THX is not listed on Wiki's LFL filmography. And I thought the Empire of Dreams doco indicated that LFL only came about after THX.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucasfilm
The point, though, is that several of the things you cite are niche titles for niche audiences. THX 1138 is just about the dictionary definition of a non-mainstream release nowadays. It's interesting, I really enjoy it but it's not going to do Indy numbers on DVD (or BRD). Ditto a lot of other LFL releases. Could Willow grow in stature if it gets a respectable Special Edition release? Yeah, possibly, but what if you're wrong? What if LFL spends millions on a deluxe Willow release that doesn't sell for anything? That's a big hit for tiny LFL to take.
All I really want is each film as it was originally seen and heard in theaters; no fixes, corrections, "improvements" or modifications necessary.
Why would a dvd of Willow cost millions? And "tiny" lucasfilm? They aren't some scrappy little boutique just trying to scrape by with their adorable handmade craftsmanship, far from it. They're a big company that has done schlocky work for years now, look at the joke that THX has become (the process not the movie). They make money because Star Wars fans have OCD and buy almost anything.
Baronlando said:
look at the joke that THX has become (the process not the movie).
The movie has become a joke too, what with the changes to it on dvd.
zombie84 said:
LFL has a lot more product than it seems they do:
<snip>
-Captain Eo
<snip>
You're right, I had forgotten about their involvement with EO!!! Where's the petition to get this release on Blu Ray? I would gladly give up my pirated 2D version...
I'm registering OriginalEO.com right now. See you on the petition and on the boards!
IT'S MY TRILOGY, AND I WANT IT NOW!
"[George Lucas] rebooted the franchise in 1997 without telling anyone." -skyjedi2005
"Yeah, well, George says a lot of things..." a young 1997 xhonzi on RASSM
"They're my movies." -George Lucas. 19 people won oscars for their work on Star Wars (1977) and George Lucas wasn't one of them.
Baronlando said:
Why would a dvd of Willow cost millions? And "tiny" lucasfilm? They aren't some scrappy little boutique just trying to scrape by with their adorable handmade craftsmanship, far from it. They're a big company that has done schlocky work for years now, look at the joke that THX has become (the process not the movie). They make money because Star Wars fans have OCD and buy almost anything.
Making a point sometimes involves hyperbole. Although, if Willow is in need of remastering (as would seem likely given that LFL would want to leave room for a future HD release) along with the other expenses involved with getting a deluxe edition of the movie out there, who knows how much it might cost?
Point is, it wouldn't be cheap.
All I really want is each film as it was originally seen and heard in theaters; no fixes, corrections, "improvements" or modifications necessary.
thecolorsblend said:
THX is not listed on Wiki's LFL filmography. And I thought the Empire of Dreams doco indicated that LFL only came about after THX.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucasfilm
The point, though, is that several of the things you cite are niche titles for niche audiences. THX 1138 is just about the dictionary definition of a non-mainstream release nowadays. It's interesting, I really enjoy it but it's not going to do Indy numbers on DVD (or BRD). Ditto a lot of other LFL releases. Could Willow grow in stature if it gets a respectable Special Edition release? Yeah, possibly, but what if you're wrong? What if LFL spends millions on a deluxe Willow release that doesn't sell for anything? That's a big hit for tiny LFL to take.
On THX the first thing you see is the Lucasfilm logo, regardless of Wikipedia's omission.
As for the rest, of course they aren't going to do the same business that the two most popular franchises in history do! This, however, does not preclude worthwhile profit. The cost of making a DVD is relatively low. LFL has over a dozen titles in its library available, including American Graffiti, one of the greatest films in American cinema; the overhead from the two most popular franchises in history makes up for the less popular titles, and this is how all the other studios works--Logan's Run isn't any more popular than THX or Willow, for example. LFL made $100 million from the 2004 DVD set in a SINGLE DAY. That right there pays for every single title in their library ten times over, and that's just a day of sales. I don't think you really have assessed the situation properly. LFL is shit when it comes to DVD because their department is poorly run. They couldn't even do Star Wars right, even after three re-releases, and their Indy set is lacking too.
I am actually very impressed with the Clone Wars Season One Blu-Ray. The quality and look is precise to the Clone Wars Movie, which looks and sounds outstanding. I purposely did not watch Season One when it originally aired, for a full Blu-ray experience. Lucas' henchman are keenly aware the format is viable.
I tell you what though, I won't buy any Blu-Ray release of the original films until they fix everything that is wrong with them, in the sprit of giving back to the fans that have so graciously contributed to the LFL bottom line since 1977. Oh, and uh, Not limited to a superior, proffessional 7.1 remix of the Final Editions. Lucasfilm is the reason I have paid out the nose for a "THX" Certified Surround Sound. I demand THX worthy product. They need a guy like Adywan to supervise that show.
They couldn't even do Star Wars right, even after three re-releases, and their Indy set is lacking too.
Ive always had a feeling that Lucas doesn't do anything like Revisited because he wants to keep re-releasing them for more money. I wish he would hire Adywan to do these films right.
Can you imagine how good the PT would be if Adywan had the help of Lucasfilm? New deleted scenes and different cuts that have never released. Im dreaming, but you never know.
Sluggo said:
Vaderisnothayden said:
It's not a step in the right direction, because there's no reason to think it's sign that it's a step towards getting the OOT on blu-ray. Any other Star Wars on blu-ray is useless.
Ditto. Unless it is the OOT, I ain't buying it.
xhonzi said:
I bought the 2004 DVDs because I felt I had to. I think I can firmly agree with these other sentiments here: If it's the same crap as what has been going on with the SE, I will not buy.
captainsolo said:
I wouldn't be surprised either. If the Blu is indeed the 2004, at the very least it should be color corrected to look more like the actual film (at least restored to the 97 look like Adywan's ANH and ESB.) and have all the nagging visual and audio problems fixed. (Why the heck didn't they just clean up the 97SE version-at least that is watchable!)
A Star Wars Blu-Ray should include restored theatrical originals with as many soundtracks as are available and the 1997 Special Editions with the 1997 5.1 mix. Any other final cut can be an extra. Deleted Scenes should finally be included as well as alternate takes etc. It's not like we haven't waited since the birth of home video for a truly "definitive collection".
I won't buy the thing if it is just the 2004's all over again. I still remember the gut punch the night of September 21st 2004.
ESHBG said:
Until I see a *TRUE* OOT restoration out there (no crappy Laserdisc rip, non-anamorphic crap either), they don't get another dime from me...
thecolorsblend said:
This could be a good opportunity for LFL to make amends on some things. Throw in the OOT (bonus points if they include the mono, stereo/surround and 6-track soundtracks!) and also include George's latest "original vision". It'd be neat if they threw in commentary from Kurtz, Kasdan, Kazananjaijanianajakasajianwhatever, Oz, Hamill and maybe Ken Ralston or some other effects guys on the OOT discs or something.
Shit, all I really care about is just getting the OOT. Bonus stuff is not even under consideration anymore.
I agree with all of you here. I didn't actually have Star Wars on any video format in 2004 so I figured asking for the dvd set for Christmas was a good way to get those movies with the best possible picture and sound. So much for that idea.
I don't care much about bonus features anymore. If the new set does not have the original movies restored, I'm not buying.
Without the OOT, I will additionally leave a 1-star review on amazon and encourage everyone else to do the same.
Has anyone seen the reviews of the upcoming Lord of the Rings blu-ray? They are being utterly bashed because they are not including both cuts, just the theatrical. One reviewer even titled his comments "Let this also serve as a warning to George Lucas."
Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77
Geez, having nothing but the theatrical cut would be my dream come true. Fuck extended cuts, just give me the movies!
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.
Knightmessenger said:
Has anyone seen the reviews of the upcoming Lord of the Rings blu-ray? They are being utterly bashed because they are not including both cuts, just the theatrical. One reviewer even titled his comments "Let this also serve as a warning to George Lucas."
The two shouldn't be compared. Jackson is not refusing to release the original films - in fact, that's exactly what he is doing. Additionally, I have no idea why these people are complaining in the first place. It's almost certain that the extended versions will be following on Blu-ray at some point. Everybody wins...
At least with Lord of the Rings you know you'll have your choice of either version soon enough, by the time Hobbit comes out. With Star Wars (on top of having to beg to get the first versions at all) we have this totally annoying secret mystery of what and when the eventual set will be. Multiple versions? More changes and if so, what are they? Coming out next year? Three years? "Oh, we can't tell you that now! It's a secret, and someday if you're really good, we will bless you with the knowledge."
Baronlando said:
...Multiple versions? More changes and if so, what are they? Coming out next year? Three years? "Oh, we can't tell you that now! It's a secret, and someday if you're really good, we will bless you with the knowledge."
If I was drinking milk, it would have shot out of my nose!
Vaderisnothayden said:
It'll probably be the se but worse -in other words more changes.
Baronlando said:
With Star Wars (on top of having to beg to get the first versions at all) we have this totally annoying secret mystery of what and when the eventual set will be. Multiple versions? More changes and if so, what are they? Coming out next year? Three years? "Oh, we can't tell you that now! It's a secret, and someday if you're really good, we will bless you with the knowledge."
Zombie, you're mistaken about the opening of THX-1138. It's "American Zoetrope," Coppola's company, that you see at the very beginning, not LFL. LFL doesn't own any kind of rights to that movie, WB does. WB actually announced in a transcribed live chat on digitalbits that they were looking at a 2010 blu-ray release for it.
It's the same kind of situation with the first American Graffiti. That's Universal's property.
It was released under American Zoetrope, but Lucasfilm was formed in 1971 to legally protect Lucas, and was involved in his first two films in some capacity; they may not have been "Lucasfilm productions" the way Star Wars was, but LFL was technically around back then.
If WB chose to release a bd with the original version of THX or if Uni chose to do the same thing with Graffiti, would LFL be able to legally stop them?
That's the real question: before 2004 they could have done anything they want with it, but did they give Lucas some kind of control in exchange for Lucas paying for the restoration and the new effects? (a pretty expensive proposition for a fairly obscure movie). Warner didn't include the theatrical versions of Big Red One or Pat Garrett when they did those new versions even though they could have, so maybe there's hope. (that the absence of both cuts on the dvd wasn't necessarily an indication of Lucas control)
TV's Frink said:
Knightmessenger said:
Has anyone seen the reviews of the upcoming Lord of the Rings blu-ray? They are being utterly bashed because they are not including both cuts, just the theatrical. One reviewer even titled his comments "Let this also serve as a warning to George Lucas."
The two shouldn't be compared. Jackson is not refusing to release the original films - in fact, that's exactly what he is doing. Additionally, I have no idea why these people are complaining in the first place. It's almost certain that the extended versions will be following on Blu-ray at some point. Everybody wins...
Yes but it's very poor not to just release a set that allows you to pick either cut and includes all the existing bonus material from the 3 dvd releases. The bonus discs will reportedly be just the same dvd's from the original 2 disc theatrical editions repackaged. The extended editions weren't released at the same time on dvd because they actually needed more time to finish the additional scenes. Now that both versions are done, there's no need to drag it out.
It just has me thinking, if people are this pissed off about a poor release (even though the version they want is certain to be available at some point), don't you think this is a good sign about what will happen if the Star Wars movies don't include their original theatrical editions at all?
Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77
Knightmessenger said:
Yes but it's very poor not to just release a set that allows you to pick either cut and includes all the existing bonus material from the 3 dvd releases. The bonus discs will reportedly be just the same dvd's from the original 2 disc theatrical editions repackaged. The extended editions weren't released at the same time on dvd because they actually needed more time to finish the additional scenes. Now that both versions are done, there's no need to drag it out.
That's fair. I can see how it would be considered a money grab. But compared to SW, I'll take the treatment of LOTR any day.
Baronlando said:
That's the real question: before 2004 they could have done anything they want with it, but did they give Lucas some kind of control in exchange for Lucas paying for the restoration and the new effects? (a pretty expensive proposition for a fairly obscure movie). Warner didn't include the theatrical versions of Big Red One or Pat Garrett when they did those new versions even though they could have, so maybe there's hope. (that the absence of both cuts on the dvd wasn't necessarily an indication of Lucas control)
Every airing of THX on Turner Classic Movies in the past couple years has been the new version. I got a bad feeling about this...
Where were you in '77?
Pat Garrett at least was released with Sam's original edit that was sneaked off the MGM lot. The other "final cut" is a joke. THX is worse off in many ways. No one really realizes the fact that the film has been selectively altered to the point that it is a mockery of it's original intent. Upon seeing the original version after owning the "restored" DVD for all these years I was flabbergasted. Is it Lucas's intent to preserve Laserdiscs for the rest of time?
For SW I expect some "ultra super we already put the kitchen sink in so what else can we do-oh hey look let's get william shatner in here and while we're at it let's goof the release in some way so we can screw with everybody again" edition. As long as the originals are acknowledged with a modern transfer we should be fine. Deservedly it should be a full restoration with multiple audio mixes, outtakes, gags, the deleted scenes, and the 97SE trilogy.
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
Just found this facebook group. I'm surprised it only has 4 members.
I will not buy "Star Wars" on Blu Ray unless it has the original edition
There's also a group called "Han Shot First" and "Adywan's Empire Revisted" but well, I can't think of anything else to say.
Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77
It looks like the THX1138 director's cut is coming out on blu in september, as part of a wave of classics. It doesn't specify if any of the other classics have a new animated cartoon crab pasted into them, maybe only lucasfilm is classy like that.
http://www.dvdtown.com/news/warner-to-release-several-classics-on-blu-ray-in-2010/7343
Hmm, interesting. So I guess thats the death knell for the theatrical version, which already was a director's cut anyway. I have to admit the SE is actually pretty effective.