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"They belong to Lucas and are his to change"

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Is anyone else sick of hearing this statement as a defense to the alterations. What i cant wait for is when Lucas decides to replace the entire cast with ewoks and how the 'Lucas is God' fans will force themselves to like it.

When TPM came out, I was most certainly a Lucas die-hard. I forced myself to like it at the time, by selectively ignoring all the bad parts and surrounding myself with like-minded positive reviews. There isn't a specific time or event that caused me to completely switch sides, more of a graduel giving up in trying to defend the undefendable Phantom Menace. Looking back, it's funny to see the Lucas fanboys saying exactly the same things I was saying 5 years ago and realizing how desperate they are to justify themselves. At the same time (coming back to the 'Star Wars belongs to George Lucas' point) it can be unbelievably annoying.
"90% of the statistics used in quotes are made up."
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ya.... we hear that on here all the time...
i still think anyone with that mentality has no point of being here and should be banned immediatly...
they just come here to rock the boat

or they just go back to a forum in which all members kiss the ass of GL and mock us.... like childish fan boys do..
"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 figured the Hayden thing at the end of RotJ would push a lot of them to far, causing a much needed Lucas backlash. Sadly I was wrong.
"90% of the statistics used in quotes are made up."
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Star Wars Fanboys have their heads so far up Lucas' ass that anything else looks perfect and smells like roses.
http://web.newsguy.com/theprofessional/ebay/sw_logo_s.jpg
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I compare Lucas to God (stay with me on this, please...).

God: created everything in the world
Lucas: created everything in Star Wars

God: gave us the world
Lucas: gave us Star Wars

God: was killed by us and left the world
Lucas: was beloved by us and messed with Star Wars

God: leaves the world alone
Lucas: doesn't leave Star Wars alone

God: loved
Lucas: hated


What can I say? It ain't Shakespeare, but I like it...
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Right on Darth Justin.

This argument is tired. I mean, nobody is really saying that they arent. I think all of us are focusing on obligations GL has, which should usurp this worn out child's argument. Yes, they are your movies George, now you go ahead and do whatever you like, with no regard for anyone else, there's a good boy.
"You don't own space, so stop actin' like you do."
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The idea that George may be an Earth-bound deity, at least according to his followers, is something I expressed in the scifiwire poll thread.

Here it is again.

My theory that Lucas is an actual deity arises out of the crazy defenses that the beaten-wife-syndromesque Lucas Apologists come up with.

"Who are you to question His will?"
"He is the Creator and He can do whatever He wants to His galaxy."
"Everything He does He does for a reason."
"All of His decisons are divine and unquestionable."
"Every one of His creations is perfect and full of unknowable majesty and wonderment."
"This was all part of His plan from the beginning."
"He is just testing our loyalty and devotion to Him."
"When bad things happen to good Star Wars fans it's just because they didn't really believe in Him strongly enough."

Pfeh...

The good thing about this Earthly deity is that you can track Him down and punch Him in the gut when He pisses you off.
"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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Goering.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." - Goebbels.

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - Orwell.
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I think id be tempted to pay to see that.
"You don't own space, so stop actin' like you do."
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My theory that Lucas is an actual deity arises out of the crazy defenses that the beaten-wife-syndromesque Lucas Apologists come up with.[

Lucas didn't ruin the Original trilogy, It walked into a door!
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Well, hmm.

On the one hand, they do belong to Lucas and are his to change. That can't be disputed -- it's a business fact.

Where I disagree with other fans is on the quality and importance of George's "vision". Quite simply, I believe that a talented 32-year-old maverick independent filmmaker called Geoge Lucas wrote and directed Star Wars, and his vision was great. But now a middle-aged, out of touch, eccentric billionaire businessman called George Lucas is using his vision to change the films, and to make a prequel trilogy.

The flaws inherent in the Special Editions and the Prequel Trilogy prove that this man's "vision" isn't a vision I respect very much any more. It isn't a trust-worthy guiding vision. It's a pretty lame vision, and not one I appreciate being used to modify films from a different era.

It frustrates me to see Star Wars fans revering him as the God of all things. It frustrates me that they convince themselves to love very flawed material just because it's what George made. The absolute silliest example is: "...But The Phantom Menace is supposed to be boring! That was George's vision! Therefore it's great that it's boring." Oh how I laugh. No film is ever designed to be boring... except some experimental films by Warhol.

Currently, when a Star Wars fan dares to say they dislike a certain scene, they are slapped down by everyone else on the message board and told that they are to blame for not accepting George's vision, and they'd love the scene in question if they respected George's vision like they're supposed to. But how much flawed crap will George put on the screen before his worshippers finally say, "Actually, you know what? I've just realised that if I don't think it's very good, maybe it's George's fault rather than mine..."

It really is like a religion. Seriously. A strict George worshipper arguing with someone who doesn't respect George's vision is just like a strict religious person arguing with an atheist. The religious person has built all kind of mental defenses to prevent them from contemplating the idea that God doesn't exist, and can't imagine living in a world without God. A George worshipper has built similar defenses to consider George's vision all-important, and can't imagine being a Star Wars fan if you don't agree with the vision.
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Yeah, that's a pretty tired statement. We know that they belong to Lucas and it is his right to change them as he sees fit. That doesn't mean that we have to like them.

I wish Lucas had remembered that just because you can do something does not necessarily mean that you should do something.
Keeping The Star Wars Hoiliday Special alive. Once person at a time. Stir, stir, whip, whip, stir, beat, beat.
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Here, here R2. I think thats exactly what this argument overlooks. Just because he has the right, doesnt necessarily mean he should run with it, especially this far from the original starting point.
"You don't own space, so stop actin' like you do."
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Lucas = man
God = God

Lucas = expendible meatshield.

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Fine, mister Lucas, while you're at it why dont you replace Lando with will smith?
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most Directors know when to walk away from a completed project,

George's first attempt at StarWars, lasted 20 years and became 3 of the most successful films of all time, yet strangely he felt they weren't up to standard.

This led to his second attempt in 97, again it made a shitload of money but drew alot of criticism regarding some of the new changes.

In 2004 George has his third attempt for the DVD release, no doubt destined to make an even bigger shitload of money, but instead of listening to the criticisms levelled at the 97 edition and improving on them, he has opted to make even more unpopular changes, in order for them to fit in better with his less popular and less successful both critically and at the box office, Prequal trilogy. Surely after 3 attempts at the project and all you've managed to do is tarnish the memory of your original attempt, it must be time to let it go and move on to something new?
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"They belong to Lucas and are his to change"

While I, too, am sick of hearing this, I do not deny that it is true. But as I've said before, if Michaelangelo were to come back from the dead and claim that the Sistine Chapel were half done or that David really should have arms (or any artist and his work for that matter), I would expect him to leave the original available and then recreate their "to be finished" work elsewhere. Something that has been a part of the public consciousness for so long cannot just be denied its right to exist. Even I archive previous versions of websites that I have created.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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Mark Twain: I always wanted Huck Finn to travel on a Jetski, but the technology at the time wouldnt let me write it in.

Tolkien: I always wanted Hobbitton to be a sprawling megalopolis, but technology at the time wouldnt let me write that way.

Jim Hensen: I always wanted to use crappy CGI with the muppets and replace trhe frog killer's guns with walkie talkies and replace fozzie bear with a wombat.

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Fine, mister Lucas, while you're at it why dont you replace Lando with will smith?
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Originally posted by: Bossk
"They belong to Lucas and are his to change"

While I, too, am sick of hearing this, I do not deny that it is true. But as I've said before, if Michaelangelo were to come back from the dead and claim that the Sistine Chapel were half done or that David really should have arms (or any artist and his work for that matter), I would expect him to leave the original available and then recreate their "to be finished" work elsewhere. Something that has been a part of the public consciousness for so long cannot just be denied its right to exist. Even I archive previous versions of websites that I have created.




Michaelangelo's David has arms and very well sculpted hands too. You might be thinking of the Venus de Milo, which was sculpted by Alexandros of Antioch, son of Menides.

"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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Goering.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." - Goebbels.

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - Orwell.
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Originally posted by: Kam
replace fozzie bear with a wombat.

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LMAO!
"You don't own space, so stop actin' like you do."
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Originally posted by: Regicidal_Maniac
Michaelangelo's David has arms and very well sculpted hands too. You might be thinking of the Venus de Milo, which was sculpted by Alexandros of Antioch, son of Menides.


Dammit. That's what I meant. I had a long day when I wrote that. Sorry.

Why did I say David? Even I know better than that.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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Michaelangelo: I always wanted David to have a third nipple and a bigger scrotum.....

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Fine, mister Lucas, while you're at it why dont you replace Lando with will smith?
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Originally posted by: Kam
Mark Twain: I always wanted Huck Finn to travel on a Jetski, but the technology at the time wouldnt let me write it in.

Tolkien: I always wanted Hobbitton to be a sprawling megalopolis, but technology at the time wouldnt let me write that way.

Jim Hensen: I always wanted to use crappy CGI with the muppets and replace trhe frog killer's guns with walkie talkies and replace fozzie bear with a wombat.

///


Didn't Tolkien re-write some of The Hobbit to fit with Lord of the Rings?

JIm Henson's grave says: JIM HENSON 1936-1990 - cause of death: CGI!!
“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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actually, yes he did.

He changed the riddles in the dark scene.

I completely forgot.

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Fine, mister Lucas, while you're at it why dont you replace Lando with will smith?
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But you can still buy the earlier edition in the same format, printed book, if you want it.

The distinction remains.
"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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Goering.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." - Goebbels.

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - Orwell.
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And Tolkien never claimed that the earlier version didn't exist, as far as he was concerned.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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I really love the quote that comes here before accessing this web site.
Thanks to Jay for putting it in.
That really makes me wonder how GL would like it if Kurosawe had decided 20 years after the release of Hidden Fortress to colorize it because that is how he really wanted it but didn't have the technology to shoot it in color.
"Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain."