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Remember what Lucas said about the OOT not existing....?

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Just had the following reply from the British Film Institute regarding their copies of the original version of Star Wars:

"Thanks for your message about the STAR WARS films that has been passed over to us in the BFI's Curatorial Unit.

I certainly agree with you that the original versions of the STAR WARS films are as worthy of preservation as the altered reissues that came later. Indeed, the BFI's National Film and Television Archive is permanently preserving prints of all three of the films as they originally appeared, and also holds video material that reflects these original versions.

I am unaware of any plans to screen these prints currently, but I hope you are assured that these versions are secure for the future.

I hope that this information proves useful to you."

So they are "currently preserving prints" - this is heartening news indeed. At least someone/group is doing this as Lucasfilm obviously have their hands tied by Mr Lucas himself. A shame these preserved films will most likely never be allowed a screening, but at least a professional body is engaged in the preservation of the original trilogy!! :-)

Cheers,

- John


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LOL....keep talking it up, Lucas.

<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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All but the people that will end up buying this set of DVD's knows that there is better source quality out there...and it's a damn shame.

Hey look, a bear!

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At least there on DVD even if its not anmophic.
THE EMPIRE ALWAYS STRIKES BACK
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That's good news MeBe, thanks.

We may never get to see it, but knowing that the BFI holds prints of the originals makes me feel better about Star Wars getting forgotten by history.

War does not make one great.

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Well I'm not worried one bit about OOT prints because the National Archives, This company that you posted, The San Deigo Star Wars Soceity, and GL, and tons of private collectors all have prints/ and masters. Never believe what GL says about everything being modified. Thats complete bull crap.
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It's probably true that everything on his harddrives has been modified. Maybe he's forgotten that video stored on computers was only in fiction the time the originals were made and thinks that everything was always digital.

4

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Yes his harddrive have been altered forever but not the film lol
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Looks like we may have another troll in our midst. Time will tell.

Anyways, I can't help but wonder: If Lucas were to ask for these prints, would it be safe to give them to him, presumably for a "more pristine transfer"?

I dunno...I think I'd want something in writing guaranteeing their return. Maybe some collateral?

<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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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
It's probably true that everything on his harddrives has been modified. Maybe he's forgotten that video stored on computers was only in fiction the time the originals were made and thinks that everything was always digital.


Yes. Jim Ward's exhaustive search for source material to present on DVD was apparently of only video sources. I wonder how long it will be before GL and RM start claiming that "Star Wars" never existed on film, but only on digital video.
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Originally posted by: Skyranger
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
It's probably true that everything on his harddrives has been modified. Maybe he's forgotten that video stored on computers was only in fiction the time the originals were made and thinks that everything was always digital.


Yes. Jim Ward's exhaustive search for source material to present on DVD was apparently of only video sources. I wonder how long it will be before GL and RM start claiming that "Star Wars" never existed on film, but only on digital video.

Actually, I'm wondering how long it will be before they claim Star Wars never existed period. Or how about, "Changes?!? What changes?!? Star Wars was filmed in 2004 and everything you see is exactly how it is supposed to be."


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What are you suggesting, a mass-market Jedi mind trick?
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While I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it, I don't think Lucas is that dumb. Nobody would believe him anyway.
F Scale score - 3.3333333333333335

You are disciplined but tolerant; a true American.

Pissing off Rob since August 2007.
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Originally posted by: JarHead413
All but the people that will end up buying this set of DVD's knows that there is better source quality out there...and it's a damn shame.


But we need people to buy these DVDs to remind Lucas that there is demand for the OOT. It's really a brilliant catch 22.

This, however, is interesting, and very telling indeed. I just hope it means something. I wonder if we can ever win this, or even get even.

“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

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I still don't get that the man who all but invented AVID digital editing in the 80s would cut into the negative in the late 90s and destroy the original. Especially when the negative had yellowed so much that it needed massive digital color correction anyway. I'm still calling B.S. on Lucas.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Ahem.

www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa121.html#fr.

If Robert A. Harris says that it can be done, then it can be done. Lucasfilm can restore the originals (or "the earlier versions," as they call them). They just won't.

“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

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Thats jsut LFL trying to scare us. They never messed with the negatives.
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I really can't beleive Lucas/LFL destroyed or threw away any prints at all, I mean they even saved a lousy 1993 laserdisc mastertape that actually was supposed to been used "for the last time" in 1995 with the "Faces" VHS/LD release.

I'll bet they have lots and lots of OOT prints in the vault, although maybe not in a pristine condition but there's probably more than enough material to put together a very decent anamorphic OOT release, within a perfectly normal DVD budget.


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Good point about the avid system. Didn't Lucas try to talk Spielberg into editing Last Crusade digitally rather than by cutting the film? Another thing to remember is that if part of a scene was cg "enhanced," LFL still had to scan and restore the whole frame. And we know they did scan the whole film, how would they have known which parts would be changed and not needed? There was an article posted here about the Death Star run where they mentioned "fixing" one part and then Lucas wanted to redo the next shot that was most dated.

Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77

http://www.youtube.com/user/Knightmessenger

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Originally posted by: Knightmessenger
Didn't Lucas try to talk Spielberg into editing Last Crusade digitally rather than by cutting the film?


I think you'll find that the AVID system is for making edit decisions digitally, not edits. I believe the film is still cut, once the EDL is worked out on the AVID. Might not be true any longer, now that 2k scans are getting to be commonplace, but Last Crusade is certainly pre-DI territory.

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Hes ripping us off Again !!!
May the force be wth you .........
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Originally posted by: SW
Hes ripping us off Again !!!


no shit sherlock
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Originally posted by: Mike O
But we need people to buy these DVDs to remind Lucas that there is demand for the OOT. It's really a brilliant catch 22.

We are not necessarily cornered here by Lucas' disingenuous tactics. To paraphrase:

"There are alternatives to buying."

That's what our writing campaign is all about, exposing this release for the sub-standard offering that it truly is.

It's only a "brilliant catch 22" if we believe, as Lucas seems to want us to believe, that we have NO power to do anything but buy the DVD releases. Jay's original petition is proof of our power as SW fans.
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Originally posted by: lordjedi
While I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it, I don't think Lucas is that dumb. Nobody would believe him anyway.


Stopped by TFN lately?

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."
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