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What do you think? Does this petition make a difference?

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What do you think? Does this petition make a difference?

Although GL once said, there would be no SW DVD release before Ep. III was finished, after 'thedigitalbits.com' started their petition and collected 30.000 signatures, LFL immediatelly started working on the Ep. I DVD.

Right now, we are drawing close to 20.000 confirmed signatures. I don't know if both numbers can be compared, but I think, we are reaching numbers, that should make an impact on LFL.

So what reactions by GL / LFL do you expect? When?
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as we all know, george is not that predictable... but we can only hope for the best result.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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I think so, always look positive!

If enough people sign, mr Lucas is bound to see there's a market for it.

mr Lucas, you don't need to see this petition
you have the support you're looking for
you can go about making the dvd's
go along

hey, perhaps it works

"I hate it when he does that" Obi Wan Kenobi
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yes, and who knows how many people feel the same way we do, but havent signed the petition.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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Frankly, I don't have much faith in the success of this petition... but I've signed it because I believe that this is a good cause!

"RRS-1980, I find your lack of faith disturbing.."
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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I agree with last post.... I think the petition will make a difference and Lucas will relase the originals.

I fact, from my point of view there are elements I love in both releases and would like to own them both.
I was thinking an interesting DVD feature would be an 'edit your own version' of each film.
For example, you could pick which special edition scenes to keep, which to take away, then sit back and watch your own perfect version.

I, for one, really don't like the Han-Greedo change because it alters the whole tone of his character.... who he was before he met Luke and Ben and started to help people other than himself. That one moment kind of ruins his character arc.
But, on the other hand, I love some of the details added to the backgrounds. Particularly the dewbacks in 'New Hope' and the Bantha herd in 'Jedi'. However, if you, the viewer had the power to edit the special edition segments in or out... you could satisfy the perfectionsist inside yourself.

just a thought... what do you think.
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I don't think that scene-switching on or off is possible. I doubt, seamless-branching will work either. The changes in general would be too many to accomplish that. Just keep in mind, the soundtrack is a completely new mix and would never fit both versions... So if the OT is released, it will come as separate discs.

I love the OT.

I hate today's SE. It's a half-hearted update, replacing some bad old scenes with bad new scenes. It leaves several very bad scenes (that is: as 'bad' as can be in some of the greatest movies there are) completely untouched and adds a few nice, but just minor enhancements. I especially hate the added Jabba whining and begging Han to pay. Ridiculous!!! That's not the Jabba I got to know 20 years ago! All that in my eyes completely destroys the consistency and integrity of the originals - and leaves the SE more unfinished, than the originals ever where.

Nevertheless I have some hope, GL will correct that in the reworked SEs and come up with something really SPECIAL... Although, whatever he might come up with, for me the originals are unreplaceable! And should GL try so, he'll loose my support...

But I think, there will be a reaction from GL / LFL. 20.000 IS a number - and we don't know, how many feel the same way and just don't know or care about the petition. I think, even after the release of the SE he could easily sell a limited edition of 100.000 - 500.000 items. I am not in the DVD business, but I guess that should be enough to make some profits...
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I think, even after the release of the SE he could easily sell a limited edition of 100.000 - 500.000 items. I am not in the DVD business, but I guess that should be enough to make some profits...

Never underestimate the power of rabid fans... Anchor Bay has made good business out of producing limited editions in even smaller quantities (~50 000), and Disney has enjoyed success with its Treasures line of well-known and more obscure titles in the Disney oeuvre (125 000). I think the only complaint to be had with this approach is that there are more SW fans out there than a mere 500 000 that would appreciate a release of the OT, unaltered. I'm thinking an LE of the OT would have to have numbers of @ least 750 000.

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

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Frankly, I don't have much faith in the success of this petition...


you go in for a lot of things, that you dont believe in, RRS?
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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Yeah, you would have to have a pretty high initial production number. And I agree that making it a limited-time-only offer might have the effect desired by Lucas. High numbers and relatively quick sales. Look how it's helped Disney by having their animated flicks come out for short periods of time before going into moratorium. Produce a few quick TV commercials when the time is nearly up and that will boost sales yet again.

Another great way of ensuring fast sales is to release the OT DVDs the day after Thanksgiving. That first "official" day of the Christmas sales season is bound to shoot numbers through the roof.

Hell, I'd wait overnight for my local store to open to be first in line to buy it. Gimme gimme gimme.
"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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No one can possibly know for sure how Lucas will react to this petition. I think that when Episode I was brought out to DVD that it wasn't just because of the petition of the time, which I signed as well, but I also think that many at Lucasfilm held some sway over Lucas and explained to him the benefit of releasing one of the most profitable films of all time onto the most popular video format of all time. When you lay out the numbers, people have a tendency to perk up.

In the same light, I do feel that we can make a difference in how Lucas and his company view the Star Wars fans. I believe that if we show him that it isn't just a select few who want the Original Trilogy in it's original, unaltered form, but a large percentage of fans who want nothing more than to enjoy his original masterpieces the way they were presented when we all fell in love with them. One sure method to getting our point across is to promote public awareness of what Lucas intends to do, meaning letting people know that if they don't speak now and sign this petition, or another petition like this one, that they may very well loose their right to own the Original Trilogy forever. To do this I think that not only do we have to get more and more sites to carry our banner for this petition, but that we must find a way to advertise Lucas's plan through certain select print publications. One publication that I subscribe to that would probably get some serious attention is Home Theater Magazine. This publication has an extremely varied subscriber base that I think would yield a very high return in signatures on this petition. Another publication that I feel would be necessary to gain media attention would be Variety magazine.

I have brought this up because this subject, Lucas denying his fans the right to own the Original Trilogy on DVD, is truly a little known fact to not only the general public at large, but to dedicated star wars fans as well who haven’t learned of this development, or if they have don’t know how they can make a difference in making the Original Trilogy on DVD a reality. I feel that making not only the public aware, but also making the media aware is absolutely vital in getting Lucas’s attention and letting him catch some heat from the press and hopefully from film critics over his decision to exclude any DVD plans for the Original Trilogy. An example of these kinds of ads being put to good use is the current Save Farscape campaign that has been set up to try and keep that show on the air for a final season. They have fan contributions coming in regularly to fund Farscape Fan television commercials and print ads as well as rally’s to keep a great television show alive for one more season so that the cast and crew can come to a proper conclusion, and give their fans what they not only want but also deserve. (If you haven’t already figured out, I am a rabid Farscaper so sorry for the rant! ; ))

What I am saying is that I am not 100% positive that we are going to achieve our victory in the same way that we did when Episode I & II were released onto DVD, and that we are probably going to need as much help in bringing Lucas to the negotiating table as we can get. He seems dead-set on continually revising his films in order to attain perfection that honestly he can’t admit that he has already achieved with the originals. We must work on getting the word out to media sources wherever we can that so far 25,000 Star Wars fans disagree with Mr. Lucas and that more are coming! And with that I believe we will be able to bring more and more fans on board to achieve our goal!

I will be writing to the editor of Home Theater Magazine in regards to seeking either advertising space or maybe having them write an article on the subject to help raise awareness on this subject.

-Jeremy
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I believe the original theatrical versions are dead in the water. A petition such as this one is about the only thing that will resurrect them. 21,672(and still counting) confirmed signatures may not be as much as 30,000, but it's still a lot. Even if he doesn't release the original versions come 2005, there's still a chance he'll do it for the 30th anniversary of Star Wars in May of 2007. There's even a really slim chance that he might change his mind about it for no apparent reason.
"May the force be with you!"
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I am very surprised at the fact that the petition has somewhat stopped gaining signatures.
I am also very dissappointed in the fact that instead of keeping some faith and even helping get the word out there some of you are saying that this wont help.

I for one have been visiting many peoples private sites that have something or sometimes even nothing to do with Star Wars and have been telling them to visit here. I have also emailed all of my friends telling them to sign this. Sure even if they don't want to! It's all about getting more signatures. I will continue to email complete strangers and continue to sign peoples guest books mentioning this site. Cause i for one want these on DVD more than anything in the world!

And if this petition doesn't work, at least I can say i had some great conversations and made many friends.
I thank you guys for that!
"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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true luke, i support you in what you said...
i asked someone here before if they went in for things in which they didnt believe, so i guess my question is... why are you then even here!?!? this is a site for supporting the release of the OT on dvd. if you are so negative about it, bugger off...
players that ruin it for the team are not teamplayers and are then sacked.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)
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I hope you weren't talking about me, Luke. I don't know about the rest of the posters here, but i'm thinking positive thoughts about it. As i implied in my previous post, this petition is the only thing that gave me any hope at all for the original theatrical version. Preferably without "Episode IV: A New Hope" added to the opening crawl of Star Wars. But my point is, thanks to this petition i now have faith that it'll happen. And like I pointed out, there's always a chance it could happen in 2007 as a 30th Anniversary release. Only time will tell.
"May the force be with you!"
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*khm*khm*

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Originally posted by: Luke Skywalker
I am also very dissappointed in the fact that instead of keeping some faith and even helping get the word out there some of you are saying that this wont help.


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Originally posted by: motti_soL
i asked someone here before if they went in for things in which they didnt believe, so i guess my question is... why are you then even here!?!?


This time I am very disappointed... seems that you two completely don't understand me... I'm getting treated like a newbie who posts something like "diz site sux" and not like a stalwart supporter, who I am. To straighten things out:

1. I've signed the petition when the counter showed ~400 signatures. My current ID# is around 800.
For those who can't infer anything from the words above: This means that I gave my support when there were not many people around and the sheer number of signatures meant nothing.

2. I've sent e-mails to my friends. And this wasn't just one e-mail as I know their ID#...
For those who can't infer anything from the words above: I kept bothering my buddies until they signed the petition. I do spread the word.

3. I've changed my signature on other forums to lead people to this site.
For those who can't infer anything from the words above: I do spread the word.

4. I've looked for websites with banner promoting this site and reported them to Jay.
For those who can't infer anything from the words above: I'm trying to help Jay regarding "reaching the target readers".

5. I'm doing all this sh*t, while I still do not own DVD player!
doing all this sh*t = supporting the petition


I haven't changed my mind regarding the words I posted. You are all young people, sometimes overzealous, sometimes slap-happy - getting into new things with joy and hope, still believing that you can change the world. I have more realistic approach to life (you may call me an ex-optimist) and I'm sorry to say this to you: the world will never be the way you want it to be... Wearing "NO to WAR" T-shirt won't stop advancing tanks and rarely will force politicians to change their attitudes... Sad but true.
So, why to wear such T-shirt? To soothe your conscience, that you have done the right thing, all what you could do. Is having realistic view of the situation a sin? I gave my "yes" to this petition and I'm not taking it back, as I believe this was a good thing to do. But this doesn't mean that I can't think: "Gee, I doubt that GL will change his mind solely on this petition's sake..."

So next time please reconsider your thoughts before you write "bugger off", OK?
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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Whether this petition makes a difference or not, is something time will tell.

Any consumer of a product (in this case SW on DVD) has a legal right to make a request, after all it is the consumer who is expected to pay for the product.

There is a saying that bears truth: 200.000 people say "I don't make a difference". As one single voice, nobody makes a difference. But as a loud and unified voice of many individuals, there is at least THE CHANCE to make a difference.

And since my passion for SW is strong (especially for the original theatrical versions) I feel that NO ONE should leave this chance unused...

There is the chance of failure, yes. But the chance of suceeding might be so rewarding that it is definitely WORTH A TRY!

Or in other words: "Don't try. Do it!"

Lucas on the colorization of the THREE STOOGES in 2004: "Maybe just the fact that they're in black and white makes it funny, because their humor is dated. But by putting it in black and white, it puts it in a context where you can appreciate it for what it was."  Lucas on film preservation before Congress in 1988: "The public's interest is ultimately dominant over all other interests."

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Do i think this petion will make a difference? Yes, for one big reason. If a single editor from a major outlet and/or magazine, we have it gold. Can you imagine what would happen if the published New York Times or USA Today published this? We wouldn't have tens of thousands, but hundreds of thousands of signatures within weeks. The goal is to this on a major newspaper, or maybe something as simple as the front page of AOL that has millions of members.
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WHOA!!!
Jedi Master and RRS... I didn't mean to direct any of those comments to you!!
I wish i had read this thread sooner...
What I was trying to say is, I don't want people leaving the forum or giving up hope cause it looks like we're not making difference.. I did not direct any of my comments to you!!
I apologize if it seemed that way..

I understand your more realistic view on life and I can admit that i tend to have a very optimistic view on many things...
but the way i look at it is like this..

what do we lose if this doesn't work?
nothing really...
but what do we gain if it does....

think about it...

"even the smallest person can change the course of the future"
"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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hmm... RRS, i was NOT talking about you at all, i do NOT doubt your belief in this site at ALL!!!!! it was nileqt i was talking about!
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
Qui-Gon Jinn (R.I.P.)