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(The lack of) OT DVDs, and what to do about it

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I'm new to this board, but not to the whole Special Edition vs OT debate, so... hello.
The way things stand, I won't be buying the DVDs when they come out in September - I'm sure I don't need to explain why. However, as much as I'd like to own the Original versions on DVD, I'm certainly not going to buy the familiar, widely available Bootlegs.
Money made from the sale of bootlegged material (clothes, software, films, etc...) funds crimial organisations the world over - and unfortunately, this includes (directly or indirectly) the bootleg Star Wars DVDs you see on ebay.
I don't think it'll help anyone, especially this campaign, if we encourage people to buy Bootleg DVDs.

However, there is going to be a demand for the Original Trilogy on DVD. So what can be done?
Well... I'm not sure. This is a forum. So let's discuss it.

There exists a worldwide group based at www.freemameroms.com. What they do is burn DVDs of MAME roms (the popular arcade emulator) and send them to whoever wants them. They make no profit - people simply pay them the cost of the DVD media + postage, or send their own DVD media.

One idea would be a similar organisation to distribute the Original Trilogy on DVD. Again, it would have to be done on a no-profit scheme. Additionally, it might be a good idea (legally) to only provide the DVDs to people who can prove that they already own the Original Trilogy - on VHS, Laserdisc... whatever. The logistics involved in setting the group up, though, would be complicated. The best quality source would have to be found, and distributed to all 'burners', who would then make the copies from those. Decisions would have to be made - how many DVDs per film? Would extras be included? And so forth.

Anyway, apologies for the length of the message. I don't know what the legality of such a scheme would be. Though he prefers the Special Edition, Lucas still holds the rights to the Original Trilogy - I'm not even sure there's a difference legally.

As I said at the beginning, my reason for thinking about this is to try and prevent any money going into the pockets of the Pirates. Currently, it may be the only way the majority of people (without the facilities to create their own) will get the OT on DVD, but, for me, it's not an option. I simply don't buy Bootlegs.

What are peoples thoughts on this issue?
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How about no. I'm sure Tony Soprano will be able to retire if we all buy bootleg DVD's. Then that will decrease violence. So pirating is a good thing. Harrrrr!
Come join my forum at www.cultofthejedi.com
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I say, there's a great deal of people all around the world that want the original releases on DVD. George Lucas is well aware of this fact, yet still refuses to give people what they want. There have been a few movies released over the last few years on both the original theatrical versions and director's cuts whether by seamless branching or as a completely separate release. Some of those movies are:

1.) The Abyss
2.) Beauty And The Beast
3.) The Lion King
4.) Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring
5.) Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
6.) Terminator 2: Judgment Day
7.) E.T. : The Extra-Terrestrial

These are some (not necessarily all) of the movies that have also had their original threatrical versions on DVD. It's painfully clear George Lucas doesn't care what his audience thinks or wants. So, if he wants to pretend the original theatrical versions never existed, let him. That'll be his loss and it'll be his own fault.
"May the force be with you!"
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I think that Lucas will eventually release them once he gets hungry for huge profits after he completes the prequel trilogy. But we want them NOW, dammit!
Come join my forum at www.cultofthejedi.com
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Don't forget E.T.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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Lucas is a power hungry business exec. who has to have his way and love the trip.
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he may laugh now but we will get the last laugh when he tries to pull this crap with the Prequel Trilogy.. lol

The day he can bring out about 5 different editions of that set and expect to sell them like crazy is the day i marry Jar Jar Dinks...
im sure 90% of you would never re purchase the prequels as much as you did the originals...

am i right?
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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That'll hold true with me, Luke. When the new special editions are released, if they don't sell very well, I'm gonna laugh my ass off.
"May the force be with you!"
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Now that I think about it, I typed a letter to his office in California back in March of 2003. If you want to flood his office with mail, nagging at him until he caves in, write to him at this address:

George Lucas
c/o Lucasfilm Ltd.
P.O. Box 2009
San Rafael, CA 94912
U.S.A.
"May the force be with you!"
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LOL!!
great!!

im gonna spam him with mail and huge attachments of pics of the original trilogy...
i knew that alias mailing address would come in handy one day... hehe
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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Dunno how you're gonna spam him with no e-mail address there, Luke.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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Quote
Originally posted by: Bossk
Don't forget E.T.


Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Thanks, Bossk!
"May the force be with you!"
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what to do? do what you feel is necessary.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)