I hope and pray that we can get a higher quality release of the O-OT, but I really don't think Lucas is worried about which one people will want to watch. I know there are a lot of people who really prefer the O-OT, but I don't think that makes up "most" of the people who want to buy Star Wars on DVD.
Perhaps, but the OOT has enough of an audience to make Lucas money, which is all he care about. And sales of 06 DVDs have proven that there is a market for the originals.
I for one prefer the SE, and I have talked to a lot of people who are younger, who didn't grow up with the originals, who also prefer the newer versions.
Ah, but where does that leave the historica signicance of
Star Wars? How long will the younger generation be interested in
Star Wars? Will they give it the same level of devotion long after we have gone? None of us will ge around long enough to know.
Updated effects can't change the fact that the story, plot, and characters remain the same. The outcome at the end of it all is the same. The feel is the same.
To you. Others may not feel the same.
Again, Lucas is accomodated himself. Who are we to say what he can change and what he can't change? It's his films. If he feels the need to change them to satisfy his creative mind, why can't he do that? He owns everything Star Wars.
Well, as we've all been saying, they're more his financially than artistically, but your are correct to a certain extent and I agree. Lucas has the right to do whatever he wants to the films. I just want a high quality OOT DVD release and HD and whatever else comes along.
You can piss and moan about it until the cows come home but you have to at least respect his decision and see it from his point of view. If you do, and you still disagree obviously you do, then so be it.
I disagree. So what? I couldn't stop the release of the SEs if I wanted to. That doesn't mean that I don't have the right to want the OOT in a version that meets industry standards. Surely, we can agree on that.
You probably have a few copies on VHS or Laserdisc, I'm guessing. If you do, continue to love the theatrical versions in that format. Nothing is stopping you.
For how long? How long until three of the most important films in history deteriorate away into nothing because their creator dislikes them? What about their influence and the people who's lives they touched? The filmmakers they inspired? Sooner or later, the tapes and LD will deteriorate. Then what? Lucas effectively 1984ed his films.
As for him stopping, I personally believe that the changes that are coming in the upcoming Saga Boxset will be so small that they won't even be worth arguing over. See, you feel that the changes destroyed the credibility of Star Wars...what they were at their core foundation. I feel that the core foundation is still intact, whether it theatrical version or special edition. The core foundation hasn't changed in 30 years....
In that case, why does anyone care? How about Han shooting first? The fact of the matter is that these changes alter what the films represent to some people. Does Lucas care? No. Should he? Perhaps not. He has his preferences, we have ours. If we had the OOT in high quality, we could just agree to disagree. But that doesn't mean that the originals just don't exist anymore.
As for Kersh, he knew what he was getting into when he directed Episode V.
And Marquand? He's tragically no longer around to ask, so we'll never know. And it called
The Empire Striked Back. Just because something is legal does not make it right. Not to say that Lucas is doing something contrary to the laws of nature or is evil or somesuch, because he isn't and he's not. But that doesn't change the fact that he is altering someone else's work to suit his own needs and denying its existance. I very, very, very much dout either one knew what he would do their work. Gary Kurtz dislikes the changes too. I his opinion and less valid than Lucas's?
That said, I can see why others would prefer to have kept Shaw.
If we had a proper choice, the point would be moot.
And you know Jumpman, he will never stop, so why should I have to keep dealling with his changing vision?
Interesting point. His "vision: changes at least once a year.
Who are we to say what he can change and what he can't change?
We aren't.
If he feels the need to change them to satisfy his creative mind, why can't he do that?
He can. I could care less what he does. I just want a good OOT release, that's all.
And Lucas did produce (executive considering it's his money they're using) and write Episode V. Episode V doesn't work without Lucas' draft after Leigh Brackett died.
True, but that doesn't make it "his" film. It doesn't make it thiers either. It could not have existed without all of them together. To say that it or any film belongs to one person is to insult the others who worked on it.
"While Shaw was the face he had when he came back to the light, he still visually represents (to me) the twisted wreck he had become as Vader."
Bingo!
OK, so its our opinion. We'll go watch the high-quality release of the OOT and Lucas gave watch his high-quality release of SE and everybody's happy. Here, I'll link you to the high-quality release of the OOT...No, wait. I can't. So the point is still valid.
You don't think he saw it as an opportunity to further help his career out if he was a hired hand in the biggest sequel of all time at the point?
Yes, I think that that is why he took the project, but I doubt that he thought that Lucas would change something that he had put nearly a year of his life into 20 years later and say that Kersh's work didn't exist.
Again, I ask, why does my dislike of the SEs mean that I am denying Lucas his vision. Even if I wanted to, how would I stop him from releasing the SEs? He can do whatever he wants to the films. I don't care. I really don't. I just want the OOT in a high-quality release. That's it. That's all. That's not asking that much. And eventually, I will get it an all of this will be rendered moot.
I hope and pray that we can get a higher quality release of the O-OT, but I really don't think Lucas is worried about which one people will want to watch.
Yes, I think that he is. He knows that many people would watch the OOT and he doesn't want them to becasue then they might prefer it to the SEs. What's always struck me as odd is why he didn't simply market both. Then he'd be able to market six films instead of three and have twice as much money. But he seems to be slowly realizing that. Like I said, I just want a good OOT DVD release. That's it. Other than that, I don't care. I wish the man a long, happy, healthy life.
I understand the difference. That's not my issue. Lucas doesn't want to spend the money remastering and cleaning up on films he deems inferior to his vision. That's as plain as I can get. Would it have been easier to go the E.T. route? Absolutely. I can't argue against that. Everyone would've been happy. But haven't fans realized that Lucas cares about one thing when it comes to Star Wars and that's his vision of it. And if his vision of it is the Special Editions, that's it. I'd rather he give consumers the choice (which he technically did with the Limited Editions
but not an acceptible choice]) but I understand his views as a filmmaker and an artist.
.
.
. That's Hollywood for you. Well, who knows? Maybe Young and Stockdyke will make things even better on this release.