Why does'nt Lucas put out the OT in orginal form?

[KenM]

How come he has to keep changing it? If he puts out the orginal cuts, everyone wins. He can put out both versions on DVD. Then people that want the orginals will have the orginals, people that want the changes will have the changes. Die hard fans will get both. No matter what, Lucas gets his money. So I don't know what his problem is.

[redman]

yeah. he'll get more money if he puts out the original as well. *shakes fist at lucas*

[Tornado]

Think about it, the originals are from 77 to 81 or something like that. The reels are probably so damaged that it would be nearly impossible to get a clean transfer on DVD. Just doing the ones from 97 were a major challenge I heard, the ones earlier would be damn near impossible. Plus, he doesn't want to release them. Star Wars to him, are the films that were released in 97, not the ones in 77 - 81.

[KenM]

Think about it, the originals are from 77 to 81 or something like that. The reels are probably so damaged that it would be nearly impossible to get a clean transfer on DVD.

Lets see, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Snow White, Fantasia, Enter the Dragon. ALL movies made before 1977 that have made it on DVD.

[Andy_R]

George Lucas is obsessive-compulsive.
These films will never be complete to him. As technology progresses, he will keep updating them.
In another 15 years they will be unrecognizable.

I hate the changes. I consider these movies to be a work of art. Art should not be modified! Imagine if they had updated the sistine chapel every 20 years...what would we have now?

If you haven't seen it...everybody download the episode of South Park titled "Free Hat." The whole episode is ripping on special editions/updated films. It's hilarious. The psuedo-commercial with the creators' commentary really puts these special eds in their place.

[KenM]

I loved that South Park, the best part is when they sneak into George Lucas's place and see his video tape collection: My wedding, My Wedding(Spec. edtion), ect.

[Kinjo]

He's embarassed by it.

[joe_h]

Lets see, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Snow White, Fantasia, Enter the Dragon. ALL movies made before 1977 that have made it on DVD.


Just because one film was made before another one, doesn't have much to do with anything. It's all in how well the films were stored and preserved, what kind of film they were shot on, and the quality of that film, and whether they have been restored in the past.

Art should not be modified!

Tolkien went back and changed parts of the LOTR. Some of the most famous artists in history have at times gone back to personal works and changed them.

The psuedo-commercial with the creators' commentary really puts these special eds in their place.

That would all depend on whether anyone actually gives a damn about what South Park creators think, or gives their opinion any credibility. I don't. When they create something even 1/10th the caliber of Star Wars, then I might give their opinion my ear. But we all have opinions. ;)

[Miasma]

George Lucas is obsessive-compulsive.
I hate the changes. I consider these movies to be a work of art. Art should not be modified! Imagine if they had updated the sistine chapel every 20 years...what would we have now?


Do you actually hate the changes? Or do you hate the fact that he made changes? I mean, I think the changes were done well and make sense in the context of the saga. For example, he obviously couldn't put a younger version of Sebastian Shaw in the prequels, so to give it a sense of continuity, he used the one option that was available-- putting Hayden in ROTJ. And we would have been ready to kill him if he replaced Ian McDiarmid with Clive The Monkey Lady (ESB emperor), so he did it the other way and stuck Ian into ESB. So I think the changes themselves are good ones. But I can understand if you just hate the idea of there being ANY changes, regardless of whether they're good or bad ones.

As for your Sistine Chapel analogy-- I guess the thing to consider is this: Would it be okay if Michaelangelo himself decided to touch up his work on the Sistine Chapel? I would say yes. But I wouldn't want someone else altering it. So it's the same with Lucas. He can make changes because it's his baby. But if he dies, I don't want some other person altering the saga.

[Tornado]

Lets see, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Snow White, Fantasia, Enter the Dragon. ALL movies made before 1977 that have made it on DVD.

Last time I checked those films weren't re-released as many times as Star Wars was.

[droidguy1119]

Last time I checked those films weren't re-released as many times as Star Wars was.

I don't see what that has to do with anything.

Meanwhile, the movies were 1977, 1980 and 1983. What the hell is Lucas doing to make print reels from the 1980's so totally unusable? It sounds the same conditions were true for Indiana Jones.

And as for Miasma's comment, yes, yes, yes, we all hate the changes. That's why we're mad. They were, in one perspective, made in the best interests, but it's a backward way that doesn't count. The best interests would have been to tailor the PT to the OT so he doesn't have to make changes.

[Frizzo the Clown]

Star Wars to him, are the films that were released in 97, not the ones in 77 - 81.
If thats really what he thought, he wouldn't be changing them again. :wink:

[Tornado]

I don't see what that has to do with anything.

Meanwhile, the movies were 1977, 1980 and 1983. What the hell is Lucas doing to make print reels from the 1980's so totally unusable? It sounds the same conditions were true for Indiana Jones.

And as for Miasma's comment, yes, yes, yes, we all hate the changes. That's why we're mad. They were, in one perspective, made in the best interests, but it's a backward way that doesn't count. The best interests would have been to tailor the PT to the OT so he doesn't have to make changes.

Reels get dirtier every time they're re-released, they're probably transferring from the original copies of the SE reels.

We don't ALL hate the changes. I like them, and there's not a damn thing anyone can say to change my mind, so stop referring to yourself as the "be all, end all" type. Got it? Good.

[Tornado]

If thats really what he thought, he wouldn't be changing them again. :wink:

Well.... I suppose not, but, a lot of the changes for the upcoming releases are just re-mastering everything.

[joe_h]

And as for Miasma's comment, yes, yes, yes, we all hate the changes. That's why we're mad.

Let's say you liked all of the changes, would your position be any different?

[Boro]

tolkien went back and changed the hobbit too... to better fit w/ lotr....

[Andy_R]

Normally, an artist changing his own work is okay.... but George Lucas is not the same person as he was in 1977. I believe Lucas drastically changed between 1983 and 1999. I know that's another topic for another day, but IMO Lucas doesn't have half the talent he used to (I know I'll get a lot of crap for that, but there you go).
Therefore, even though it's "his" movie, I don't want him to change it.
Tolkien changing LOTR is different, because he hadn't changed. He was still the same person with the same talent.

Also, Lucas did not direct ESB or ROTJ. Normally, it's considered disrespectful to simply colorize a director's work...Lucas is decapitating Marquand and Kirshner's work! Those guys won't even recognize these films when GL is done with them.

I consider the South Park guys to be extremely talented. And while they were just expressing their opinions...I happen to agree with them.

[Boro]

lucas still had the same talent after star wars. indiana jones is awesome.

[Andy_R]

Lucas did not direct Indiana Jones. Spielberg did.
However, GL did have his hand in it.
The last Indy came out in 1989, and it kicked ass.
So that puts my timeline (the moment when he changed) somewhere between 1989 and 1999....check that: 1989 and 1997 (special eds).
Did he get hit in the head sometime in the mid 90's?

[fineus fog]

I honestly think he doesnt want to cos he hates looking at in original form

[joe_h]

Also, Lucas did not direct ESB or ROTJ.

Well, according to Kershner, Lucas basically did direct most of ROTJ. Marquand and Lucas ended up not getting along, and the actors did not respond well to Marquand. They kept all of this hush-hush. Kershner stated all of this in an interview, which I believe was Salon. You should be able to find it online if you search hard enough. Lucas directed the throne room scenes with Luke, Vader, and the Emperor. He also directed the space battle, as well as many other parts of the film.

Also, Lucas did not direct ESB or ROTJ. Normally, it's considered disrespectful to simply colorize a director's work...Lucas is decapitating Marquand and Kirshner's work! Those guys won't even recognize these films when GL is done with them.

You may not know this, but Lucas asked Kershner for his permission to make the changes, even though he didn't have to. Kershner gave Lucas his full blessing and even commented that he liked the changes. I think the only one he didn't like was the scream added to Luke's fall.

However, it doesn't matter. Lucas wrote the story to ESB and wrote the first draft of the script. It's Lucas' vision that Kershner was presenting. So ESB is Lucas' work and vision.

but George Lucas is not the same person as he was in 1977. I believe Lucas drastically changed between 1983 and 1999. I know that's another topic for another day, but IMO Lucas doesn't have half the talent he used to (I know I'll get a lot of crap for that, but there you go).
Therefore, even though it's "his" movie, I don't want him to change it.
Tolkien changing LOTR is different, because he hadn't changed. He was still the same person with the same talent.

Sounds like an extreme rationalization, because you don't like the changes. I don't think this comparison holds any water.

Lucas did not direct Indiana Jones. Spielberg did.

No, but he did create the characters and stories, as well as wrote the stories. He also produced them.

Did he get hit in the head sometime in the mid 90's?

No, he stopped directing and producing when his wife deserted him and their daughter. He put all the emphasis on being a dad and raised his daughters.

[Andy_R]

I understand your point, but I'm just pissed.
Sorry if I come off a little harsh on GL, but I'm disgusted with the special eds and (especially) the prequels, so I rant sometimes.

[LordofKings]

I really like the points on how JRRT went back and made changes on his works, and how if Michaelangelo wanted to make changes to his paintings, then that would be acceptable.

The artist, who creates the work, gets to change what they created. When ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO CRY OVER THESE "CHANGES" create your on films/paintings/etc, then you can not change it all you want.

Give the man respect for created something this powerful and loved.


Again, JOE H, you saved me a lot of time by answering those questions. Some people speak without knowing the facts first. And again, I agree 100% with everything you said.

[Necross]

Personally I love both versions. I think the changes only make it better, all they do is make the Star Wars greatness last longer.

[Inferno]

I enjoy the changes as a special edition version of the film, but I'd like to also have the originals. IMO you can't enjoy the SE's without the original. I'm sure at some point the originals will be released, we may have to wait until the next format after dvd, but they will come.

[superxero88]

LFL should just buy a copy of the laserdiscs and remaster those. It'd be good enough for me.

[droidguy1119]

Reels get dirtier every time they're re-released, they're probably transferring from the original copies of the SE reels.

We don't ALL hate the changes. I like them, and there's not a damn thing anyone can say to change my mind, so stop referring to yourself as the "be all, end all" type. Got it? Good.

I didn't mean everyone, I meant all of us opposed are opposed to what's being changed and not the fact that he's changing em.

Meanwhile, even if I liked the changes I would want both versions available.

[Andy_R]

This argument has gone nowhere since it started.
I can't stop Lucas from changing "his" movies, but I sure as hell can be pissed that he won't give us a good copy of the original on DVD.
As a life-long fan, it's insulting that after all the money I've poured into Star Wars (films, merchandise, etc.) Lucas caters to all the '2nd time around' folks, and leaves us old-schoolers out in the cold.

[Inferno]

Amazing to see how Lucas has gone from God like status to arse wipe of the universe in a mere matter of years.