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Kevin A
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Roger Ebert — Page 3
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Kevin A
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Dear Mr. Ebert,
As a fellow film enthusiast and supporter of seeing films the way they were originally intended, it is with regret that I write you this letter.
Several months ago, TheDigitalBits.com -- a website dedicated to informing the web savvy world about upcoming digital audio and video releases -- reported on a story that claims that George Lucas never plans to release the original cuts of the first Star Wars trilogy on DVD. As far as Mr. Lucas was concerned, the original cuts no longer exist because they do not represent the film as he envisioned them in his head. Now, thanks to the technology he has helped develop, he is finally able to revisit his classic trilogy and alter them to his original vision. We saw the first round of changes in 1997 with the theatrical release of his Special Edition Star Wars Trilogy. And, once he finishes Episode III, he plans to go back and make a second round of changes. This final "Super Special Edition", as many refer to it, will represent his ultimate vision and be the version that finally makes it to DVD. In fact, Lucas has even gone so far as to say that he no longer has prints of the original cut of the film.
As you can imagine, there has been a massive outcry against these plans. There has been much discussion about this topic on sites such as Ain't it Cool News and via e-mails sent to TheDigitalBits.com webmaster Bill Hunt as on other sites. One site even sprang up in the hopes of convincing Mr. Lucas that he needs to release the original cuts of the trilogy on DVD. This site, originaltrilogy.com, is an online petition and interactive forum where fans of the original trilogy can go and sign the petition and take part in discussions about these movies, the newer prequel movies, or any other topic that may be mulling in their head.
As of July 31, 2003, the petition has amassed nearly 35,000 signatures from around the world. Visitors to the site and regular contributors to the forum have made a concerted effort to spread word about this site so we can collect as many signatures as possible. Many Star Wars fan sites as well as DVD/Home Video sites have added banners or buttons to their homepages in support of originaltrilogy.com. Video Store Magazine writer Enrique Rivero wrote an article about the site after he interviewed site administrator Jay Sylvester. The July issue of CPU magazine has also run a promo for this site. One of our regular forum posters even wrote an article that was published by his local newspaper - the Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator.
As hard as we've tried, we feel we still haven't reached the masses. Web article readership, while very large, is still limited. Unless you know where to look, what to look for, or get lucky with a search engine, you may never find the online articles or even the site. And, if you don't live in Hamilton, Ontario, you won't have seen this article. This is why we are now appealing to you, Mr. Ebert. Many of us brainstormed in one of our threads what would be the best avenue to take in order to get word out to the largest number of people. We thought about newspapers, we weeded through potential websites, we've even considered developing flyers and asking local theater owners if they would let us post them. Very grass roots, indeed, but you have to start somewhere. That was when we came up with your name. As one of the world's foremost supporters of film preservation and one of the world's most renowned movie critics, we are hoping you can help our cause. And we are certain of your recognizability simply because, as soon as your name was mentioned, everyone in the discussion knew who we were talking about. Regular posters on our site come from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Poland, Australia, and Denmark. And they all knew who you were and have heard or read your reviews.
Mr. Ebert, would you be willing to help us out? The originaltrilogy.com webmaster Jay Sylvester has received word that Lucasfilm Ltd is aware of our site and is monitoring the petition. In our ever optimistic minds, this can only mean that prints of the original cut of the film do exist. Otherwise, why would they bother with our site. We feel they are "testing the waters", per se, or judging the demand for the original trilogy on DVD before they seriously consider spending the money and time to release it and using the "no prints exist" statement as a fallback should the demand not be there.
If we had support from you, be it in the form of an article in the Chicago Sun-Times or a mention on your show, it could mean an incredible boost to our online support and show Lucas that we really mean it when we say we want the movies.
We are movie fans, plain and simple. Many of us grew up watching the original Star Wars movies in theaters or on VHS. We bought the toys, we wore the clothing, we dressed up as Star Wars characters for Halloween. If we were parents of these kids back then, we were likely guilty of contributing to this obsession in some way, shape, or form. Now, many of us who were children of the 1970s and 80s are growing up and having our own families and we would like to be able to share these films that were such an important part of our life as we remember them. Not as Mr. Lucas would like us to remember them. Our VHS copies are getting old and suffering from magnetic fallout or, at any time, could fall victim to an overzealous VCR. If we ruin these VHS copies, we have nothing. All we want is to have a copy of our movies on a "safe" media version like a DVD so we can have them forever.
In closing, a few years ago, the American Film Institute released their Top 100 films list. At number 15, is a film called Star Wars. If you read the official list on the AFI website (http://www.afi.com/tv/movies.asp), you will notice that the name Star Wars is followed by "(1977)".
Thank you in advance,
Kevin Apgar
Film Enthusiast
Star Wars (1977) fan
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How's this sound? Any changes need to be made?
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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And I'm a monkey, in a long line of kings.
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Everybody let me know what you think of my letter and I'll send it this Monday (Aug. 4). Okay?
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
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Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.
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BTW: Good job, the tone "Help us, Mr. Ebert, you're our only hope..." and all...
So you don't want each of us to spam Ebert with the letters? Will one do the job?
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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Kev that was awesome...
I think we have a letter!
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Originally posted by: Bossk
Does that mean each of us are writing him a letter? I thought I was going to be the only one. Doesn't matter to me. I just don't want it to be overkill with him.
Everybody let me know what you think of my letter and I'll send it this Monday (Aug. 4). Okay?
Oh, I haven't been keeping up with the thread, last I heard we were all writing letters, but sending just this one makes a lot more sense to me.
Bossk- after rereading your letter (its damn good) my one suggestion would be this; make sure that it is clear that we are not advocating that there be no special edition (super special edition, etc etc) made or released, simply that we want the original as well. And maybe a little mention of how it was the original version that is on the AFI 100 list and won oscars and what not, that by not releasing the OT a big part of movie history is being erased.
just a small suggestion otherwise this letter is good to G.O. !
Quote
As you can imagine, there has been a massive outcry against these plans. There has been much discussion about this topic on sites such as Ain't it Cool News
Out of curiousity, has Harry Knowles been contacted about the petition? I'm sure he's put a link on his site.
And I'm a monkey, in a long line of kings.
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As for Harry Knowles, I'm not sure. We can try it. It would be big if we got his support.
Do you think we could just send him the same letter that I wrote but just make a few editorial changes?
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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Kevin A
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Originally posted by: Bossk
I started to write a note about how it was the 1977 version on the AFI list and I went so far as to say that it should be removed from the list should Lucas not release it on DVD and continue decrying it as an unfinished work. But it sounded a bit heavyhanded.
As for Harry Knowles, I'm not sure. We can try it. It would be big if we got his support.
Do you think we could just send him the same letter that I wrote but just make a few editorial changes?
SOUNDS PERFECT TO ME, BOSKK.
"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
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Has Moriarty replied to you yet?
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.
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Rebel Scumb... same question.
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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But I will let you know as soon as I hear anything
And I'm a monkey, in a long line of kings.
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"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide
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--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
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kapgar.com
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"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide
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Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)