logo Sign In

POLL: So Who Bought Them & Who Didn't? (the 2006 GOUT DVD release) — Page 2

Author
Time
I bought them happily; they look better than any bootlegg i've owned save for maybe m0thrs, but i'm entirely happy with them even though they are not anamorphic. To me if he had released them remastered but looking like the '04 dvds with the incorrect colors/sound I would have been more upset.

Instead I now have exactly what i've always grown up with. I see/understand the hate, but I suppose i'm just too enamoured to these films to really be upset.

<a href="http://www.bynkii.com/archives/2005/05/i_hates_lucas_i.html" title="www.bynkii.com/archives/2005/05/i_hates_lucas_i.html" target="_blank">.Truth.</a><br /><br />"Mmm....starcruiser crash!"

Author
Time
I bought them. I was on the fence at first, but I'd rather buy these than wonder if they'll come out next year. And I'd rather buy these than spend more money on some stupid anniversary box set I definitely don't want. So it was more in my favor to do so. And it was also my farewell purchase, Lucas's severance pay if you will. Because I won't be buying any more re-releases of these movies (maybe I will if he releases the theatrical versions of the prequels).

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.

Author
Time
What? The theatrical versions were hardly any better. I don't want to see ANY version of the prequels. I guess theatricals would at least make TPM watchable, without the extended pod race and all the other stuff the kills the pacing, but still, I just want the trilogy, in its original version. That's why my nice new tin has just that--plus some bonus discs. That's all the Star Wars I'll ever need.

And you're absolutely right about "severance pay." That was going through my mind when I bought it too.
Watch DarthEvil's Who Framed Darth Vader? video on YouTube!

You can also access the entire Horriffic Violence Theater Series from my Channel Page.
Author
Time
It's all the Star Wars I'll ever need, but I still feel that the prequels, inferior as they are, shouldn't have been bastardized, especially not right out the gate. And since I have them, I'd much rather have the theatrical versions than have to live through the thought of more OCD Lucas tinkering. After all, the latter two prequels never did get a home release of their original versions.

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.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: THX
They are the best available home video edition of the OUT. Nuff said.

Can't argue with that (I voted 'yes').

Author
Time
I figure in a few years from now...if these things dont get re-released in the proper form they deserve, I wont have too much trouble tracking them down. I mean...c'mon...ITS FUCKING STAR WARS.

I may have to pay for the chance to buy it years from now...but at least I wont have to buy them twice.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/bgiffen/bigbluerig.jpg
Author
Time
I bought them because George Lucas has now lied, and I feel I can't trust him anymore. He may release the movies in a better way in the future, but since he's unpredictible I have to guess that maybe they'll never see the light of day again. Hence, I bought them.
Author
Time
I haven't bought them and have no plans to do so.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: Hoichi, the EarlessTo me if he had released them remastered but looking like the '04 dvds with the incorrect colors/sound I would have been more upset.

Instead I now have exactly what i've always grown up with.

+1

I've never seen the SEs, but I've seen some of the screen captures and they are way too blue and dark - too saturated overall. They have that false, 1940s technicolor look.
Forum Moderator
Author
Time
I went ahead and purchased, as it is better than any copy of the original versions that I have previously owned, and I just can't watch the SE.

I do feel as if I am being slightly punished by uncle George with a substandard offering though, simply for prefering the originals over his cgi 'enhanced' creations.

Yes, the originals are now finally on dvd, but it's very bittersweet moment indeed. :/

Still, I'm looking forward to the XO even more now.
Author
Time
Please excuse the rant, but I am going to let it all out!

I went to CC, Target and Best Buy today to see what things looked like. All 3 had lots left, and BB had LOADS of the tins left and they seemed to be selling well, as 3 people in a very short amount of time picked them up while I was looking at them. CC had a lot of movies left but not one mention of the lithographs on the display. When I inquired about them just to see what response I would get, the salesman was clueless. Figures...

Anyway, I held the tin and the movies in my hand in each store but just couldn't bring myself to buy them when I saw (for example) movies like Revenge of the Nerds II and Ghoulies in anamorphic. Holding the SW copy in my hand, I said to myself, "One of the greatest movies of all time, and they won't even give us the same quality as those movies. And not only that, but they are forcing me to buy a copy of the movie I absolutely do not want (referring to the SEs of course)." I dunno, but something in me just clicked and the WEEKS (months?) of being on the fence ended, and I put the DVDs back down and walked away...

See, folks, I have a very unusual problem on my hands with my newer 16X9 DLP TV: not only do I get screwed because these releases are non-anamorphic, but I get screwed doubly because I can't use the Zoom feature if I play the DVD through my component setting! So I will need to use the A/V setting to be able to zoom in, losing even more quality on an already sub-par release AND I will lose most (if not all) of the subtitles too! I've watched movies this way before and it's not *that bad*, but those movies are older and many have since come out with newer anamorphic versions (another point I will touch on in a sec) so I can upgrade at any time if I so desire. But in SW's case, do I want to pay $45+ to be so screwed?!? If I wanted that, I'd be better off taking that money to Las Vegas.

I have absolutely nothing against those that bought this set, I understand where you are coming from, more power to you and I am happy that you are enjoying them so far! But me, I can only buy what I support, and I just can't support this release no matter how I try to spin it. If Lucas would've given me the OUT in anamorphic, I would be one happy camper and he would get my hard-earned money no problem. Heck, even if he gave me a non-anamorphic OUT but released JUST THEM in a boxed set or individually, I would've probably been happy with that also. But I can't help but feel Lucas is giving us all yet another middle finger and laughing at us, and I refuse to buy that man another box of Wookie Cookies.

When I found out recently that they have anamorphic scenes of the OUT in EOD, it tells me something is in the works. And I just read today that LFL is already hyping '07 to be "The year of Star Wars" with all sorts of new video games, movie releases, etc. I'll just wait and see what develops. Since Lucas said we would never see these on DVD and, SURPRISE, we have, I am betting he and LFL are going to follow the lead of the other studios out there (like Disney for example) and squeeze as much out of the consumers as they possibly can, and we will see a better version of the OUT in the very near future. Yes, it may be on the next format, but whatever.

My love for Star Wars runs very, very deep...but my love for what I believe in runs much deeper. I never believed in paying good $ for something that I viewed as low-quality, a trick and a rip-off, and IMO this is a perfect example of just those very things. So with this post I say, "Nice try, George!" and my weeks/months of sitting on the fence are now over, and I will be spending my hard-earned money on something else. Heck, I may even spend some of it on DVDs that actually take advantage of modern technology...a claim LFL used to be able to back up...

Author
Time
Bought 'em mainly for the Best Buy tin. Since the originals were from the 1993 masters, I can put away my Definitive Collection laserdiscs. Even though I didn't like having to buy the 2004 discs, I now have a DVD equivalent to the DC laserdiscs. I am going to modify the DVD covers to show the original versions as Disc One, and my own bonus discs as Disc Two. Since the movies are not anamorphic, I will consider this a "retro" collection as the laserdiscs weren't anamorphic either.

I'm considering double-disc slim cases for the original movies and my bonus discs, DC extras with the Holiday special, and to top it off, a single-slim case for When Star Wars Ruled The World. That makes 5 slim cases that I'm pretty sure will fit in the Best Buy tin, but I haven't checked yet.
Author
Time
ESHBG - KUDOS to you for standing by your principles!!! I know exactly where you're coming from. I have the same problem with all things Star Wars. I have begun purging anything and everything that was released from 1997 up. Video games, books, etc. etc. Didn't really have that much to begin with, but I don't want anything from that time on cuz to me, there's something amiss with Lucas and LFL. They aren't putting out good products anymore. There is an occasional surprise, but overall, their products really bite IMHO. I just want to forget everything that happened from the SEs on. So I understand your principles here. Handing over hard earned cash for a crap product....ain't gonna happen here.

As for this thread, I voted no. I'm returning the unopened copy I have. My sister and brother-in-law's brother can enjoy theirs, but I'm getting my money back. I've checked out my sister's copy and I'm less than impressed....

No way I'm taking shit and saying thanks, George.
Author
Time
Well I bought them and am pleased with them. I wasnt going to, but the argument I persuaded myself with was that we WANTED the OUT on DVD and we got it. LFL did what we wanted (quality issues aside) and so they were worth buying. If everyone held back because of the mediocre picture I honestly think we would never see the OUT again. If they sell well then LFL get the message that we want them.
And frankly the picture is OK - I watched all 3 and thoroughly enjoyed them thank you!
Author
Time
ESHBG, I 100% agree with what you are saying, but what Lucas has failed to realize with this release, is that he may have won the battle but has lost the war amongst us diehard OT fans, and here is what I mean:

I have been a diehard SW fans since 1977, and have bought anything with SW plastered on it. I went to each prequel movie in the theaters, bought every VHS set, etc. But what has changed about SW in the past 10 years is that SW isn't a given to me anymore, and I have become a 'picky' fan when buying my SW stuff. For George Lucas, that is a bad sign, cause I was never a picky fan before.

Sure I bought this release, cause it was the O-OT in any better quality than I have, but what has happened is now if every future release, (2007 Saga Boxset, HD-DVD Saga Boxset, 3-D movies in the theater, etc.) If they don't contain the O-OT versions fully remastered, he aint gettin a dime for me.

So as I said, he won this battle as I bought this DVD set, but if he keeps trotting out the OT/SE in his future boxsets without the O-OT in it, no way am I buying it, and that is what has changed in 10 years from this diehard SW fan. If Lucas would have kept the OT as just the OT pre 1997, he could have released saga boxsets with the PT movies, and I would have bought them til I die, that is how much I love SW. But there is no way in hell, I am going to buy the PT & SE movies in the future, cause I don't love them.

I still like that the O-OT is out there now, cause the fact that so many people are willing to buy and watch something that they already know is inferior video quality to the SE, is a huge smack in the face to Lucas. I will say it again, what if this set sells better than 2004? If it does, than Lucas would have to finally reconsider his stance on the O-OT and come to terms that there are 2 OT fanbases for future releases.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: CO
Sure I bought this release, cause it was the O-OT in any better quality than I have, but what has happened is now if every future release, (2007 Saga Boxset, HD-DVD Saga Boxset, 3-D movies in the theater, etc.) If they don't contain the O-OT versions fully remastered, he aint gettin a dime for me.


Totally with you on this one!

Author
Time
I still like that the O-OT is out there now, cause the fact that so many people are willing to buy and watch something that they already know is inferior video quality to the SE, is a huge smack in the face to Lucas


I don't know, CO...when you put it like that, maybe I should get it...damn, you're making me doubt myself now....I certainly would love it if this outsold the 2004 release. I would giggle my ass off at that one....

Lucas is a businessman....he can't ignore those numbers....original vision or not.
Author
Time
Thanks a lot, Cable-X1!

Fuser:

If everyone held back because of the mediocre picture I honestly think we would never see the OUT again. If they sell well then LFL get the message that we want them.
True. But at the same time, standing up against LFL and saying, "Nice try and we want them, but please do it RIGHT!" could possibly yield the same (if not better) results. It's a guessing game, though, and in no way am I saying I am right and you are wrong (and vice versa).

CO: I understand your point totally and yes, that is one way to look at it. I too am the same and I didn't buy the '04 set, I didn't buy all of the versions of the PTs, I don't pick up anything SW-related anymore, etc. But I still think Lucas has something up his sleeve and this release is just a warm up. IMHO, I really think it was a way to clear old SE stock. He KNOWS there is a demand for the OUT and he definitely did not need this release to prove that, so this was his one last way to A) clear old SE stock and B) give the finger to the OUT fans one last time because of the sub-par quality. How many years have fans, magazines, actors, directors, etc., etc., been asking for the OUT? There is no way possible that Lucas didn't know there was a demand for this release, and again, he did not need this set to prove it! Any way you slice it, HE CAVED! These releases are on DVD and there IS a very likely future now. But Lucas needed his last final dig, his last way to make money of all of the people he "lost" to....a bit of revenge if you will. The way he is going to do it IMO is he will make them buy a crappy set and then release a better set very soon.

Of course I could be all wrong but I am going to go with my gut here. It paid off for me with the '04 set and I am sure it will again...

Originally posted by: Cable-X1
I still like that the O-OT is out there now, cause the fact that so many people are willing to buy and watch something that they already know is inferior video quality to the SE, is a huge smack in the face to Lucas


I don't know, CO...when you put it like that, maybe I should get it...damn, you're making me doubt myself now....I certainly would love it if this outsold the 2004 release. I would giggle my ass off at that one....

Lucas is a businessman....he can't ignore those numbers....original vision or not.

Like I said to CO, he KNOWS there is and has always been a demand for the OUT and he hardly needs this release to prove that. If Lucas truly believed or was unsure about people wanting the OUT, you still wouldn't have the OUT on DVD IMO.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Cable-X1
I still like that the O-OT is out there now, cause the fact that so many people are willing to buy and watch something that they already know is inferior video quality to the SE, is a huge smack in the face to Lucas


I don't know, CO...when you put it like that, maybe I should get it...damn, you're making me doubt myself now....I certainly would love it if this outsold the 2004 release. I would giggle my ass off at that one....

Lucas is a businessman....he can't ignore those numbers....original vision or not.


Yeah, that's one of the things that makes me happy about this set. Any time I get feeling like I've been ripped off by buying this subpar release, I keep telling myself that even a non-anamorphic grainy transfer of the OOT is better than his anamorphic 5.1 SE mess, and hopefully it's driving him crazy to realize that I'm not the only one who thinks that.

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.

Author
Time
Yeah, I'm that way too, Gaffer. Also, one of the most striking things about seeing these original versions after all these years is how distinct the 3 movies are from each other, in look and tone. Different directors, different cinematographers, writers etc.. Each movie has it's own personality, and I fucking love that. I will never understand this compulsive need for consistency and continuity above all things. "Wow, these six movies sure are consistent!" Yeah, that's awesome.
Author
Time
Originally posted by:ESHBG

Lucas is a businessman....he can't ignore those numbers....original vision or not.
Like I said to CO, he KNOWS there is and has always been a demand for the OUT and he hardly needs this release to prove that. If Lucas truly believed or was unsure about people wanting the OUT, you still wouldn't have the OUT on DVD IMO.


Yes, Lucas is a businessman, but you would be suprised how many OT fans have accepted the SE, and what I mean by that is, they have just 'put up' with all the SE crap because they wanted it on DVD so bad in 2004. Everyone of my friends bought the 2004 SE , and all of them prefer the O-OT, but they were starving for the OT on DVD, so as one of my friends said, "I will have to live with Greedo shooting first."

That to me is where SW has changed in the last 10 years, and that is why Lucas is miscalculating the numbers from the PT & 2004 DVD release. Putting aside what version we love, the PT & SE were a huge success financially to Lucas, why wouldn't he think that people love em? Rocky V sucked, nobody showed. The Matrix Revolutions tanked at the box office, same story.

The difference with SW is all 6 movies were successes in making money, and in Lucas's narrow little mind, he thinks the majority love them, because if it was as bad as Star Trek Nemesis, then fans wouldn't turn out. The difference is fans like me are starting to smarten up, and realize that SW has become mediocre. I was just as naive all through the PT movies thinking they would be great, but now I look back and realize they are one big missed opportunity, but I still went to every movie, and bought every DVD.

But heres the difference with SW in 2006 and the early 1990's, I don't love the SE & PT enough to ever buy them again, wheras the OT I would buy over and over again. Lucas could have put out the OT on VHS in 92, 93, 94, and 1995 with different cover art and I probably would have bought them!!!!!!!

So my point is we have to hit Lucas over the head now with this release and show him that there is not only a demand from some purists, but the MAJORITY of SW fans love these versions. As I said, everyone I know bought the 2004 DVD's, but prefer the O-OT, so that tells me that they are not keen on buying an OT Mega Boxset with more changes in 2007, but they will buy some non-anamorphic OT DVD's just to see Sebastian Shaw.

I really believe that Lucas doesn't know there is a huge demand for the O-OT, remember he is in that box on Lucasranch and I think he is out of touch with what is cool in the movies today. Just look at the PT movies, they aren't cool, and then watch the O-OT movies, whether we are SW geeks or not, those movies are fucking cool to watch, there are no Anakin/Padme on Naboo awful love scenes or Jar Jar Binks in the O-OT, Lucas knew what was cool from 77-83, and that is where he atleast needs to see that fans really haven't liked anything he has done since 1997. I may accept the SE & the PT movies, but I sure as hell don't love them, I more or less put up with them because they're SW, and that is the diffence with the O-OT, I love those movies, and that goes a long way in me rebuying something I already have. Just like I did last Tuesday.

Author
Time
I really believe that Lucas doesn't know there is a huge demand for the O-OT, remember he is in that box on Lucasranch and I think he is out of touch with what is cool in the movies today

I dont think that is true in either sense. Of course he knows - he's not daft. And frankly, I think you overestimate the demand. Sure there's a few people on here, and a lot of very vocal people who run websites/magazines etc etc. I read a review of the new DVDs today in the Times: "To those who have agonised over Whether Greedo should have shot first or whether Obi-Wans shout resembled that of a dewback or a krayt dragon , this is tantamount to the Holy Grail. Hopefully they'll keep quiet now."

Sometimes I wonder if it is healthy to get so worked up about it all!
Author
Time
Very good points again, CO! I too was considering getting these releases and saying "Forget it!" to anything else that was not the OUT. But I just can't help but shake the feeling that Lucas has something else up his sleeve...something better...

True, I could always buy these and then sell them if something better really does come along because the DVDs, the packaging, the tin from BB, etc., would probably be an easy thing to sell in later years if I so desired...

And on the bright side, since the idea of banning together and demanding better isn't the route that most OUT fans are taking, I must admit that I am happy to see the other route seems to be a success and these DVDs are selling well, and HOPEFULLY it will get a point to Luca$ if I am wrong and he really is that out of touch.

And for the record, I did put my "Faces" WS VHS tapes in today and it wasn't pretty. Nothing wrong with the tapes at all and my set is in mint condition and I have barely watched them over the years, but I am so used to the clear picture of DVD that they were a little tough to watch to be honest...I imagine this is a big reason why people are getting these DVDs, though, and no new news there...
Author
Time
Good point - there will not be a lot of fans (as a percentage of all the people who will want the OUT on DVD) who take the time to join these forums, register at myspleen etc etc, download the files and then burn their own DVDs. Shoddy release or not, this official release will make, in my opinion, most of the fans who wanted this, happy.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: (Fuser)
I dont think that is true in either sense. Of course he knows - he's not daft. And frankly, I think you overestimate the demand. Sure there's a few people on here, and a lot of very vocal people who run websites/magazines etc etc. I read a review of the new DVDs today in the Times: "To those who have agonised over Whether Greedo should have shot first or whether Obi-Wans shout resembled that of a dewback or a krayt dragon , this is tantamount to the Holy Grail. Hopefully they'll keep quiet now."

Sometimes I wonder if it is healthy to get so worked up about it all!



Trust me, I am not saying that every SW fan wants to see Han shoot first, or even knows about it, heck, my 8 year old nephew wouldn't know what we are talking about. But I also know that my 8 year old nephew is already out of SW and that is the big difference between this generation and fans that grew up with SW.

He is into Pirates of the Caribbean now, and as he went as Darth Vader last Halloween, he is going as something with POTC themed this year. My point is that SW, or Episode III was just the flavor of the month for him last year. He was into SW, watched the movies with me, and didn't give a rats ass about Sebastian Shaw. Now one year later, SW movies iare just another summer movie that he will watch sometime in the future just like the Batman Movies, but won't be anticipated future boxsets every year.

That is the difference and mediocrity has crept into the saga where you have fans that like the movies but don't love them. Sure my nephew has all the SW DVD's in his collection, but I guarantee you next year he won't ask for the 07 Boxset for Christmas, cause he already has those movies.

If you want to say we are all wackos or diehards or whatever you want to call us, we are loyal, and only loyal fans rebuy the same movies they have over and over. Only loyal fans rebuy movies that have new documentaries in the new SE. I have bought Back to the Future Boxset, Indiana Jones Boxset, Aliens Boxset all once, cause I enjoy those movies, but once is enough. But the OT movies are different, my love for them transcends logic in certain ways.

Lucas has been living off of that for the past 10 years, and things are beginning to change. I thought Lucas was a genius in 1996, then the SE, then TPM, and then AOTC I finally realized that he may be a tad overrated. I still hoped that ROTS would be the next ESB, I thought Lucas had it in him for a great movie, WRONG!! Now I am very suspect about what comes out new from SW, and if Lucas announced Episode 7,8,9 I wouldn't be interested cause I know he has lost it as a director. But when he announced the PT in the 1995, I was on cloud nine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


]
ESHBG
Padawan Learner

Posts: 204
Joined: Jun 2006
Sat September 16, 2006 4:17 PM Message OptionsSubscribe to ThreadE-Mail ThreadPrivate Message UserPrint Thread


And on the bright side, since the idea of banning together and demanding better isn't the route that most OUT fans are taking, I must admit that I am happy to see the other route seems to be a success and these DVDs are selling well, and HOPEFULLY it will get a point to Luca$ if I am wrong and he really is that out of touch.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CO response:

This is for the future of SW, and in a sense by buying this I am taking one for the team for future releases. If nobody bought this release, Lucas would never release it again. He doesnt' want these versions out, he hates these versions, that is why the PT is loaded with stupid CG shit, Lucas loves to fill the screen with needless CG.

But we need to set a statement to George that the O-OT, even in non-anamorphic, even as bonus material, even as part of the SE set, is still beloved by alot of diehards. We need to make him realize that any Saga boxset in the future has to contain the O-OT in it or he won't get a dime from us. As I said, he won the battle with this 2006 release, but he hasn't won the war, cause he wants the SE to be the only edition that anyone ever sees again. And the last time I checked, the O-OT was available last Tuesday on DVD, so all that vision bullshit was thrown out the window.

Guys, it is not about Han shooting first, cause only fans who have seen the O-OT know what that is, it is about that both versions can be viewed on DVD by any new fan and they can make the decision on what is better. The bottom line is a majority of people like my nephew have a 27" TV that he won't be able to tell the quality difference with the SE & O-OT versions, so in that respect there is a level playing field for newcomers.

This weekend I will be watching the Original SW while I using the SE as a coaster to my drink of choice, and I couldn't be more happier.

By the way, conversations like this is why I love this site.