GEORGE LUCAS IS FINALLY TOLD NO (OR NOT) - Page 2

You guys WAY overestimate the mountains of money that will be made from an original edition. If that was a factor, he'd have done it (correctly) on DVD, would do it on Blu, and would do it digitally when it comes time. That's probably the biggest reason they haven't happen on Blu, because the returns would ultimately be a drop in the bucket to the enormous amount of DVDs sold to the masses in whatever form he considers the latest and greatest. Pandering to hardcore fans is not his financial ace up his sleeve, as if he would even need one. He just doesn't "get it" the same way you "get it." That's it.

Reading a thread on AVforums about this confirms what a friend told me.  This information has been available for a while, but it looks like these blu-ray transfers are from the same 2K masters that were used for the 2004 DVDs.  Which means it still has a lot of the same issues that those DVDs had in terms of color timing and whatnot (aside from these recent changes).

Nothing that the general consumer will care about, but there you go.

The blus have been available to many for quite a while now. There are 1080p screencaps, and 720p clips online. For this to come up out of the blue tells me this is BS. If this were true, it would have leaked a week ago. Maybe even sooner.

I stopped getting mad about this years ago, and have only purchased one home video release of these films since the 90s, so at this point I just find it sort of bizarre and fascinating. It's almost cool, at least in theory, and certainly unique, to see a work of art become this ongoing, fluid thing. I say in theory because it sort of comes across as an unhealthy compulsion on Lucas' part, and surely on some level, perhaps unconsciously, a knee-jerk contrary reaction to the people who get upset about it. Sort of like "how much more clear can I make it that I don't care what you think and this isn't for you anymore? I guess I'll have to change something else..." It's actually kinda funny, and again I don't necessarily believe he consciously thinks that. And it's interesting to see a creator with the ability and desire to continuously reshape his original work to fit his continuously changing vision of what that work is and should be (cause, come on, there's no way all the changes he's made at this point were part of his original vision for the films back in the day. The films are changed as his perception for them does.)

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Originally Posted by MichaelM 

Darth Schwarzeneggar remains better than any of the prequels.

 

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Originally Posted by Graham 

 

Surely this is what you meant...

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

YOU KNOW NOTHING!

I look forward to Mr. Plinkett chiming in.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/lucasfilm-confirms-change-to-blu-ray-release-of-return-of-the-jedi/?ref=arts

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Originally Posted by Barkatthemoon 

The blus have been available to many for quite a while now. There are 1080p screencaps, and 720p clips online. For this to come up out of the blue tells me this is BS. If this were true, it would have leaked a week ago. Maybe even sooner.

 

 

You nerds can bitch all you want. Creepy Ewok is very pleased with the changes. Aren't you pleased, Creepy Ewok?

Holy shit, Lucas, please make that gif BLINK.

Takes foot from mouth. Still buying the set, I've had the money tucked away for some time now. If I don't like it, I'll trade it in for store credit. Probably won't have to take much of a loss either.

The amount of people canceling pre-orders will probably crash Amazon by the end of the day.

ETA: Way to go Devin. NY Times and shit.

I didn't have this pre-ordered and it will remain that way. I still hold to the idea that I won't own this set unless someone buys it as a gift that I didn't ask for.

I can't wait to see what other surprises are in store for us!  I read a rumor on another forum about Sebulba walking around Jabba's palace in ESB.  This could be the best (or worst depending on your viewpoint) drinking game of all time!

Like so many others, I'm pretty much numb to all things Star Wars at this point.  But I still find myself baffled as to why Lucas is choosing to focus his digital meddling on asinine stuff like ewoks blinking.  Whats even more confusing is how it unconvincing and bad it looks.

Ha! Check this shit out: http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9888/r2newshots.jpg 

Even without the new changes, why would you buy this? I've seen the OT a hundred times over. It exists fine as a memory. Can you squeeze any more enjoyment on your 101st view that would justify the price when you already have the dvds?

Steven, Brian, Francis, John, and Marty need to sit George down and have an intervention.  The man has a serious problem.

I talked to someone who has the discs. All the changes are confirmed as being on the Blu-ray. And I heard what mcnooj82 said. The transfers are lacking.

Scruff, you do in fact see Sebulba walking around in Jabbas palace.

I was five when Star Wars came out in 1977, and I've probably watched it all the way through less than a dozen times. I've watched Raiders of the Lost Ark twice as much as any of the Star Wars films. Heck, I've watched Robocop more than any of the Star Wars movies.

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Originally Posted by MoonBaseNick 

Scruff, you do in fact see Sebulba walking around in Jabbas palace.

"Poodoo."

Here's a couple of ROTJ changes:

One of Sebulba's relatives, and a thrilling zoom into Jabba's door!!!

Is it just me or does Jabba's tail look like it's been CG -enhanced? Maybe I'm wrong, but at this point it's impossible not to expect such pointless changes.

Also, Wicket blinks like he's having an aneurysm:

I know it's not cool to say this, but Wicket is fucking adorable. I'm guessing in Star Wars era youtube, Ewoks replace kittens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCjIjsZp_Y

Eh, like so many have said, I own the unmolested versions on DVD.  At this point it's actually kind of entertaining to see what Lucas is changing.  Who thought "Return of the Jedi was great, but the fact that the ewoks don't blink ruins it"?

Well, at least one person, as it turns out.

Point missed. Nobody is complaining about Ewoks. I believe the Vader cry is prominent in the discussion here.

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Originally Posted by Shaun H  "Poodoo."

Poodoo indeed.  Because, you know, we needed more CGI in Jabba's Palace.  Maybe he gets to sing some Jedi Rock.  I wonder what they've done to the original Yoda . . . *cringe*

My humble thought on the Ewoks is this: My disbelief was suspended just fine.  I accepted that there were little fuzzy guys running around on another planet.  Now every time I see that I won't be enjoying the movie - I'll be thinking "hey there's the blinking part they just added".  The whole thing has become an "I Spy" of three different rounds of unnecessary CGI enhancements. 

A good example is Episode29 asking if Jabba's tail was enhanced a few posts back.  The whole trilogy I can see myself wondering about stuff like that and I won't be able to relax and enjoy myself.

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Originally Posted by Scruff 

My humble thought on the Ewoks is this: My disbelief was suspended just fine.  I accepted that there were little fuzzy guys running around on another planet.  Now every time I see that I won't be enjoying the movie - I'll be thinking "hey there's the blinking part they just added".  The whole thing has become an "I Spy" of three different rounds of unnecessary CGI enhancements. 

...or you could just not bother watching it, buying it, or even having to worry that it exists.

Crazy I know.

I can just imagine Lucas at Skywalker Ranch sitting in a big chair with one of his employees saying "We've got the HD masters ready." and Lucas saying "Not yet. I'm not done fucking with them."

I wasn't going to buy the blu-ray set at all. This just makes me even further happy. I'll stick with the 2004 dvds, and eventually probably will get the non-anamorphic versions of the original films. Eventually. Always been more of a Star Trek fan. Those films get the proper respect they deserve.

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Originally Posted by The Rain Dog 

...or you could just not bother watching it, buying it, or even having to worry that it exists.

 

Crazy I know.

But then what would we all talk about on the internet? 

I just don't see the point in wasting all that money on stupid shit like adding eyelids to the Ewoks, putting extra rocks in front of R2-D2, or continuously adding CG prequel creatures into the original films.  You want to blow your money, George?  Why not just clean up all of those deleted scenes and re-insert them into the films.  I'd much rather him add stuff than fuck with what is already there.

I said it before, but I will reiterate it again.  I really didn't have a problem with the original SE versions.  Aside from making Greedo shoot first (which is retarded), all he really did was add stuff to the films.  It's when he started full-on changing shit in the 2004 editions that it really started to bother me.  While I don't like the fact that he re-recorded all of Boba Fett's lines with Temuera Morrison, I can understand it.  In terms of continuity, it makes sense.  You want to reshoot the Emperor hologram in Empire?  Fine, but have the make-up look like it does in Jedi......not in Sith.  In terms of continuity it DOESN'T make sense.  Having Hayden Christiansen as a young Anakin ghost makes no sense either.  If he has reverted back to his youth in ghost form, then why didn't Obi-Wan and Yoda do the same?  It makes no sense.  Even then though, I could stomach those changes.  Why I can't stand is Lucas ruining my favorite moment of the saga.  Return of the Jedi is a flawed film, but the whole Vader/Luke/Emperor dynamic is the best part of the film and one of my favorite collection of scenes in the original trilogy.  And now George has taken the much-hated (and rightfully so) "NOOOOO!" cry from Sith and ruined that moment by reusing it in a very inappropriate place.  I shudder at the possibility of him fucking with the Yoda performance in the OT.  It's only a matter of time before he does it..........if he hasn't already.

These are his films and he can fuck with them however much and/or often he chooses.  I can still watch the version(s) I prefer, so aside from not being able to own some of my favorite films in HD, it really isn't any skin off my back.  I'd just like to know the thought process and reasoning that go into these choices.  I would also LOVE to know what those who have to facilitate this craziness think about it.

We're going to get one hell of a tell-all book about all of this someday when George kicks the bucket.

Here's what you guys aren't getting about the "NOOO" being added. Now the Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi will rhyme. Like poetry.

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Originally Posted by Greg Clark 

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.

The original versions on dvd are anamorphic? I thought that wasn't the case. My little bro got the 04 special edition on dvd the christmas they came out so I never bought the movies on dvd. 

Honestly, I wish he wouldn't fuck with other director's movies. Star Wars messing with is less problematic than ESB or ROTJ.

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Originally Posted by Johnny Daywalker 

Point missed. Nobody is complaining about Ewoks. I believe the Vader cry is prominent in the discussion here.

I think you misread something.

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Originally Posted by Damon Houx 

Honestly, I wish he wouldn't fuck with other director's movies. Star Wars messing with is less problematic than ESB or ROTJ.

I was just wondering about that. I mean both Kershner and Marquand are dead, so neither of them can contest at this point but you're right something really doesn't feel right about him messing with Empire and Jedi. Marquand died before even a rumor the Special Editions existed but Kershner only passed away last year? Has he even commented on the tinkering done to his movie?

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Originally Posted by Damon Houx 

Honestly, I wish he wouldn't fuck with other director's movies. Star Wars messing with is less problematic than ESB or ROTJ.

Yeah, I'm surprised there isn't more of a backlash from other directors. Or the Guild.

Considering Lucas directed the bulk of Return of the Jedi (ala Spielberg directed the bulk Poltergeist) I don't think it would cause much controversy. Empire Strikes Back has the least amount of changes in the trilogy.

I think it's interesting that Empire's the film with the least amount of alterations, considering it's the only film Lucas didn't actually direct.

Thank god I still have my VHS copies...and my VCR.

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Originally Posted by NoMoreMrNiceGaius 

but Kershner only passed away last year? Has he even commented on the tinkering done to his movie?

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/empire-strikes-back-director-irvin-kershner

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Originally Posted by Spook 

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

They're actually kind of pissed.

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Originally Posted by Billy Youngblood 

They're actually kind of pissed.

...when I had what alcoholics refer to as 'a moment of clarity'

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Originally Posted by Fat Elvis 

Yeah, I'm surprised there isn't more of a backlash from other directors. Or the Guild.

 

I don't believe George is a member of the Guild. He left in 1977 when they told him he had to put credits in front of Star Wars.

In case no one's heard it yet: Lucas also tweaked the Greedo shot again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEX6QJ-zlQ

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Originally Posted by Justin Clark 

In case no one's heard it yet: Lucas also tweaked the Greedo shot again.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEX6QJ-zlQ

Gotta say, that looks better.  Still sucks in principle, though.  

George you LYING motherfucker....

This was written by The Onion, right? This can't be...I mean, Jesus.

Alright you made that interview up didn't you?