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oojason

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Post
#1461578
Topic
Star Wars 2006 GOUT DVDs - is it still worth buying them?
Time

Johann-500 said:

If they are going for a low price then why not? An important part of Star Wars history, from the fans’ perspective.
It may not be high quality, but that too signifies a turning point for Lucasfilm, in beginning to release lazy and shoddy work, with little in the way of quality control.
It says something about Lucas himself too, fans rejecting his Special Edition and still wanted the originals, or both, and he put out this POS in response?
I’ll take this POS and stand it proudly on my shelf, next to Despecialized and 4K Tn1 releases. The official Special Edition releases hidden behind them.

I have a similar attitude to yours - and the 2006 GOUT DVD also take far more ‘pride of place’ on my DVD shelf than any of the ‘official’ Special Edition releases do.

 

From George’s interview with MTV re the 2006 GOUT DVD release:-

Until then, he [Lucas] says he’s curious to see what the reception will be for the upcoming limited-edition DVD release of the three original “Star Wars” films (see “Three Original ‘Star Wars’ Films (Finally) Coming To DVD — But Not For Long”). It’s just the original versions, as they were, Lucas said. We didn’t do anything to it at all. But we’re not sure how many people want that.

You might say quite a few, considering how many fans were angered by the digitized, expanded updates of episodes IV, V and VI. Lucas claims he’s not re-releasing the originals to appease fans, but rather to bate them. Now we’ll find out whether they really wanted the original or whether they wanted the improved versions, he said. It’ll all come out in the end.

 
The 2006 ‘bonus disc’ DVD release, utilising a source meant for a 1993 laserdisc release, riddled with quality issues, and substandard at the time of release in 2006, as acknowledged by Lucasfilm VP Jim Ward at the time…

It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that’s not as good as state of the art 2006. - an article from USA Today

 
…yet even today, the 2006 GOUT DVDs fetch a pretty penny, and are still sought after.

This is despite the set being coupled with the problem-stricken 2004 Special Edition versions on DVD, the first time Star Wars had ever been released on DVD… and done so in a botched, lacking in ‘quality control’, yet with a “deliberate creative decisions” attitude. A release many fans had already purchased just two years prior (and in essence had to ‘double-dip’ for, in 2006).

 

And fans are still asking for a modern, high quality release of the unaltered theatrical cuts, many years after even Lucasfilm acknowledged the “overwhelming demand” for these versions

“the biggest question we’ve ever gotten from Star Wars fans is, ‘When are you going to release the originals?’”

the “overwhelming demand” for the unaltered theatrical version.

the "long awaited release of original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy.”

“over the years a truly countless number of fans have told us they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in the theatres.”

…despite years of Lucasfilm staying silent on the issue and also ignoring the fans’ questions and queries as to why there is not such a release (disingenuous and selective claims, with exaggerated excuses over cost aside).

 

So when George said…It’ll all come out in the end. …it certainly did.

Lucas didn’t put his money where his mouth was, nor put much effort in at all with the release of the 2006 bonus disc DVDs - treating fans with utter contempt in the process - likely in an effort to try and make his Special Edition version look ‘better’ in comparison, quality-wise. Yet these 2006 GOUT DVD releases are still more sought after than any of the Special Edition DVD and blu ray releases and re-issues.
 

Right now I’m looking at US eBay… and the price of the 2006 unaltered classic cut of Empire Strikes Back on DVD… is more than the 2019 Special Edition of Empire Strikes Back on 4K/UHD. The same also applies for Star Wars (1977), and the same again for Return Of The Jedi.
 

The quality of the 2006 GOUT DVDs may be shite - and of a ‘1993 standard’ as stated by Lucasfilm VP Jim Ward (not even really that good to be honest - given the DVD issues) - yet they still sit ‘pride of place’ on that shelf. A victory for fans, if nothing else. 👍
 

Post
#1460937
Topic
The Official babyhum Release Thread
Time

-babyhum- said:

phoenix
/ˈfiːnɪks/
noun
(in classical mythology) a unique bird that lived for five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, after this time burning itself on a funeral pyre and rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle.

Welcome back, babyhum. 👍

If I didn’t say it years ago, I’ll say it now… that is some absolute quality work down by yourself in compiling that and making it all available for everyone too.
 

Post
#1460612
Topic
The 'Naysayer Guide’ by people who DON'T want an unaltered theatrical release of the OT
Time

The unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy’… the few words that can send certain Star Wars fans into an angry tizz… often triggering some quite uninformed, somewhat ignorant, and wholly incorrect claims and statements over the years. Especially when there is talk about wanting to have the option to buy a high quality, official release, on a modern digital format.
 

 
A number of fans who do seemingly get quite angry, defensive, and hostile… are no doubt big proponents of the various Special Editions - which represent ‘George’s vision(s)’ - all four of these continuing visions, since 1997, and believe these are the only versions that should only be available? Perhaps seeing themselves as somehow defending George, and his latest vision(s)?

Sometimes, comments from certain fans are ostensibly said with malice, likely in an attempt to troll. Perhaps parroting others’ past comments in a bid to appear ‘knowledgeable’ - or maybe attempting to be ‘contrarian’… for the attention. Plus, there are some fans with a cultish pro-George / ‘George can do no wrong’ attitude, who struggle to believe, accept, or even question Lucas’ contradictory statements or erroneous claims - or even when caught out attempting to retcon and suppress Star Wars history.

Also, many of the somewhat uninformed & ill-judged claims made by certain fans could also genuinely be borne out of some confusion… likely due to George and Lucasfilm’s somewhat disingenuous statements over the years… and possibly also Lucasfilm not publicly commenting or responding to fan queries as to the availability of the unaltered classic cuts since 2006!
 

Below are just some of the comments often seen when the topic of the classic cuts of the Original Trilogy is mentioned online…

Along with these claims & statements are some hopefully concise, informative, and reasoned replies. Click on ‘Expand’ to see them. 👍

 
 

A dozen or so of the ‘Naysayer’s FAQ-style Guide’ for the oft-repeated claims, statements & comments (in no particular order)…

 

 

1:The unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy is on VHS, laserdisc, and DVD. Why are you complaining?

We’re not complaining - we are simply asking for an official, high quality, modern release of these much-loved award-winning, iconic, and ground breaking films to be able to be viewed, experienced and enjoyed as they originally were… the films that underpin the entire Galaxy Far, Far Away.

 

2:Duh! There was already a release of the unaltered theatrical version in 2006 on DVD!

We know. We are responsible for that unaltered classic cut on DVD release happening - along with other fans campaigning for such a release at the time too.

To date, it is the only time the unaltered classic cuts have appeared on a digital home format, albeit in SD, and is riddled with DNR problems and other quality issues such as overly high levels of grain, gate weave (aka frame jitter), aliasing (aka jaggies), and also a 1993 sound mix - in compressed sound quality…

To say nothing of Lucasfilm choosing a master source meant for a 1993 laserdisc transfer, in an obsolete letterbox format (even for 2006), and Lucasfilm then trying to pass off the… “1993 laserdisc masters represented the best source for providing the original versions as DVD bonus material”… a claim we all know to be very far from being anywhere near true.
 

Even Lucasfilm VP Jim Ward is on record as stating… It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that’s not as good as state of the art 2006. - and that ignores the many issues with the actual quality of DVD itself, as chronicled in the following article…

 

More information on 2006 GOUT DVD ‘bonus disc’ release can be found in this insightful and informative article on here:-

Got GOUT? The 2006 Original Version DVD Bonus Feature Fiasco - at the ‘Saving Star Wars’ website.

 

 

3.The negatives were permanently altered for the 1997 Special Edition - there can’t be an unaltered version release now!

Yes, we are aware of the Lucasfilm Press Release from 2006 claiming just this. However, whilst the original negatives may be currently configured to the 1997 Special Edition cut… it completely ignores the fact that many other high quality sources still exist in their original ‘unaltered theatrical’ form… sources such as 3-color separation masters, interpositives, IB Technicolor prints, some great 70mm prints, other 2nd generation and 3rd generation back-ups and quality prints… available at, and to, Lucasfilm.
 

If fan-made Original Trilogy preservation projects, such TN1’s 4Kxx quality endeavours, using the limited 35mm prints available to them… can look as good and as detailed they do - even surpassing the quality of Lucasfilm’s previous releases… then surely Lucasfilm themselves are undoubtedly capable of producing their own high quality release of the unaltered theatrical versions for the Original Trilogy.
 

A viable alternative to the above is to reconstruct the unaltered theatrical Original Trilogy films - similar to what Harmy has achieved with his much-loved Despecialized Editions. In 2017 it was also confirmed that the footage from the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy, that was replaced for the 1997 Special Editions (and later SE releases) still exists and has been archived - by 20th Century Fox’s Senior Vice President of ‘Library and Technical Services’ at the time, Shawn Belston.

Again, if Harmy’s quality endeavours can result in a such a high quality and respected reconstruction… then surely Lucasfilm can too… with all the numerous sources and elements available to them at their disposal.
 

More information on the subject of both preservation and reconstruction can be found across these articles, here:-

Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts — All of Them - an article at the ‘Wired’ website.

What We Want And How To Make It - an article at the ‘Star Wars Visual Comparisons’ website.

Got GOUT? The 2006 Original Version DVD Bonus Feature Fiasco - an article at the ‘Saving Star Wars’ website.

From Interpositives to Separation Masters: How Film Preservation Works - an in-depth article at the ‘Saving Star Wars’ website.

 

4:There are Harmy Despecialized Editions and TN1’s 4KXX fan versions - I have those and am happy with them!

We know - we’re the same community that these quality projects originated from (and many more fan endeavours besides). 😃
 

We’re very happy with them too! Still, as amazing as these preservation projects are - and they are truly amazing… not everyone is aware of them. Nor is everyone computer-savvy enough to get a hold of them. Online fans do make a up hefty percentage of Star Wars fandom - but we are by no means in the majority… both older and younger fans, people not online much, and indeed people who are online - yet simply aren’t aware of the existence or availability of these fan preservations… would all benefit from having an official version to be able to simply buy.

An official high quality release - whether on the store shelf, available to order online, or even to buy and experience on the Disney+ streaming service, should be readily available and accessible to everyone.

 

5.George signed a deal with Disney when he sold Lucasfilm - so Disney can never release the unaltered theatrical cuts!

There is no evidence to support this oft-spouted fan theory, rumour, conjecture, or for some fans… wishful thinking.

There is evidence to support no such supposed ‘deal’ actually existing. In fact there is a blanket straight-out denial of this - from the President of Lucasfilm themselves:-
 

Kennedy confirmed there is no actual agreement to keep the trilogy in its current form but when probed further about whether or not Lucas’ final cut of the original trilogy would be altered over time Kennedy assured that is something that will not happen
^ an - article at the ‘Heroic Hollywood’ website.

 

Also, from the ‘Steele Wars Podcast’ interview with Kathleen Kennedy, conducted in a media line event for ‘The Last Jedi’ at Celebration 2017:-
 

Interviewer: “A lot has been said about the pass over to Disney, but Star Wars is film of changes… it has evolved over time. Uh, is there like, a contractual or a handshake agreement that the films are locked in their current form?”.

Kathleen Kennedy: “No, there is no-one actually locking us into anything. In fact, the beauty of this relationship with The Walt Disney Company is they have been absolutely fantastic at standing back and pretty much letting us do what we want.”
 

^ the above interview with Kathleen Kennedy can also be found on the Steele Wars YouTube channel - (at 2 minutes 50 seconds).

 
 

There is also the following 2017 deleted tweet from Lucasfilm Creative Executive Pablo Hidalgo, which clearly states that…
 

“What’s kept the original theatrical editions off home video is the same thing that’s always been doing that. It’s not a studio thing.”

 
and then…
 

“There’s one pretty noteworthy person who doesn’t want them released. Shouldn’t be too hard to research who that is.”

 
when quizzed “I thought he sold the company to Disney, lock, stock and barrel? Why does his opinion matter now?” Pablo states…
 

“I think people respect his wishes.”

 
A screenshot of the twitter conversation…
 

 

6:The unaltered theatrical cuts are NOT George’s vision! You guys are so entitled - George doesn’t owe you anything!

Wanting such a release of the unaltered classic cuts is not about the ‘theatrical cut vs the various special editions’ or which is ‘the best’, ‘preferred’, ‘canon’, or ‘definitive’, or George’s continuing vision(s) - we are currently on George’s fifth vision. It is simply about giving the fans the opportunity to own and view any & all of the differing versions of the Original Trilogy - whilst also affording landmark film history to be once again enjoyed and experienced by everyone.
 

Plus, the way many of us see it… an artist shouldn’t be able to change what the audience remembers. We don’t think an artist has the right to arbitrarily change the experience of the film from what people saw. Once it is released to the audience, it belongs with the audience. To interpret and to remember.

Given the unaltered classic cuts were the only version of the Star Wars Trilogy available for some twenty years, we believe there should be a high quality version of these cuts available on a modern digital format, for the countless number of fans who would very much like to own and experience such a product once again… as they remember it. And also share with new and younger fans who may not be familiar this version of the films.

Not forgetting that it is this unaltered version of the Original Trilogy which underpins all of the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
 

Many of us also believe there should be a high quality, modern digital version, of the 1997 Special Edition available too - as this is the incarnation of the Original Trilogy many fans saw on the big screen for the first time, and also has its own place in Star Wars history. Something they too should be able to remember and experience once again - and something which was never released on DVD, or in HD, for home release.

 

7:They are George’s films - and he can do with them what he wants!

We disagree with this opinion - as does George Lucas himself…
 

 
^ George Lucas (in 2004): Seriously, that’s why I’m a member of the Film Foundation (filmmakers for film preservation). A director should be able to change his films - but nobody else.

At the time of above conversation George Lucas had already made changes to directors Irvin Kershner’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’, and Richard Marquand’s ‘Return Of The Jedi’ - and would also make go on to make further additional changes to both films.
 

Neither The Empire Strikes Back or Return Of The Jedi are available as their respective directors intended, or indeed made, on a modern and quality digital format.

 

As said previously (in Category No. 6)… The way we see it, an artist shouldn’t be able to change what the audience remembers. We don’t think an artist has the right to arbitrarily change the experience of the film from what people saw. Once it is released to the audience, it belongs with the audiences. To interpret and to remember.

Given the unaltered classic cuts were the only version of the Star Wars Trilogy available for some twenty years, we believe there should be a high quality version of these cuts available on a modern digital format, for the countless number of fans who would very much like to own and experience such a product once again, as they remember it. And also share with new and younger fans who may not be familiar this version of the films.

 

8:I respect George - and he doesn’t want anyone to see these unaltered versions anymore - so you guys are wrong!

We respect George too. After all, he is the visionary creator of the Star Wars universe.
 

However, when George says this…
 

^ from How the Grinch Stole Star Wars - an article on the ‘Save Star Wars’ website.

George Lucas: …What ends up being important in my mind is what the DVD version is going to look like, because that’s what everybody is going to remember. The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movies that anyone will remember will be the DVD [of the Special Edition].
 

We find that above statement from George to be very disconcerting - it is, in effect, an effort to wilfully suppress and eradicate landmark film history - as well as inadvertently denigrating audience’s memories and experiences from the unaltered version that existed for some twenty years. To say nothing of these being the original version of the three films upon which the entire Star Wars universe was built on.
 

And yet, in stark contrast to the above statement from George…
 

The Film Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1990 by director Martin Scorcese dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history - of which George Lucas is a board member.

The quotes below are taken from a video of George Lucas talking about the Film-Foundation - and the importance of preserving movies. Click on the Film-Foundation link above and then on the George Lucas image icon to watch the actual video:-

George Lucas: The idea of film history, the idea of preserving films, which are so important to our heritage and culture, and which are part of what I think are a very significant art form, especially going into the future, I think is paramount. The reality that we face which is half the films before 1950 have been lost and we’ll never see them again… is a tragedy. And it saddens me every time I think about the fact that I’ve seen stills, I’ve heard stories about certain movies and I’ll never, ever be able to see them. Because they’re gone now. And I think preserving films - in terms of the legacy for the future - is probably the most important thing we can do.

^ We completely agree with this - and so would like to see the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy to have an official, high quality release, on a modern digital format… so everyone can view and experience them once again.

 

9:You guys all hate George Lucas!" & "You want to burn him to the ground and want to take everything away from him!

No. Not at all. Just no. Regarding George… whilst many of us are somewhat disappointed and frustrated he wishes to not release a high quality format of the unaltered theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy - we appreciate that without his vision, character & determination there would be no Star Wars at all. So it is very much incorrect to say fans asking for such a release are a bunch of Lucas-haters. Nobody at all is wishing George any harm, ill-will, or “want to take everything away from him” - whatever that means.

Quite how the above, plus talking about others’ contributions to what makes Star Wars great, George making the various Special Editions, and fans also wanting a high quality official release of unaltered cuts… equates to… “You want to burn him (Lucas) to the ground and want to take everything away from him” is lost on us. Though such toxic hyperbole, hate-based projection, and untrue claims… seemingly occurs far more… when the contributions of people other than George are praised in the history of the OT.
 

There have been quite a few contradictory claims / re-writing of history / mis-remembering of facts on the history and development of Star Wars over the years from George… and chronicling the intriguing factual history of The Galaxy Far Far Away isn’t a criticism of the man himself - more a striving for a genuine, accurate, and authentic record on the evolution of Star Wars.

Attempting to highlight that intriguing and factual account of The Galaxy Far Far Away is not a ‘bashing Lucas’ exercise or unfounded criticism of the man himself - a philanthropist who has generously given much of his fortune away to charities, educational endeavours and good causes. The same determined genius and visionary who put both his own personal health and money at risk in bringing us these three classic films and the universe within…
 

To paraphrase Irvin Kershner, quoted whilst directing Empire Strikes Back… ‘fight for what you love - not because you hate’.

 

10:The Original Trilogy was filmed in the 70’s & 80’s and are not even in HD - they look awful! The new Special Editions releases all look amazing and are in so much better quality - and in 4K!

Sorry - the claim that because ‘the films were made in the 70’s and 80’s so are not even in HD and look awful!’ is simply not true.

The Original Trilogy was shot on 35mm film. 35mm film has a resolution of approximately 5.6K — equivalent to an image of about 5,600 × 3,620 pixels. The finite resolution of film will fluctuate based on the type of film and the film’s processing methods. More information on this can be found at the FilmFlix site - here (and many other trustworthy sources of information online).
 

After all, the various Special Edition releases (in 1997, 2004, 2011 and 2019) are all from, or based on, the original 35mm film negatives / prints used for the filming the Original Trilogy movies at the time.

 

This video on the Original Trilogy also both illuminates and gives answers to this common mistake in thinking films shot in 35mm from ‘long ago’ were ‘not even in HD’, or somehow look poor when compared to modern releases. It was released shortly before the 2019 Special Editions (aka the ‘Maclunkey’) version appeared on Disney+ - yet is still relevant to the topic:-
 

Star Wars 4K77 “That Wasn’t Filmed in HD!”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6wNw_uRu4 - a 25 minute video from the RetroBlasting youtube channel.

 
 

This follow-up video, of sorts, is also well worth a discerning watch - in regards to the unaltered theatrical cuts - its unique place in Star Wars history, and also the love & reverence it has from countless fans of the classic Original Trilogy…
 

Star Wars: Going Home to Stay’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihf2pVjpzJI - a 15 minute video from the RetroBlasting youtube channel.

 

11:Nobody wants to see the bad special effects of the 70’s and 80’s in the Original Trilogy!

We see nothing wrong in attempting to preserve the original, award-winning and pioneering work of the many artisans, sound technicians, craftsmen (& craftswomen), and special effects artists… to do justice to their priceless contributions, which should remain available for all to see, experience, and be inspired by…

List of Academy Awards for The Original Trilogy & The Lost Art Of Star Wars

^ both these quality articles / sources of information are from the Star Wars Visual Comparisons website.

 

Tonally, many of the Special Edition effects inserted into the Original Trilogy are also noticeably different to the unaltered original films, in both look and feel.

Many of Special Edition inserts also look more ‘dated’ than many of the original effects and have themselves been replaced in later Special Edition releases…

^ from https://twitter.com/starwarsviscomp/status/950411778973995008

 

Or introducing visual effects errors into the Special Editions releases - this time for the 2004 SE DVD release…

…from Return Of The Jedi; with Vader’s lightsaber now being a different reddish-orange colour to what is seen moments before.

 

To say nothing of the 2011 Special Edition blu ray release somehow looking like this…

…is this somehow meant to be an improvement in image quality over the original unaltered theatrical cut? No. No, it isn’t.

 

Nor this bizarre blue colouring introduced for the 1997 Special Edition release…

 

More example of these errors, introductions of mistakes, and sub-standard quality control for the various Special Editions can be found in the insightful ‘Can’t Even Get the Special Edition Right’ article on the ‘Saving Star Wars’ website.

 

12:Stop crying about the Special Edition alterations! It is only a few special effects that have changed - and not the story!

Sorry, that is not true - at all. For example… since the 1997 Special Editions, through to the 2019 SE ‘Maclunkey’ releases…
 

 
^ ‘Never forget that the Death Star has been in clear site of Yavin IV from the beginning of the battle since 1997 and this is how the Special Edition should have ended.':-

Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts—All of Them - article at Wired (scroll down to the ‘The Game Breaker’ section).
 

all credit to doubleofive - for both finding and highlighting that uncorrected oversight - in all four versions of the Special Edition films - and also for the article itself.

 

Needless to say there are many other changes to the story too - some are slight alterations, whereas others are quite profound in their impact on the story changes. Whilst ‘your mileage may vary’ depending on your point of view, these are still changes to the story…
 

 

 

the addition of the “Noooooooo!” line of dialogue for Vader in Return Of The Jedi…

 

13:You guys are still banging this drum? Hardly anyone wants the unaltered theatrical versions!

Yes, we are still proudly banging the drum 😃. Admittedly, we having been doing this for a long while - yet we’re obviously not going anywhere. We get that the franchise has changed mightily since we started this, in ways we couldn’t have possibly imagined… but high quality, unaltered, theatrical versions from '77, '80, and '83 are still absent from our world.
 

Also, Lucasfilm is indeed on record as acknowledging the enormous demand for an official release of the unaltered classic cuts…
 

 
^ the above quotes from Lucasfilm’s announcement are somewhat illuminating on this matter - and with many more fans also wanting to see and experience them since Lucasfilm’s statement…
 

“the biggest question we’ve ever gotten from Star Wars fans is, ‘When are you going to release the originals?’”

the “overwhelming demand” for the unaltered theatrical version.

the "long awaited release of original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy.”

“over the years a truly countless number of fans have told us they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in the theatres.”

 

14:You guys should accept the Special Editions are canon - the unaltered theatrical versions are not - and move on!

This is not about ‘canon’ or ‘definitive’ versions… it is about having a choice, about the preservation of landmark movies, and being able to once again view and experience these much-loved Star Wars films.

The unaltered theatrical version could easily be released as part of the ‘Vintage Collection’ up on the Disney+ streaming service - and it would have no bearing on the Special Editions being the ‘official’ or ‘default’ version, or being George’s ‘vision’.

Disney+ even features the original 2003 ‘Clone Wars’ animated series - available in HD (a series de-canoned for the later 2008 animated ‘The Clone Wars’ film and series)… so why not also include the various previous cuts of the Original Trilogy on there too?

Even a physical media official release of the unaltered Original Trilogy could easily and clearly be labelled as ‘non-canon’, ‘Legends’ or ‘Essential Legends’ etc - like countless other official Star Wars content over time is now re-labelled, re-released, and re-sold.
 

For some of us, George’ evolution of the Special Editions was essentially “patching” the movies like you patch a video game. Such patches are supposed to be free, especially if they’re considered essential for the game to be “complete”. We certainly shouldn’t have been led to believe each of these were the completed versions - charged full price for each “incomplete” version - then some time later informed the previous patch was “incomplete” - that another full price patch was coming, and another, then another.
 

Yet this is not about the ‘theatrical cut vs the various special editions’ or which is ‘the best’, ‘preferred’, ‘canon’, or ‘definitive’, or George’s continuing vision(s). It is simply about giving the fans the opportunity to own and view any & all of the differing versions of the Original Trilogy - whilst also affording landmark film history to be once again enjoyed and experienced by everyone.

 
 

An official high quality release of the unaltered theatrical versions from '77, '80, and '83… is still absent from our world. Yet they can easily be a part of it once more - and we feel it is important to highlight they always could have been - despite some confusion, obfuscation, and disingenuous & debunked claims to the contrary… from both George and Lucasfilm over the years.
 

Has anyone on here came across any other uninformed or ignorant claims why us “fans are so very much in the wrong…” to want the option to buy and experience a modern, high quality, official release of the unaltered theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy?

If so, let’s hear 'em - as well as your own replies, answers, and suggestions too… 👍
 

 


 
 

For the many of us wanting to have an official release for the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy…

Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts—All of Them - doubleofive’s article for Wired. (a backup article link)

^ A quality and comprehensive article on why the films are important to the people who grew up with them, why they wish to have the option to experience them as they originally were released - as well as preserving important and cultural film history for everyone to view and enjoy. A reminder that the various ‘Special Edition’ versions are NOT the award-winning, iconic, landmark & ground-breaking original version of the films. And highlights just why we are here - some of us for many years, and some just taking our first steps…

#ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogyWhat We Want And How To Make It - a sequel piece by doubleofive to his Wired article.

“Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts” 2020 article - on Wired (OT•com thread on the Wired article by doubleofive)

❗ #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy | OriginalTrilogy•com’s enduring goal | How YOU can help… ❗

^ The OT•com supporting the #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy campaign - the call for an official release of the unaltered theatrical version of the three classic Star Wars films - and what YOU can do to help restore them to the galaxy. MTFBWY… Always.

 
 

 
These OriginalTrilogy•com information and discussion threads may also be of some interest:-

I’ll never understand the attitude of people who oppose the release of the unaltered Original Trilogy - thread by Nien Nunb

Explaining the shoddy OOT treatment in public - a 2006 thread by Vigo

Why are people like this? a 2023 thread by Nien Nunb

Some useful OT.com threads re the suppression of the unaltered theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy films

An OriginalTrilogy.com Timeline | a history of the site | the why & how it came to be…

George Lucas: Star Wars Creator, Unreliable Narrator & Time Travelling Revisionist…

Posting on the OriginalTrilogy•com…

• The ‘Other websites / communities supposed issues with OT•com - or the unaltered OT films…’ section of the OT Discussion Index.

 

Also, massive thanks to Vigo, Nien Nunb, Servii, Darth Kermit, SparkySywer, Anchorhead, and many others for info used in this thread.

 

Last Updated: 7th October, 2023 - more links were added to this post.

Post
#1460567
Topic
Are there any new <strong>Star Wars Books</strong> coming out soon? a general book discussion thread
Time

'A Saga on Home Video, 2nd Edition: Book Launch! (Details, preview, and more.):-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF1YGOqhdQY - a 68 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel.
 

The blurb:-

‘Nathan P. Butler’s A Saga on Home Video, 2nd. Edition has arrived. In this video, the author addresses the two current versions available (Kindle and paperback) of this three-volume set, along with taking potential readers on a tour of each volume.’

 

^ I love this guy’s insightful, informative and somewhat quirky youtube videos on the various releases for all things Star Wars. I hope these books do well - and I’ll be ordering my copies soon.

His youtube video channel is well worth checking out for anyone interested in rare, obscure, occasionally baffling, or even beautiful releases of the Original Trilogy around the world - www.youtube.com/c/ChronoRadio/videos
 

Post
#1460138
Topic
❗ <strong>#ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy</strong> | OriginalTrilogy.com's enduring goal | How you can help ❗
Time

❗ #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy | OriginalTrilogy.com’s enduring goal | How you can help… ❗

 
^ The OT•com supporting the #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy campaign - the call for an official release of the unaltered theatrical version of the three classic Star Wars films - and what YOU can do to help restore them to the galaxy. MTFBWY… Always.
 

This post is simply just a site-wide announcement for #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy, the OriginalTrilogy•com supporting it, and what we can all do to help try bring about an official release of the unaltered classic cuts of the three Star Wars films. The trilogy of films which underpin all of the Galaxy Far Far Away… in the best quality possible, on a modern digital home format.
 

Please post any support and comments for #ReleaseTheOriginalTrilogy in the thread linked above - not in here. Thank you.
 

Post
#1460026
Topic
Articles &amp; info that highlight / call for a classic version release of the Original Trilogy
Time

The theatrical Star Wars trilogy hasn’t just been replaced, it’s being destroyed

https://ourculturemag.com/2021/11/26/the-theatrical-star-wars-trilogy-hasnt-just-been-replaced-its-being-destroyed

^ a 2021 article.
 

A snippet from the quality article linked above…
 

'By now, most people know that the Special Editions have ceased to be “special” editions. They have become the de facto versions of the trilogy that are commercially available. And the changes didn’t stop in 1997. In 2004, with the trilogy’s first DVD release, the films were revised again. The infamous Jabba the Hutt scene from the ‘97 Special Edition of Star Wars was altered up so that the CGI Jabba looked closer to his Return of the Jedi appearance – among other changes.

More significant alterations came in 2011 with the trilogy’s first blu-ray release. Chief among them was the inclusion of Darth Vader awkwardly shouting, “no!”, at the end of Return of the Jedi. Finally, further changes were made between 2010 and 2012 that eventually saw the light of day when the trilogy arrived on Disney+ in 2019.

Presently, the theatrical cuts are not commercially available in any format.

The deliberate erasure of the theatrical cuts isn’t good for culture or history. Countless writers have pointed out the inherent value of the original cuts of these historic films – this isn’t even the first time I’ve harped on about them! But it does bear repeating: the original incarnations of these films left an unimaginable cultural footprint. To effectively bury them is a baffling act of destruction.’ 
 

^ also at https://twitter.com/CF_Stewardson/status/1464273749646188547
 

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#1459878
Topic
<strong>The Book Of Boba Fett</strong> (live action series) - a general discussion thread - * <strong>SPOILERS</strong> *
Time

A new ‘tv spot’ for the BOBF…
 

Reign | The Book of Boba Fett | Disney+’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=crABxPcIzCU - a 30 second video at the official Star Wars youtube channel.

& https://twitter.com/bobafett/status/1464643772390641664 (official ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ twitter account)
 

Post
#1459551
Topic
<strong>Rangers Of The New Republic</strong> (live action series) - general discussion thread (<strong>Cancelled</strong>)
Time

Disappointing news for anyone looking forward to ‘Rangers Of The New Republic’…
 

A snippet from the January 2022 edition of Empire Magazine’s interview with Kathleen Kennedy (with quotes):-

 
“Some of that will figure into future episodes, I’m sure, of the next iteration of Mandalorian.”
 

Post
#1459533
Topic
<strong>The Mandalorian</strong> - a general discussion thread - * <em><strong>SPOILERS</strong></em> *
Time

ZkinandBonez said:

THE EMMY-WINNING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS OF THE MANDALORIAN: SEASON 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd39daKZCI8 - from the official ILMVFX YouTube channel (4 mins long).

Only just got around to watching that - love these type of cool and insightful videos from ILM. 👍