I don't know MikeO, I have Lucas saying it would cost millions, and you saying it wouldn't. How would we know how much it would cost to restore one of Lucas's well worn prints? Maybe they are so far gone that it would take the kind of power he used on the 2004 SE cleanup process. That did cost millions of dollars.
Lucas wouldn't have to use one of his well worn prints, there are some around, and in any case, it would be a worth it standpoint from a business standpoint because of the people who would buy it, as well as the respect it would show. What he should do is restore the original, transfer it, make a copy, and then add the SE stuff to make everybody happy. The point is that he won't do it, not that he can't. Lucasfilm have the money to burn. That's not that much to them, and the 2004 DVD were very poorly restored in places, IMO. This isn't about money. It's about what Lucas wants.
See, the problem is that none of us know what is in the Lucasfilm archives. The LD master seems like an attempt to do the least amount of work and spend the least amount of money possible to release a product for which there is a great deal more demand.
And he's not insulting the fans, he says flat out that they think outside of the box and are very creative. He seems to respect that.
Yes, but his answer is "oh well." He just wants people to say "oh, okay," to the changes. If he really did care, he'd respect both versions and solve the problem. He's basically saying "They're enititled to think whatever they want, but if they don't like it, that just too *&^% bad, because I say it should be a certain way, and what I say goes." Lucas is saying that he respects what people thingk, he just doesn't care, just that he respects them for thinking it. Here's what it comes down to: both versions. Everybody's happy. Lucas won't allow it. He's basically saying that they don't matter at all. "Yeah, the fans have an opinion. That's nice. I know that they're the reason I'm a billionare and all, but you know what? I don't care. I want it a certain way and anybody who disagrees with me is wrong. They're independent and think outside the box, which means that they disagree with me, so it want it stop."
If the SEs are so much better, why doesn't Lucas put his money where his mouth is and release both versions and allow us to see for ourselves? The answer is simple: many, many people prefer the originals and think that they are better. Lucas want to ensure that no one can see them and ergo no one can prefer them.
As far as the other people who worked on it for Lucas, Lucas paid them for those contributions.
So that means that they have no say? I'm not disputing his authority, but if what he is saying is true then he shouldn't be able to touch ESB or ROTJ becasue he didn't direct them. What's wrong is that he is completely overwriting their work and saying that it no longer exists because it doesn't represet what
he wanted. It's not all about him. Not to say that the film isn't primarily his, because it is, but without the contirubtions of those dedicated individuals, it would be nothing, and by saying that their work no longer exists because he doesn't like, he is insulting them.
I think if the original creators of the Flash Gordon serials were around to say "I really wish I could have done this on color" then I think Lucas would be all for it. To him it's about artist's rights.
. That's Hollywood for you. Well, who knows? Maybe Young and Stockdyke will make things even better on this release.
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