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DVD set just came out, it's going to sell millions.
Let's not kid ourselves that the majority of people care whether they're getting the original versions, or 'special editions'.
But, the ~64,000 signatures to this on-line petition tell us one thing - that about that many people care, at the moment.
They also tell us they are a pretty web savvy bunch to be signing an on-line petition.
So, my suggestion to Lucas/film would be this:
Some time, in the future, release a limitied edition 'retro/archival/classic' version of Star Wars, via www.starwarsshop.com only, with the cleaned-up 77, 80 & 83 releases (the ones that were released on VHS and Laserdisc before the Special Editions --- "For The Last Time"). In the format of the time i.e. DVD, whatever is the latest at the time.
That way, they only have to make 100,000 or so units, they don't have to press out millions to feed the world-wide demand.
The average person can still go to the shop and buy Star Wars how George wants it to be seen.
The enthusiast fans, who care about being able to watch the original versions on something other than VHS or Laserdisc, will probably be prepared to pay a little bit more for a version like this anyway, which should cover the production costs of doing a 'limited edition' like this. Like any 'limited edition' release, it's usually a bit more expensive to make up for the 'small' production run.
So say they print 200,000 or something. They could even individually number them for a special treat.
Don't worry about all the possible extras (deleted scenes, holiday special etc etc), they just complicates it. The main thing we want to be able to watch the films, and share them with our kids, without having to cringe at the new dance sequence in Return Of The Jedi, or the superfluous Jabba The Hutt appearance in 'A New Hope'... not to mention be amazed at special effects which, to some eyes, looked better -before- the CGI additions (e.g. Sarlacc Pit, X-Wings, Bespin Arrival / Windows)
I think this makes financial sense for Lucasfilm, and sense for George in that he's honouring the fans of the originals that fell in love with his 'incomplete' versions, bought all his actions figures, and kept the movies alive over all these years - enabing him to make the Prequels and Special Editions we see today.
What do you guys think?
