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Will you buy the OOT again ? — Page 2

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I only bought the GOUT to justify having the laserdisc transfers and fan edits, but they aren't watchable. I'll buy another set if it watchable.
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Originally posted by: grifter
We are almost five months to the 30th anniversary and still no news about the "saga" boxset, I have a bad feeling about this...


They are not going to announce it until probably february at least, so as not to dissuade the christmas/boxingday/new-years sales. Otherwise all those PT/OT/OOT disks I see on the shelves will continue to sit there instead of being bought twice.
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Originally posted by: Sluggo
I only bought the GOUT to justify having the laserdisc transfers and fan edits, but they aren't watchable. I'll buy another set if it watchable.

Amen.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Originally posted by: zombie84
Originally posted by: grifter
We are almost five months to the 30th anniversary and still no news about the "saga" boxset, I have a bad feeling about this...


They are not going to announce it until probably february at least, so as not to dissuade the christmas/boxingday/new-years sales. Otherwise all those PT/OT/OOT disks I see on the shelves will continue to sit there instead of being bought twice.

Exactly.
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Wait for Celebration IV for the announcement.
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Very doubtful. If it were sold as a single DVD - maybe. However, if it's some sort of deal where I'm forced to also purchase some other - proper, true vision of the film that George wanted to make all along but couldn't, according to some asinine, pretzel-logic explanation - absolutely not. I already paid for one copy of the SE and dropped it in the garbage can sitting next to the curb without letting it enter my home. I won't do that a second time.

I already own a copy of the film I saw as a boy. My life will have to continue on without George telling me what I should think, like, accept, or watch. George doesn't make decisions for me.

The depth of his megalomania is disturbing.
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Originally posted by: zombie84
Originally posted by: grifter
We are almost five months to the 30th anniversary and still no news about the "saga" boxset, I have a bad feeling about this...

They are not going to announce it until probably february at least, so as not to dissuade the christmas/boxingday/new-years sales. Otherwise all those PT/OT/OOT disks I see on the shelves will continue to sit there instead of being bought twice.


I hope so, but a good release next year just seems too good to be true. I'd give almost anything for it, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Wait for Celebration IV for the announcement.


Hope springs eternal.

If the OOT came out in high quality on DVD and HD, I would buy it for almost any price. Otherwise, I don't care anymore. Like I say, I'd give almost anything for y'all to be right about the "saga" boxed set. But I just don't want to get my hopes up and have them crushed again. All I can do is hope and pray. But yes, I would. I just hope that I can.

“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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It is interesting, however, that this supposed box set appears to not have any additional featurettes made for it. Getting all the original players back together for the 2004 dvd set was a big, big deal--they started contacting actors and technitions way back in 2003, and had filmed everything and recorded all the commentaries by the summer. And everyone knew about it. When you have Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and Gary Kurtz hanging around Skywalker Ranch, people take notice--and the media was informed about what was going on. So Empire of Dreams, the Characters of Star Wars, all those featurettes are all we will be getting, and you can bet the commentaries will be repeated. Even the great PT supplemental disks did not call the cast back--they just used the same publicity junkets and on-set interviews that the actors are required to do.

What does that leave? Super-enhanced Ultimate Final Editions of all the films, including the prequels (as evident by the CGI TPM yoda). Mmm, not too interesting considering there has been "Special Edition" marketing oversaturation already--these will appeal only to the hardest of hardcore fans. Deleted Scenes? Almost certainly, and these are probably the most fascinating prospect of a future release, and you can bet that they were deliberately withheld from the first release as firepower for a future one. Perhaps a sort of "Nostalgia" theme by including the original television documentaries that are so often bootlegged and requested by fans? Another promising extra, but again these pale in actual content to Empire of Dreams, though they do offer some additional footage. But do you think these things are really enough to persuade everyone that bought the 2004 DVD set--as well as the 2006 dvd trilogy--to shell out another 70 bucks or so? No way. You need the remastered OOT.
This would play right into the whole "nostalgia" thing that LFL has been harping, since they realised that the PT can only sustain the company for so long before they have to dip back into the OT. You get the original deleted footage, the original television specials and documentaries...and the original films.

Theres still tons of PT docs to be made--"The Beginning", the fantastic TPM doc, was assembled out of 300 hours of footage. You could easily create new on-set featurettes for the PT, finish more of the many deleted scenes not included in the original disks, and maybe even do more commentaries (Ben Burtt talks so much he could get his own--but it would be neat to finally have some actors participate in a new one). PT fans are so easily persuaded that they could be fooled into buying the films again but for OT fans there is only one real reason: a proper release of the OOT. The only question is: did they alienate enough people with the 2006 disks that they would eradicate their only major market? Hard to say.

With this in mind, there are then two possibilities for this release. PT fanboys are still drooling over fantasy scenes that will be filmed and inserted into the OT, like one of Palpatine dissolving the senate in ANH, or Yoda in ANH or more footage of Alderaan being destroyed, or a re-edited Obi Wan duel. But to do these things is a huge, huge deal, and we would have at least heard some rumblings by now, so i think it is safe to say that any additional enhances to the films will be extremely subtle tweaks that are hardly even noticeable--like maybe corrected lightsaber colours.
So, possibility one: this release is not a major one at all, basically the six existing dvds in a new extra-big box, maybe with more shitty video game demos invading bitrate space and new video interview with Lucas on the overal six-episode saga and a preview of the new tv series.
possibility two: its a much bigger release, but still using the pre-existing releases as the majority base, with "nostalgia" being the theme, containing the OT deleted scenes, tv specials and the remastered OOT, plus the corrected SE's, all the original bonus material, and maybe an extra disk of newly edited featurettes of the mostly PT variety, as well as both Clone War cartoon disks, and a sneak peak at the upcoming TV show. This to me seems much more likely, especially with the 30th anniversary of the ORIGINAL films--they are going to need SOME kind of marketing ploy that flaunts the whole "nostalgia" thing--what better way?
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I think the one good thing about what has transpired of the last few years and Lucas's treatment of the OOT, is that this rumored set will be a no-brainer either way for me.

If he remasters the OOT in great quality, then count me as a yes vote. If he doesn't include it in this set, and it is just the SE, count me out, real simple. In the past, Lucas has been able to suck SW fans in every set. In 2004, we never thought the OOT would ever be released, so many reluctantly bought the SE OT because they just wanted any SW OT on DVD. IN 2006, many thought the OOT would never be fully remastered, so we just wanted the OOT on DVD. Now everyone has something of what they want, albeit not the best quality, so the only thing left is: Great quality.

I don't care about deleted scenes, or more documentaries, cause you can always rent the boxset at blockbuster one night for $5.00, watch the bonus material, and be done with it. It just comes down to whether Lucas remasters the OOT, and that is why I know my decision will be real easy once I see the specs.
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One thing you can be sure of is the Ot will have more changes next year ! I am surprised how he has brought the price down for the 2004 box set + OOT 2 disk and bringing out a six disk tin set just to get every penny out of fans .
May the force be wth you .........
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I'm not trying to put anyone down here....

...but I think anyone who seriously believes that we'll see the OOT remastered in this upcoming box set is out of their fucking mind!!!

Lucas has gone through a lot to try and make those original versions disappear. He's said it will cost millions to do a proper restoration. He claims they aren't what he intended all along. He made the prequels specifically to fit with these "newer" versions. Everything he's said and done has indicated to me that he wants the OOT to just disappear. The OOT will be in the same category as the Holiday Special. Lucas just plain ignores that and we'll NEVER see that on DVD, not even as a gag feature. He can't treat the OOT like that just yet cuz he hasn't gotten a completed saga out there to take the OOT's place. That's what this box set will be. It'll be a finished saga and therefore the OOT can then be relegated to the garbage bin just like the Holiday Special.

But like a lot of you, I hope I'm wrong. I don't think I am though. We won't see a remastered OOT while Lucas is still breathing...when he kicks the can, then his kids will get talked into releasing it by businessmen....THEN we'll get what we want. And I agree....it's sad in the worst possible way.
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I dont doubt that Lucas wants it relegated to the dustbin but i think he is starting to realise that its just some megalomaniacal pipe-dream of his. The release of the OOT that has already occured, regardless of its motivations for release, is proof of this. Obviously his "artistic integrity" has financial boundaries. Really, Lucas himself is not in charge of Lucasfilm anymore, as he stepped down as CEO--the 2006 OOT release was entirely Jim Ward's project. Obviously we will see the OOT released in Lucas' lifetime because it has already happened. This whole "they don't exist" thing is simply bullshit, its just Lucas wishing out loud.

Like i said, how else can Lucasfilm possibly justify any more releases of the films? With no new theatrical releases, everything is done--theres not really a significant slew of new initiates to lure with new purchases. 90% of the people the boxset is marketed for would have already have all the films. Maybe i am wrong, maybe it will be the first option I proposed, simply the pre-existing dvds in a big box with some dinky bonus game demo thrown in or something, but I really don't see how Lucasfilm could actually think that it would be a profitable undertaking. Obviously fan demand, artistic worth and any such pretentiousness has no bearing on whether the OOT will or will not be released, and the content of any impending box set--this is a corperation very much like Disney. The question is will this make the company money? I really don't think so.

As for the cost of releasing a new transfer: million? God no. Thousands. Pocket change really. There are plenty of viable prints in the LFL archives that are perfect candidates--including those wonderful dye-transfer prints--and the standard dirt-removal filters included in modern telecine suites would be more than adequet for a new release. The total cost of this entire release would be well under a hundred thousand dollars.
I really can't see them waiting until the HD releases either. The release of a proper OOT would have to be done soon, and the 30th anniversary is a pretty good opportunity, when everyone will be hungry for the ORIGINAL "nostalgic" material. Looking at the release pattern:
-release PT first because everyone will be hungry for DVD star wars
-release OT SE next because everyone will be hungry for OT on dvd
-release OOT crap-version next because everyone will be hungry for OOT in any form
-release OOT good-version next because everyone will re-buy a proper release
Then, repeat for HD, which Lucasfilm should be moving into in the next three or four years.
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In some ways, and I am not defending Sir George on this one, I really think the 2006 OOT was a trial run to see what the fanbase was for this out there. We all know Lucas had an idea that fans wanted the OOT on DVD, but I really don't think he knew to what extent?

I mean if you look at it from Lucas's POV, every SW thing since the SE has been financially successful, so in that respect, why should he feel the OOT has this huge demand? The SE movies made over 240 million in the theaters in 1997, the SE VHS release in 1997 did just as well. TPM, AOTC, and ROTS all made huge money in the theaters, and the DVD's did just as well. The 2004 SE OT DVD's are still one of the highest DVD's ever.

Now I am not debating quality, but Lucas is a businessman looks at those numbers and says, "Is there really this huge market for the OOT? And is it worth it to fuck with my vision of the 'saga' rather then starting to release different versions that will muddle everything up.

I don't know if the OOT will be in the saga boxset nextyear, but I do know this, Lucas the businessman will not change until he gets hit in the wallet. If Lucas puts out the 30th Anniversary Boxset next year without the OOT and just the SE OT, and PT (CG Yoda, etc.) stuff and it doesn't sell well, then he may reconsider. I think he will look at the 2006 OOT numbers, and that is the only reason I bought them, and atleast understand there is this huge market, cause all 3 movies finished in the Top 10 of DVD sales the week they came out, and of course that was in laserdisk quality.
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1I'm not trying to put anyone down here....

...but I think anyone who seriously believes that we'll see the OOT remastered in this upcoming box set is out of their fucking mind!!!

Lucas has gone through a lot to try and make those original versions disappear. .


I do respect your opinion Cable X1, and by your stance you are not putting anyone down, cause part of me feels you are dead on in your assessment, but.....

He did release the OOT on DVD, and yes they are crappy quality, but the fact that he did it tells me his master plan is weakening. I mean the Superman II Donnor Cut got released and that was SOLELY from the Internet. If you really think about it, he could have kept a lid on the OOT forever, cause he owns the movies. But for some reason, he gave in with stipulations: Don't put any money to restore it, and make them inferior looking to the SE.

If you don't have a Widescreen TV like myself, the quality difference is not noticeable, so 80% of the fans buying with a 4 x 3 TV won't notice a huge difference. Now there is that 20% like me with a 16 x 9 TV who think these things are the biggest piece of shit in the world.

So the big question is why did Lucas put the OOT out in 2006? More money is an obvious answer, but if that is the answer, then the whole vision thing and the whole I want to get rid of the OOT is thrown out the door, because he has to know a restored OOT will sell like hotcakes.

One way to look at this whole mess is that Lucas hasn't really put a proper release of the OT movies out yet, as the 2004 was a rush job with Lukes greenlightsaber, reversed music in ANH, and one really good documentary with a bunch of lame featurettes. The 2006 OOT was non-anamorphic half ass job. There has to be one definitive set before DVD gives out to HD-DVD. What will happen, I really don't know.

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Originally posted by: CO<brOne way to look at this whole mess is that Lucas hasn't really put a proper release of the OT movies out yet, as the 2004 was a rush job with Lukes greenlightsaber, reversed music in ANH, and one really good documentary with a bunch of lame featurettes. The 2006 OOT was non-anamorphic half ass job. There has to be one definitive set before DVD gives out to HD-DVD. What will happen, I really don't know.



That is basically the way i was looking at it, and with the whole 30th anniversary thing going on its a natural--I mean Celebration IV is supposedly a Lucasfilm celebration bash of the 30th anniversary. To me it seems like a natural business formula, because if you released the OOT again in 2008 it wouldnt be as significant or sell as well.

I will, however, say that i totally understand where people like Cable are coming from--Lucasfilm is so schizephrenic sometimes that really, who the fuck knows what they will do.
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it was not his idea to bring out the oot in sep 2006 . Fans wanted to see the Oot as they first saw it in 77-83. we asked for it we got it
May the force be wth you .........
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I'm hearing all you guys and I agree with ya totally.

Lucas releasing the OOT in 2006 was a major step, but for me it seemed like he did it very begrudgingly. It just came off like he was tired of people bugging him about it...not just the fans, but probably people like Jim Ward too...and released it without any effort whatsoever thrown into it. That to me doesn't bode well for any future releases, but I sure as hell hope I'm wrong.

As for whether this 30th anniversary set will sell.....I agree that unless it has a restored OOT, it will probably be a bomb. I don't know how they think that some more changes to the OT and the PT will make anyone buy this, especially if there isn't any good extras. Most people already own the movies in one form or another.

Lucas and the people who run his businesses HAVE TO REALIZE that they are sitting on the "MOTHER OF ALL FILM BOX SETS." And it is approaching the 30th anniversary of the series. If they don't put out anything else than UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLY AWESOME, they are the biggest bunch of retards the world has ever known. If this set sucks, it will put them in the Britney Spears realm of retarded.

There's a lot more riding on this than they think. This set had better have EVERYTHING. The movies in their final versions, the original OT and all the vintage and new documentaries, blah blah blah. If it doesn't, then I ain't buying shit. As it stands now......WE could do a better box set than Lucas can!!!
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1 This set had better have EVERYTHING. The movies in their final versions, the original OT and all the vintage and new documentaries, blah blah blah. If it doesn't, then I ain't buying shit. As it stands now......WE could do a better box set than Lucas can!!!


That is exactly my point Cable, and why it may feature EVERYTHING on this set, cause everything is out there now for fans, this time they want QUALITY. The OT/SE, the PT movies, the OOT are all on DVD in one form or another, so the old saying that I have heard from any SW fan since the advent of DVD, "I just want (whichever version I like) on DVD....."

This rumored set has to make people want to buy it, it has to entice them to buy it, cause Lucas can't fall back on people just wanting anything that has SW on it on DVD. He has been able to milk the cow for the past 3 years, now it is time to either put out something of quality, or people will actually have the willpower to say no because they are getting nothing new.

Now Lucas could just release the OT with more changes and the PT with minor changes, and have a load of extras like deleted scenes and new documentaries, etc. In that case, then I think I will resign myself that Lucas really doesn't want us as fans anymore, and at that point, what can you do? We walk away.

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The announcement of this set in the next few months is going to be an interesting day on this board...I'll be here for it, that's for sure.
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1The announcement of this set in the next few months is going to be an interesting day on this board...I'll be here for it, that's for sure.


For me personally, this set is it, and if there is no OOT on the specs, then I will probably give up the fight here and not post anymore. You can only do so much as a fan of writing letters, emails, etc. Talking with you guys here is just therapy that someone else out there is just as frustrated as me towards the whole SW saga now, and before I used to go on the internet, I always thought I was alittle nuts towards my views on SW, but I realized that these are the same conversations I had with my friends on SW in the early 80's, except back then it was all positive, and all was good in SW land.

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That's pretty much what I will do too.

If there's no OOT remastered on this set, I'm gonna do my own preservation set with the movies and all the vintage stuff. It will be all the old artwork and when it's done and in my collection on my DVD shelves, that's it. SW is dead and over for me. I will not buy ANYTHING SW, I will not see ANY Lucas films ever again, nor will I pay any attention to their television offerings. Fuck Star Wars. Fuck Indiana Jones. Fuck Lucas and fuck giving him any money.

Not like he will care either....and neither will I.
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See, here's how I look at it, just like zombie84. Most people who bought the SE proably don't care which version they have. Most people who bought the OOT have what they want. What else is the to market? Of course, the most obvious thought is a remastered OOT. The other stuff which they have been sitting on may entice some people, but I doubt that it would be enough to make the set sell well. It's real simple: if Lucas really did care about his "vision," then he would have stuck to his guns and not released the OOT ever again, period. All evidence points to the "testing the waters theory," especially with his comment "Now we'll find out whether people really wanted the originals, or whether they wanted the improved versions. It will all come out in the end." I really do think that this set should have EVERYTHING, or else. I would be willing to be all of the gold in Fort Knox that LFL CAN in fact do what we want. But is Lucas's common sense and his desire to make money stronger than his ego? I just don't know. I would give anything in the world for y'all to be right. But it just seems to good to be true, and really, who knows what Lucasfilm will do anymore. I guess we can just hope and pray right now. You guys are all right. Lets just hope Lucasfilm realize it. Who knows anymore? Please God.

As for thought of it happening after Lucas passes away? Well, if that's the case, then I'd rather not get them. I mean seriously, I'd give almost anything in the world for these DVDs, but does a human being have to die just for me to get some discs? No thanks.

“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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May the force be wth you .........
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May the force be wth you .........