What are you going to do with your SE discs? — Page 8

Author: skye_solo
Time: 30-Jun-2006 5:47 AM
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I am really in favor of sending the discs back to Luca$.

Author: Mike O
Time: 30-Jun-2006 5:38 PM
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Originally posted by: Mielr
Originally posted by: Mike O

See, now, here's the catch 22. Since a lot of people won't buy non-anamorphic releases, it may affect sales. The question is, how good will sales of these releases be and what kind of message will that send? I suppose that we'll find out in a few months. Lets keep our fingers crossed...apparently for the next year at least.

"It probably won't say on the package "non-anamorphic" just "widescreen-letterbox" or just "widescreen". Those who don't visit these boards probably won't even know until they get home and try to watch it on their widescreen TV."

Since it is "bonus material," they technically don't have to list anything about, or at least that is what it looks like. I wonder how much of the general population will buy this release; in other words, I wonder if it's just us who are interested in the OOT, or whether others are as well. I hope against hope that this release will sell well and send a clear message to LFL, but who knows? If the 30th Anniversary boxed set did contain high-quality releases of the OOT, I would buy it without question. But at this point, it looks like everything is up in the air.

Whatever became of the plan to mail back the SE discs? Is it still going on? And how many people are doing it. Just idle curiosity.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mielr
Time: 30-Jun-2006 5:46 PM
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Originally posted by: Mike O

Since it is "bonus material," they technically don't have to list anything about, or at least that is what it looks like. I wonder how much of the general population will buy this release; in other words, I wonder if it's just us who are interested in the OOT, or whether others are as well. I hope against hope that this release will sell well and send a clear message to LFL, but who knows? If the 30th Anniversary boxed set did contain high-quality releases of the OOT, I would buy it without question. But at this point, it looks like everything is up in the air.

Whatever became of the plan to mail back the SE discs? Is it still going on? And how many people are doing it. Just idol curiosity.

I think they will sell very well. I'm sure they're going to be marketing them heavily, especially since they are a "limited edition" to go out of print right after Christmas. I think they will use nostalgia as a marketing tool, and aim them at those who were old enough to have seen them in the theaters originally (baby boomers and gen-Xers).

I'm planning on sending my discs back to Lucasfilm. I was considering selling them on eBay, but I doubt I will get very much for them.

Who else is planning on sending their SE discs back to GL???

Author: Mike O
Time: 30-Jun-2006 7:06 PM
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Originally posted by: Mielr

I sincerely hope that you are right, the discs sell well, and that LFL is sent a clear message. At this point, all I can do is cross my fingers. Still, LFL aren't exactly shy about multiple release, and the MTV interview commments by Lucas are very telling. Are LFL marketing the heck out of this? I haven't seen any adds yet. Well, it's back to the waiting game. Those sending back their SE discs are mentioned at the beginning of the thread. I wonder if anyone else is going to be involved?

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mielr
Time: 30-Jun-2006 9:00 PM
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Someone the other day said they saw a huge, cardboard stand-up in Suncoast video, announcing the DVD release. But, I imagine that the real heavy marketing will start in August, and they'll probably get a big push right after Thanksgiving.

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 30-Jun-2006 9:31 PM
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I've seen ads at FYE, and all they're doing is promoting the fact that they're "Unaltered". It fails to mention that the unaltered version is a bonus feature on Disc 2, or that it even contains the special editions. It pisses me off. I'd almost consider it a bait and switch, but it's just a tiny bit farther away from that.

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Author: Mike O
Time: 2-Jul-2006 1:40 PM
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Originally posted by: Scruffy

Originally posted by: Davis
I definitely think we should all mail the same letter. It'd be really fitting- when we complained about the 16x9 issue, they just gave us a form response.

So we give them a form response when we send our discs back.

I think that line of thought is too clever for its own good.

How about putting their "We want you to be aware that we have no plans-now or in the future to restore the earlier versions" above something to the effect of "Then, unfortunately, I have no plans, now or in the future to purchaes future Star Wars releases until a restoration of the original versions is produced." Something polite, but which lets them know that we heard them and want them to hear us. It wouldn't insult anyone. It'd just make a point.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mike O
Time: 6-Jul-2006 12:57 PM
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So, how many people are involved in this? That number of people time 3-6 discs... I can't help but wonder, however, if Lucas would open the packages. It would be interesting if this made an impact of some sort.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: sunday256
Time: 6-Jul-2006 1:32 PM
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I'm keeping my SE discs thanks. I love the OT. I love that Han shot first. But I admit that I like most of the SE additions with the exception of Greedo shooting first and some bad sabers. I have the OT unaltered on VHS from way back, but I always end up watching the SE versions. Even when the SE came out on VHS that's what I watched. I think I've seen watched original OT once since the SE came out and that's it.

Do I want the originals out on DVD? Sure I do. I even signed the petition. Why sign the petition if I'm just going to watch the SEs? Because if I want to watch the OTs, I'll have them to watch. It's that plain and simple.

Does it bother me that the new OT DVD set is not cleaned up, anamorphic and in 5.1 surround sound? No. But would I like it that way? Sure.

There you have it...from a fan that saw Star Wars back in 1977 on day one. I'm vintage, but I enjoy it all.

Author: THX
Time: 6-Jul-2006 1:51 PM
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People would be complaining if it was in 5.1 (only), as that format didn't exist theatrically.

Author: sunday256
Time: 6-Jul-2006 2:56 PM
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You can't please all the people all the time. So therefore I guess Lucas has the mentality..of screw it. I'm done with these nut jobs. Like he said at C3..."The point of the movies is to get on with your lives, to take that challenge, to leave your uncle's moisture farm, to go out in the world and change it to save the universe." Not to bable on and on about how Star Wars isn't this this and how it's not that. Some people get so worked up over a film. Although, I do understand.

Author: Ripplin
Time: 6-Jul-2006 3:00 PM
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Originally posted by: sunday256
Like he said at C3..."The point of the movies is to get on with your lives, to take that challenge, to leave your uncle's moisture farm, to go out in the world and change it to save the universe.".

Kinda reminds me of William Shatner's famous "get a life" skit on SNL!

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Author: Mike O
Time: 7-Jul-2006 2:29 PM
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Yes, but I think that what upsets so many people is that LFL CAN restore the OOT and release a high quality transfer and that they WON'T. As I've said, I don't run a multi-billion dollar company, so maybe there is some aspect which I don't understand. But to me, it's quite simple. Restore the OOT with the appropriate sound mixes and make even more money.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mielr
Time: 7-Jul-2006 5:28 PM
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I don't even care if they ever release the OOT with 5.1 sound- I'm perfectly happy with the 2.0 sound from the laserdiscs.

I think we are all pretty reasonable and undemanding, which makes me even more angry at GL. We really have asked for so little- just give us a new anamorphic transfer of the OOT, George. Nuthin' fancy.

Author: Mike O
Time: 7-Jul-2006 7:10 PM
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Originally posted by: Mielr
I don't even care if they ever release the OOT with 5.1 sound- I'm perfectly happy with the 2.0 sound from the laserdiscs.

I think we are all pretty reasonable and undemanding, which makes me even more angry at GL. We really have asked for so little- just give us a new anamorphic transfer of the OOT, George. Nuthin' fancy.

I would like a 5.1 mix alongside the originals like every DVD released today. Indeed, the fans ask for so little and still can't get. It's frustrating.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mike O
Time: 13-Jul-2006 2:14 PM
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Originally posted by: skye_solo
I am really in favor of sending the discs back to Luca$.

So how many people are involved in this? If enough send the discs bakc, maybe LFL will get a polite, clear message. Would Mr. Sylveters involve himself in this at all? If coordinated, it could pack a potent punch.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: RickWJ324
Time: 13-Jul-2006 5:42 PM
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Assuming the SE discs are exactly the same as the previous set I bought, I will just give the extra set of discs to a friend or relative. I like the idea of sending them back to Lucas, but I doubt many people will do that... and I'm not paying for an extra set of discs just to have them thrown away or redistributed by Lucas/Fox.

--RickWJ324

Author: Mike O
Time: 28-Aug-2006 12:40 AM
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So, has the whole mail-back idea fallen by the wayside? It might be interesting, if we could get people involved. What has Mr. Sylvester been doing lately, I wonder?

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Mielr
Time: 28-Aug-2006 12:46 AM
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I don't know, the subject was just brought up again in the 'so what are you going to do' thread.

I'd really love to see this sendback idea get back on track.

Author: Mike O
Time: 28-Aug-2006 12:48 AM
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Even if it was only a few thousand discs, it'd make an interesting, if not overly powerful point. The one tiny glimmer of hope I can see is that sales of the September discs seem to be rising. That might, just might be a good sign.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Scruffy
Time: 28-Aug-2006 3:11 AM
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A few thousand? I think even a few dozen is very optimistic.

"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.

Author: darkhelmet
Time: 28-Aug-2006 3:33 AM
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Originally posted by: Mielr
He also says:
"It's just the original versions, as they were," Lucas said. "We didn't do anything to it at all. But we're not sure how many people want that."

He really has no clue.

Either that, or he's playing dumb to protect his precious SEs.

I wasn't up for this campaign earlier, but if I end up caving in and buying this release, I'll definitely be sending the SEs back to Lucas.

Regardless of how this all turns out, there's got to be proof that we fans can point to that shows that sales numbers aren't a true reflection of demand.

What about everyone sending their discs to one person to send as one big batch to Lucas so that the send-back couldn't be ignored? Just thinking out loud, but what does everyone think?

Author: Scruffy
Time: 28-Aug-2006 4:45 AM
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I think Mielr suggested that back in June. I also think it would be more convenient for Lucasfilm's secretarial staff to throw away one medium-sized package instead of many small ones.

"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.

Author: Anchorhead
Time: 28-Aug-2006 10:33 AM
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Originally posted by: Mike O
That number of people time 3-6 discs... I can't help but wonder, however, if Lucas would open the packages. It would be interesting if this made an impact of some sort.

Those packages, along with everything else that's ever sent to Lucasfilm, will go to an incoming mail center or some sort of special PO box. Lucas isn't going to be opening packages - for crying out loud!

Those packages aren't going to be opened. Maybe a handful for the amusement of the people working the mailroom, but the rest become landfill - or if there really is enough, they pay some temps to open every package, seperate the discs, put them in new cases, and then they donate them to charity.

Look, man - next month, go buy the non-anamorphic, LD mastered, widescreen version of Star Wars - the format it's going to be available in - take it home, watch it, enjoy the adventure.....and then go outdoors!

**waits for all the responses of - "fuck Lucass then, I'm putting a big scratch on the disc before I send it back, he has to put out a proper release - he owes that to the fans and for the good of film preservation, it's his duty."

For the record, I don't like the guy anymore than the rest of the people here - but I'm not going to loose sleep over his OCD nor am I going to spend precious energy on hating him and trying to win against him.

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Author: Obi Jeewhyen
Time: 28-Aug-2006 2:24 PM
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Originally posted by: AnchorheadLook, man - next month, go buy the non-anamorphic, LD mastered, widescreen version of Star Wars - the format it's going to be available in - take it home, watch it, enjoy the adventure.....and then go outdoors!

Oooh, I'm looking forward to the day when we can do both at the same time .... Rolling Roadshow has been trying to put together an outdoor screening of Star Wars in Death Valley (aka Tatooine). They're having problems with clearances, as you might imagine ... but it may happen someday. And you better believe I'll be there that day.

(till then, yeah, Star Wars first, daylight afterwards.)