plans to restore the OOT in the 30th anniversary editions anyway, he is just doing this to see how many fans will bite. hehehe that would be a very funny joke to play on the fans.

oh btw for those of you that dont know me well. I LOVE playing devils advocate. and as for the icecream anology think it over carefully and you see that it fits, and if you dont understand even afterwards. well kids never understand that they are being foolish, when they are foolish .
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Originally posted by: Scruffywmgan, pirates steal things off ships and bootleggers manufactured and distributed alcohol during Prohibition.


LMAO
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Pirates use usenet and bit torrent. Bootleggers have booths at cons.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
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If you're looking for more people to email to get this into the press, I have also emailed:

Leonard Maltin: leonard@leonardmaltin.com His website stipulates ONE question per email, so keep it brief.

and

Roger Ebert: answerman@gmail.com You MUST include your city & state/province when emailing Roger.

If enough of us send them emails they might start talking about it.
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Besides from LFL trying to rip us off for the n-th time, I feel that the movie industry in general is not doing movie fans a favor by constantly releasing yet another improved Special Edition of (classic) movies they have released before. I've seen at least two releases of Ben-Hur and three of The Ten Commandments, where the producers had found additional footage or documentaries, silent versions, etcetara in some hidden vault.

Soon we'll see a second (and in 2007 the 3rd) release, re-release or re-issue of the OT (either the enhanced or the original version).

Do these movie industry shakers actually think movie fans are going buy EVERY new version they throw at them?

Talking about giving movie pirates and bootleggers yet another excuse to steal from the movie industry. How about just one decent release of a movie and than stick with that! Sometimes I wonder if the movie industry isn't implicitely asking for it ...
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For years I've hated all these so-called special editions of everything under the sun that have come out. Just release the damn movie. And call it that. The 80s were cool cause at least if you bought a movie on tape, you were getting the movie and not all this bullshit.
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Originally posted by: skye_solo
For years I've hated all these so-called special editions of everything under the sun that have come out. Just release the damn movie. And call it that. The 80s were cool cause at least if you bought a movie on tape, you were getting the movie and not all this bullshit.


I'm not that much bothered by Special Editions, Director's Cuts and what have you. I even prefer 2-disc editions with the extra's because I love movies and they tell you something about how it was made. If a movie is going to be released as a movie-only as well as an enhanced, extended or special edition, than I would like to know this up front.
Just like they did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They first released the theatrical version, but at the same time notify you of the upcoming Extended Edition with added material. Then it's up to you if you want to wait for the Extended Edition, buy the theatrical edition or both. Freedom of choice.

The fans of the OOT still don't know what to make of the september 2006 release of the OOT. N'or do they know if 2007 will see yet another release of the OOT on DVD (and in the way they deserve, like anamorphic widescreen). I even doubt if LFL will inform its fan base what to expect for a possible 2007 release before or during the period when the september 2006 release will be available for sale. Not much of a choice there, more of a gamble.
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Originally posted by: Susanne Ault on videobusiness.com
Some fans had been speculating that Lucasfilm was saving its big gun efforts for the new generation DVD formats. But the company said that at this time, there are no plans to release the original ’70s Star Wars versions in high-definition.
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Susanne Ault made a few mistakes in her VBO article...

In the wake of extreme fan protests, Lucasfilm is positioning its release of the original ’70s theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars movies as bonus features.

Only one of the films was released in the '70s, and frankly, I think most of us would be happy with the '80s version.

The prints for the Sept. 12 DVDs of Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope,

But as long as we're talking about the '70s version, it's Star Wars ... no "Episode IV," or "A New Hope." In fact, Lucasfilm themselves have advertised it as such.

This means that Episodes IV-V1 will bow in their original film composition, not in the more cinematic anamorphic widescreen transfer.

The Star Wars series were originally composed anamorphically on film. The word "anamorphic" takes on a slightly different meaning when discussing film instead of DVD, but since the home theater enthusiast market values faithful reproduction of the "original film composition" over almost anything else, one should not mistake a low-resolution scan of film with its "original composition."

“We put a lot of time and effort into digitally restoring the negatives for the 2004 DVD releases,” Singh said. “The late ’90s theatrical versions represent George’s vision for Star Wars." ... Both old and new versions of Episodes IV-VI will be included in the Sept. 14 Star Wars sets, to be distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The revamped ’90s theatrical versions will be offered in widescreen.


The late '90s theatrical versions are not available on DVD. The 2004 versions differ signficantly from the 1997 versions, principally in color timing and sound mix, along with some narrative changes.

This release also represents the first time the movies will be available individually.


Surely Ms. Ault means "available for purchase individually on DVD?" They have been available individually on VHS and laserdisc for some number of years, and are available for individual rental at any number of rental outlets.

Fans have threatened to boycott buying the original Star Wars films if they aren’t cleaned up.


The cleanliness of the transfer elements used is an incidental issue. Fans are primarily interested in receiving a good, anamorphic transfer. If existing film elements are unsuitable for a DVD-quality transfer, then clean them. If not, use them as they are. Other great films of the period, like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and even "Let Me Die a Woman" get good anamorphic transfers ; why should Star Wars fans settle for a laserdisc master?
"It's the stoned movie you don't have to be stoned for." -- Tom Shales on Star Wars
Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived.
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Good points, Scruffy. I've already contacted Ms Ault about the inaccuracies and she is working on an update. See also this thread.
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It's still not too late. Nothing is over until they go to print on this. I'm sending out my hard copy letter in about 5 minutes. This is what it says:

Dear Mr. Ward

I am writing to you as a concerned Star Wars fan who has been a fan since 1977 when it was shown at the now closed Coronet Theater in San Francisco. I, like countless others, were ecstatic about the announcement of the upcoming Sept 12th releases of the Original Unaltered Trilogy. That ecstasy came down slightly when details were revealed that they would be packaged with the 2004 DVDs which most fans already had and that they would be in 2.0 Stereo. These I could deal with easily. Dolby 2.0 stereo can be processed into Surround sound though a decent audio system.

But my excitement quickly turned to anger when I heard rumors, later confirmed, that the films will not be of a restored type in any form but they will be from laserdisc masters which are not anamorphic widescreen but in fact letterboxed 4:3 pictures. This is a highly disappointing development. It is in fact below standards of any DVD released today. It is certainly below Lucasfilm standards.

I’m an active member in the Star Wars community: a member of the 501st Legion and Fan Force. I’ve done various promotions and events in celebration of Star Wars such as midnight premiers, charity events, and DVD launch events. But I can no longer see myself being enthusiastic about supporting a cause that does not support its fans in this manner.

These films in their original theatrical versions are an important part of cinema history as well as American history. They have inspired millions around the world and have influenced generations of filmmakers, writers, and artists. Yet disdain of these original films have been a sore point among fans for a long time. These are the film we grew up with, the ones that inspired us. These are the films that created a new mythology for the last 2 generations. Most of us understand that Mr. Lucas has a right and desire to improve upon his vision, but the fact is many people did fall in love with the originals in their unaltered form.

Please reconsider this upcoming release and give the Theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy a proper presentation.


I doubt it may help at this point. But I had to say something. Perhaps if they get flooded enough, they may reconsider anything in the future. Or they may realize how pissed off people have finally gotten.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
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Originally posted by: Harlock415
I’m an active member in the Star Wars community: a member of the 501st Legion and Fan Force...


*giggles* I understand what you are trying to do, but you might not want to reveal your nerd-ism too much in this letter.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
Originally posted by: Harlock415
I’m an active member in the Star Wars community: a member of the 501st Legion and Fan Force...


*giggles* I understand what you are trying to do, but you might not want to reveal your nerd-ism too much in this letter.


The only reason I brought that up is because we've done so much free publicity shit for Lucas over the years. Those troopers in the AFI tribute were 501st. 01st and Fan Force organized midnight release parties for the damn 04 DVDs. We did promos for thier Battlefront games. Like somebody said in a post on TFN "I love Star Wars, but I don't think it loves me back."

Story of my life.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
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At this point, the only chance we have is if the workers at Lucasfilm secretly revolt and slip an anamorphic transfer onto the "bonus discs" behind George's back. Kind of a... REBELLION... you might say.
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Originally posted by: Harlock415
Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
Originally posted by: Harlock415
I’m an active member in the Star Wars community: a member of the 501st Legion and Fan Force...


*giggles* I understand what you are trying to do, but you might not want to reveal your nerd-ism too much in this letter.


The only reason I brought that up is because we've done so much free publicity shit for Lucas over the years. Those troopers in the AFI tribute were 501st. 01st and Fan Force organized midnight release parties for the damn 04 DVDs. We did promos for thier Battlefront games. Like somebody said in a post on TFN "I love Star Wars, but I don't think it loves me back."

Story of my life.


I like that he had that in there. It shows that it's not just the stereotype of the angry anti-new Star Wars fans who protest and bitch about every new Star Wars-related release are the ones fighting this battle, but also the extremely supportive ones as well.

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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To all those who wrote a concerned letter, please write a second response upon recieving the "official response" BS letter.

I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently.

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Heck if we are getting nothing but auto responses, I may as well use all my email accts and flood them. The auto respose is an insult in its own. These are bonus discs, yada yada, we thought it would be fun, blah blah. Oh and fuck you guys we are never going to restore the originals.

And the irony is if you look at the ad "THESE ARE THE DVDS FANS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING"

Bullshit! We have not been demanding 2004 DVD's with the OT as bonus material. I have never heard of any company advertising their bonus material over the main movie.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
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From the official response:

"As you may know, an enormous amount of effort was put into digitally restoring the negatives for the Special Editions. In one scene alone, nearly 1 million pieces of dirt had to be removed, and the Special Editions were created through a frame-by-frame digital restoration."

A frame-by-frame digital restoration that gave Luke a color-changing lightsaber. That's right, that was a deliberate creative decision!
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Originally posted by: Hal 9000
To all those who wrote a concerned letter, please write a second response upon recieving the "official response" BS letter.


What do you suggest, Hal?
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People: Forget about it. F**k Lucasfilm. I'm not writing any more letters or doing anything. My response from now on is to proudly watch and distribute Laserdisc rips.

War does not make one great.