Problem. I believe the Original Trilogy is being released in its 1997 “Special Edition” versions. I will not be buying those. When the original versions come out on Blu, I will be first in line.
Yeah. which versions of the first three films will be on the “Original Trilogy” wasn’t specific in the release, but all indications from Lucas have seemed to indicate that only the special eds would be transferred (I think his stated rationale was that, because of the age of the unaltered versions and specifically the age of the FX tech used, the original versions wouldn’t look right ).
So according to George Lucas no sci-fi films made prior to 1983 should be released on Blu-ray because the FX wouldn’t look right?
If only George Lucas had the resources to restore and clean up the original cuts. Guess we can’t have everything. At least now Lucas can focus on those small personal films he claims he wanted to be making all along (LOL).
A cynical person might suggest that Lucas’ intent is to hold back the original version so that he can double-sell to those who won’t be able to resist the special editions, but then will feel like they really ought to have the original cuts when those come out a few years later.
I think Lucas’ original intent was to have the special editions replace the original versions completely. He only relented when he got all that backlash for making Greedo shoot first. I don’t think he even wants the originals released on blu-ray.
If he wanted them released, they’d be released. If he wanted them restored, they’d be restored.
He doesn’t want them restored. He doesn’t want them released.
Fuck him.
Still. If they’re available individually, I might get STAR WARS and EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. When they’re on sale. Drastically reduced.
I’m really relishing the day I can watch these films with my kids,…but then my thoughts turn to the prequels. And here’s an idea, fantasy really, that came to mind: what if someone just remade the prequels so that by the time my children can best appreciate the films, they won’t even have to see the prequels. Man, that would be great. Yeah, yeah, I know…
^^^i read somewhere that kids now actually prefer the ‘new trilogy’ to the old one, which is incredibly sad imo.s
LOL@Brad S. it’s funny. supposedly Lucas resigned himself to the fact that he wasn’t really an ‘artist’ years ago, but obviously that seems like a pathetic justification for doing nothing other than Star Wars. somewhere down the line he realised it was his legacy, and he just ran with it.
wonder if episodes 7, 8 and 9 will ever get made.
“^^^i read somewhere that kids now actually prefer the ‘new trilogy’ to the old one, which is incredibly sad imo.s”
Are these young kids, Joks, or “kids in their 20s” kids? In retrospect, I thank George Lucas for shitting out my childhood with his new trilogy. It was a great bowel enema that effectively purged me of any lingering affection I had for his films.
_
^^^i read somewhere that kids now actually prefer the ‘new trilogy’ to the old one, which is incredibly sad imo.s_
If this happens, I think it will ruin my experience of watching the series with my kids.
@Joks
What’s the storyline in episode 7,8 and 9?
ARI: young kids, not kids in their 20’s. although i once met a guy that claimed that Attack Of The Clones was better than Star wars and i almost belted him there and then! ;-)
JAZZ: no idea, but the stories are out there, somewhere ;-)
Yes, many kids that are teenagers now have exactly the opposite reactions to first trilogy vs. second trilogy as people of my generation do.
_ Yes, many kids that are teenagers now have exactly the opposite reactions to first trilogy vs. second trilogy as people of my generation do._
Wow. I’m a little surprised by this. I’m going to have to start testing this out.
“Yes, many kids that are teenagers now have exactly the opposite reactions to first trilogy vs. second trilogy as people of my generation do.”
It seems clear to me that any youngster who prefers the second trilogy is unfit for civilization. I’m going to write my congressman, suggesting new legislation that gives these horrible children a reservation in the Northwest Territories where they are free to view episodes 1-3 at any time they wish, without poisoning the rest of society. Everyone wins.
“…supposedly Lucas resigned himself to the fact that he wasn’t really an ‘artist’ years ago…”
Then he should stop making creative decisions about his movies. From a business perspective, it seems pretty obvious that an untampered form of episodes 4-6 should be released, at least like Spielberg did with E.T., offering both original and updated versions in the same package. Lucas is making poor creative decisions and poor business decisions.
Old news. And yet it still hurts.
I don’t know anyone, not a single person who preferred that 3-part abomination Lucas did with star wars. Also do you people really want to fill Lucas’s pockets with more cash? I certainly don’t. When I got the box-set on dvd and Jedi ended with Hayden Christensen hanging out with Obi-Wan and Yoda I wanted to snap the fucking disc – he is not taking any more of my money, his nostalgia bait just wont do any more.
What? He really added Hayden Christensen to the end of Return of the Jedi? That’s hilarious!
Fuck blu-ray. Seriously, this over-hyped technology medium is a step back from advancing into greater forms of media storage. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the advent of the flashdrive-esque movie/music storage devices, but yet we seem to want to continue with disks? Why? You cannot scratch a flashdrive, you rarely have to clean a flashdrive, and they tend to be extremely portable. The only problem that arises does not concern the viewer, but rather, the companies who market these products. In case you haven’t noticed, DVD/Blu-Ray covers are a good-sized advertisement for the potential buyer. Very hard to fit quotes of praise on a modestly sized flashdrive container.
And really, the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray is extremely trivial for normal people who don’t spend their days watching poorly scripted, but loud and flashy summer action flicks. I just find the presence of Blu-ray, when DVD is already on the market and flashdrive technology is unexplored, completely FUTILE.
Oh, and Star Wars is nice…
Young kids prefer the prequel trilogy because it’s more similar to the cartoons they’ve been watching. They’ll come around when they get older. Though, it won’t have the sentimental appeal to them it did to our generation.
@ Adam Atheos
I really have to question your experience with Blu-ray. Have you ever tried watching a DVD on a nice big 1080p HD television? Even with a good upscaler it leaves much to be desired. There is quite simply no comparison to watching an excellent transfer of an old film on Blu-ray, because it is in all honesty the best version of the film available to consumers (not to mention the image quality with modern movies that are shot digitally). Also, you just answered your own question about why flashdrives wouldn’t be very successful: discs are attractive, store easily, and make for nice collections.
Stop being so butthurt because home video isn’t as hip as you’d like.
I think I could live without knowing the latest George Lucas news.
alright the topic at hand seems to be getting lost here. The facts are this. If Lucas is gonna sell us this films again there is certain this that a Star Wars fan should expect. I hope this is the EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK EDITION. If you are a fan of the original trilogy you were probably disappointed by the lack of extras with the set on dvd. The bonus disc doc was great and the commentaries were cool but where is all the stuff from the vaults Lucas? I’m talking about
1. All the Laserdisc Boxed Set Extras 2. The From Star Wars to Jedi Doc 3. All the special features from the 1997 Special Edition ReleasesBasically I think this boxed set should be something that stands up to the delivery of the Alien Quadrilogy. It’s the definition of a set that featured everything from the Laserdisc and VHS collections and all the new extras you could desired.
In regards to the transfers of all these films… I can’t wait!!! The remastering of the original Star Wars Trilogy on dvd is fucking awesome. They are gonna look even sexier on blu ray.
Lucas has been feeding off of Star Wars for too long. I’d like to see him actually make something new and original, just to see how it would work out. The entire Prequel Trilogy was just feeding off of the fond memories people had from the first films, and now he’s releasing these new discs just to suck as much money out of it as he can. No one wants to see Hayden Christiansen digitally imposed into episode 6! But he obviously goes out of his way ignore this. It is clearly not because this was his “original vision” he just knows it’s a way to suck more cash out of Star Wars. Judging by his Prequel Trilogy he is a senile old man, and would probably have no idea what to do with a film if he didn’t draw up the concept when he was still a genius… But I would seriously have to see a new Lucas film to fully judge.
I think the only copies we’re gonna get of the originals unaltered is the ones we already got on DVD. The transfers were pretty terrible but the colours and sound mix were still better than the touched up versions, with most importantly no added Lucas shit.
Star Wars was dead to me the moment the original untouched films were released. It was surprising we got the limited release of the original theatrical releases to begin with. I couldnt careless about supplementals with star wars, Lucas has tried to slant who should take credit for the making of them so much already enough.
The only reason I haven’t bought the DVD release of the unaltered films is because they aren’t presented in anamorphic widescreen. Though I seriously doubt that they are entirely unaltered; I’m sure Lucas edited a cut here or there.
Your right Seth and that is disappointing, but as I said, it’s probably all we are getting. They are however indeed unaltered. They were given as a “bonus” disc. A New Hope doesn’t even include episode IV in the rolling title sequence it’s that unaltered, which was added while it was still being shown in theatres.
I just want to let you guys know my 6 year old sister loves the original trilogy but has yet to make it through any of the prequels. Once she sees there’s no Chewbacca she gets disappointed. ;)
We watched the original trilogy about a year ago and the original Star Wars another time since then (not to mention random viewings of different parts of each movie from the original trilogy on TV). She tried to watch Episode 1 then moved on to other, more interesting things, like toys and drawing, while Jar Jar Binks blabbed on, fully ignored, in the background.
I figured I would give you guys SOME hope for future generations.
To comment on the topic I too couldn’t give a shit about these “Special Edition” releases. Although I’ll have to see how much worse the CGI looks on Blu-Ray at a friends, or more likely at a store; Yes, that will amuse me briefly.
Matt Parks
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment officially announced today the Blu-ray release of Star Wars for September 2011. Three options:
Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Star Wars: Prequel Trilogy
Star Wars: Original Trilogy