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Where do I go from here as a SW fan?

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This is a long biography of how I came back to the O-OT if anyone is interested, and it got me wondering......

I have to say, and I am not afraid to admit this, Lucas pulled the wool over me for many years with the SE, and it almost worked in his suppression of the O-OT.

I grew up loving the OT from 77-83, as I was hooked with SW in 1977. I watched the OT through the years on HBO, Cable, and Video, but didn't watch them alot in the 90's. When the SE came out in 1997, I enjoyed the movies in the theaters, and did notice some of the obvious changes like Han Shooting first, but it had been so long since I really watched the O-OT versions, I kinda forgot HOW different they are, especially SW from 1977.

As the PT was coming out I was sort of a fan, but that has faded, but I just wanted the OT on DVD, and didn't care about whether it be SE or not. So in 2004 I bought the SE DVD's and I put on ROTJ and noticed Hayden in ROTJ!!!!!! WTF? Just that one change there really pissed me off, and now I started to understand the O-OT fans annoyance of these changes.

So I bought some bootlegs right after the 2004 DVD's came out, and I watched them and was astounded of how much was changed, and how much more gritty the O-OT versions were, and how ridiculous the CG really made these 1970's/80's movies.

All of the sudden I started hating the SE, cause I finally realized how unnecesary all these changes were, and how ridiculous the ones that were so obvious were too. I forgot about, "Bring my shuttle!" I forgot about how much better pacing SW is without Jabba in it, and I forgot about how much better pacing ESB is without Vader arrival after Cloud City.

The reason I signed up here is I was watching the Cinemax HD SW marathon this weekend and realized that I am not really part of the fanbase anymore, and that is really sad. The O-OT movies are still great to me, but if you think about it, the future of SW is the OT/SE with probably more changes and the average PT movies.

Where do I go as fan from here? I guess I really hope Lucas remasters the O-OT in great quality with the rumored boxset next year, I buy it for the O-OT movies sort of like the Superman boxset, and call it a career. Pretty sad that Lucas has excluded me when I never asked for anything to be changed.

I’m an original member here dating back to 2004. Haven’t posted in years, but looking forward to posting again.

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Where do you go? Man, you are already here.
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Originally posted by: Sluggo
Where do you go? Man, you are already here.



I hear ya, I guess it just really bothered me that a SW marathon was on this weekend, and I didn't have the urge to watch it cause I just don't like the PT enough, and I can't watch the SE. If this were 15 years ago, and Cinemax was showing the O-OT in HD for the first time, it would have been so awesome.

Now for a group of O-OT fans like us, everything with SW now is a downer.

I’m an original member here dating back to 2004. Haven’t posted in years, but looking forward to posting again.

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Now for a group of O-OT fans like us, everything with SW now is a downer.


From where I sit, not everything is bad.

I get frustrated with the situation from time to time, but there is a SW Lucas cannot and never did ruin - its the IU (Individual Universe). How each of us have interpreted the SW universe - this, fortunately, cannot be edited by anyone.

For me that includes the entire OUT, A lot of the PT, some of the EU; of the EU, certain books and games have entertained me, at times, as well as the OUT. The KOTOR series was particularly satisfying.

I don't deny the canonical status of the PT, but I am free to reject any part of it as I see fit.

Want to book yourself or a guest on THE VFP Show? PM me!

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Where do you go?

Wherever your feet take you.

Seriously... I love the O-OT but it's not my life. If I want more Star Wars, there's the video games, maybe the novels and comics. There's a lot of pre-SE material in that venue available.

Personally, I'd start searching out other things to love. If a path seems to be drawing to a close, it's time to walk a new path.
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I can sympathise with you, as much I like all the films and this site I can forsee a day when I will check out of Star Wars for good because Im not really bothered anymore about future editions TV shows etc etc and do want donate my spare time fully to my other film interests, Ive done it once before and came back but there will be a day I will call it quits for good. As much I like it here I probably would have checked out for good had the '06 DVDs been up to par, but as arent, Ive decided, as there are good things going on at this site and its a good place to be its worth staying around SW to be here...
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There IS something kind of depressing about the fact that the first ever saga presentation is such a non-event. And it's on Skinemax, not even HBO! In the 80s there was The Godfather-novel for network television. Something unique like that would have been cool.
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Originally posted by: JamesEightBitStar
Where do you go?

Wherever your feet take you.

Seriously... I love the O-OT but it's not my life. If I want more Star Wars, there's the video games, maybe the novels and comics. There's a lot of pre-SE material in that venue available.

Personally, I'd start searching out other things to love. If a path seems to be drawing to a close, it's time to walk a new path.



Dude, I am not saying I wanna commit suicide or even equating it to the problems in the world we face everyday, it is just a set of movies. I am saying this in the context of enjoying the movies, and that is it. This is a SW page, so even though it sounds real serious in the context of SW talk, it is pretty trivial in our everyday lives.

The fact is I love the OOT more then any other set of movies, and I will even go as far to say that SW is my favorite movie of all-time, so falling in love is something you can't do, it is something that just happens.

I just feel it is a real bummer that the set of movies that I grew up with and still love today are not the versions I love anymore. There will be a saga boxset next year to commerorate 30 years of SW, and there is a big chance that they will only contain SE/PT versions. It is just sad there is a split of fanbase of such a beloved set of movies, and one of those fanbases is truly second class now.

I’m an original member here dating back to 2004. Haven’t posted in years, but looking forward to posting again.

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Originally posted by: Chewy72

I just feel it is a real bummer that the set of movies that I grew up with and still love today are not the versions I love anymore. There will be a saga boxset next year to commerorate 30 years of SW, and there is a big chance that they will only contain SE/PT versions. It is just sad there is a split of fanbase of such a beloved set of movies, and one of those fanbases is truly second class now.


To tell ya the truth, I didn't really understand your topic question. I thought you were looking for recommendations on Star Wars-related things to do that don't involve the SEs or PT... in which case, I again suggest comics, novels, and the older video games.
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Here is the thing--the market saturation of the SE/PT material does not reflect the consumer demand for it. People think that because the SE/PT incarnation of the saga is all that is ever sold that this is what people want, or what they prefer--but its not like that at all. Its simply what Lucas puts out, and people love Star Wars so much that they are willing to accept it. Our preference of the OOT is not the minority, its the majority. The only difference is that we are in a uniquely bizarre situation where the authority who controls the marketing can dictate sales strategies based on his own personal preference, and Lucas' happen to be in the minority.
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Lucas doesn't seem to realize he's completely shit away his entire legacy for Star Wars with the SEs and prequels. Now they're just action movies the same as all the others. They used to be something special. Now they're shit.
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I am sorry you guys feel that way, but they aren't shit to Lucas, or the people who love the whole saga.
Your focus determines your reality.
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Originally posted by: Chewy72
Originally posted by: JamesEightBitStar
Where do you go?

Wherever your feet take you.

Seriously... I love the O-OT but it's not my life. If I want more Star Wars, there's the video games, maybe the novels and comics. There's a lot of pre-SE material in that venue available.

Personally, I'd start searching out other things to love. If a path seems to be drawing to a close, it's time to walk a new path.



Dude, I am not saying I wanna commit suicide or even equating it to the problems in the world we face everyday, it is just a set of movies. I am saying this in the context of enjoying the movies, and that is it. This is a SW page, so even though it sounds real serious in the context of SW talk, it is pretty trivial in our everyday lives.

The fact is I love the OOT more then any other set of movies, and I will even go as far to say that SW is my favorite movie of all-time, so falling in love is something you can't do, it is something that just happens.

I just feel it is a real bummer that the set of movies that I grew up with and still love today are not the versions I love anymore. There will be a saga boxset next year to commerorate 30 years of SW, and there is a big chance that they will only contain SE/PT versions. It is just sad there is a split of fanbase of such a beloved set of movies, and one of those fanbases is truly second class now.


I feel the same way. It is lousy that George and Rick tend to view us as ignorant, blind, whiny, or just not tech-savvy for our complaints on their treatment of the GOUT. Sure we can be stubborn and loud, but that doesn't invalidate our opinions.
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Do you really think that's how they see us?

I think they were just trying to say that while the UOT release wasn't anamorphic, that it was still pretty good and not the worst transfer to ever hit DVD.

I know Lucas has a great deal of respect for us, saying that we tend to think out of the box and are very creative in our own right to disagree with his artistic taste.
Your focus determines your reality.
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Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic
Do you really think that's how they see us?

I think they were just trying to say that while the UOT release wasn't anamorphic, that it was still pretty good and not the worst transfer to ever hit DVD.

I know Lucas has a great deal of respect for us, saying that we tend to think out of the box and are very creative in our own right to disagree with his artistic taste.


There are only 2 reasons why the new DVD´s came out:

1. Clear the stock of unsold SE DVD´s
2. Dry up the bootleg Market for the fanmade OOT transfers

Everything else is just, let´s say, a very idealistic and romantic view. Lucasfilm is a company, and naturally acts as such, finding ways to maximize profits. This has hardly anything to do with love or respect for the fanbase.
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I see your point about the business motivation, but I still think it was also a nice gesture to make the originals available on DVD again at our request.

He could have done more for us, but I don't see this release as an insult.
Your focus determines your reality.
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Good for you Go-Mer if you don't feel insulted with this release, but making a 4/3 transfer of a LD in 2006 is not what i call respect.
it's a joke that makes only Lucas laugh.

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So not releasing it at all would have been less insulting?
Your focus determines your reality.
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From a certain point of view: yes ; )

There is a side effect for this release; those who don't care about the quality will stop asking for the OOT dvds, so it will shut down a few voices from the OOT side. Making the OOT campaign even more isolated: "divide and reign" typical GL policy

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I don't know. It satisfied me, although I still would hope we can get an anamorphic release.

Maybe he just wanted to test the waters before sinking a whole lot of money into the endeavor. To see just how much demand the older versions really had.

Maybe the numbers on this release determine whether or not he does more with it for the next release.

What better way to celebrate 30 years of Star Wars than by releasing newly restored versions of the original trilogy?
Your focus determines your reality.
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Where does the sense of entitlement come from? The "he owes us", "we never asked for a SE".... he doesn't owe you nor does he need your permission. And before you say "I bought tickets, DVD's, plastic toys, lollipops, etc." Nobody was/is holding a gun to your head. Stop buying and see how many DVD releases there are.

"Among many things I have to be thankful for are you, the fans. I know that some of you haven't liked every single thing that I've done with the saga, and that you have a strong sense of ownership over all things Star Wars. But take that passion and devotion and channel it into a creative project of your own."
-George Lucas
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Originally posted by: JediRandy
Where does the sense of entitlement come from? The "he owes us", "we never asked for a SE".... he doesn't owe you nor does he need your permission. And before you say "I bought tickets, DVD's, plastic toys, lollipops, etc." Nobody was/is holding a gun to your head. Stop buying and see how many DVD releases there are.


And, although I absolutely detest the new DVD release and the way the OOT is treated, I must give JediRandy right.

He owes us nothing. He is a business man. He calculates what is supposed to make the most profit, and depending on how much we like it, we are obliged to either buying or not buying it.

This is the way Lucasfilm works. Every emotional investment in this man and this company is completely wasted.
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I third JediRandy's opinion. Actually, I think I said something similar before.

To wit, it annoys me that people talk about what Star Wars has become, yet continue to support it anyway. It reminds me of 2004, everyone was saying that they were gonna boycott the OT boxed sets for not including the original theatrical versions... but then several people caved in and decided they just HAD to have those movies, even if it wasn't in a form they wanted. And by giving in, they basically lifted their skirts and took off their panties for Lucas, which allows the man with the many chins to continue to manipulate the fanbase.

Personally, I would like nothing more than to see the death of the Star Wars franchise--no more novels, video games, or whatever. We've had too many of them already. It's time to call it quits.

But I suppose if stupid fans can keep Star Trek going long after it became generic, unwatchable trash, they can keep Star Wars going as well.
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I don't intend to keep it going past next May, except in my heart. I will always love Star Wars, but the ride is over as far as I'm concerned.

I'll probably get a bit sentimental and excited at the occassion of the 30th anniversary. I'll watch the Trilogy, and I'll watch the Holiday Special for the first time! I may even go to Celebration.

But that will be the last huzzah. I have the trilogy on DVD, and I don't expect any better releases in the future. Any that happen would be gravy.


I had such a good time with Star Wars 1977 - 1983. Seeing each movie multiple times in theaters was great, collecting stuff was fun, playing with toys was a hoot. Best of all was lining up for the premiers on Hollywood Boulevard, especially for Return of the Jedi, which was a then-revolutionary 7 days. It was a week of fun that I will always remember fondly.

I had an incredible good time with Star Wars 1999 - 2003. Seeing each movie a few times in theaters was far less fun, and there was no collecting or playing with toys on my part. But lining up for the premiers on Hollywood Boulevard was outrageous fun that I will cherish for a lifetime. 6-week-long Star Was street festivals, and I made many good friends.


But there's no more movies ... to which I breathe a sigh of relief. TV shows, video games, continued EU books and crap - - those things mean nothing to me. But I have my memories, I have the enrichment of my life via all the fun, and I have lasting friendships that sprung from it all.

As time marches on, I'll probably pop Empire or Jedi into the player far less often (it's only about 3 times a decade as it is) ... but I'll continue to watch and enjoy Star Wars till the day I die ... maybe making it an annual event ... and I'll happily chat about Star Wars with anyone of similar interests.



After the 30th hoopla that I intend to make a final Star Wars fun revival of, I will probably put my fandom in a deep, personal compartment. It's very likely I'll stop posting here.


Star Wars was a great ride, but it's over. I'll always be thankful for the prequels (even though I think they suck as films) for the unexpected Star Wars fun revival that brought me such wonderful enjoyment and friendships. That was a bonus bit of Star Wars pleasure that a guy like me who came on board in '77 had no right to expect. I'm now perfectly content to let it all fade into the sunset.


But Star Wars, the original, will always have an honored place in my heart, just as it will always have an honored place in movie history. The time for any active fandom, however, is fast coming to an end.







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Originally posted by: JediRandy
Where does the sense of entitlement come from? The "he owes us", "we never asked for a SE".... he doesn't owe you nor does he need your permission. And before you say "I bought tickets, DVD's, plastic toys, lollipops, etc." Nobody was/is holding a gun to your head. Stop buying and see how many DVD releases there are.


That is very true. When I bought the VHS releases back in 1995 (I think), I tried to look at whether they would be released sometime in the future. I realized that it said "For the last time ever", but come on, think rationally people. As long as there is money to be made, LFL will keep releasing the saga over and over again. Look at 25 years down the road, or 50, or 100. There will always be new formats coming out, previously "unseen" footage, documentaries, you name it. It will never stop.