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Originally posted by: obi-wan trentobiYou're not being made to do anything. You've got self-control and a free will. If you don't want to support any version of Star Wars on DVD except the original releases, that's your perogative. But you sound like a whiney chump when you complain about "taking this to the extreme", when all Lucas has done is whoppin' ONE revamp to the original trilogy. I defy you or anybody else to find so much as one quote from Lucas admitting point-blank that he's got another overhaul for the trilogy lurking in his mind. Moreover, when the unaltered original trilogy was released for the final time all those years ago, IT WAS ADVERTISED AS BEING THE FINAL TIME FOR THE UNALTERED VERSION! You can't say you didn't see this coming.
- Trentobi
Thanks for the link to the Williams interview. I am disappointed to hear that he will tinker with the music for ANH, but there is proof positive that Lucas is further changing ANH. You asked for evidence that he is doing ANOTHER revamp, well there it is.
Yes, I did realize that it was being released as "unaltered" for the last time, but that was only on VHS and laserdisc and unfortunately, DVD has since replaced both as the format of choice for the consumer. So no, it did not come as a surprise and I dutifily bought my LD copy. But now, for all those who would want the original, unadulterated version of the OT on DVD, they are totally out of luck. I have a copy of my LD burned onto DVD, but its not the same as having an official release using the masters of the original film and sound mixing to make a truly professional release. LD output is only analog, not digital, the LDs also just had Dolby Digital sound, not a remastered 5.1 mix. There is only so much that a guy and his desktop computer can do, when only given an LD to work with as the master.
Is it too much to ask for a simple DVD of the original film without the changes? Spielberg provides that on the E.T. DVD along with his new "FBI Agents don't carry guns" version. Are people wrong for wanting something that would be so easy for the omnipotent Lucas to grant?
If Lucas is worried that I might buy the OT and not the SE, he should fear not. Yes, I will be buying the Special Edition DVDs when they come out, regardless of whether he releases the non-SE OT, but that is for mostly technical reasons (i.e. sound/picture, extras/documentaries). That doesn't mean I have to prefer those versions over the original films.
If Lucas proceeds with doing an "ULTIMATE" edition DVD after this (or if he's planning to make the changes for the Fall 2004 DVD release), then more power to him. It is "his" film whether we like it or not, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy the awkward "Greedo shoots first" scene. It's obvious that any sentiment towards the original cuts of the film don't seem to be registering with him.
If he does make more changes, I hope he goes all out and makes these versions even more different from the original cuts as possible. There are a number of things in the Special Edition that had me scratching my head and saying "Why didn't they fix THAT?"
Let's hope with these ULTIMATE editions, he will do that.