GLSRJ

Greetings Harmy.

First of all, I would like to thank you for the work that you've done on the Despecialized Editions.  You are doing Lucasfilm's job for them by preserving the historically significant versions of these films.  I already posted a message about this on your Return of the Jedi thread so I won't go into too much detail here about my experience finding and watching the Despecialized Editions.  I don't want to be redundant.

Second of all, I was wondering if you've heard the rumor that the unaltered versions are being given a 4K restoration.  Reliance Media Works has a demo reel (http://vimeo.com/95919913) showing some of their work on various films and clips from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back are included in it.  The colors in those clips look way better than they do in the 2004 DVD and 2011 Blu-Ray versions.

I've watched the demo reel multiple times and one shot of X-Wings from the original film in it caught my eye.  The shot is at the 00:58 mark.  I know that many shots of ships were either recomposited or replaced with CGI for the Special Edition.  I was wondering if this shot was recomposited or replaced.  If so, is the shot in the demo reel the original shot or the Special Edition shot?  If it is the original shot, then that would seem to me like compelling evidence that the unaltered version is being restored and will hopefully be released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Like I said, I don't know for sure if that particular shot was even changed at all to begin with and if it was, I don't know which version is the one shown in the reel.  Do you have any thoughts about this?

Hello Harmy.  I had to make an account so I could express my thanks to you for all of the hard work you have done to restore these great films to their former glory.  I was introduced to Star Wars at the age of seven with the 1997 versions on VHS and it wasn't until I was ten that I got to see the original versions, also on VHS.  Several years after that, I learned about how extreme the measures are that Lucas has taken over the years to erase the original, groundbreaking versions from existence and permanently replace them with the altered versions that look half-cartoonish because of all the dated 1990s CGI that were added to them.  I was absolutely infuriated.

At this point in time, I only had the 2004 DVDs.  Wanting the original versions more than ever, I bought widescreen VHS tapes of the unaltered versions from Amazon and, even later, got the 2006 DVDs.  Later still, I found out about the Despecialized Editions.  I just recently figured out how to obtain them and I watched the first two a few weeks ago.  I finally got around to watching Return of the Jedi tonight.

All I can say is Job Well Done.  Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your efforts to undo all of the horrendous changes made by Lucasfilm that have ruined these movies.  You are a rebel who is doing the job of the evil Lucasfilm empire for them. By making the Despecialized Editions, you are helping to preserve three of the most important landmarks in film history.

I burned the Despecialized Editions to some DVDs (I don't have a Blu-Ray player) and they are now three of the best DVDs in my collection.  I can finally retire my VHS tapes and GOUT discs.  The Despecialized Editions are THE versions for theatrical version purists to have.  I have a younger cousin who, to my knowledge, has never seen any of the Star Wars films in their entirety.  If I am ever able to convince her to watch them, your versions are the ones I will show her.

I will be enjoying the Despecialized Editions on DVD and in HD on my computer for many years to come.  Thank you very much.

P.S.  Will there be any restoration documentaries for Empire and Jedi?  The ones made for the original film were excellent.