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Lucas talks DVD's, Special Edition's, OT and TV Series.

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"P: Why not release both the originals and special editions on DVD?

Lucas: The special edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. ... I'm not going to spend the, we're talking millions of dollars here, the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn't really exist anymore. It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I'm the one who has to take responsibility for it. I'm the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they're going to throw rocks at me, they're going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished."

Read it all here.

It's a real shame that Lucas doesn't want to bring out the OT in it's original form. But hey, I am have come to terms with it, particularly after getting hold of the anamorphic set and the TR47 set. I still have respect for Lucas, he obviously went through a lot to get his vision onto the screen and it has clearly taken a toll on his life. But I guess we all have the power to make different choices. I for one am going to let up on the Lucas bashing for a while. It is begining to tire.

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Originally posted by: Jambe Davdar

*snip*

It's a real shame that Lucas doesn't want to bring out the OT in it's original form. But hey, I am have come to terms with it, particularly after getting hold of the anamorphic set and the TR47 set. I still have respect for Lucas, he obviously went through a lot to get his vision onto the screen and it has clearly taken a toll on his life. But I guess we all have the power to make different choices. I for one am going to let up on the Lucas bashing for a while. It is begining to tire.


It's nice to see that I'm not the only one that feels this way.

Seriously folks. Lucas doesn't owe any of us a damn thing. We pay $7 to see a movie, we get a movie. The deal is done. Later the movie comes out on video: we buy it, the trade is complete. Best years of your life spent with a girl who later dumped you for the high school football hero? Hey man, it sucks, I know. But you had your time with her, if she doesn't wanna give up the goods to you anymore, then are you gonna spend the rest of your days slandering her name across the internet? I certainly hope not.

Lucas doesn't want to put the original movies out on DVD? That sucks as well. I will write my letters pleading with him and I will sign the petitions, but I don't hold a thing against the man personally. If he were doing a federally enforced recall of the copies of Star Wars that I own, that would be one thing. But he's not. I can keep what I've acquired so far. It's mine. He provided them for me and I bought them. I don't owe him anything and vice versa.

The bashing is ridiculous. It's silly that he's not doing a DVD release of the original edits, but it's not a crime against anybody. They had their chance, and if we want them preserved, it looks like we will have to do it ourselves. Is it his fault that VHS deteriorates over time, regardless of our preservation methods, due to the Earth's magnetic field? No. It's not his fault.

Think about the new line of Star Wars figures they've got out now. There's a series that recreates the original packaging, down to the original photos even, but the figure itself is a new sculpting. Now, looking back on my childhood, I can easily say that those original action figures were as much a part of my development as the movies themselves. I played with them every day and invented a million new adventures from sun up to sun down in my back yard in Nebraska. (The treehouse my dad built was made even better by the addition of some Biker Scouts and Ewoks!) But those figures are gone. Hasbro isn't making any more from the original Kenner molds. They have their new models and if we want the originals, we have to search for them. Do I hate Hasbro for screwing with my childhood and denying my children the opportunity to experience the same things I did, spending hours every day playing with those poorly articulated 3.75" plastic figurines? No. I have my memories, and a good collection of the vintage figures to display on my shelves because I took it upon myself to make sure and collect a number of them. I wanted it the old way and I got it through perserverance and a little bit of luck.

And look at it this way, take my earlier example of the dame that left you for the jock. If you go to her and tell her that she's an idiot, fucking up your life, has no talent and that you're going to hunt her down and kill her if she doesn't take you back... do I even need to finish this analogy? Sweet talk her and remind her of all the good things... you can catch a lot more flies with honey than you can cyanide, I promise you.

I could go on... and on and on and on and on. But I won't. Sorry if this came off as a little volitile, but this is how I feel. Lucas created these movies that helped shape my childhood and make me what I am today, and that positive influence takes precedent over mistakes he may be making in recent years. I've been lurking on these boards for a year or two (HAS is been that long?!?), but never chimed in until recently because, quite frankly, there just seems to be so many non-constructive, childish opinions running around. Talk about finding Lucas and punching him in the gut? [sarcasm-mode]Nice. Very Jedi-like of you, it obvious that his movies had some influence on your development.[/sarcasm-mode]

*whew* Boy am I glad I cut that rant when I did.
So basically, I'm just saying that Jambe has the right idea. Everyone needs to calm the fuck down, take a breath, and if it's so important to them, take matters into the own hands. A peaceful petition and the proper show of respect for the man will do our cause a LOT more good than name calling and threats of violence.
For as much as some people claim to hate what Star Wars has become, they sure seem incapable of shutting up about it.
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If only people questioned their politicians decisions as much as they quesiton Lucas.

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Originally posted by: Jambe Davdar
If only people questioned their politicians decisions as much as they quesiton Lucas.


I was trying to avoid that line of reasoning as much as I possibly could in my reply, 'cause politics never make for a cool-headed discussion these days. But you're spot on.
For as much as some people claim to hate what Star Wars has become, they sure seem incapable of shutting up about it.
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"The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it"

It's also on DVD, beee-yatch!!!!

"and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it."

...but I jut couldn't help myself from re-releasing this "half-completed film" over and over and over and over for the next 25 years.

"Seriously folks. Lucas doesn't owe any of us......."

//SNIP

I never said he did. I just think that pretending the original version no longer exists is stupid, especially considering how many times he's sold it. It doesn't matter now, though. He's got his DVDs, and we've got ours.

"if it's so important to them, take matters into the own hands."

I did (and my signature is in the early 700's on the petition )

<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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What he says is true. In almost every audio commentary a filmmaker will always say I wish I could have done that different. I wish I had worked on that more I wish I could have filmed this that.
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MeBeJedi- That's exactly what I'm talkin' 'bout! Don't get mad, get the torrents!

We've got our DVDs. I hate the fact that he's not releasing them "officially", but until he changes his mind, we'll make do. We can be quite resourceful when the need arises. (Hell, I'm currently working on my own versions of the TR47 DVD covers since I haven't been overly impressed with what's out there.)

And my comments weren't supposed to be a slam on everyone on these boards. I certainly hope they weren't taken that way. It was merely my thoughts on the whole "I hate Lucas! Kill! Burn! He released the greatest movies of my life and should die!" bullshit.

Not sure where my sig is on the list though. Couple of years back or something like that, whenever the hell it was I found this board initially.
For as much as some people claim to hate what Star Wars has become, they sure seem incapable of shutting up about it.
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im 20 and got into science fiction in about 1993 when i first watched 60's Star Trek on BBC2 from their i went onto watch all six at the time films saw generations in cinema and got into TNG big time even more than TOS. I knew what Star Wars was but shockingly had never seen one of the movies in full until 97 when the SE's where put in cinemas. I went to see all 3 in order and was amazed i loved and collected all the tazos and put them in the binder(a disk like a pog with a pic from a scene from the films they came free in packets of crisps(chips) and special ones were only in doritos i even got the micro machines sets. I loved it and got them on video for my birthday along with the monopoly and that vhs board game. At the time i didnt know what had been fiddled with but when about 4 years later i found out about the greedo scene and the scream etc i hunted down widescreen vhs copies of the O-OT and found myself perfering the old cuts. However i can honestly say i never bashed Lucas for changing them as he always seemed a nice bloke on the docs and commentarys and if he perfers them the changes then who am i to agrue. However i do think the films should be put on dvd in there original form for those that like them as they were. The Alien movies, terminator, star trek, ET even disney films such as Beauty and the Beast are out to buy in their original and changed forms. Its great to watch different cuts of movies and its a very good selling point. I think its not been done with star wars due to the fact that the films are surposed to be one complete thing and Lucas wants people to watch the complete thing as he wants not say watching 77 ANH but then watching 97 ESB then 83 Jedi. I dont like the fact that the O-OT is not out on dvd but am not as disapointed now as if the 30th year editions dont include the O-OT i have a more than good enough version in the form of the tr47 set. id like that anamorphic set and wondered if any one please knows where to get it. Back to the point however i have just got today the 2004 set and its not that bad. The picture and sound are better than i expected nothing short of amazing and if you view on a widescreen set with a sound system it really is stunning. The only change i hate in the disks is the greedo think still sucks and i hate the jabba dance number. Other than that its great and the greedo thing is better its not as it should be but its not stomach churning anymore. The scream is gone thankfully and Empire is great once more thanks to that removal. The voice dub of Boba is not as bad as i was expecting and the emperor change looks better moving than it does in the screenshots seen on the web. The dialogue change is not too bad either it actually hides the fact Vader is lukes father better than the O-OT. The hayden bit in jedi is the bit i was not looking forward to but when you hear the explanation on the commentary its not as bad or hard to expect. Apparently when a jedi dies or goes to the dark side the last time they were either alive or when they turned what they looked like then is what they will look like when they die. Since ben and yoda died old and good they look like they did when died. But since vader turned back when he died he looks like he did the last time he was good. Its not a bad explanation and its still shaw when the mask comes off. Im glad i have a good version of the O-OT but the 2004 is nice to have as well. If i didnt have the tr47 set though i dont think id like the 2004 set as much. I do like Lucas no matter what happens in the future as he invented Indiana Jones and that helps to right a lot of wrongs
NEVER