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George Lucas' "Vision"

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Am I missing something here? Prior to the release of the 97SE, GL claimed that the films were modified to match his original “vision” for them, so do the 2004 DVD and 2011 Blu-ray releases not match his original “vision”?

A picture is worth a thousand words. Post 102 is worth more.

I’m late to the party, but I think this is the best song. Enjoy!

—Teams Jetrell Fo 1, Jetrell Fo 2, and Jetrell Fo 3

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Whatever is the most current official version, that's the one that represents George Lucas' original vision.

We've always been at war with Eastasia.

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George Lucas-1977 Rolling Stone Interview

"Star Wars is about 25% of what I wanted it to be. It’s really still a good movie, but "it fell short of what I wanted it to be.

We did a lot of work but “there is nothing that I would like to do more than go back and redo all the special effects, have a little more time”.

http://starwarz.multiply.com/journal/item/10/1977_Rolling_Stone_George_Lucas_Interview

 

Mod Edit: a working link to the above article by Paul Scanlon, dated May 7th 2007, re the 1977 Rolling Stone interview, can be found below:-

https://web.archive.org/web/20121115114146/http://starwarz.multiply.com/journal/item/10/1977_Rolling_Stone_George_Lucas_Interview

I saw Star Wars in 1977. Many, many, many times. For 3 years it was just Star Wars...period. I saw it in good theaters, cheap theaters and drive-ins with those clunky metal speakers you hang on your window. The screen and sound quality never subtracted from the excitement. I can watch the original cut right now, over 30 years later, on some beat up VHS tape and enjoy it. It's the story that makes this movie. Nothing? else.

kurtb8474 1 week ago

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=SkAZxd-5Hp8


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danny_boy said:

We did a lot of work but there is nothing that I would like to do more than go back and redo all the special effects, have a little more time.

 

I like when people try to equate a guy in 1977 wanting to re-do bad composites and rough motion control (and basically just pushing the movie to December like Close Encounters did) with what ended up ultimately happening in 97, as if it's exactly the same.

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His vision changes more often than not. I wouldn't be surprised if the other 75% of what he wanted in the film in '77 never made it by the time the 97 SE came out because he changed his mind between the releases.

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Baronlando said:

danny_boy said:

<span style=“font-style: italic;”>We did a lot of work but</span> <span style=“font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;”>there is nothing that I would like to do more than go back and redo all the special effects,</span> <span style=“font-style: italic;”>have a little more time.</span>

I like when people try to equate a guy in 1977 wanting to re-do bad composites and rough motion control (and basically just pushing the movie to December like Close Encounters did) with what ended up ultimately happening in 97, as if it’s exactly the same.

George Lucas (March 6th 1978):
"I’m simply trying to become a free man. I’m trying to set up an alternative film making that allows me more freedom to do what I want, within certain parameters.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,915986,00.html

 

Mod Edit: a working link to the above Time article, dated Monday 6th March 1978, can be found here:-

https://web.archive.org/web/20120201012220/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,915986,00.html

I saw Star Wars in 1977. Many, many, many times. For 3 years it was just Star Wars...period. I saw it in good theaters, cheap theaters and drive-ins with those clunky metal speakers you hang on your window. The screen and sound quality never subtracted from the excitement. I can watch the original cut right now, over 30 years later, on some beat up VHS tape and enjoy it. It's the story that makes this movie. Nothing? else.

kurtb8474 1 week ago

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=SkAZxd-5Hp8


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Lucas originally intended Han to be a green alien with gills and the dianoga to be a translucent gelatinous creature, among other things. You'd think he'd have made those changes by now if he were so intent on bringing his "original vision" to the fore.

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His original vision as it were was to do Flash Gordon and he could not get the rights from King Features.

 

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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timdiggerm said:

Aaaaaaaaaand there goes one of the classic OT.com gripes.

Not really.  For example, was it always Lucas' vision to have Luke scream when falling into the chasm in ESB or not?  Whichever answer you pick, George has unquestionably changed his vision over time on at least SOME matters.

That said, I agree with the principle that actually George hasn't changed his original vision very much.  I believe he always intended to do things that would have resulted in the OT sucking, but either due to youthful humility or necessity, he originally took the advice of others to make them much, much better films.  But there are also plenty of things he could never have reasonably intended.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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It doesn't matter if George Lucas say if he intended to have scenes in there where Darth Vader is skipping rope or singing with the Emperor, the film was released as a finished product in '77, it was completely faithful to the shooting script. He may not have been 100% happy with the outcome, but how often do you think that happens in filmmaking or in any other art form for that matter. It's hardly unique.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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It doesn't matter if Lucas' "original vision" keeps changing. People will still buy his products.

“Grow up. These are my Disney's movies, not yours.”

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Silly Question: Do you think GL would show the OUT to a dying boy/girl if it was his/her last wish?

A picture is worth a thousand words. Post 102 is worth more.

I’m late to the party, but I think this is the best song. Enjoy!

—Teams Jetrell Fo 1, Jetrell Fo 2, and Jetrell Fo 3

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timdiggerm said:

Aaaaaaaaaand there goes one of the classic OT.com gripes.

Totally.  You spend enough time here, and eventually every new thread is just a repeat of another thread somewhere else on the forum.

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George Lucas' vision changes each time he's prescribed a new pair of glasses.

"Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them."

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Lucas doesn't have a vision so much as he has childish whims whenever it suits him. He's the reason I don't subscribe to the auteur theory. Especially when Gearge Neck Blubber Lucas is concerned.

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Gearge Lucas and George Lucus both deserve every bit of it. They're twisted bizarro versions of the real George Lucas and run around causing nothing but trouble.

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georgec said:

It doesn't matter if Lucas' "original vision" keeps changing. People will still buy his products.

But seriously, it's the Original Vision.  On Blu-ray.  You have to buy it.

Since they're like poetry, what with the rhyming and all, I find that I only need to watch three out of the six films.

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Greedo is Luke's father. It was always part of Lucas' original vision.

And Chewbacca is Yoda's brother too.

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I'm 19 and whatever the argument may be I will forever put my foot down and support the original versions of the Star Wars Trilogy 'til my dying day!! Star Wars was a film released in 1977 therefore it should remain a film released in 1977!!!!! Same thing with ESB and ROTJ. I always agree that films should be presented for future generations in their original forms. I don't want to see CGI in films that were released in a time where CGI was not in existence yet!! I don't want to see a CGI King Kong or CGI shark in Jaws. Not only CGI but audio changes bother me too. I hated the 5.1 remix of Jaws and will only watch that film in the original mono. Now I'm not saying that George should not express his vision and has no right to change his films. The part that bothers me is his refusal to give the DIE-hard SW fans their option of viewing the theatrical cut in addition to the Special Editions. For instance, when Spielberg made the changes to E.T. he made sure that when the new version was put on DVD that Universal would package it with the original as well. Thankfully since then he says he regrets the changes and the new Blu-Ray/DVD of E.T. will indeed be the original. George is going as far as to say that Greedo shooting first was always the case. His explanation is because its done in closeups it gives the impression that Han shot first. Pfffft how stupid does he think we are? As far as the Blu-Rays go I dont have a Blu-Ray player nor do I have a desire to get one at the moment. I've heard about the Blu-Ray changes to the Trilogy and I don't want those editions. It may be George's vision but trying to erase history by throwing todays technology into an already finished product is wrong!!! Star Wars is a 1977 film, Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 film, and Return of the Jedi is a 1983 film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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crissrudd4554 said:

 I don't want to see CGI in films that were released in a time where CGI was not in existence yet!!

A small correction - CGI DID exist in 1977. Even the original 1977 version contains a few CGI shots, but they're only on various computer monitors etc.

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^ Larry Cuba did that early CGI work: http://motionographer.com/2008/03/31/larry-cuba-star-wars-computer-animation/

[thanks Fox for blocking the video, the youtube account is the official Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL)…]  here’s a backup version:

http://www.movieweb.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope/making-of-the-computer-graphics-for-star-wars

 

Mod Edit: a working link to article linked above can be found here:-

https://web.archive.org/web/20110727043034/http://www.movieweb.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope/making-of-the-computer-graphics-for-star-wars
 

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pittrek said:

crissrudd4554 said:

 I don't want to see CGI in films that were released in a time where CGI was not in existence yet!!

A small correction - CGI DID exist in 1977. Even the original 1977 version contains a few CGI shots, but they're only on various computer monitors etc.

Ohhhh you know what I meant. lol