logo Sign In

A New Hope.... pieces of work becomes copyright free

Author
Date
Author
Time
 (Edited)
Post link

There is still hope for the Star Wars Saga:

70 years after the death of the creator, a piece of work becomes copyright free. This is why any old shmuck can do shakespeare - nobody owns the rights. In today’s world of studio ownership and big bucks, I’m not sure if this still stands, but seeing as Lucas and Lucasfilm own everything to do with Star Wars, in theory, 70 years after Lucas’ death, someone could remake the prequels so they are actually good.

Of course, we’ll all be dead or very old by then, but let’s say that human life expectancy has doubled by the late 21st century due to medical advances - what would you do differently? Would you re-edit the prequels? remake them totally using only puppets and animatronics to tie them in with the OT? Leave them untouched? let’s say you could only make 3 changes? What would they be? Here’s mine:

1. Anakin and Obi Wan would be older in TPM
2. Obi Wan and Qui Gonn’s characters would be merged into just Obi Wan
3. No Gungans, which takes care of Jar Jar.

I would also use no CGI creatures (background and vehicles are okay) - Yoda’s death scene in Jedi was fantastic - the greatest Muppet of them all.

War does not make one great.

Author
Time
Post link
I'm not worrying about the PT at all, just the OT. And I'm working under the assumption that my "master copies" are the masters that the new DVDs came from so I have to make three changes to what was released on DVD in September...

1. Han shoots first (and only).

2. Jabba scene removed from ANH.

3. Sebastian Shaw is Anakin at the end of ROTJ once again.

This is tough. I also wanted to remove all extra celebrations from end of ROTJ leaving just Endor, restore Luke's line about R2 not tasting so good in ESB, and also restore the dialogue between Vader and Palpatine in ESB. But the three above are much more important to me.
"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
Author
Time
Post link
Well in 70 years, CG would become photorealistic probably. (probably a lot less than 70 years)
So you wouldn't have to use animatronic or puppets.
Author
Time
Post link
I wouldn't have to use puppets, but I still would. I work in Computer Special effects so I like to think that I know what I am talking about . I even have friends in the industry who worked on episode 1. CG can stop a movie dead in it's tracks if used incorrectly. One of my friends was a programmer on Episode 1 (he was involved in creating Jar Jar's flowing ears). He told me that all the artists working on that film were saying things like 'what the hell is this? we're killing star wars' - but orders are orders so they done their job. My programmer friend left and now works in London.

Bossk, I agree with you about Ditching Jabba in ANH, but what about Max Rebo - don't you think that the original should be reinstated? It was much more ambient and suited to Jabba's sleezy hangout - not that pop crap that they sing now. Anyway, that is my pet peeve about the whole OT DVD - I agree with everyone about the changes, but Max Rebo and the band is the one that gets me the most - I know it's not important to the story or anything, and I shouldn't care so much, but it's just horrible. so, my top 3 OT changes would be:

1. Han shoots first (and only).

2. Jabba scene removed from ANH.

3. Original Max Rebo/Sy Snootles scene reinstated.

Any other takers? Top 3 changes for the prequels or OT - only 3....

War does not make one great.

Author
Time
Post link
Quote
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
but what about Max Rebo - don't you think that the original should be reinstated?


To be honest with you, I haven't seen the DVDs to know about that scene. I'm speaking about the three scenes that resulted in so much anger in me that I decided not to buy or rent the DVDs as a result. I've got my DVD copies taken from the pre-SE LDs and they're wonderful.

Learning about Max Rebo is a relatively new thing for me. I didn't realize he had been changed at all. Doesn't make me quite as angry as the other stuff I listed, though.

I'd like to be able to make my list more simplistic like...

1. Restore ANH to 1977 version

2. Restore ESB to 1980 version

3. Restore ROTJ to 1983 version

But somehow I don't think that's what you're shooting for, is it?
"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
Author
Time
Post link
I don't mind Jabba in ANH so much, but I would have changed his dialogue somewhat to make it less redundant from Greedo's dialogue. I've actually done this in my re-edit of the ANH SE as an optional subtitle track. Also, I would have used the original puppet instead of a CG recreation. Film the puppet meticulously against a blue screen and superimpose it in instead of the CG nightmare that was. Kinda like how we saw Tom Hanks shake hands with President Kennedy. Reason being ... the puppet looked real because the puppet WAS real. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING created in a computer looks tactile.

So, if they actually took the time to make a new CG Jabba in 2004, why couldn't they at least get his eye color right? Jabba's eyes were a deep red, not yellow. They spent this kind of time making the CG yoda look as much like the ESB puppet as they could. Why didn't they spend that kind of time on Jabba? Hacks!
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
Author
Time
Post link
i've only seen empire wasn't great rented from blockbuster
Author
Time
Post link
It might take more than 70 years for SW to get into public domain. Mickey Mouse was set to be on public domain a few years ago, and Disney's lawyers actually get to extend the date in which it would get into public domain by some decades... I suspect 20th century Fox would do the same.
“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
Author
Time
Post link
1. Sebastian Shaw is Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi.
2. Sebastian Shaw is Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi.
3. Sebastian Shaw is Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi.

By the way, what the hell is up with Luke's originally Blue lightsabre, Green, then turning blue again in a New Hope?! If it has already been posted, I am very sorry, could you please redirect me, I am a newbie to the forums.
Author
Time
Post link
The green lightsaber was cause by a combination of shoddy color correction and seemingly non-existant quality control.

4

Author
Time
Post link
dont quote me on this, but i believe copyrights have a different length of time before they expire if they are owned by an individual or by a corporation...i read it somewhere i think...might have been for trademarks. but it said corporations have a longer period before it expires

ill see if i can find a link to where i read it

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post
Author
Time
Post link
ok, the blue-green-blue light saber...thats simple, here's my theory.

ill assume everyone here has read the curse of the blue lightsaber thread, if not do so then return here.

so, luke is training on the Falcon right, and he's so strong in the force that his saber goes from blue to green cause he broke the curse..but then alderaan blows up and he looses all his focus, or maybe he just stopped to early (i mean, he blocked three bolts and was like, ok im done, when do we eat) so he lost his focus and wasnt able to keep the power/abilty to defeat vader, his saber went blue again.

Now, i know someones gonna be like, but he never fought vader in the first one. This is true, but vader came out to stop him from blowing up the death star. he was able to do so, but almost got blown up in the process. also, if he had been able to keep the green saber, then maybe vader would have stayed on the death star, or they could have had crazy one on one dog fight where luke blows up vader...ahh..never mind...this theory is getting weaker as i go on, let me stop talking out of my arse and try again...

ok, heres one that holds water....Lucas f'd up

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post