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Boycott Special Edition DVD's - I know you can do it

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Hi,

You know, when consumers are unhappy with a companies choices, the strongest way to make their unhappiness known is to vote with their dollars. Petitions are great but if you have already gone out and pre-ordered the special edition DVD set, you are not doing anything to encourage Lucasfilm or Fox to release the original versions that we all obviously want to see. Don't buy the DVD's until they have the original releases on them. Write to Fox and Lucasfilm and let them know that you are not going to buy Star Wars DVD's until the original, award winning, box office record setting versions are released. Unless you withhold your money from them, all the petition signing and letter writing we do will not get their attention. We are the Star Wars customer base and have some commercial power to wield if we show some solidarity. I have e-mailed this suggestion to every Star Wars geek I know and suggest you do the same to reach those that haven't found this site.

I know you want all that extra geek stuff on the other discs, but you can get them from netflix to hold you over until the originals are released.

I look forward to seeing you all in line the day the original DVD set is released.

MM

Lucasfilm's mailing address is:

Lucasfilm Ltd.
P.O. Box 10228
San Rafael, CA 94912.

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Great Idea! HERE'S THE PROBLEM...

Unless Lucasfilm gets a minimum of 1 million letters, there is no chance. Also, probably 95% of the general DVD buying public don't know it is NOT the original versions (see thread-I'm thinking lawsuit) or don't care. There was also talk of boycotting Episode III, but fat chance of that too.
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I don't bother with letter-writing campaigns anymore. Sorry. However, I already have the September DVD release in my Netflix queue. I haven't been planning on buying them since the day they were announced.
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I'm curious to rent them for the extras, but that's as far as I'll go. The special editions leave such a weird taste in my mouth, and these are only going to be "special-er", no doubt. Out of curiousity, I popped in ROTJ:SE the other day. That musical number in Jabba's palace is an embarassment. Not to start a discussion that belongs in the SE-versus-originals section, of course.
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Originally posted by: Mr.Coffee
Great Idea! HERE'S THE PROBLEM...

Unless Lucasfilm gets a minimum of 1 million letters, there is no chance. Also, probably 95% of the general DVD buying public don't know it is NOT the original versions (see thread-I'm thinking lawsuit) or don't care. There was also talk of boycotting Episode III, but fat chance of that too.



Very true Mr.Coffee.....the other day I was talking with my Mom about getting bootlegs of the originals and she told me "aren't they releasing those in September"? I told her yes, but they were the sp. editions, NOT the originals.....then she told me I was wrong and she pulled out a catalog which was advertising the 2004 releases as the "classic trilogy" so I am sure there are many folks out there that really DO think that they are preordering/buying the originals..... If only there was a way to get the word out to people.......



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I'm not sure if a boycott is the answer, the September release is going to be huge regardless of how we feel about it, I don't think Lucasfilm will be worrying about how many units they potentially aren't selling due to any boycott. The average Joe that will be buying this set will be oblivious to the changes unless they've been following sites like this, and it's scary to say that a lot of people probably won't even notice the majority of changes.

The purists and fans that are wanting the original theatrical trilogy to be released, are no doubt a significant but minor slice of the pie, and it appears that even the fans in here are split down the middle as to who will be buying the September set. Having recently scored a set of the Anamorphic discs (thanks Rikter) , I am actually looking forward to seeing how Lucas has bastardized them this time around, the majority of changes I'm sure will make me cringe , but I'm curious to look at the classic movies 'from a different point of view', I'd always prefer the originals but I've got the THX vhs set as well as the Anamorphic dvd-r's and that should tide me over until George Lucas comes to his senses.

I think once the September release has been out for a while and the average Joe realises how much it's been ruined, I think we will get a lot more converts and hopefully signatures to this cause, it might finally make Lucas and Co turn around and say 'Well, we made a shit load in september, and the saps are still crying out for more! I wonder how much money we could make if we actually gave them what they want!'
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First of all, a boycot is serious overreaction. The special editions weren't that bad. In fact I wouln't give a flip about Star Wars if it wasn't for the SE. And they are fixing the stupid changes, appearantly, although it's reported that Greedo still shoots first. Which really was a stupid change.

Second, a boycot will mean nothing. We have sixty thousand signatures on this site. I doubt half of them would even do the boycot. I don't think thirty thousand people not buying the discs will mean anything when millions of people will buy them world wide. If I have the money I intend to buy them. Yeah. That has allready been said hasn't it.

Oops

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Hi again,

I don't think you have done the math I just did. If I remember right, the DVD set is going to sell for around seventy dollars US. If just the people who signed this petition decided not to buy them, that is a loss in gross sales of over $4,200,000. I know that is probably what George Lucas spend on mineral water for the year, but that is a significant amount of money, and businesses like to make money. If only the people that signed this petition wrote a letter to George Lucas and an e-mail to fox video, maybe they do the math too.

Defeatist thinking leads to just that, defeat. Even if a boycott and letter writing campaign were unsuccessful, those of us who really do want to see the orignals on DVD are are only thirty-seven cents worse off than we were. But at least we will feel like we did something about it other than finding reasons not to do anything about it. What have you got to loose?



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Here is what I plan on doing, and I hope a shit load of people do the same. Since the only video store anywhere around me is a crappy little Blockbuster, they won't have the DVD's for rent, at least not the extras disc, and my mailman is a total moron, so netflix or something similiar is totally out of the question, I will buy the DVD's. I will watch the extras first (as I always do) then the movies. After finding out that I was totally brainwashed into thinking I was getting the 'original trilogy', I will contact Foxvideo, and demand my money back. And believe me, I will put up a stink until I get it. And I will. This my friends is the only way to get anyone to listen to us!
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The DVD set is going for about $42 on preorder from any etailer, not $70-that's the MSRP which has nothing to do with retail prices. Think of the Indiana Jones set-about the same price.
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Man,

I prepaid for mine

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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^ if the dvd versions turn out not to be the cinematic releases - ahem -, (as advertised and inferred) you could always do what Mr.Coffee is gonna do and demand your money back off of Fox - I doubt they'd come around and collect the dvds off you (or would they?)

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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I'm starting to think Mr. Coffee's idea is the best way to go about things, now that I've thought about it. I stumbled across and article and an image of the Danish cover scan that seem to make it the best alternative. I've linked to the article here. Pay attention especially to the last paragraph with the quote by Jim Ward.

Here's the Danish cover scan of ANH . Zoom in and note the date at the very bottom of the movie description. Note also the movie's running time (despite the language that these are written up in, these two details are still quite distinct). For those of you curious about the other two films, the link to the main news story (also in Danish or German) is here.
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Currently Reading: Shatterpoint, by Matthew Stover
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Mr.Coffee has a great idea...
im also trying to think of getting on top of the roof of the local future shop and dropping a sign that says STAR WARS DVD's NOT ORIGINAL!! DON'T BUY!!
lol

i couldnt get arrested for that could i?
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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I am thinking of covering the city with stickers. You the ones that you get as Staples, like 10 buck for a thousand? Just to notify people as to what they are buying. I'll do all the major record/DVD stores! HEHE!!
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Originally posted by: YourHums
Hi again,

I don't think you have done the math I just did. If I remember right, the DVD set is going to sell for around seventy dollars US. If just the people who signed this petition decided not to buy them, that is a loss in gross sales of over $4,200,000. I know that is probably what George Lucas spend on mineral water for the year, but that is a significant amount of money, and businesses like to make money. If only the people that signed this petition wrote a letter to George Lucas and an e-mail to fox video, maybe they do the math too.

Defeatist thinking leads to just that, defeat. Even if a boycott and letter writing campaign were unsuccessful, those of us who really do want to see the orignals on DVD are are only thirty-seven cents worse off than we were. But at least we will feel like we did something about it other than finding reasons not to do anything about it. What have you got to loose?


I'm not being defeatist, I just being realistic. The truth is that there aren't enough people who care about which version it is to make that much of a difference. Besides, I think Lucas is ashamed of the OV.

But more importantly, it isn't that big of a deal. I mean is it really worth getting illiegal copies of the movie just to see Han shoot first? The Special Edition is not the end of the world. Somepeople are over-reacting and a boycott wouldn't help anything.

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The whole thing about boicotting is that it won't work. People WILL buy it no matter what. BUT I still have hope: maybe when people buy it and watch it, they'll get angry about it not being the ORIGINAL trilogy, and some people will demand their moneys back and protest, and maybe the issue might get some media attention, and we'll win.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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But it is the Original Trilogy. It isn't the Original Version, or even the SE, but they are A New Hope, ESB, and Return of the Jedi, so there is no false advertising.

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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
But it is the Original Trilogy. It isn't the Original Version, or even the SE, but they are A New Hope, ESB, and Return of the Jedi, so there is no false advertising.
The 1995 release had a sticker on it that said "Original Trilogy last time available!"
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Actually, according to my still-sealed Faces LD, it says "Last chance to own the original version of Star Wars".

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
But it is the Original Trilogy. It isn't the Original Version, or even the SE, but they are A New Hope, ESB, and Return of the Jedi, so there is no false advertising.

You're right that it's not false advertising, but it still is at least somewhat misleading/confusing. First of all, they use the word "original" without mentioning which version this is or any changes, so even though it doesn't say "original versions", it can still cause confusion. Also, like I just said, they don't mention any changes - in fact, the Lucasfilm people haven't given us any direct answer about the changes. And the boxset doesn't say which version this is. When a movie has more than one version, the box needs to say what version it is, otherwise people have no idea what they're getting.

It's not actual false advertising, but nonetheless it is somewhat misleading. And I guarantee just calling it the Original Trilogy with no mention of the version, of any changes, etc. will confuse a lot people.
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Originally posted by: Luke Skywalker
Mr.Coffee has a great idea...
im also trying to think of getting on top of the roof of the local future shop and dropping a sign that says STAR WARS DVD's NOT ORIGINAL!! DON'T BUY!!
lol

i couldnt get arrested for that could i?


The 1st amendment is freedom of speech.....go to it! lol

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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
Actually, according to my still-sealed Faces LD, it says "Last chance to own the original version of Star Wars".
Well it doesn't say version on my box.
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Originally posted by: Mr.Coffee
I am thinking of covering the city with stickers. You the ones that you get as Staples, like 10 buck for a thousand? Just to notify people as to what they are buying. I'll do all the major record/DVD stores! HEHE!!


this is the line i was thinking along, an intensive sticker campain in an attempt to dent sales a tiny bit, it would only have to be a bit, coupled with a massive boycott to get noticed. the txt could be worked out here so they all read the same, then we hit our home town stores starwars displays. they could say somthing like: George lucas changed these on glue. or WARNING contains scenes of extream modification, and list the problems in tiny print. then stick them on the shops display cutouts they always have. ie in the middle of Darth vaders face.
"Listen to me you piece of shit you screw with me one more time i'll cut you in half"

"I'm sorry i dont think i understand"
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Wouldn't putting stickers on store displays count as destruction of private property? We want to spread the word, not cause mayhem.


Made for IE Forum's Episode III theme month - May 2005.