danny_boy said:
There was a seriouse restoration done to star wars in 1995!
Let's clarify one thing to make it understandable to all------the physical condition of the original camera negatives(that were used for printing in 72' and 77' respectively) of the Godfather and Star wars are roughly the same(despite the clean up and restoration done on them)----the Godfather is probably in worse condition.
The new Godfather 4K master files that are now used to generate new archival or theatrical prints were sourced from many elements(dupes/interpositives/outtakes and the original camera negative--itself)------in other words-----this 4k digital negative corresponds to only half of the OCN:
The newly restored Godfather relies on snippets of film culled from many sources. “There was no foundation left. It is a Frankenstein,” Harris says,
http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2008/November-1-2008/RESTORATION.aspx
Is that any different to the Star War's"frankenstein" digital negative?
Yes, Lucas had to get it restored due to the bad shape it was in, in order to release the Special Edition, but as we all know by now, the purpose of that event wasn't to restore the original film, that being made was just a stepping stone towards the revised cut of the film. It was in fact not restored in the truest sense either, the 62 shots made on CRI-stock for example were replaced with digitally re-composited shots, all the optical wipes were redone etc. No new video-release made, (the one released in '95 when the "restoration" was still in the work was dubbed "The last chance to own the original Star Wars) no newly restored prints for exhibition, no new print of the original sent to the NFR, even though they had requested it since the film was selected in '89.
The goal and purpose of the Godfather restoration shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as the Star Wars - Special Edition, it was something entirely different. If the negative is a "Frankenstein" or not is irrelevant, it's sad but the films are saved and restored, Star Wars is not, quite the opposite. Suppressed, hunted down and despised by its maker is more like it. Could it perhaps be some of these actions that causes frustration and anger directed towards this man? If he only was quiet about the issue it would be bad, but he has also been quite arrogant in media about it;
"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won't last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the [Special Edition] version."
So when he says things like "care deeply about the fans" it becomes quite laughable. Many people love these films, and the only one who stands in the way of a true restoration happening is Lucas. Get real and see the facts, THX 1138 is treated in a similar way and to a lesser extent American Graffiti, had it not been for Spielberg we wouldn't have the original Indy films restored either. You're on a site that was created with the goal to get the original Star Wars films restored and you wonder why there is frustration directed towards him. As long as those films are locked away there will be fans who are upset about this. Your historical comparisons with Coppola and the Godfather films are embarrassing.