msycamorewrote:

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.

That's true to a degree-----but the original film was restored---here is Rick Mcallum saying as much:

One of the most frustrating things is, if you could see the print that stuck of the original negative that we have done - it's perfect. It's not perfect in terms of the color restauration, because we still have a long way to go.

http://www.maikeldas.com/SWrick1eng.html

....which leads onto this:

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.

....which is very true and I personally am also against Lucas's actions with regards to him with-holding the Theatrical cut----but he has still restored it(by late 1990's standards).

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;

Sorry dude---my 1982 VHS tape is not being surpressed by ol' George.

And George could easily have stopped that IB technicolor print from being shown to the public in Baltimore in 2010 even if it was for free.

As long as those films are locked away there will be fans who are upset about this.

And I am one of them------but I don't hate George for it.