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Originally posted by: Bossk
Of course he does, Jimbo. None of us are arguing that point. But there is a difference. If I continue to work on a painting that no one has seen for years and years and completely alter it, it doesn't make a difference because nobody but I have ever seen the thing. With Lucas, millions and millions of people have watched the original versions of his movies so they are part of the public consciousness. We are more than aware of their existence. In fact, many of us prefer them. So, he can change them all he wants, but he should keep copies of the originals out there for us as well. If I had ever displayed that painting of mine for people to see, I would feel obligated to keep copies of my original work out there before I alter it. It's just the decent thing to do for those people who made you the multibillionaire that you are (not that I am one... I can wish).
Thank you, that's exactly what I was trying to say. Jimbo, it doesn't matter if an artist paints a painting or whatever and then goes back later and changes it. The problem is when that painting has been around for a long time and is considered a classic and has been extremely influential in the way that paintings are painted and is part of art history and then the artist goes back and makes a bunch of changes and refuses to keep copies of the original version. The painting, the original, influential, classic one, is no longer existing. It's been removed and it's place in art history has been taken away. This exactly what's happening to Star Wars.
Again, the problem is not that George Lucas wants to go back and change the movies, it's that he's taking the original versions, which are the classic, influential versions that are a big part of movie history and evolution, and gotten rid of them. He changed a lot of stuff around and then refused to let any more copies of the originals - which, again, are considered classics, had a huge influence on the way movies are made and are a big part of movie history and evolution - be made anymore. He's trying to rewrite history now by trying it to make it seem like the Special Editions are the only versions of Star Wars that ever existed. If the originals aren't ever made to the public again, future generations and film fans will think that this was how Star Wars was made, they'll never see the original, un-CGI'd versions and see how technology and effects have evolved since then.
As I said before, these movies need to be made available, even if just for historical purposes. There should really be a "film archive" or "film museum" or something like that, that would make sure that once a movie is released, that original version that's released is always going to be available so that even if the creator wants to change it, the original version won't be removed entirely from existence (and this should be especially for hugely influential and classic movies).