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Originally posted by: buddy-x-wing
I'm sure any cost incurred in restoring and remastering the original films would be more than adequately recouped if the original cuts were released, it's not like George would be doing all the work.
You're right. What difference does a couple of million dollars make when he would recoup that from the sales? I can't say he remastered them for 2004, but I believe he remastered all Original Versions in their entirety in 1997 and then made the changes. It's only a theory, but I remember reading how he likes to keep things locked in the archives and how the new documentary only scratches the surface on what's in there. I believe he may have the Original Versions in tact so that he can make money on them later.
I also think denying us the Originals is a way to keep Star Wars in the limelight a bit longer even if it results in controversy and negative publicity. He probably figures the hype would drop off if he gave us what we want now and would severely fall off after Episode III since there will be no more films. This is just theory though. I base it on the Heavy Metal cartoon. I know it doesn't have the same amount of popularity as Star Wars, but I remember how much I heard about when it was something that was so hard to get because you had to either have a bootleg VHS or have been lucky and taped it off of Cinemax or HBO. Anyway, since it was released commercially on VHS and DVD, I hardly hear anything about it anymore. Probably fansites of the movie are the only ones talking about it now. Once Episode III leaves theaters, all of the media buzz on Star Wars will pretty much be over. He'll probably rely on that mass attention when he decides to do the TV series being talked about just like he relied on the 97 SE's to build the hype for Episode I.
Just a theory though. I am a big LOTR fan as well and have noticed how much the attention to that has fallen off since there are no more movies coming out for that unless the rights to The Hobbit are cleared up. The only things I hear being talked about now are the ROTK EE DVD's and a boxed set of the complete score. Once those are out, it will probably just be fansites discussing it. Notice how all of the other attention to those films are pretty much over with. I believe it is going to be the same after Episode III is over with with the exception of the fans like us who have been abandoned by Lucas.
Lucas has really screwed everything up.
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does this mean we can now throw rocks at him?
I believe so. I picked up my own sharp rock as a funny scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian ran through my head.
Patrick