Crazy idea time: perhaps us fans should club together, take out a fullpage ad in Variety, and respond to dear George telling him exactly WHY many people have issues with him, albeit in a well worded, and polite manner! Not only would this be a damn-near direct line of contact with him, but would likely stir up a hornet's nest amongst the media, whip up interest, so it couldn't be shoved under the carpet any longer...
We could mention the many reasons that have - over the past decade - given rise to the current bad feeling between George and many of his fans.
1) The fact many actually didn't like the prequels, and the to the point/succinct reasons why... (not in an attacking way, but well reasoned arguments).
2) The fact that a Special Edition shouldn't need revising every few years. Fix what needs fixing and move on. If he wants to tinker, then fine - but he must respect the fact once he's released these films to the PAYING PUBLIC, we DO have a say/opinion! These films aren't JUST HIS - if he's pissed off by negative reactions, don't release films to the public/paying audience...
3) The many additions aren't the problem per-se. The fact that many have been done in a hap-hazard manner, and created continuity errors (disappearing rocks; inconsistantly added Ewok eyes; extended doors which aren't extended on the inside; inconsitant saber effects; do we REALLY need 4 revisions of the Greedo shooting scene and so on).
4) (The BIGGY!) The simple reason that George could wipe out just about ALL the bad feelings towards himself/Lucasfilm by many, by releasing the original versions as a companion set to his preferred versions. Obviously many millions LOVE the original versions, we PAID again and again to see them, and own them for nearly two decades before he started his assault on them. The original cuts are part of American cultural history. You cannot release something to the paying public for years, then take it away and KEEP changing it, and not expect some bad feelings! IF he released both versions, he would make everyone happy, AND would do his bit to honour film history, and the artists who contributed to make the films as could as they could be, given the state of the art in 1977/80/83. Could end the ad on a simple WHY would you not want to do this?......
This shouldn't be a character assasination, but a well worded and thought provoking ad. that just about anyone reading would agree contained some important facts, and would open the door for Lucas to do some serious thinking about exactly WHAT he has against releasing both versions to keep people happy, AND honour film history...
Anyways folks.. just a crazy idea! I have NO idea how much it costs to take out an add in Variety, so perhaps this is utter dreamland/fantasy stuff, but since all the major players read it, it might just be the one way to REALLY get this out there once and for all. It couldn't be ignored then...
- 7FN