Mike O

Originally posted by: zombie84
Just like to point this out:

The GOUT sold well. It was number one on Amazon pre-orders for a long time. Considering that it was the same film re-packaged for the third time, that is damn good. I guess maybe Lucasfilm was expecting it to be this giant hit?? For a triple-dipped disk that was technically flawed from its initial release, that is one of the best dvd sellers of the year as far as i am concerned. So, the news that LFL considers it dissapointing to me is very strange.

Secondly, the news is not that the set has been cancelled, its that it is CONSIDERED being cancelled for fear of over-exposure. It may yet come out. Thirdly, there was already that press release, i think it was Lego, that said there was a new dvd set coming out; the news then is that a few execs are considering "maybe we should wait another year?" not "cancel the release right now." Considering its the 30th anniversary i can't see any logic in postponing it until any other date. But, you know, Lucasfilm and all--dumbasses.

Fourthly, i think there is a very significant item in the digitalbits rumor (remember--rumor) that should be highlighted. Nine-disk set. The prequel dvds are two disks each, totalling six--that leaves only three disks for the entire OT, in other words, movie-only, not even the GOUT or the 2004 bonus disk. This to me is even more perplexing--its just the previous releases, with less bonus material, in an expensive box? At least they could include the bonus disk. Just doesn't make sense.

For all these reasons, i am suspecting that maybe this report is bogus, or inaccurate at least. My feeling is that if LFL released a 30th anniversary boxset, it would probably include a few additional extras, like perhaps deleted scenes or a vintage doc on a second, exlusive bonus disk, plus maybe even the Clone War animated series which Lucasfilm sort of considers Episode II.5, and the GOUT would make sense considering this whole year Lucasfilm is really milking the "vintage" and "classic" imagry of the OOT for the anniversary. I still give digitalbits benefit of the doubt, but there are a few aspects to this report that i think are not quite right.

Originally posted by: zombie84That was the era of treating American cinema as "Serious" and "artistic" works of self-expression, of which Star Wars is often seen as the antithesis to.

Originally posted by: vote_for_palpatine


The Academy was well aware that Star Wars was a half-finished film in 1977. They were also aware in 1997 that Star Wars was still not complete, but alas, the 2004 release was direct to video...

Originally posted by: Jumpman
To this day, it's complete BS that Lucas didn't win Best Director and Best Picture for Star Wars back at the Oscars in '78. I'm sorry, has Annie Hall had the cultural impact that Star Wars has?

If someone can give me a complete and logic answer to this question, I'll gladly change my mind....

Originally posted by: Mr Bungle




All they need to do is go on Amazon, it is spelled out for them there, I have never seen so many one star reviews for a product, not everyone wants the OT but it would have sold more had it been actually value for money, which it wasnt, and I cant believe LFL are that stupid to reliase that the product wasnt any good and thats why the figures werent as good as they thought they would be.

Originally posted by: Fang Zei


that was me,

although thinking back on that, Lucas did say in an interview around the time of the 9/12 release "now we'll see" and "it'll all come out in the end." Maybe to him this is nothing more than a funny experiment even though, as I keep saying, there's no way he doesn't know about the huge demand for a good quality OOT release. LFL should just do a high-def transfer of the OOT and get it over with so they can keep revising the SE every few years to keep it "updated."

As someone said in either this thread or one of the others, the star wars trilogy is just one of countless other movies that are yet to see the light of day. Watching that youtube video that someone linked to earlier, the "real political face talk" one, THX-1138's original version hasn't been released on dvd either. What are the chances it ever will be?

Originally posted by: dark_jedi
I also tried to watch the first movie,but could not get through it,just to damn boring.

Originally posted by: JumpmanEpisode V doesn't work without Lucas. He shouldn't get all the credit but he shouldn't be left out either.

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.

Not really. I just want the OOT, that's all. My mind hasn't changed. And what CO is saying is that even if they don't mind the changes, it's not likely that they'll buy another set for MORE of them. It's odds on that if they bought the 04 set, they don't care, and won't buy the new set solely for a few changes.

But, Lucas didn't deployed Stormtroopers across the country, making the fanbase buy these DVD releases either. That's purely choice. You knew exactly what was in the set from day one....

"Anakin, you're breaking my pants!" Padme.

Originally posted by: TheCassidy


By no means am I a blind, accepting fanboy, but enough is enough.

Who the hell do you guys think thought up the stories in the first place?

Who created the characters? The ships? The planets? The tech?

George Lucas created the Millenium Fucking Falcon, and that's cool. He created TaunTauns. That's cool. He created Jabba. That's cool. Carbonite? Lucas. Pod Races (arguable the best part of EPI)? Lucas. The Clone Battle in EPII? Lucas.

It's not that I don't recognize the issues with Lucas or his filmmaking, but it's become so en vogue to bash him by saying "Well, he didn't do Empire or Jedi so he must suck." I call bullshit.

Yeah, Kersh and Marquand were great directors, and they helped forge amazing films, but their role was to interpret the scripts, block the scenes, coax the actors (who, let's face the facts, didn't win any Oscars for them) and compose the shots. They didn't make or break Star Wars. They were along for the ride. A ride that Lucas created - lock, stock, and smoking barrel.

It's the internet whining and Expanded Universe marketing that is killing Star Wars, not Lucas.

EDIT - @ Marvolo - where are the poop jokes and slapstick in Star Wars - sorry, EPIV: A New Hope?

Originally posted by: Fang Zei
The real kicker is going to be the explanation LFL comes up with for why the 9/12 release wasn't what it should've been. Not that films don't get double dipped all the time, but there's bad anamorphic quality and then there's laserdisc quality. It took Universal a good eight years to release an anamorphic dvd of David Lynch's "Dune," but it did happen. Yesterday I was watching Criterion's double dip of Seven Samurai which I rented from Video Americain (it turned out they were having a "rent 3, rent 1 free" thing, so my friend payed for 2 of them). I remember renting the old dvd years ago and how grainy it looked. The newer dvd is quite impressive, smooth, crystal clear. And this was made from a dupe negative!!! It really gets me excited with what would be possible for the OOT on dvd, given the proper treatment.

This is not "Conan the Destroyer" we're talking about here, it's Star Wars.

Originally posted by: Tiptup
Really, by this point, more changes can only be a good thing. If George can change the SE version of the movies enough, then more and more people will simply stop recognizing them as the real thing. Or, at the very least, more people will begin demanding access to the theatrical versions in higher quality.

How do you figure?



I hope that you're right, but sadly, I doubt it.

If only you could remove the gun to your head that makes you buy this stuff!!!

Originally posted by: JediRandy


The trick is not to obsess over a scream as if that scream contains major plot points crucial to the trilogy. Maybe then you'll be able to enjoy arguably the best SW flick without turning into a whiney fanboy for what amounts to 2 seconds out of a 6+ hour trilogy.

Originally posted by: ESHBG
I still think we will see one of three things this year:

1. The OUT completely restored in a boxed set with all 6 films and extras, etc. (less likely IMO).
2. The OUT completely restored in a boxed set all by itself with the SEs, extras, etc.(more likely IMO).
3. The same OUT as the 09/12 release (.01% chance IMO).

I am saying #2 is the most likely scenario because A) Lucas will make way more $ breaking things down into two separate sets and B) he will appeal to both the PT, OUT, SE AND PT/SE/OUT markets. He has slammed the fans for decades now and he is smart enough to realize that the well has run pretty dry; to get people to buy all of these movies again, he will need to come up with something quite spectacular.

I think that it's case of having something to sell. He's sold the SEs in as many versions as he can. Same with the PT. Now for the OOT. That, along with many previously detailed bits of info, is why it would make sense for the OOT to be restored next year. But I don't want to get my hopes up, because Lucas is so illogical that nothing makes much sense anymore.


Anyone know how many actual copies the 9/12 releases have sold? Sorry to drag this on, but I really hope Lucas actually meant something by that "it'll all come out in the end" statement. If he doesn't get the picture in time for the next dvd release, he'll loose my money.

Originally posted by: zombie84
Sales for LFL since the prequels have been pretty extraordinary, considering there is no new base product being made. Obviously to compare post-2005 and pre-2005 is just ridiculous, but with the huge success of stuff like Lego II and the OOT, i think, unofficially, the company is doing far better than expected considering that these two major wins were largely unplanned beforehand.

Originally posted by: zombie84


I hope so, but a good release next year just seems too good to be true. I'd give almost anything for it, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Wait for Celebration IV for the announcement.

Originally posted by: Guy Caballero
Last year, they painstakingly restored the lost version of a movie called Major Dundee from 1965. They even created a completely new orchestral score from scratch. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the demand and profit potential for Star Wars '77 is equal to or greater than Major Dundee.

Originally posted by: JediRandyWe'll see... if there's ever a time for it, it'll be the big 6 movie box set....

I keep hoping that, but I doubt it. All I can do is pray and hope.



I think it's just a case of him giving the go-ahead for a restoration. He wouldn't have anything to do with it regardelss other than say whether or not it can be released.

DVD technology is capable of a lot, and the theatrical release of Star Wars and its two sequels deserve what that technology that can give us.