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GL: “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.”
Wasn’t the original trilogy refurbished back in 1996 in preparation for the 1997 SE’s? From the behind the scenes footage I’ve seen, it appears that the original prints were cleaned up before the CG effects were added. Also, if 20th Century Fox knows the great demand for the original trilogy, then I’m sure they would foot the bill rather than Lucas himself. All the movies I know of that have new extended versions that are more what the director intended always include the original theatrical releases on DVD. Why does Star Wars need to be different?
GL: “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.”
The people throwing “rocks” are the OT fans. If the OT was made available, neither the OT fans nor the SE fans would be throwing “rocks”. Everyone would be happy.
And this is what bothers me the most…
Q: Do you pay much attention to fan reactions to your choices?
GL: "Not really. The movies are what the movies are. ... The thing about science-fiction fans and "Star Wars" fans is they're very independent-thinking people. They all think outside the box, but they all have very strong ideas about what should happen, and they think it should be their way. Which is fine, except I'm making the movies, so I should have it my way."
This shows the incredible disconnect that exists between George Lucas and Star Wars fans. Even though it is the fans that have made Lucas a multi-millionaire and given him the ability to live a luxurious lifestyle, he could care less. And what about the 1000’s of hard-working and talented individuals who heavily contributed to the original trilogy to make them into the great movies that they are? Shouldn’t they have a say?
Maybe Lucas is wealthy enough now to have complete control over the prequels, but many of the great ideas and events in the original trilogy were developed by other contributors. It was a very collaborative process.
This interview makes me very sad. His attitude makes me regret ever purchasing any of the star wars movies, various memorabilia, and toys that contributed to his wealth to which he offers no respect or gratitude to his faithful fans.
George Lucas, please have a change of heart.
