WHY LUCAS DOESN’T GIVE A SHIT WHAT YOU THINK: $84 MILLION IN STAR WARS BLU’S ALREADY SOLD - Page 2

 

Amongst people like us, yes, there is a huge demand -- at least in as far that we demand it all the time -- but you are far and away overestimating how many people care about the originals.

Sales for said unaltered OT disagree with you.

I will admit, Lucas is a great business man. With formats changing, he knows holding back will further increase demand. In the mean time, TV viewings go up! Then after he feels that market has saturated, another market finally got mature (in this case blu-ray), and he finally releases the movies with some changes. This creates a demand to get the most current version, as each version has something unique. Its all about the money, which is why we will never see the original trilogy unaltered. When the trilogy makes so much money in it's current form, it just validates the insecure Lucas' choices.

 

He rationalizes that he wants to be away from the system, and he had to break away to get his story made originally, but the industry now has changed and caught up with him.

 

I bet with the release of the Lion King being #1 in the box office, I'm sure it lit a fire in him to re-release the movies. Along with a blind fanbase, in terms of profits, he always comes out ahead. I just wish someone would tell him NO, but he surrounds himself with protection in the form of YES men. Thus he created his own bubble to accept responsibility and created his own system in which he feels valid.

 

Thing is, he only understands money. He knows demand is there, and sadly people have just stopped caring to try to change him. So they rationalize it to themselves as well. Spielberg who has become so PC is probably just as afraid of telling him to stop as well. With Lucas also being insecure, he wouldn't have the balls to have changes done to the Indy movies.

So he'll have a pristine print of the original theatrical cuts in a vault somewhere.  What happens if/when the building housing that vault burns down?  Now a significant artifact of the cultural history of the late 20th century is gone.  Forever.   And all we'll have is the Laserdisc sourced 'extras disc' version, and various fan restoration projects.

If Metropolis should have taught us anything, it's that the best possibility for film preservation is to have it in as many hands as possible in as many formats as possible.  He should be putting 4K scans of the negatives in the hands of as many libraries as possible, and somebody should be releasing unaltered versions on every consumer format available, as they become available. 

 

And really, the same thing should be done with most movies, not just Star Wars.

 

I'm sure Lucas can afford a fire proof safe.

This may be a stupid question, but I cant help but wonder what versions of ANH and ESB are in the National Film Registry; because, if they are the original ones, a heist might be in order.

 

Star Wars was inducted in 1989, so I would say that the original version is in there. As for Empire, that was 2010. So most likely it's the SE.

 

 

Fret not, there are several copies of the original theatrical release in several collector's hands, albeit illegally. They actually screened a gorgeous print of the OU Star Wars somewhere in the states (Phoenix? Does that soun right?) This past year, they're still out there, outside of Lucas' evil grasp.

Nick this was an informative article, and a good read. Thanks for posting

http://savestarwars.com/technicoloribscreening.html

 

Which were?  Can you post a link?

 

On film?  What happens when they inevitably rot?

http://www.the-numbers.com/dvd/schedule2006.php

 

So, to reiterate: Why would Lucas give Shit One or Shit Two about the originals when releasing the originals only gets you something that had trouble outgrossing fucking Bloodrayne on DVD?

Reading this makes me even angrier at Lucas' shenanigans. 

But still, they were non anamorphic laser disc transfers with mono sound.  I didn't even buy them for this reason, not to mention they were paired with a re-print of the dvds that people had already bought en mass.  So how is this an accurate representation for how a PROPER high-def release of the unaltered films would sell?

 

I'm sure Lucas set it up this way to make sure the low numbers were the final gavel on the unaltered films...

 

Yoda: Clever fuck, he is.

 

Perhaps it was the shitty cover art, the lack of a definitive 'box set', comparative lack of advertising and press the release was given, or the fact the films were non anamorphic that had more to do with poor sales than the fact the discs didn't include Han shooting second

 

They were just kind of dumped on the market without explanation or fan fare, and the people who cared about this issue to begin with may not have bothered given the crippled nature of the release

 

EDIT: or, what Ambler said

 

And you're assuming the average schmuck knew that or cared.

No, I'm saying the average schmuck already bought the dvds in 2004, so the majority of those numbers were accounted for.  The people who want the unaltered OT in standard quality (anamorphic 5.1 on dvd and/or bluray) already have it on laser disc or VHS or some bootleg like dvd.  Lucas offered no improvement in quality along with a set that had already been bought for the most part.  So of course the numbers were low.

 

I'm saying if Lucas launched the same type of marketing campaign for the unaltered films in high-def as he did for his bastardized versions, the numbers would be substantial...not $80 million in a week, but enough to justify doing it.

That's the thing about marketing though, isn't it?  A guy like Lucas, IF he really wanted to, has the resources to really sell the average non-caring schmuck on seeing Star Wars the way it was originally seen.

 

It's just that he has no interest in that.  That, and the ship had sailed when it came to the DVDs, since the big set had already come and gone.  I don't recall any marketing for that 2nd release.  Did it emphasize that the original versions were on there?

 

EDIT: Dammit, Ambler!

 

From what I remember, it was barely mentioned.  Certainly nowhere near the blitz for the 2004 dvds or the recent blurays.  I figure MOST people who are buying these blurays are Star Wars fans from the 80s, and have simply stopped caring about Lucas' meddling.  If he put enough marketing into launching the unaltered OT in bluray format, there's no question these defeated fans would feel a bit of the old magic and buy that set immediately.
 

 

I don't unerstand the complaining about the changes because they arent major enough to change the story as much as everybody thinks they are being altered. If anything they make the story make more sense. when I was a kid in middle school I didn't understand who the mysterious glowing hologram man was in Empire because he wasn't the same Emperor as Jedi. Now it makes more sense. Having Jabba in a New Hope also makes him a more palpable threat and when Han steps on his tail it makes it more believable that Jabba would let him hang on the wall for three years. Now that Boba sounds like jango and Hayden is the ghost in the fireplace connects more accurately to the prequels which is important. Plus there are so many more changes that can be made. These are good alterations but they don't make the originals bad, quiet the opposite. I bought two copies of the blu rays and love them. You can see every pore on Leia's face now.

Quote:

Can you see the Coke round the edges of her nose?

 

How can you take Star Wars seriously with an answer like that? I was referring to the DETAIL IN THE IMAGE which is incredible and astounding. I saw all sorts of alien masks in Jabba's that I had never before seen.
 

 

Oh David, you're trying so hard. It's cute.

lol

Will Lucas release unaltered BD Versions?  doubt it.  People clamoring for the unaltered OT, are slim when compared to the people who just want Star Wars anyway they can get it.   

 

If he releases a Blu Ray set, of just the OT, unaltered, how many will he really sell?  I doubt even 1/50th of what he sold right now.  Many people who are holding out for the OT, will eventually just settle with this Blu Ray set.  Lets be honest, if the standard Star Wars fan had an option between the Super Special Edition, and the Original Theatrical Cut, they will take the Super Special Editions.  Same thing goes for when people go out and buy any film.  40 Year Old Virgin, and the Unrated 40 Year Old Virgin with 17 minutes of additional footage, of course they will go for the one with MORE.  Typical consumer response.  And even for a double dip purchase, the majority of people want MORE.  Not many people double dip on a movie with LESS.  

 

I hate many of the changes with a passion, but most people don't.  I've come to accept that.....

We may see them as pointless changes that hurt the narrative.  But most people see it as MORE.  That's what the public wants, MORE!

Edited by NickP - 9/26/11 at 4:21pm

..... *Lucas changed Boba Fett's voice?*.......

:::sighs:::

That is fine.... stuff like that falls into the areas I don't mind.

 

Better Lightsaber effects

Eliminating Matte Lines

Bigger Death Star Explosion

Additional windows and scope to Cloud City

Bigger armada of ships attacking the Death Star.

Removing the Old Lady Emperor

 

Stuff like that, I can see "WHY" he changed them.  

 

Fett's voice falls into that category for me.  

It's a shame George didn't watch The Two Towers and say, "Hey guys, let's make Jar Jar look as real as Gollum when we do the blu-ray set!"

Yes people will certainly flock to buy the unaltered Star Wars trilogy if he releases it along with the updated versions when the replacement for Blu-ray arrives. but it won't be for the old version's sake, few will probably watch more than 5 minutes of those.

They might be able to rake in 20 million on their own if they were released on their own, but that wouldn't cover the marketing costs.

I don't think so.  In Georgie boys eyes, what he is doing is the definitive versions, and the original one are antiquated.   

 

Jabba is not a "palpable threat" in a New Hope. He's treated like a joke.

 

Oh look!  IT'S BOBA FETT!

How long has it been since you've seen the movies Kate? :-)

 

Sorry, you're wrong, as was said before, the majority of Star Wars OT fans were around when the unaltered films were all the rage in the 80s and early 90s (before the special edition re-release).  Those are the movies they fell in love with.  If Lucas suddenly put  the same big marketing push behind the unaltered films on bluray several years from now ("STAR WARS, THE WAY YOU REMEMBER IT!!!) that he put into this set, they would sell like hotcakes...maybe not as much as this set, but 1/50th?  Seriously?  People WANT the unaltered films, the majority simply don't sit there nerd raging over the changes, but given the opportunity, they'd probably buy them again, especially if it were released around the holiday season.

 

Most people don't notice or care. case closed. The originals will never come out.

You're right, those are the versions they fell in love with, BUT, you are kidding yourself if you think anymore then 5% really care.  Most don't.  Most have familys, kids, grandkids, jobs, responsibilities and don't give a shit what version of Empire Strikes Back they are watching.  Just as long as it's the one with the snow battle, Yoda, and Vader declaring his paternity results.  

 

And of those 5%, the majority them will end up buying the current Blu Ray set anyways. 

Don't get me wrong though, I'm that 1% that won't buy this set because I hate the changes. 

 

I for one, think Lucas should have took a note from the Alien Anthology and gave the fans both versions.  His Special Edition, and the unaltered ones.  Hell, atleast had it as an option, and charge double the price.  But he didn't, and you know why, he doesn't care what the minority wants.  The majority of fans want Star Wars, and they want MORE of it.  The purists are a niche segment that Lucas doesn't care about, because he knows that eventually we will cave in, or move on.  Simple as that.

 

 

 

Longer than at any time since I first saw the films when I was 8 or 9 or something. I've not seen them in at least three or four years

Well it must be longer than that because Jangos voice replaced Bobas back in 2004.

 

Maybe I saw it and my mind erected a wall around the memory to block out any residual trauma. I own that DVD set and watched it once shortly after I bought it

Then you are proof that the changes aren't a big deal because you didn't even notice despite being an avowed fan.

Not proof of anything, and your logic holds no water. My brain survives because stuff that truly bothers me I lock off, refusing to think about it - at all, for even an instant - till the memory fades. If anything, the fact I don't remember is an indication that it must have been a terrible blow to see Jeremy Bolloch's gruff, curt line readings had been swapped out for some New Zealanders. "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold" "He's no good to me dead". I think of those lines and I hear his voice clear as day. I'm glad my memories have not been polluted by Lucas' BS

To sum up: Boba Fett is the adopted name of the Journeyman Protector Jaster Mereel from the planet Concord Dawn. Period end of discussion, as far as I - as a former fan - am concerned. He's certainly no kiwi clone, no matter what exotically accented voice actor Lucas has ADR his dialog

So in other words you're in denial. Thats a terrific argument.

 

They don't need to really care, their laziness is exactly what works in favor of my argument.  What I'm saying is they're gullible enough to let a marketing blitz get them all nostalgic about the old versions and say "now that you mention it, I did think they were fine", or "it would be nice to have the versions I saw in the theater when I was younger on bluray", and buy them.  It's the same psychology that got them to buy the special editions in the first place, just reversed.  They're sheep, they simply follow the television. 

 

So I'm saying if Lucas puts in some effort into making and marketing an unaltered set on bluray in the future (maybe in 6 years for the 40th anniversary), they WOULD sell in significant enough numbers to justify doing it.  Look, it comes down to personal opinion, so I wont press it any further that this. 
 

 

Put all the effort into marketing you want.  The public will see it as the version with "less".  Mix in the bad economy, a decent price tag, and the fact that most of already bought the set... it equates to poor sales.  

 

Nevermind, you would have to get George Lucas to put effort into the marketing campaign.  Which won't happen.  

 

Holy hell. Just die in a fire already.

I conquer 

 

BTW it just occurred to me that, above all else, Lucas did not direct EMPIRE or JEDI. It is extremely disrespectful for him to edit their work and hide away the films as the directors who shot them originally envisioned

Lucas directed Jedi in everything save screen credit.

Aaaand this thread is going to be turning onto Crazy Avenue in the next few hours.

Carry on.

That's very nice of you. Tell me where I am wrong. She said she blocks the changes out and that's her excuse for not not seeing the changes. Its dumb.