GEORGE LUCAS IS FINALLY TOLD NO (OR NOT)

I'm actually glad this has happened. After seeing some of nifty Blu screenshots of all the saber color correction and stuff, I had almost caved in and decided to buy the damn original trilogy again. Now, thankfully, I'm firmly back in the FUCK OFF, GEORGE camp. Money saved!

I wasn't planning on wasting any money on this set prior to this revelation.  That decision is looking better every day.

You know I'm not against restoring deleted scenes and other things that director's normally do when they put together director cuts and special editions, and I think some of the changes made in the previous Special Editions aren't the worst things in the world, (I kind of prefer the ending montage in Jedi to the theatrical version) but seriously this shit is getting rather excessive. I really don't care though as I've seen these movies a million times.

I am one of the biggest Star Wars... not apologists, but I am a huge fan who doesn't get worked up like most about shit like this.

 

But this, man... Fuck you, George. They need to change all pictures of you on the internet to this:

 

Michelangelo's David in clown shoes.

 

Pass.

Guess I should spoiler text this for the folks who haven't seen the new APES movie (and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?).....

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

Is it even possible to spoil a remake of Conquest?  The original movie is two years older than I am.

 

Back on topic, I meant what I said in the Comments.  Lucas has reached a point where laughing at him is as unsportsmanlike as laughing at Charlie Sheen. 

That NO isn't good in a storytelling POV. It would actually alert the Emperor to his final move.

 

And that tweaked crate dragon impression? Cripes.

 

George L: What must I do, Master Yoda?
Yoda: Train yourself to let go... of everything you fear to lose.

Jesus, George, get a life.

Any wavering I had about buying these on blu - and I've never owned the original trilogy in any home video format - was just settled. Money saved, time gained back, and I'll just happily remember the films as they were.

 

(Though I can fully get behind Ewoks blinking. I know some folks hold even small effects limitations as sacred, but I don't. It's a small enough change to be cool but doesn't do anything to alter the fundamental feeling or tone of the film.)

Thank God.  I never could tell exactly what Vader was thinking before he stopped his slave master from torturing his son and threw him down a ventilation shaft.

Unbelievable. What Lucas is doing at this point can only be seen as trolling of the highest order.

Are we really surprised?  Have we learned nothing from his past behaviour?

I'm not a big fan of the Star Wars films anyway, but even I think this is ridiculous.

Wow.  Thanks for trashing one of my favorite moments of the series, George.  Do you even want me to consider purchasing this collection?

Honestly the original trilogy dvds looks great unconverted on my ps3, (though Jedi gets a little spotty at times, especially during the speeder bike scenes) so if this shit really is true I definitely won't be getting the set. Though in actuality the only way I would have considered buying this new would have been if he did some major tinkering to the prequel trilogy but it sounds like the only change he made was switching out the yoda puppet for cgi. 

I'd be more likely to pick this up if the featurettes, documentaries, etc. from all previous incarnations of the saga on home video had been ported up alongside the new material.  Sadly, this appears to not be the case.

Awful.

Also someone pointed out that the Obi-Wan's call sounds a lot like Mr. Wint's "WOOOOHHH!!!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2GHL8VhMjo#t=2m42s

It's uncanny.

I'm not buying Lucas' retooled mad scientist experiments.  Not again.  But this is still a shame.

 

No chance at all this is all some prank by someone out to make Lucas look worse than he already does?

After watching the new Vader killing the Emperor scene, I wouldn't say Lucas raped my childhood, but he did drive a van pass it and offer it candy.

I fully beleive that some of this is BS.

Please let this be BS.

Not to be morbid, but what really irks me is that eventually George Lucas is going to shuffle off this mortal coil, someone else is going to become steward of the Star Wars juggernaut and realizes there's a ton of money to be made just doing a re-release of the original minus all the new crap as a novelty item for fogies, and my bastard grandchildren are going to enjoy watching the originals on their fucking holo-viewers or whatever while I grouse about the crap editions I had to put up with.

I don't understand at this point who benefits from Lucas' endless mutilations. The majority of these changes seem to exist solely to infuriate the die-hard/long-time fans who have an emotional stake in the series, and likely pass more-or-less unnoticed to the common viewer.  It would seem that Lucas' (mad) intent is to create the version he has in his thick skull, but who is ever going to appreciate it? Is he simply content to know that average buyers will pick it up and completely ignore his tinkering? Does that satisfy any artist? The whole thing has just reached such a bizarre level of high profile artistic perversion that it's impossible to comprehend why it continues to happen.  

 

 

Well I went and done it.   Don't hate me guys....

 

Edited by dynamotv - 8/30/11 at 11:32pm

That's nothing. You should see what Lucas has planned for the eventual 4K release in a few years.  He replaced all of Vader's lines with the sound from the rape scene in Irreversible. Even Baby Vader and Emo Vader lines. Just calling you a whore and how you deserve to be fucked up the ass, over and over and over. In French.

Shit I mean what can I say. George the only thing safe in the woods would be the trees.

 

Maybe not. I actually kind of wanted to see these in Blu just to see them converted. Consider that curious bone shattered now.

 

Give me the original films cleaned up with none of the Special Edition crap converted to blu.

 

One can dream right?

At this point, I'm not even mad.   I'm more fascinated by the continuing evolution of this movie into a Uwe Boll film.   You know when someone at ILM  figures out how to make photo realistic CGI humans without the uncanny valley effect that the REAL fun begins.

 

So I have to ask.   Would it be legal for some other studio to make a Star Wars film with a passionate film maker who grew up on these movies and wants to play in this sandbox and just call it Star Wars XXX: A Non Porn Parody?

 

 

Oh, it'll happen.  Just like I said in the other thread, we will get them some years down the road.  The problem is they will be in the inevitable MEGA collection that contains his latest tinkerings, the 3D versions, every extra you can think of, and the original theatrical versions in HD..............................all for the wonderful price of $150-200.  The sad thing is that most of us (myself included) will scoop it up in a heartbeat.  George might be delusional, but he isn't stupid.  He's enough of a money whore at this point to know that he should save what we REALLY want for the most expensive set possible............that way everyone will buy it.

 

Trust me, it'll happen.

 

And this is exaclty why I won't be buying them on Blu Ray. I have my untainted versions now so he has no power over me,

It's possible he'll never consider releasing the original versions in a proper transfer. Not because they don't fit with his "vision" but because he realizes that he'll have a very difficult time trying to sell subsequent set releases after everyone finally bought the theatrical set. Weren't there reports of how FURIOUS Lucas was over the board's decision to release the lousy Laserdisc-transfer DVDs in 2006? Hence downplaying them as mere "bonus material".

I have a feeling we'll never get a decent release until Lucas loses control either by declining health or death. Whoever takes over LucasFilm next knows that a proper release hyping up the original versions would be a BIG seller.

What's sad is that I was looking forward to taking my son to the 3D versions of the original trilogy once they hit cinemas years from now.  He'll be the perfect age.  I was honestly hoping that Lucas was done making drastic changes to the films outside of improving SFX.  Now I'm kind of dreading what horror he will have inflicted upon them by the time they hit theaters again in 2016-2018.  I would love for my son to be able to experience these in the theater, but not if Lucas keeps destroying them.  I guess I'll have to stick to showing him the old DVDs around that time.  It's depressing.

E-fucking-nuff.

 

I'm beyond sick and tired of Star Wars fans and their non-stop bitching about this change and that change and all this bullshit.  You motherfuckers have known for YEARS that this is what to expect from Lucas, and you still act all high and mighty and indignant and shocked when it happens.  Why do you still have any attachments to this man?  Cut the cord, cling to your VHS copies and move the fuck on.  Christ, you're worse than battered wives.

A firm assessment, but fair. I've had my time as a GL apologist. I've gone out and bought all the previous editions of the films despite getting increasingly uncomfortable with each fresh batch of 'improvements' (You'll always be hangin' at MY Ewok party, Sebastian Shaw)

 

But this? Sorry George, can't be fucked anymore. Can't even get angry. Actually, saving that hundred-odd dollars next month will be a fuckin' relief.

 

P.S.: Nice Ric Flair impression, Obi-Wan.

 

Obi One is a Sand people fooling, Light Saber swinging, Mind tricking,  son of a gun.

Edited by Ken Savage - 8/31/11 at 8:20am

Everyone knew the blue rays would be the special editions, not the originals. Are these changes worse than any number of other changes or additions in the recent versions? Not really. In fact they're mostly inconsequential. So why waste your energy throwing a tantrum over it?

Now that I would buy.

The possibilities for awesome youtube edits are mind-boggling.

Darth Schwarzeneggar remains better than any of the prequels.

 

The 2015 re-release of A New Hope will be the sixth time the movie gets re-used for a theatrical run. Sixth time.

Imagine Lucas had made six new movies instead, like everyone else does.

I can deal with Obi-Wan making funny noises, and I can even deal with the Vader thing, mostly because it's hard to care anymore.  I still like this universe but the love and appreciation isn't what it used to be.  All the monkeying around with it all just doesn't help at all.  Silent Vader tossing ragdoll emperor was a perfect moment.  It is not perfect anymore. 

 

...

 

Whatever.

Imagining "new" movies from Lucas is almost as scary as his constant Star Wars changes. Any creative spark or talent this douche once had is long since gone.

 

Wow, seriously, just the thought of that gives me the creeps.

 

Why does he say "No"?

 

I mean.... JESUS FUCKING CHRIST what is the point?

 

I read this article, watched the clip and then laughed for like 20 minutes.

 

Now, I'm just pissed. Not because I particularly care (I always liked the Indiana Jones movies more and preferred Star Trek mythology to Star Wars anyway). I don't give a shit. Let him re-release all six movies as rotoscoped animation, like that episode of Fringe. (reflecting the TRUE VISION that he had in 1976, when he supposedly envisioned this epic 6-part saga but only decided to make the 4th chapter, and fuck anyone who actually believes that load of absolute horseshit) .

 

I really don't care.

 

But I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would use even the minimal manpower required to insert a completely pointless line of dialog into a scene from a 1983 movie. The thought process of trying to see the logic behind it is giving me a headache.

 

That's why I'm pissed.

 

Fuck George Lucas. He's a douchebag.

 

Surely this is what you meant...

...and anyone looked at RedLetterMedia?...I smell a Plinkett...

The battered wives thing is really apt, since so many have already pre-ordered the set. Guess that whole "you know you're going to buy it anyways" mentality seems even more fucked now, eh?

 

I checked out of the blu-ray set when they weren't including the originals. I've got my THX approved, anamorphic, non-special edition laserdisc versions, and that's all I need.

Anyone know what folks at TheForce.net are saying about these changes?  I bet they love 'em.

Director Don Chaffey Announces Latest Special Edition Director's Cut JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS For Blu-Ray

 

"I really think we've come closer than ever before to realizing my original vision" for the decades-old fantasy action-adventure tale for all ages, said Director Chaffey. "The old, clunky skeleton fight that everyone enjoyed so much the first time around now includes an army of the undead, not the half-dozen or so we were limited to by the technology of the time. We were also able to get some of the original cast members -- those still with us -- to record additional fight dialogue. It's all very exciting."

 

Other changes made to the film, now in its fourth iteration of various edits and special effects improvements, include a more protracted fight with the bronze titan Talos, who is now "at least 200 feet taller, and voiced by Liev Schreiber, who really brings it" to the role of the previously silent Talos. "And the fluid Jason releases from Talos' heel? Well, it turns out to be flammable. I don't want to spoil anything," Chaffey added with a grin, "but Talos doesn't just crack and fall down this time."

 

"The kids are going to love it."

 

When reached for comment, surviving special effects crew member Ray Harryhausen said, "Don who?"

 

 

Yeah, I'm about 99 percent certain that you're right.  Might be a while (well, 6 years at least for all the 3D versions to come out), but eventually either Lucas will relent, or he'll keel over and whoever's in charge next will make the massive money-grab (along with also opening the door for remakes/sequels...not that this is necessarily a good thing).  Lucas has to know that restored (but not altered), properly HD-ified versions of the original original trilogy are his last ace-in-the-hole, and he's just waiting for the right hand to play it.  Of course, 6 years from now it might be a moot point given the decline of physical media.

 

I'd totally buy it though. 

 

EDIT:  Having just been discussing this with a co-worker, the possibility occurs to us that Lucas is deliberately holding back his "last big cash grab" not for himself, but for his kids once he passes on.  I wonder how much (if at all) it would salvage Lucas' reputation with the rabid-but-angry portion of the fanbase if he'd left "upon my death, release the fully restored theatrical version of the original trilogy that I've had tucked away for years" instructions.

Edited by Jmacq1 - 8/31/11 at 8:58am

"The majority of these changes seem to exist solely to infuriate the die-hard/long-time fans who have an emotional stake in the series"

 

Yes, but every version of Star Wars is readily available.  Who fell in love with what?  Even those who didn't grow up with these films have probably fallen for the special editions.  Wouldn't these people be mad as well at the incessant and stupid changes?  Who exactly is Lucas releasing these films for now?  Toddlers?