crissrudd4554 said:

Beatleboy99 said:

unamochilla2 said:

Can't they simply exist as products of their time?

Thank you!

My thoughts exactly!!! I don't mean to sound like a dumper on the SE's but the only versions with cultural significance are the originals. For people who prefer the SE's better that's your opinion but whether you prefer it or not the original is the only one that has any cinematic significance. It laid the blueprint for the type of visual effects and filmmaking of today and its very deceiving to show newer generations SW when in fact its cluttered with effects of a later era. For Lucas to say the film wasn't finished I don't think is right. The film was made in an era where his vision couldn't be fully realized but the results were still monumental! Then again this is just my view of it.

I agree completely. It's unfortunate, however, that an entire generation has now grown up with access (officially) only to the Special Editions. To them, these are the films they grew up with, and perhaps the originals just don't compare. I don't know, thankfully, I'm too old to be one of those unfortunates!

So, the only way to keep everyone happy is to produce a Blade Runner like multi-version Box set which includes the 1977, 1981, 1997, 2004, 2011 (and 2015?) versions. '77/'81 on one disc with seamless branching (including all the audio variations), and all the Special Edition variants on another disc, also with seamless branching - which is what Lucasfilm should have done in 2004...