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a rumor from thedigitalbits.com...

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the boxset might not happen this year

This is proof positive that they shot themselves in the foot with the 9/12 release. If they hadn't bothered with the '05 or '06 releases, the demand they claim isn't there would be there all the more. If this does in fact get pushed back - and who knows, maybe it's only because they're too lazy to think up what to put in the box - but if it does get pushed back a year or two, this had better be, oh, I'd say 12 discs minimum.
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Or LFL could actually release something worth a damn like worth wild release of the OUT.

"The Empire can't stop us now..now its our turn" -Luke-

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Originally posted by: GhostAlpha26
Or LFL could actually release something worth a damn like worth wild release of the OUT.


Releasing something we actually need? Oh no, they'll make us desperate and hope we go out to buy limited time releases, not realizing that some of us actually know better.
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Who said something about being pulled in by the marketing and actually buying the GOUT

"The Empire can't stop us now..now its our turn" -Luke-

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Yea, I can't help but think that LFL is doing us a favor in a really wierd way, getting us to just forget about it for this year. They have even less of an excuse to not release the remastered unaltereds anway now. That much less money I'll be spending this year. 2009 is about as far the horizon goes for Star Wars right now, so I certainly can't see it being released any later than that. However, I can't help but put up yet another question mark and wonder if it will even be dvd at all by then. No, I think it will still be dvd anyway, but Lucasfilm is really overanalyzing their economics if they're holding back the boxset on the whim that enough people aren't going to buy it.
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Lucasfilm has botched the OT DVD from day one of DVD's inception, and what has happened as they have milked the fans without one decent release, and now everybody is fed up!

They should have released the OOT & SE together in one box set back in 2001/2002, just barebones releases with high quality anamorphic video to satisfy every fan out there. EVERY SW fan would have bought it back then, cause it would satisfy all parties. Then they could have released the Super Duper Boxset this year to mark the 30th Anniversary with deleted scenes, trailers, documentaries, etc. The boxset would now include the PT movies, along with the SE movies, and the OOT fully remastered too. EVERY SW fan would have bought it cause there wouldn't have been a SW release in 5-6 years so many fans would be ready for something new along the lines of bonus material since the saga is finished now. Then in 2010-2011 Lucas could release the same boxset in BlueRay with the SE/OOT & the same specs as the '07 boxset, and EVERY fan would run to the store to watch SW in Highdef.

They could have had 3 big DVD boxset sellers in the span of 10 years, while alienating zero fans. Now what they have done is that they have never sold to the maxium SW audience on ANY of the boxsets! So they have actually lost money cause they have jaded so many fans and made fans pick and choose which versions they want. You will have older fans who won't buy the SE versions, then you have younger fans who buy the OOT set, and then you will have fans with HDTV's who won't buy anything non-anamorphic. And then you have a subset of fans who just don't give a shit anymore and are turned off towards the whole thing.

Inclusion George, that is the best way to go about the future of SW and your fans. You made a statement years ago that this versions does exist and this versions doesn't exist, and now you have fans that are actually taking you up on that offer now! Can you understand why sales have been less then you thought?

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I was just hoping for an updated SE with fixed lightsabers, and more descent scenes, not scenes like Jabbba the Hutt in ANH. Because now that I have the OOT on DVD I am a lot less negative towards the SE.


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But look, the boxset would have been a MAJOR dissapointment; and the fact that the OT was released tree times in three years, there should be at least some spacing between DVD releases! Sorry folks, but we have no choice but to suffer letterbox versions of the OOT unaltered. Let me ask you this question: do we want the SW boxset because of some hope to get a proper transfer of the OOT, or is this something we really want?
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We want a proper transfer of the OOT + deleted scenes & vintage documentaries. Is that too much to ask?
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Now that this is off the table, how 'bout a mega 4-disc set for the original Star Wars? No need for a rushed and problem filled multi-film set. Just take the time and effort to make a real good release of each film. This would probably be my dream set. Just give each film the treatment it deserves. George's definitive cut on disc one, the remastered original version on disc two, and disc three and four loaded with documentaries, deleted scenes, and other goodies.
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Hell, I'd take a 3 disc set of the THEATRICAL versions of the OT remastered properly.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
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We want a proper transfer of the OOT + deleted scenes & vintage documentaries. Is that too much to ask?


No that isn't too much to ask. All Im saying is that this 07 box set that will be the "holy grail" of SW releases will never happen; you have the better chance of creating a perpetual motion machine than to see a proper release of the OOT.
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A proper transfer of the original trilogy? Hah! Madness! What do you think this is, Porky's?
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Well, what were they thinking releasing the 3 disc set in '05 and then the no effort original versions the year before an expected mega box set? Even if the OOT was still non animorphic, a box set would have sold better if it had everything else like the deleted scenes, then fans would have been thinking "it's the best we're going to get for a while."
I'll tell you this, I only started searching for a internet list of changes to the films after I got the '04 dvd set. That's when I found this site because I was interested in seeing and then getting a copy of the original versions. I did not own any previous vhs releases and hadn't even heard of laserdisc. I learned a lot about the films as well as a lot about home video. I learned what animorphic video means too.
In other words, if the original versions that we have now had just been released in the '04 box set, I would have been perfectly happy because I wouldn't have known to expect better.
I'm wondering if anyone else thinks Lucas wouldn't have pissed off so many people as much if he had merely included the letterbox original versions the first time around and then waited for this year to release another OT dvd set.

Take back the trilogy. Execute Order '77

http://www.youtube.com/user/Knightmessenger

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That's exactly what I've been thinking ever since the non-anamorphic news broke back in May. Sure, people would've been pissed off having to watch the originals in inferior quality...but at least they'd have them along with the '04 set. That's why I almost felt betrayed. Back in early october of '04 I asked my mom if she could pick up the boxset at costco and in fact she did. It's still sitting on the shelf back home. Lucas had said that the original versions were dead, the boxset had enough bells and whistles to distract me, I accepted it for what it was. Then two years later he tries to sell the exact same thing again (except without the bonus content) just because he knows there are people out there who will pay 60 dollars for something that costed next to nothing to produce.
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Sounds like we're really shafted.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

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Originally posted by: Knightmessenger

I'm wondering if anyone else thinks Lucas wouldn't have pissed off so many people as much if he had merely included the letterbox original versions the first time around and then waited for this year to release another OT dvd set.


For the first time in SW history, Lucas underestimated the fans, and the sad fact is it has been happening for 10 years now and now he is starting to get the point. Everyone I know enjoyed the SE in 1997, but nobody I know PREFERS them! Everyone I know enjoyed the PT from 99-05, but nobody I know LOVES them! Everyone I know loves the OOT movies, and enjoys everything else in the universe, but when you don't love something you aren't going to keep rebuying things like sheep. I would buy the OOT versions on VHS & DVD over and over again if Lucas never made the PT & SE cause I am such a diehard fan, and thats what diehard fans do, they don't mind shelling out money for something they already have. I just find it hard to believe that a majority of SW fans will buy a new DVD set solely on more changes to the OT and updated PT movies.

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CO,

They might if they don't see the changes as the destruction of the story like some believe they are. Changes or no changes, the stories haven't changed. It's not like Lucas went back to the Original Trilogy and literally disassembled each film and re-edited the films to be something totally different. He's nowhere near that point. A subtle story point here and there, maybe but it's not like Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven or what Oliver Stone had done with Alexander....

And what I find the most funny about this "rumor" is the fact that many fans said they were done with Lucas after the last release of the films and weren't going to spend any more cash and TIME on Star Wars and yet, this "rumor" comes out and everyone is upset. Either you stick to your guns and be done with Lucas and Star Wars or you're not.

People talk about Lucas changing his mind on a whim but fans are even worse at it when it comes to this franchise.
Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is. Consumed by Darth Vader.

-Yoda; Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
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Originally posted by: Jumpman
CO,

They might if they don't see the changes as the destruction of the story like some believe they are. Changes or no changes, the stories haven't changed. It's not like Lucas went back to the Original Trilogy and literally disassembled each film and re-edited the films to be something totally different. He's nowhere near that point. A subtle story point here and there, maybe but it's not like Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven or what Oliver Stone had done with Alexander....

And what I find the most funny about this "rumor" is the fact that many fans said they were done with Lucas after the last release of the films and weren't going to spend any more cash and TIME on Star Wars and yet, this "rumor" comes out and everyone is upset. Either you stick to your guns and be done with Lucas and Star Wars or you're not.

People talk about Lucas changing his mind on a whim but fans are even worse at it when it comes to this franchise.


I am sorry but the changing of an actor at the end scene of ROTJ changes the story drastically. Changing Hayden in ROTJ is different the updating ObiWans hut in ANH, but we have been through this a zillion times........

As for the rumor, most fans here have been steadfast that as long as Lucas remasters the OOT they will buy it, even if it includes the PT & SE. Sure there are always a couple fringe fans who won't buy anything anymore, but 99% of the fans here will gladly shell out money for a nice fully restored OOT versions, so it isn't about sticking to our guns.

Jumpman, DVD has been out for 10 years and the fans have yet to get a nice version of the OOT on DVD, and I find it hilareous that Lucas will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of SW this year, yet he says 'that' version doesn't exist anymore? Why doesn't he just celebrate the 10th Anniversary of SW this year because that is how long 'his' versions have been viewed by the public.

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CO,

Not going to discuss the merits of having Hayden at the end of Return of the Jedi. It's been done to death.

As for the "rumor", what do you think is the percentage of "fans" that desperately need a remastered version of the theatrical releases? I'm curious because I don't see it as large as some here seem to think it is....

And the reason he's celebrate the 30th Anniversary with "his version of Episode IV" is because basically, it's still the same, damn film...cosmetic changes and all. It's still the same film that has Luke, Han, and Leia as the main characters. Obi-Wan still gets it in the end. The Death Star still gets destroyed. The music is still by John Williams. The actors that played them in 1977 are still playing them in the 2004 versions. I mean, it begins the same and ends the same....

Casual fans, which make of the majority, don't have this feverish need to have the theatrical versions of the film released on DVD. When they pop in Star Wars, that's what they see. It feels Star Wars to them.

And even if Lucas were to relent and release it how this "core group" wanted them, the bitchin' would never, ever stop. It just wouldn't. That's the nature of Star Wars fans now. If everything was perfect except for one small oversight that nobody at Lucasfilm caught but some zealot fan caught, all hell would break loose and the bitchin' at Lucas would continue. It just would.

Why should he relent?
Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is. Consumed by Darth Vader.

-Yoda; Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
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Originally posted by: Jumpman

Not going to discuss the merits of having Hayden at the end of Return of the Jedi. It's been done to death.
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CO's reply: Because that goes against the old argument, Lucas was just changing things cosmetically that he couldn't do in 1977, and now all of the sudden you have new actors in a 20 year old movie. And it does change the context now of the saga, cause Lucas is now saying that Anakin died in ROTS, and that is why he comes back as Hayden ROTJ. I would ask you, who is that guy who is conflicted all through ROTJ? ANAKIN!!!!!! He is the same guy!! So not only is it jarring to many of us who saw it for 20 years, it doesn't make sense.





As for the "rumor", what do you think is the percentage of "fans" that desperately need a remastered version of the theatrical releases? I'm curious because I don't see it as large as some here seem to think it is....
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Co's response: I don't think everyone needs it, but you are forgetting about who rebuys movies from a movie series: Diehards. The casual fans don't keep rebuying the same movies over and over again, hence why they are casual. There are large enough group out there who would gladly pay for a OOT remastered set, not everyone, but still a good bit.







And the reason he's celebrate the 30th Anniversary with "his version of Episode IV" is because basically, it's still the same, damn film...cosmetic changes and all. It's still the same film that has Luke, Han, and Leia as the main characters. Obi-Wan still gets it in the end. The Death Star still gets destroyed. The music is still by John Williams. The actors that played them in 1977 are still playing them in the 2004 versions. I mean, it begins the same and ends the same....
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Does it end the same? The last time I checked the whole ending of ROTJ montage is different, with the new song, the addition of new planets, taking out of the Ewok song, and the stupidest subtraction is when Lucas took out Lukes wink to the force ghosts! That was a nice moment gone from the SE because Lucas didn't have a vision of Luke winking in 1983?

As for the overall story, I do agree that that has stayed the same, but that still doesn't justify it is right. Why doesn't Coppola change Pacino in The Godfather and have him shoot second as the Cop & Solazzo shoot first in the Italian Restaurant so it can make Pacino's character less of a cold blooded killer. I mean it would only be a 5 second change? Whether it be 5 seconds or literally changing the whole movie, it is still unnecessary for something that was beloved and successful.





Casual fans, which make of the majority, don't have this feverish need to have the theatrical versions of the film released on DVD. When they pop in Star Wars, that's what they see. It feels Star Wars to them.

And even if Lucas were to relent and release it how this "core group" wanted them, the bitchin' would never, ever stop. It just wouldn't. That's the nature of Star Wars fans now. If everything was perfect except for one small oversight that nobody at Lucasfilm caught but some zealot fan caught, all hell would break loose and the bitchin' at Lucas would continue. It just would.

Why should he relent?
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CO's response: Please stop with the argument that everyone is bitchin, I have argued with you before Jumpman on TFN, and if you go read the posts when the OOT was announced on May 4th before everyone knew it was non-anamorphic, 95% of the fans were happy and satisfied. Sure there are always idiots who complain about the covers, and the extras, but most people here would be happy with the OOT remastered. And by the way do you still not want the OOT to be released in anamorphic like you said last August to me on TFN? Cause I always found that pretty petty when you constantly say we are the fans that are bitchin.

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CO,

Personally, having Hayden at the end of Episode VI does make sense, especially after Episode III. But that's just me.

As for the rebuying issue, you're probably correct. Diehards do continue to rebuy them. I can't dispute that.

"As for the overall story, I do agree that that has stayed the same, but that still doesn't justify it is right." It doesn't justify it as being wrong either. It depends on point of view, which essentially has boiled down to Lucas' and the "core fans." It's a difference in ideology of what is truly Star Wars, which no one can ever answer....

As far as releasing the theatrical versions remaster, I want them to be released so we can get this entire stupid ass episode behind us and start enjoying the films again and talking about the content in the films. Personally, I made eternal peace with the Original Trilogy with the release of the 2004 DVD set. Sure, there are maybe a few things in the entire boxset that I'd change, in terms of what's in the films themselves (as someone who's interest in film is far beyond the casual fan) but the boxset, I felt, was pretty much a great set. I didn't need a Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy Boxset-type of set with the Star Wars Saga. That boxset was overkill to the nth degree.

But, admittedly CO, I'm of two minds of releasing them remastered. Again, I would like it to be released from a public relations standpoint because that's the only hurdle that separates Lucas from certain circles in the film community. At the same time, apart of me doesn't because had Lucas had the technology back then that he had while making the Prequels, the Original Trilogy would never look as it did when they were originally released. So, I see the Special Editions as Lucas fixing what he was always wanted to be there in the first place.

Now, you're argument is "well, which version, '97, '04, or what we might be getting with the boxset?" And I would answer, what did he really change from '97 to '04? Jabba...but he needed to be changed from the '97 version mainly because by the time the '99 Jabba from Episode I was shown, Jabba '97 was already dated. Technology just caught up really fast with that decision. Luke's scream...well, that was just a dumb decision on Lucas' part to begin with. This is an example of him not really sure what he wanted until someone knocked some sense into him. Boba's voice...it makes sense in the context of how Lucas looks at the Star Wars now. It's not two separate trilogies. It's one and Boba's voice should sound like Jango's.

As for the other issues, transfers and lightsabers, that's a matter of opinion, especially with the transfers. I'm sure it wasn't on purpose for the lightsabers to change colors in the manner that they did and I'm sure it'll be corrected when the boxset gets released. It's not like he actually planned that.

So again, if he really wants to mend fences with certain circles, then he should release them remastered. But, I think Lucas should continue to push for what he feels Star Wars really is (since this is his creation from pretty much top to bottom)....because again, it's not like changed them in the manner of say Kingdom of Heaven or Alexander. He changed some things that would've been that way had he had what he needed back when he was originally making these films....





Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is. Consumed by Darth Vader.

-Yoda; Episode III Revenge of the Sith.