Here's what I sent to EW:
Dear EW,
Like many people, I have been a Star Wars fan since childhood. Following the franchise’s development through the years, I was interested to see the unmasked villain of the entire Skywalker Saga, Darth Vader, front-and-center on last year’s May 20 issue (#820), a testament to the impact that the original three movies have made on our society.
Not only did Star Wars imbed itself in our consciousness, it garnered 6 Oscars and permanently changed not only the movie industry but also the art of filmmaking itself.
Which are three reasons why the upcoming DVD releases containing this seminal film and its sequels are egregious, artistic sins. I use the word “containing”, because that is all this upcoming release presents them as, elements of a release.
The theatrical versions of the original Star Wars trilogy have been relegated to bonus material, while the release showboats yet another incarnation of George Lucas’s digitally altered versions of the films. Digital alterations have already been released twice on DVD. In an article on MTV.com (5/11/06, George Lucas Says Indiana’s Next Crack Of The Whip Will Be Tamer), Lucas states, “It's just the original versions, as they were. We didn't do anything to it at all.” What kind of treatment is that for three of the most popular and influential films in all of film history?
In the same article, Lucas claims that this release will indicate whether or not DVD buyers really wanted the originals on DVD. People will always want the original of any important film on the latest, greatest home format; just look at the original King Kong released this year from Warner Home Video!
Why hasn’t Lucas given the original movies which made him famous and wealthy their own commemorative release on DVD with the best treatment possible? His companies push the cinema technology envelope with THX sound and special effects, and he retools the original Star Wars films to create his “original visions” of them, but why won’t he issue even an industry-standard DVD release of the original theatrical versions of the films that he is best known for?
Frustrated Fan,
Michael Banks
Like many people, I have been a Star Wars fan since childhood. Following the franchise’s development through the years, I was interested to see the unmasked villain of the entire Skywalker Saga, Darth Vader, front-and-center on last year’s May 20 issue (#820), a testament to the impact that the original three movies have made on our society.
Not only did Star Wars imbed itself in our consciousness, it garnered 6 Oscars and permanently changed not only the movie industry but also the art of filmmaking itself.
Which are three reasons why the upcoming DVD releases containing this seminal film and its sequels are egregious, artistic sins. I use the word “containing”, because that is all this upcoming release presents them as, elements of a release.
The theatrical versions of the original Star Wars trilogy have been relegated to bonus material, while the release showboats yet another incarnation of George Lucas’s digitally altered versions of the films. Digital alterations have already been released twice on DVD. In an article on MTV.com (5/11/06, George Lucas Says Indiana’s Next Crack Of The Whip Will Be Tamer), Lucas states, “It's just the original versions, as they were. We didn't do anything to it at all.” What kind of treatment is that for three of the most popular and influential films in all of film history?
In the same article, Lucas claims that this release will indicate whether or not DVD buyers really wanted the originals on DVD. People will always want the original of any important film on the latest, greatest home format; just look at the original King Kong released this year from Warner Home Video!
Why hasn’t Lucas given the original movies which made him famous and wealthy their own commemorative release on DVD with the best treatment possible? His companies push the cinema technology envelope with THX sound and special effects, and he retools the original Star Wars films to create his “original visions” of them, but why won’t he issue even an industry-standard DVD release of the original theatrical versions of the films that he is best known for?
Frustrated Fan,
Michael Banks
The final question really sums up the source of my frustration with the upcoming DVDs. Doesn't sound too kooky, does it?
Edit: I was thinking about how to drum up more contributors to the cause; is it against forum rules/ettiquette to PM a list of people about this to try to get them involved?