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Star Wars Headed to DVD Sept. 21st

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 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 6:08 AM
#1
Why am I not in a giggling, mouth foaming, pants-melting fit of glee? Because old man Lucas is only releasing the special edition. DVD makes it easy to offer both the original and special edition of a movie but nooooooooooooo.


I can't believe it but I'm even thinking about not buying them.



...




Han shot first, dammit. *runs away crying*
 Datheus
02-10-2004, 6:13 AM
#2
Lucas has got to be one of the most unsung coporate villians... He ranks up there with Bill Gates, even though no one actually wants to say it.

I'm sure he'll release the original on DVD in a few years. God knows that they'll be versions out the wazoo so he can rake in more on his franchise.

Or whoever is in charge. I don't know. But there's a Suit that needs to be smacked.
 leXX
02-10-2004, 7:26 AM
#3
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?!

I was hoping for a seven disc Alien Quadrilogy like set, where there is both the original and director's cut, plus an extra's DVD. ='( Why the hell won't he realease the originals again? Surely he realises that that is what all Star Wars fans want more than anything! This is so annoying.

I'll still buy them like a fool.
 Kain
02-10-2004, 7:28 AM
#4
Thats about as dumb an idea as Greedo shooting first...
 -ST-i_stinks
02-10-2004, 7:28 AM
#5
i hate dvds.......
 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 7:29 AM
#6
He's well aware what the fans want. Most fans have been begging him to release the originals too but he's being a stubborn mean old man about it. :/

And he comes off as so nice on video! :(



Err... hate DVDs? Why on EARTH would someone hate DVDs? :confused: Have you been drinking?
 Sivy
02-10-2004, 7:30 AM
#7
i got a feeling that the reason they aren't releasing the original ones is because they no longer have them.
one of the reasons they did the special editions is because the reels were in such a bad state they had to do something before they disintegrated. so they cleaned them up and added all GL's new stuff and the CGI. so where are the originals now then? my guess is there isn't any originals. thats why GL said the originals will never be released, cause he hasn't got them. :(


well apart from greedo shooting first and the jabba scene i really don't mind the special editions. i'm just glad they're releasing them period.
 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 7:36 AM
#8
Naw, I doubt they actually modified the very originals.
 leXX
02-10-2004, 7:43 AM
#9
He has them lying around somewhere, but they are not his "true vision" of what they should be. :rolleyes: WE DON'T CARE LUCAS! We like the bad special effects and grainy look. Give us the originals ffs! :fist:
 txa1265
02-10-2004, 12:46 PM
#10
Originally posted by Datheus
Lucas has got to be one of the most unsung coporate villians... He ranks up there with Bill Gates, even though no one actually wants to say it.

I'm sure he'll release the original on DVD in a few years. God knows that they'll be versions out the wazoo so he can rake in more on his franchise.

Or whoever is in charge. I don't know. But there's a Suit that needs to be smacked. I don't think that this is a greed issue - I don't see the Star Wars franchise thing (from the Lucas perspective, anyway) as a major greed issue. The whole Phantom Menace mega-hype ... it was unavoidable when you think about it, and everyone wanted on that bandwagon - you'd be a fool not to grab some cash from that.

I see GL as really making an effort to do good Star Wars films. Whether or not he is succeeding is pretty subjective - I personally felt the same thrills seeing AotC as a 36 year old with wife and two kids as I did seeing TESB as a 14 year old ... although the Vader revelation is legendary for a reason ... you really had to be there ...

As for the whole original vs. special edition thing - I don't think that the sales of a SW Trilogy set would be impacted 1% based on inclusion/exclusion of the Original copies. Most people get confused enough with the whole 'widescreen/fullscreen' thing ... having multiple versions of the film - one looking decidedly better visually than the other - would not necessarily be a good thing for many people. Now people here ... that's a different thing. I would be quite happy if they would release the originals as a 'buy through SW.com only' for 79.95 for the set - I'd be on it tomorrow. But I've been a Star Wars fan since I was an 11 year old kid in line seeing the original for about the dozenth time that year ...

Mike
 Astrotoy7
02-10-2004, 12:58 PM
#11
You swampies seem to be touchy about this original versions business....

GL, whatever you may think of him, has said in NUMEROUS interviews, that the SEs match his true vision/original intentions for the OT. Thats why ANH has the most changes, because he was very limited in what he could do, tech wise.....

and I agree with Siv, apart from the Greedo thing, (which I view as the most trivial moral backflip in history), I dont mind the SEs at all.....

MTFBWYA
 Neverhoodian
02-10-2004, 1:29 PM
#12
I bought the original on VHS back in 1996 or so, then I learned Lucas was going to make the Special Edition trilogy. I've been gypped numerous times by such Lucasfilms/Lucasarts ploys. I got the original X-Wing computer game only to have Lucasarts release the "special edition" with more ships and campaigns. Same thing happened with Tie Fighter and The Phantom Menace soundtrack.

I've become a little wiser (and a little more tight-fisted) now when it comes to buying Lucas' products. I now wait and see if some "special edition" is eventually released. Still, I have to admit the prospect of buying the DVD (since I don't own any copy of the SE) is tempting.

It's too bad the original version might go the way of the dinosaur. Still though, they aren't that different, and both versions have their strengths and weaknesses. (Han shooting first in OT compared to more hectic space battles in SE)
 BawBag™
02-10-2004, 1:33 PM
#13
Thanks for the info Rhett, but...well......
*walks out of thread crying*
 Swoosh
02-10-2004, 1:59 PM
#14
I don't know about you guys, but the thing that pisses me off most about lucas is how they operate their website. It makes me kinda sick that they charge for all the information they used to provide. Sure, it's probably smart business, but I didn't know you had to have money to be a star wars fan. :(

As far as the SE...I don't really mind much that the originals aren't coming out. I like some of the changes that were made, but I hope they remove some. Besides, GL wants the whole saga to be cohesive and having the SEs out there is critical to that.

Swoosh
 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 1:59 PM
#15
If they restored the Greedo scene and cut out or at least fixed Jabba I would stop complaining. :(
 IG-64
02-10-2004, 2:15 PM
#16
I have never seen the original version of Star Wars :o

*Cringes and waits for large, heavy objects to come raining down on him*

I can see the jabba thing, yes it was terrible, but what is wrong with the greedo thing? It was what, 5 frames? Pfft. :rolleyes:

As for the DVD, woo hoo! Finally!
 Sivy
02-10-2004, 2:21 PM
#17
Originally posted by IG-64
but what is wrong with the greedo thing? It was what, 5 frames? Pfft. :rolleyes:

its what the original scene represented, its like in raiders of the lost ark where indy shoots the guy with the sword while he's showng off. its gives han an edge, a darkness to his character.
 Prime
02-10-2004, 2:27 PM
#18
But this has been known forever...
 IG-64
02-10-2004, 2:27 PM
#19
Originally posted by Siv
its what the original scene represented, its like in raiders of the lost ark where indy shoots the guy with the sword while he's showng off. its gives han an edge, a darkness to his character.

But greeo just proposed that he would kill han, doesn't matter to me either way. But the question still burns, why did he add that in the first place?
 •-BLaCKouT-•
02-10-2004, 2:40 PM
#20
Further to what Siv said, I'm pretty sure they'll have a digital master of the originals lying around somewhere, the last time they released them on VHS was 95 after all. Uncle George telling you he's lost a license to print money is like telling your teacher you've forgotten your homework ;)

For those of you who crave the O-OT on DVD there is an option. Not that I'm advocating piracy (seriously) but the internet's largest online auction site has been known to have the odd copy of the original version Laserdisc rips on DVD for sale.
Sure, the quality's quite not your standard DVD quality, but hey - they're bootlegs after all.
On the plus side,
• You get the original OT on a non-degradable format.
• Luca$film don't get a penny out of it ;) (if they ain't gonna sell it, I don't see why they should make money out of it)

Like I said, piracy is a bad thing, but yeah I've got a copy. For my records... ahem.
The legal alternative is to buy a laser disc player :eyeraise:

Personally, I think that we'll get an archival box set package in the future with the originals on. But that's because I know what Lucas is like for re-releasing the same material. Hell, I've got most of em ;)

Originally posted by IG-64
But greeo just proposed that he would kill han, doesn't matter to me either way. But the question still burns, why did he add that in the first place?
George reckons that Greedo was always meant to shoot first, but the effect was missed out when they did it first time round.
I'm dubious about that myself, but the scene doesn't bother me either way - Greedo's a crap shot so he deserved to die.
:D B.
 IG-64
02-10-2004, 2:47 PM
#21
As long as it's in letterbox, they cut out IG-88, dangit! :fist:
 Alegis
02-10-2004, 3:06 PM
#22
THINK ABOUT THE KIDS!

..han isnt a criminal! anyways i dont care, gimme SE
 El Sitherino
02-10-2004, 3:13 PM
#23
I"m just glad I can watch empire on my big screen now :D

I want the turret scenes that were cut and the wampa's that invaded echobase. :(
 IG-64
02-10-2004, 3:37 PM
#24
Originally posted by InsaneSith
I want the turret scenes that were cut and the wampa's that invaded echobase. :(

!?!?!

I need to watch the non-SE versions.
 Jared
02-10-2004, 4:44 PM
#25
like hell I'm not gonna buy it....who the hell cares?

its...star wars...on dvd.

I'm gonna buy it.
 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 4:45 PM
#26
Originally posted by IG-64
but what is wrong with the greedo thing? It was what, 5 frames? Pfft. :rolleyes:



Nothing... nothing... all it did was merely DEFINE, FOR MILLIONS OF STAR WARS FANS, WHAT HAN SOLO WAS, "ALL ABOUT". :rolleyes:

It was AMAZINGLY important. PAINFULLY important. DIARRHEA INDUCINGLY important. But it's only, what, five frames right? So it doesn't matter, right? :rolleyes:
 Crazy_dog no.3
02-10-2004, 5:04 PM
#27
I don't get why people hate the SE version. But I can't be bothered to argue right now.


Any it IS Star Wars that is coming out on DVD, and not some any old crap, so we should be happy regardless! :D
 The_One
02-10-2004, 5:13 PM
#28
Originally posted by Boba Rhett
Nothing... nothing... all it did was merely DEFINE, FOR MILLIONS OF STAR WARS FANS, WHAT HAN SOLO WAS, "ALL ABOUT". :rolleyes:

It was AMAZINGLY important. PAINFULLY important. DIARRHEA INDUCINGLY important. But it's only, what, five frames right? So it doesn't matter, right? :rolleyes:

I'm a massive Star Wars fan too, and I do think that people tend to over-react a tad towards the whole Greedo thing.

And people criticised me for over-reacting to the treatment of Faramir in the LOTR films.

Let's be honest here, Greedo shooting first doesn't ruin the movie - I mean, a few minutes later you've forgotten about it ;) Big fuss about nothing.
 Boba Rhett
02-10-2004, 5:26 PM
#29
But here I am years later still bitching about it! :( It really did bother many of us a lot. :(
 Astrotoy7
02-10-2004, 6:32 PM
#30
Originally posted by IG-64
!?!?!

I need to watch the non-SE versions.

the wampa(s) in echo base business in a deleted scene and was not in any released version of the film. As far as comparison to its original version, empire has the least additions, mainly just backdrop and cloud city made to look bigger and prettier... there is an extra tiny vader scene that seems to not use james earl jones voice, or it might just be me.... (?) All you'll get from watching the non SE editions are a long procession of effects seams that stick out like a sore a to the discerning eye of a modern viewer........and a different/shorter song in jabbas palace in ROTJ.

...I just think it's a case of ppl "having grown up" with the original editions and having become too attached to them perhaps. As far as Im concerned, if the creator/director can bring himself to change it than you should be able to live with it..... :p

nonetheless, its gonna be good to have the OT on DVD dammit.. YOU'RE ALL MEANT TO BE STAR WARS FANS, RIGHT.... YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY...!!!!....QUIT WHINING...YOU'RE ALL STARTING TO SOUND LIKE FREAKIN TREKKIES, OR NIT-PICKING TOLKIEN FANS... :D

And yes, Im sure there'll be some duper box set for after when epIII is released on DVD, who knows maybe 2007 to celebrate 30 years.....

MTFBWYA
 Astrotoy7
02-10-2004, 6:44 PM
#31
Originally posted by The_One
I'm a massive Star Wars fan too, and I do think that people tend to over-react a tad towards the whole Greedo thing.

And people criticised me for over-reacting to the treatment of Faramir in the LOTR films.

Let's be honest here, Greedo shooting first doesn't ruin the movie - I mean, a few minutes later you've forgotten about it ;) Big fuss about nothing.

Faramir does have a better run in the TTT EE.....(Im sure he'll have a bit more time to redeem himself in ROTK EE as well)...

and yes, curious, and perhaps annoying as it may be, anyone who is still thinking about Greedo by the time the Battle of yavin IV starts, really needs to get their head sorted..... :p


MTFBWYA
 lotr-sam0711
02-10-2004, 7:00 PM
#32
I was wondering when the DVDs were coming out.
No comment about the big GL thing.
 DarkLord60
02-10-2004, 7:31 PM
#33
Originally posted by Jared
like hell I'm not gonna buy it....who the hell cares?

its...star wars...on dvd.

I'm gonna buy it.

Amen to that. I mean its Star Wars People. You know you want it.

Originally posted by lotr-sam0711
I was wondering when the DVDs were coming out.
No comment about the big GL thing.

September 21 2004
 Jed
02-10-2004, 8:51 PM
#34
*cherishes his VHS of the original, non-SE Empire Strikes Back*

Meh...this pisses me off.

Screw Greedo! DAMN HIM AND HIS PHONY FIRST SHOT!
 Neverhoodian
02-10-2004, 9:08 PM
#35
originally posted by IG-64
As long as it's in letterbox, they cut out IG-88, dangit!:fist:

AMEN, BROTHER!!!

IG-88 was my absolute favorite bounty hunter when I was younger. When I saw ESB SE in theatres, I almost fell out of my seat in suprise blissful euphoria. A FULL TORSO SHOT of IG-88...up close...for longer than one second! I was elated! My father had to quiet me down because I was causing a disturbance with my celebratory comments: "Oh my gosh! Look! It's IG-88!!! It's IG-88!!!"

Later when I went over to a friend's house, I watched it again on video. For some reason, they cut IG-88 out of the film! I was fit to be tied, to say the least.:mad:
 The Cheat
02-10-2004, 11:53 PM
#36
i wonder if they will have a commentary for each film. i think that would be the ultimate feature for these films.
 Astrotoy7
02-11-2004, 12:06 AM
#37
Originally posted by The Cheat
i wonder if they will have a commentary for each film. i think that would be the ultimate feature for these films.

Eps I and II have those, I dont see why the OTs shouldnt. That wouldve been half the hassle of doing it. Remastering the special editions(which have *already* had their audiotracks cleaned, all the colors corrected etc would be relatively easy(man, I could do it, seriously...) It is just assembling all the relevant ppl including older directors(hopefully Kershner does commentary for ESB !! :) ) to the the commentaries for the OT...


MTFBWYA
 IG-64
02-11-2004, 12:46 AM
#38
Originally posted by Neverhoodian
AMEN, BROTHER!!!

IG-88 was my absolute favorite bounty hunter when I was younger. When I saw ESB SE in theatres, I almost fell out of my seat in suprise blissful euphoria. A FULL TORSO SHOT of IG-88...up close...for longer than one second! I was elated! My father had to quiet me down because I was causing a disturbance with my celebratory comments: "Oh my gosh! Look! It's IG-88!!! It's IG-88!!!"

Later when I went over to a friend's house, I watched it again on video. For some reason, they cut IG-88 out of the film! I was fit to be tied, to say the least.:mad:

Hehe, I'm a huge IG-88 fan as well. *looks at name* Well, I guess you've gathered that already :p

I had the same reaction when I first saw it, exept I like to keep a large portion of my emotions to myself, so I had a nice big smile and a "woo hoo" :D
 TK-8252
02-11-2004, 1:25 AM
#39
Originally posted by Alegis Gensan
..han isnt a criminal! Han was a criminal. He was a smuggler for Jabba's criminal organization. The Rebel Alliance was a criminal organization as well. Why do you think they were always being hunted by the Empire? :p

Trilogy for DVD, eh? Finally the old man came around. ;)
 Astrotoy7
02-11-2004, 6:04 AM
#40
Originally posted by The Cheat
i wonder if they will have a commentary for each film. i think that would be the ultimate feature for these films.

Lots of official reports have been gathered attheforce.net about the DVD. GLs commentary for the DVDs has been confirmed :D

TheForceNet SW OT DVD News Roundup ! (http://www.theforce.net/holonet/index.shtml#23202)

MTFBWYA
 leXX
02-11-2004, 9:31 AM
#41
Originally posted by Jed
*cherishes his VHS of the original, non-SE Empire Strikes Back*

*gives her original SW non-SE video box set a big hug*

It's wearing a bit thin now. The box is tattered and videos are starting to fade in quality. Mind you, I have had them since the day they were released. It would be so nice to have them on DVD. ='(
 toms
02-11-2004, 11:23 AM
#42
I'm sooo glad i bought these on VHS before all these silly Special Editions came out. I have those too of course, but i think i only watched them once and then returned to the proper ones.

Looking at the proper ones i can see a few falws i hoped would be fixed in the Special Editions (Namely boxes around the tie fighters and bad bluescreen ith the Rancor), but other than that i don't see why you should mess with classic films.

I can't think of a single item that was ADDED to the special editions that was worthwhile.

-Greedo shooting first comes off as stupid (han hardly shot him in cold blood, greedo missing by a foot from 3 feet away).
-The jabba scene (which i wanted to see) is pointless as it repeats most of the dialogue from the greedo scene, and it is really badly done.
-The bit where han chases stormtroopers until they realise there is only him is made silly by filling the room with stormtroopers.
-The rancor bluescreen still isn't fixed.
-The extra dance number just comes off as silly and inserted.
-The ending of ROTJ is slightly interesting (all the planets celebrating), but it (and the change to rubbish downbeat ethnic music) slows down the whole ending of the film.

Oh, I suppose i liked that the re-inserted biggs into the Yavin hanger. That was cool.

The main problem I have with the Special Editions is that the CGI looks terrible. It stands out like a sore thumb and not only looks fake in comparison to the models (which had a kind of gritty realism) but also makes the models look static in comparisson. Neither wins. The added creatures look like bad Jurasic Park rejects (like when the used to stick horns on a iguana and call it a dragon). The original special effects have stood the time amazingly well for a 27 year old film, whereas most CGi tends to date very rapidly.

There were a few scenes that i would like to see in a Special edition (Luke jumping to grate in rancor pit, vader choking imperial guards) but I would only like them as OPTIONS, not irreversiably inserted into a classic film. THe jabba scene isn't one of them.

Oh, and the rumoured additions like cgi duels and replacing anakin are really bad ideas. Not all directors cuts are better than the original, often there was a good reason why something was cut, or done the way it was. (See Alien, Aliens for worse (if interesting) special editions). Just clean up the flaws and leave it the hell alone... or release a Quadrilogy style pack with 2 versions of each.

These films wouldn't be the classics they are now if there was SO MUCH that needed changing...:(
 Sivy
02-11-2004, 12:37 PM
#43
Originally posted by toms
Oh, and the rumoured additions like cgi duels and replacing anakin are really bad ideas.

i think we can safely say now that those rumours aren't going to happen.
 El Sitherino
02-11-2004, 1:22 PM
#44
Originally posted by leXX
*gives her original SW non-SE video box set a big hug*

It's wearing a bit thin now. The box is tattered and videos are starting to fade in quality. Mind you, I have had them since the day they were released. It would be so nice to have them on DVD. ='( ME TOO! I love my videos...except mine are the first ever VHS releases still work good too.
 DarkLord60
02-11-2004, 8:45 PM
#45
I have original to but it skips alot so I just watch SE.
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