Will The Original Unaltered Theatrical Star Wars Trilogy Officially Be Released Again?

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From my personal copy of the original ‘Star Wars’

 

If there’s one thing that some Star Wars fans want more than anything is the chance to see the unaltered versions of the original trilogy without the infamous Special Edition enhancements. Right now, the only versions available on home video is some form of these altered versions. With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on the horizon, could there be a glimmer of hope that we may see remastered the original theatrical versions some time in the future? Some hope that might be the case!

 

Last year, I had the honor of hanging with hundreds of wonderful fans for over 20 hours watching all seven Star Wars films for the AMC movie marathon. It was the first time I had seen ‘Star Wars’ on the big screen since the “Special Edition’ release back in 1997′. Before that, I had only seen ‘Star Wars’ (after Young Frankenstein played) on the big screen in 1978′ inside an old yellow Mustang at the now demolished 100 Twin Drive-In in Minnesota.  Naturally, as with most Star Wars fans at various events, a few fans in the cinema gathered together to discuss “all things Star Wars”.  Of course, the main topic on the table was “are we seeing the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy tonight”.   Soon, ‘Star Wars: A New Hope” began, and we found out the answer as we all watched the 2011 Blu-ray version play out on the big screen.

 

Don’t get me wrong, the AMC movie marathon event was a wonderful fan experience that I will never forget and talk about for years to come. However, it seemed like something was missing and an incredible missed opportunity was lost for a company that paid millions to screen it. Imagine the media attention that AMC could have had if they had shown the original versions over the 2011 Blu-ray’s. Did AMC even ask for the original version? Who knows…

 

Fast forward to last week, TNT television aired all six Star Wars films that included the original Star Wars trilogy.  Once again, and opportunity for the original versions to be played on some sort of official medium was missed. The simple fact that TNT had paid out a reported  250 million dollars in order to play the Blu-ray version is something that is unreal, at least in my opinion.

 

So, the big question remains, will we ever see the original Star Wars Trilogy officially released again?

 

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For those unfamiliar, George had been slightly tinkering with the original Star Wars Trilogy since shortly after the first film hit cinemas in 1977. In fact, one of the earliest changes made to Star Wars was within weeks into its theatrical run that included the “more-widely distributed 35mm release had a 2-track Dolby Stereo matrixed 4-channel optical soundtrack rather than the original mono mix that was released in June 1977 for exhibition in cinemas”. Later, on came the famous 1981 “A New Hope” title change that will forever be remembered, and even more tinkering to the audio track was done for the 1993 Definitive Laserdisc Collection.

 

Jabba and Han

 

However, it didn’t end there, the biggest changes were made in 1997 with the release of “The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition’. This time, Director George Lucas‘ pointlessly altered several things that were in the original Star Wars Trilogy and made the film feel jarring and very awkward. Some of these changes included the replacement of special-effects shots with brand-new CGI shots, replacement of musical pieces, addition of new and previously deleted scenes including the Jabba the Hutt scene and the highly controversial among Star Wars fans, “Han shot first” addition.

 

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Over the years, Lucasfilm has made it very clear that his original  versions of the first ‘Star Wars’  Trilogy really didn’t exist to him any longer and that the “Special Editions are the “Definitive Versions”.  Lucas told The Today Show back in 2004 that:

“The special edition, that’s the one I wanted out there.” He said. “it doesn’t really exist anymore. It’s like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I’m sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it.”

 

Also, sometime before the recent sale to Disney, Lucas had refused to release the remastered versions of the unaltered originals in any form and stuck to the idea that his Special Editions are the most accurate representation of his vision. In fact, Lucas had this to say around the time the SE’s were released (via Wikipedia.org):

“There will only be one [version of the films]. And it won’t be what I would call the “rough cut”, it’ll be the “final cut”. The other one will be some sort of interesting artifact that people will look at and say, “There was an earlier draft of this.” The same thing happens with plays and earlier drafts of books. In essence, films never get finished, they get abandoned. At some point, you’re dragged off the picture kicking and screaming while somebody says, “Okay, it’s done.” That isn’t really the way it should work. Occasionally, [you can] go back and get your cut of the video out there, which I did on both American Graffiti and THX 1138; that’s the place where it will live forever. So what ends up being important in my mind is what the DVD version is going to look like, because that’s what everybody is going to remember. The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20-foot-by-40-foot screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s, to go back and reinvent a movie.”

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As of now, the only way to officially view the unaltered versions is through DVDs that sell for hundreds of dollars on the secondhand market or by breaking out the old Laserdisc and VHS player to watch inferior copies. Unofficially, some dedicated and resourceful fans have “over the years” created their own restorations, with Harmy’s Despecialized Edition release being the most famous and widely (though illegally) distributed online.

 

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Is there a NEW hope?

 

Back in 2014, the Internet went abuzz with rumors that Disney intended to re-release the original, unaltered Star Wars trilogy in a remastered Blu-Ray set. At the time, Comicbook.com claimed to have it on good authority (“two independent reliable sources”) that the plan was to re-release the unaltered trilogy in some form. They had this to say:

According to our sources, Disney has plans to release the original cut of the Star Wars trilogy on Blu-ray. Our sources indicate that the project has been under way for quite some time, but it’s been challenging because of some damage to the original negatives they are utilizing. The goal is to release A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of Jedi in their complete, unaltered, original form without the redone special edition SFX.

 

Well, sadly there’s been no movement or official truth on the matter. At least, not officially, not yet.

 

More Recently, Movie Mezzanine caught up with the anonymous team member who calls himself Mr. Black and he spoke about his unofficial and basically illegal newly restored scan of the original negative of the original cut of Star Wars that he tracked down on eBay. So, the only logical thought is that if a fan can track down and original negative and restore it why couldn’t Lucas or even Disney. Was George and other Lucasfilm associates really telling the truth that they used the only “far gone” (Rick McCallum) negative in existence to create the Special Edition of Star Wars? Looks like it wasn’t the only one!

 

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Anyhow, with the success of the blockbuster smash hit ‘The Force Awakens’  it seems that there might be some hope on the horizon that Disney and Lucasfilm might release the ‘unaltered’ theatrical versions on some form in the future. Could the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story cause Disney to think twice about releasing the original versions?

Time will tell.

“Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future..”

– Yoda

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Perhaps, one day I might be able to see a version that was really close to the “true” theatrical cut that played in a few cinema’s in 1977. The version I seen in 1978′ was most likely the “A New Hope” titled version as friends have told me over the years, even though I have always thought differently.

 

100 Twin Drive-In - Minnesota -
100 Twin Drive-In – Minnesota –

 

I will never forget going down this long road with my TARGET store purchased Luke Skywalker and C-3PO figures in hand to watch ‘Star Wars’ as it was meant to be seen (at lest IMHO!).

 

Hopefully, one day Disney and Lucasfilm will bring back something close to the original version for all of us to enjoy!

 

 

May the Force be with you….

 

 

+ posts

177 thoughts on “Will The Original Unaltered Theatrical Star Wars Trilogy Officially Be Released Again?

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:30 am
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    Never. I’m with Jedi Council’s Campea on this. Somewhere George Lucas got a guarantee, maybe not on paper or on the sales agreement to Disney, but somewhere, somewhat enforceable (yes, there are enforceable contracts not on paper – to an extent) that says the Special Editions are the only ones to be shown or released.

    What’s interesting is that it’s very easy to find fan-altered editions of the prequels on YouTube, but you won’t find the originals on YouTube – other less obvious sites do have the ‘despecialized’ editions – that’s all we’ll really get.

    • September 28, 2016 at 2:44 am
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      even more interesting is that the holiday special, the bane of lucas’ existence, is also on youtube. does he hate the original versions even more than that?

      • September 28, 2016 at 5:27 am
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        How can he possibly hate them?, I dont think so, those are his creation, he made them, and when he had the oportunity he made them even better, closest to what he originaly intended. It’s a logical thing that if you improve your work you will want people to see your last version, your “complete” version, don’t you think?

        • September 28, 2016 at 5:40 am
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          Hate is a strong word but I think ashamed fits perfectly. And he shouldn’t be. ANH was minor miracle and he should embrace that instead of trying to hide his accomplishment from the world.

          • September 28, 2016 at 5:53 am
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            I’m not sure when this screening took place, but Lucas was invited to a screening of (ANH?) I believe. This was before the special editions came out. Audience members claimed Lucas was phyisically cringing at certain parts of the film due to the effects. So Hate might not be an overstatement.

          • September 28, 2016 at 8:56 am
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            Don’t think it’s the case, he is a perfectionist in that sense, he is very visual, and when he had the oportunity and the tools to improve them and get closer to his vision and he just did it.

            Why would be ashamed if he did more than the best posible at the time of ANH?, he pushed all to where no one had been before. then and after I don’t think he could be even a little ashamed of that.

            I don’t know but I dont believe he is trying to hide anything, he just tried to enhaced it, completed what couldn’t before, and its a win I think, if you compare both versions, there is no real change, only that looks better now. The greedo-han thing may be debatable but I don’t think that alters what star wars is.

          • September 28, 2016 at 6:50 pm
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            70’s era special effects with 90’s era cgi grafted on does not look better, imo. it comes across as awkward.

            and stop with this “his vision” non sense. read how star wars conquered the universe and see how much “his vision” changes by whom he’s talking to at that moment.

          • September 28, 2016 at 10:20 pm
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            It is what it is, Im not Inventing that. And in my opinion changes did improve the films, if not all, the majority of them did.

        • September 28, 2016 at 5:55 am
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          “closest to what he originaly intended”

          How true do you think that is? He admitted to Roger Ebert that when he Made Phantom Menace he basically thought much of it up on the spot and just put down what his imagination led him to at the time of writing. How many of the special edition upgrades do you think he actually originally intended? I mean, if he originally intended Vader to scream “nooooooo” at the end of ROTJ, why didn’t he do it then?

          • September 28, 2016 at 8:09 am
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            When you create something you let you imagination go, that is not a bad thing at all, Lucas is a very imaginative person, and that’s why Star Wars exist in the first place.

            He had talked a lot of times about the limitations at that time, he created ILM to try to make his vision possible, and reached the limits of what could be done to get the closer posible. In ANH there was stuff recicled from other projects, and not created specifically for the movie, that for example, is one thing he may wanted to fix. Space battle sequences, Yoda and all the creatures, for sure looked more live and fluid in his mind too.

            Lucas talks about star wars as a big movie, not six, one espisodic big story, so I think it is totaly natural that having the full piece, he can revisit some areas, this can answer why he didn’t include the “infamous” scream at the time.

            He did the best at the time, and when he saw the posibility to get even “closer” he didn’t hesitate and did it.

        • September 28, 2016 at 10:27 am
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          But most of the time the changes didnt improve the movies (especially ANH and ROTJ) at all.

          ,,If not broken it is, fix it you should not”.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:38 am
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    Did everyone forget that the original versions WERE released on DVD as bonus discs with the 2004 SE set?!

    • September 28, 2016 at 2:43 am
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      No they weren’t. I have that set and the original versions aren’t part of it, although I do believe they were released separately.

      • September 28, 2016 at 2:49 am
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        He’s talking about the 2006 set. It’s a terrible, non-anamorphic, grainy scan.

        • September 28, 2016 at 2:51 am
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          Ah, ok. I just had the 2004 set until the blu-ray came out.

        • September 28, 2016 at 6:52 am
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          which were laser disc transfers….

    • September 28, 2016 at 2:45 am
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      its not the theatrical version, but it is pre special edition at least.

    • September 28, 2016 at 8:29 pm
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      I have it. Have you seen the quality? Unwatchable.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:41 am
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    I have very mixed views on the Special Editions. The whole Han Greedo thing never bothered me and I think that many of the additions to ANH and ESB are generally improvements (not, all, just many). The only changes that particularly irk me come in ROTJ (Jedi Rocks, the Sarlaac, “Noooooo!”, Hayden and Gungans are mainly my complaints) so that’s the only film I’d much rather have the option to watch the original version of…but even there I think there are some improvements, such as the newer Ewok song at the end.

    • September 28, 2016 at 2:48 am
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      RotJ is, by far, the biggest victim of the special editions.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:42 am
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    i don’t think the originals are gone, but they aren’t coming back either. we can keep asking until we’re blue in the face but we got what lucas wanted us to have and thats all we’re going to get. and no matter how much greedo shooting first or jedi rocks makes me cringe it was his right to butcher his own material as much as he wanted to.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:03 am
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    It’s interesting that Lucasfilm clearly at least tolerates the Despecialized Editions. The guy who makes them has not made any effort to remain anonymous and although there are the usual “don’t download this unless you own the blu-ray or digital version” disclaimers that’s not exactly a legal swiss watch.

    In any event nothing is going to happen until 2019 or 2020 (can’t remember which) when the distribution rights for Empire and Jedi revert from Fox to Lucasfilm. Fox owns distribution rights for Episode IV forever but I’m sure it would be cheaper for LFL/Disney to negotiate a deal for one movie than all three. If it’s going to happen at all it won’t happen before then.

    I hope it happens. For all the good changes in the SE (Cloud City, cleaned up matte lines and transparent artifacts) there are some hellishly clunky changes where it seems like Lucas was just using the movies as a way to experiment with the effects technologies he wanted to use in the prequels. The Despecialized Editions are the only ones I watch and the only versions my kids have ever seen.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:10 am
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    1. “The version I seen in 1978′ was the most likely the “A New Hope” titled version as friends have told me over the years, even though I think differently.” — As your own article points out, “A New Hope” was added in 1981.

    2. The Mr. Black article referenced above is about a group of fans who purchased a print (several, actually) on ebay and scanned it. The prints that are out there have been run through projectors and handled over the years, so they are not the same quality of film that Disney has access to. Lucasfilm has the original camera negatives, which should be in pristine condition. But the party line has always been that those elements aren’t in that great shape now and a full restoration would be took costly.

    3. The 2006 DVD bonus discs were non-anamorphic transfers of the 1993 laserdiscs. In other words, they were even inferior quality to the standard DVDs released 10 years ago and were literally the cheapest possible way to release the original films on DVD.

    4. Disney will have to do something to create a 4K version when that becomes the standard resolution for home video. The Special Edition CG already looks pretty bad in 1080p, so it will take a lot of work to get everything looking good for 4K. That would seem to be a logical time to release the older versions as well, since they will likely have to go back to the original negative to make a 4K scan.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:16 am
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      The problem is, from your point #1, is that there is no one-single perfect edition. When fans demand the “original version,” they are missing some crucial changes like the title.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:21 am
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    George couldn’t say better, “interesting artifact”… there is only one offical version, now the blu-ray, and that’s the true vision, o at least the closest thing to that. Lucas isn´t against the original versions, he just thinks those are unfinished, I can perfectly see that, And he just make them better for all of us.

    As much love I have for the original editions, I prefer the “final cut” because it’s the same but looks lots and lots better :), and fits more with the new ones, I think the changes were for best, and I can’t really see anything that alters the story, It didn’t bother me at all the ” major change” with Greedo and Han. The only change I can complain about is when a dinosaur-like creature crosses the screen too close in ANH and don´t let me see anything!, WTF was George thinking!?, everything else is very wellcome. Some of the new effects aditions weren’t perfect tecnically but neither were the original, so who cares? that is not the important thing I believe, what really matters is the movie, the story and characters.

    Btw, I would love to buy those “interesting artifacts” if they release them sometime.

    • September 28, 2016 at 6:50 am
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      Actually, what bothers a lot of people is that Lucas contradicts himself. On one hand, he testified about the great importance of preserving classic films because of their historical significance, and then he turns around and doesn’t give a crap about preserving the original movies he made, which have historical significance. The Oscars that movie won was for the FX work done in 1975-1977. To remove those ground breaking effects is to piss on ‘historical significance’… And there you have it – one of the reasons why a lot of people find Lucas pretty infuriating at times…

      • September 28, 2016 at 9:34 am
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        I’m pretty sure he is preserving that versions somewhere, ha ha, but it’s not his final product and never was. The world saw that when he find out he could be able to tell the entire story and added the title “A new hope” in the re-release. I know it may be contradictory, but it could be contradictory too not editing the movies, it would be against his own character. Being a creative person who believes in improvement and evolution in storytelling and having starwars in his hands.

        I see your point but, from “another” certain point of view… if you think about this, he always says that he never really finished the movies, so in that sense he never altered o destroyed anything, he simply showed to the world the unfinished product he had at the time haha 🙂

        • September 28, 2016 at 10:47 am
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          No one is saying he doesn’t have the right to alter his work. If he wanted to be consistent with his own principles, all he had to do was do the SE and tell everyone that this is his definitive canon edition while at the same time preserving the original cut and acknowledge the fact that it has historical significance. Instead of taking that common sense route, he’s a hypocrite who holds his own movies to standards that are contradictory to what he’s said regarding the importance of preserving films of historical significance.

          • September 28, 2016 at 10:49 pm
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            In that speech Lucas talks about preserving films, and protecting them from external corporations, from people that are not the author, in the SW case he is the author. Thats why that doesn’t aply to him in that sense.

          • September 28, 2016 at 10:54 pm
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            Lucas was for the preservation of films from deteriorating for posterity.. It wasn’t for the protection from ‘corporations’ who would make edits and manipulations years after the film was released. He was for preserving films in their original state and his actions contradict this position.

          • September 28, 2016 at 11:40 pm
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            In that same speech he says “Creative expression is at the core of our humanness. Art is a distinctly human endeavor. We must have respect for it if we are to have any respect for the human race.” My point is that Star Was is his art in this case, and he has stated serveral times that this piece of art ( Star Wars ) were unfinished all the time, untill now. So the piece that matter is what star wars is now, the “final cut”. You can’t really question piece of art because its the artist’s espression.

            He is the artist and we must trust him, because who knows Star Wars in the entire world better than him? no one. You may not trust him, but facts are facts, you can hate it or you can love it, or both, you don’t have to love everything, and at the end of the day that doesn’t change anything, SW is his piece of art, like it or not, and he will make sure it is protected.

            We can go forever here, Im just talking facts, and i don’t believe the changes really “alters” what is important in the movies, (don’t see how the changes could rape childhoods, mine wasn’t).

            I have watched both versions at the same time, and I dont really see a big change, and believe me I’m very picky with deatils, the story is the same, but now artoo in space is blue instead of black, for example. I like most of the “fixes” really, there are some things I don’t like much, but I’m in favor of the improvements in general.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:27 am
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    This is why i haven’t bout the Original Trilogy yet…. some of the changes i can deal with, some i can’t (Like the fake rock in front of R2, Obiwan’s Krayt Dragon screen, the unnatural Han stuff with Greedo/Jabba, Ewok ending song).

    There is ONE thing i would like them to change, though. Not so much of a change, as an enhancement. I want them to get rid of the Matte boxes around the TIE fighters in the fight after the Falcon leaves the Death Star in IV. always bugged me since i noticed it on my old DVD.
    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GE89IvqQJU/UozQWvZo-SI/AAAAAAAAhU0/Kf1C7G_W714/s1600/star+wars+IV+a+new+hope+tie+fighter+vs+milleinum+falcon+han+solo+luke+skywalker+jedi.JPG

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:43 am
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    Why can’t we get an edition that keeps the improved effects and cleaned-up matte lines of the Special Editions but not the bad or unnecessary additions? ANH:SE would be fine with the original Han-Greedo scene, the Jabba scene removed, and some of the silly Mos Eisley CGI (the taunting probe droid, the ronto, etc.) removed. ESB:SE is mostly fine as is.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:42 am
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      Why can’t we? It’s to do with taste, and apparently George has none according to some of his terrible choices in the Special Editions.

      • September 29, 2016 at 3:54 am
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        George isn’t calling the shots any more. Disney and LFL could easily put it together. Call it the Classic Edition and release dual-disc sets.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:48 am
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    If they can release movies from nearly 80 years ago like The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind in pristine condition based off of those negatives, then they can surely release movies from the late 1970s and early 80s. I don’t buy this “the negatives are too far gone” crap one bit.

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:34 am
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    It’s amazing that I bought a DVD player in 1998 solely for the hopes of a release of the Original Star Wars Trilogy. Who would have thought 18 years later (and a new format called Bluray) and I’m still waiting!

    I never agreed with the hatred for Lucas towards the Prequels, because you can ignore them. But Lucas deserves all the crap he gets for not releasing the Originals fully restored. Lord of The Rings, T2, Bladerunner, Aliens, etc all have multiple versions in every release, its ridiculous that Lucas has been so stubborn about releasing them.

    • September 28, 2016 at 11:29 am
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      Maybe it is because when those movies are released again, they don’t get as much backlash as Star Wars does.
      Rogue one reshoots, the TFA 3D release, you name it, just because it’s Star Wars, people are that much more focused to bash on it.

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:44 am
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    Faaaaaack George. The original films will live on. They are a world treasure. Past the current business agreements. Past copywriter laws. Past my remaining 30 or so years on this rock. The 1970’s Star Wars EXPERIENCE will outlive all of of us in spite of the Fat Necked One’s pathetic demands. REJOICE!!!! I’ve had too many beers.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:00 am
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      Help, you need.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:13 am
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      Once you get sober again, please do us a favor and delete your comment.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:09 am
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    As someone who grew up with the special editions, I don’t really get the big issue. People make it out like these are two totally different movies, yet 95% of the films are exactly the same. Why not just ignore the few added shots? The “Han shot first” debate is just as ridiculous. It was obvious Greedo was about to shoot anyway. To me, Han casually dodging the laser then shooting Greedo is more badass than the original.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:12 am
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      Oh the horrors! George Lucas changed the scene and completely RUINED Greedo’s all-important story-arc!

      • September 28, 2016 at 7:48 am
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        Actually it waters down Han’s all-important story arc.

        In the theater, before I’d seen the movie over & over, it wasn’t immediately clear if Han was going to end up being a good guy or not. The way he kills Greedo without any warning or remorse was definitely not heroic.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:38 am
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      “Han casually dodging the laser then shooting Greedo” probably wouldn’t be that bad. However, Han digital glitching out of the way of the laser just looks stupid.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:39 am
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      I prefer the special editions myself.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:43 am
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      Han being faster than a blaster bolt at close range is as ridiculous as it looks.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:49 am
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      Like I said below, I think some parts compliment the pictures, others do not.

      I think the biggest complaint is when scenes aren’t so much additions but out and out changes. For instance:-

      1) Han shot first. I personally never had an issue with the change, but I can certain see why people do. The fact that Han shot first speaks to his character as a rogue.

      2) Jedi Rocks. For those of us who grew up on Lapti Nek, Jedi Rocks was pretty jarring. The CGI has aged badly and the cartoon aspect of it feels out of place. The former tune and scene had a more real and alien feel to it.

      3) Vader’s “Noooo”! Aside from the fact that this feels like a direct lift from Episode III, I always felt that in that scene Vader is very conflicted and his decision top turn to the light is by the very finest of margins. For me the “nooo” totally takes away from that….and, frankly, the “nooo” doesn’t sound good anyway.

      4) Hayden in place of Sebastian. Lucas argues that Anakin goes back to looking as he did when he was still a Jedi. But I call bull on that. The whole point of the redemption at the end of ROTJ is surely that he becomes a Jedi again by saving Luke and bringing balance to the force? So it made sense that his force ghost was the elder Anakin.

      I think changes like these are what people have an issue with. Things like insert shots, like more X Wing shots at the end of ANH, I rarely see complained about. I think it’s the stuff that messes with and changes what people grew up appreciating in the first place that is the main source of complaint.

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:21 am
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        i agree with most of your points here. The main reason i want the Han shot first moment back to the original is that the attempt to alter it, is just so bad looking and completely ridiculous – it totally takes you out of the movie.

        Though for me the worst addition came with the 2011 blu-ray where Vader says nooo before saving Luke. I was just so bad and again totally takes you out of the movie. I still have the DVD version from 2004 where that is not included. I always thought the quiet moment with Vader was much much more engaging and powerful, you could really sense what was going on behind the mask. There was never any need to spell it out like that.

        • September 28, 2016 at 10:31 am
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          Yup, totally agree.

        • September 28, 2016 at 11:25 am
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          Exactly.

      • September 28, 2016 at 8:13 pm
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        To me, what bothers me most, is Jedi rocks. Vader’ s Noooo or creature in front of the camera in Mos Eisley are minor issues, and the rest I don’ t care that much….

    • September 28, 2016 at 7:35 am
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      I disagree. “Casually dodged the laser” looks stupid on screen and undercuts the original character arc. Han gunning down a threat in cold blood gave the character a definite starting point that contrasts the hero he becomes.

      Similarly, the Jabba stuff feels silly compared to how badass he was in Jedi. It’s like they hadn’t quite figured out how menacing he should be back in 77. There is no way ROTJ Jabba gets stepped on by anyone.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:16 pm
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      “As someone who grew up with the special editions…”

      And that’s it right there. Most of the folks that want an original version of the classic Star Wars trilogy grew up with it. It’s nothing personal, but rather a product of what we know. I’m part of the original Star Wars generation, and I’d love to see pre-SE versions of these.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:40 am
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    Mee hagwa like things da are different.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:48 am
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    Chad, one alteration to the article I would suggest: Reliance Media works did a 4k transfer of the OT in 2014/2015. That was official and on their site.

    Nothing has come of it though, I suspect Disney is waiting for 4k/ UHD bluray to take off before launching this. Disney has as of yet not released any 4k blurays.

      • September 28, 2016 at 6:39 am
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        never knew that, thanks for the heads up…. I’ll add that to a future report…

      • September 28, 2016 at 8:10 pm
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        Are you sure? Few years ago when analog vameras were replaced by the digital ones many people went to the local Imax to see movies in 4K for the last time, because, as they said, the digital Imax cameras have 2K resolution…

        • September 29, 2016 at 2:23 am
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          That was IMAX Digital, I believe. I think the upgraded Laser projectors can do 4K.

        • September 29, 2016 at 10:20 pm
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          In regards to the reliance media works remasters, yes. Nobody has seen those remasters yet.

          You are correct, IMAX digital is 2k, however, IMAX laser projectors show 4k resolution for the films mastered in that resolution. The lucky few SW fans who live near IMAX laser theaters did see TFA in 4k.

          Imax 70mm film can be scanned @ resolutions of up to something like 60k. Star Wars OT was @ 35 mm which I think can be scanned up to 12k or 16k resolution if the technology existed.

          What I’m not sure about is what resolution you are actually seeing in the cinema if you are watching IMAX film. I did get to see 70mm Interstellar and it was mind blowing, I definitely did not miss the 1080p pixelation.

          So I would definitely prefer to see films on film instead of Digital… however, IMAX laser is a different story because IMAX laser has higher dynamic range… deeper black levels and brighter brights.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:25 pm
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      Sounds like it may just be the 2011 blu ray cut.

  • September 28, 2016 at 6:45 am
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    It seems likely that when Lucas sold the company to Disney, he put in a clause saying that only the special editions could be released. Sounds like something Lucas would do as a final middle finger to the fans. If that’s the case though, you’d think someone could find out and confirm whether or not that was the case. If releasing the original versions is not addressed at all in the contract that Lucas signed when he sold off the company, there is hope…

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:14 pm
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      I wonder if that’s the case. I wouldn’t be surprised. I hold nothing against Lucas, but he chose Disney as the new home for Star Wars in part because the felt they would be the best caretakers of his brand. Part of that is their willingness to uphold his vision and the Special Editions are part of that vision. I bet there’s a clause in that contract about the Holiday Special, as well…

  • September 28, 2016 at 11:33 am
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    Just get rid of Jabba in ANH and Jedi Rocks in ROTJ and we’ll call it square.

    • September 28, 2016 at 4:24 pm
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      What about the Vader “Nooooooooooo” in Jedi?

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:11 pm
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        Yeah, get rid of that as well. God-awful.

        • September 28, 2016 at 11:16 pm
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          So glad that I never owned the Blu-Ray edition. Saw it on Youtube and it made me scream in rage.

    • September 28, 2016 at 4:53 pm
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      Amen. Those are the worst parts in my opinion. Maybe those and the creature walking in front of the camera at the spaceport as well. And of course the whole Greedo shooting first. Let’s all remember. Han DID NOT SHOOT FIRST. He is the ONLY ONE WHO SHOT. 🙂

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:11 pm
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      Can we also get rid of that awful beak in the Sarlaac?

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:29 pm
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        You mean the one single addition that doesn’t look like complete ass, and totally unlike any of the footage around it?

        • September 28, 2016 at 11:26 pm
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          It was a terrible addition. The “old” Sarlaac contrasted wonderfully with the Rancor. While the Rancor was this moving, grabbing, biting creature, the Sarlaac left a great deal more to the imagination. Visibly little more than a mouth in the sand, the real horror of the Sarlaac was what went on inside; which as viewers was sort of up to our own imagination.

    • September 28, 2016 at 11:16 pm
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      And the original Han-Greedo scene. If I’m feeling lucky I’ll push for getting Yub Nub back. #MakeEwoksYubNubAgain

      • September 29, 2016 at 2:19 am
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        Honestly, I like Victory Celebration more. I still think Yub Nub deserves to be seen again though.

    • September 29, 2016 at 12:47 am
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      Guys, we all know most of these added scenes could be scrapped, but let’s be honest, we are the only ones who really give a shit about the “Nooooo!”, the Greedo scene, etc. The two main scenes that change the experience for the casual or first time watcher are the added Jabba scene and Jedi Rocks. Jabba has a whole mystery built up around him after hearing about home through two movies. Then when you finally see him in ROTJ it should be off putting. Like “WTF. THAT’S Jabba? A disgusting giant Slug?” Him being in ANH blows all of that. And Jedi Rocks is just too goofy. It stands out so much. I watched ROTJ with some of my cousins who had never seen it before, and they started laughing at the scene. One of them said “what the fuck was that shit!?” And I agree with him!

  • September 28, 2016 at 11:44 am
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    Will it be great to see the films as they were originally released? Yes.

    However, we have to keep in mind that it’s 2016 and there’s a whole new generation of Star Wars fans. Perhaps even two (those that grew up with the SW around ’97 – 2005, and now those that grew up with the Clone Wars, which started in 2008).

    Now, with todays focus on special effects extravaganza’s, would those fans be interested in seeing the unaltered, original versions? Perhaps once if they’re interested, but why would they watch movies that are technically inferior to the movies they grew up watching. For them, those films might look like some bootleg of “their” films. Try to place yourself in their shoes.

    Also, there are the casual fans, those who like the films and that’s it. Again, some might be interested in seeing those unaltered films once, but I think the cost to restore those negatives (in 4k or not) will not easily be made back.

    • September 28, 2016 at 4:30 pm
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      Ah that’s a load of nonsense, those poor dears already have several updated versions of the films. And there would be more than enough fans who would buy the unaltered versions for Disney/Lucasfilm to turn a profit. Please try to use some basic logic Smullie, I find that avoiding the prequels can very helpful in that regard.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:26 pm
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      Horse puckey. And as far as expense, LFL can’t re-sell the films based on the current masters, which are now close to two decades old and display less resolution than consumer televisions. They have to restore and scan for new masters anyways.

      • September 29, 2016 at 2:01 pm
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        I meant making money with the sales of a possible unaltered trilogy alone. The general audience is not going to spend money on something like that, I think.

  • September 28, 2016 at 1:47 pm
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    dont want to be an arse like ……………. but what version of the originals? , there were different cuts and audio mixes for different territories and for different theatres . what you saw and heard will be different than what someone in the next country or even city saw and heard , and the home video release was different again ………… so what one is the real one?

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:10 pm
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      People generally know this. When people say they want the original versions, the vast majority aren’t talking about the version that first rolled through cameras in 1977. Most are simply referring to pre-Special Edition Star Wars movies.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:23 pm
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      The prints themselves were all pretty much the same on original release, which only leaves the audio which was different. Since DVD we’ve had the option of multiple audio tracks so I’m not seeing the dilemma here.

      • September 29, 2016 at 2:17 am
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        Actually, the 70mm of Empire had different cuts/wipes. Just saying.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm
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    I’m in my mid-late 30s so I grew up watching the OT on VHS tapes, my love for Star Wars goes back three+ decades. At the time, in the 80s as a standalone series, they were the best movies ever made. But now as part of the overall GFFA saga, the blu ray cuts are the only way I want to watch the movies because of all the connective tissue to the larger universe. So if I never watch the original versions again and if they’re never released again I’m fine with that.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:13 pm
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    Even if they never release the original versions, we will still have Harmy’s wonderful Despecialized Editions. I felt like a little kid again, when I watched those last year.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:21 pm
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      Thank goodness for Harmy. Three cheers for Harmy!

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:09 pm
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      And that’s the solution, right there. Technologically speaking, we’re at the point where we can do these sort of reedits ourselves. So, until someone wants my money bad enough, I’ll watch Harmy’s for free.

  • September 28, 2016 at 2:28 pm
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    I predict in May there will be a limited theatrical run of a 4K restoration of the original cut of ANH. It will be the 40th anniversary of the film and that would be a perfect time to commemorate it.

    Disney and Fox (the studio that still owns ANH) are keeping quiet about this until January or February when this will be announced, I bet. A teaser for Episode VIII could premiere before it… and maybe even one for Avatar 2 (which Fox will distribute).

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:20 pm
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      That would be brilliant.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:22 pm
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      I’m actually betting on ‘non-movie year’ when LFL and Disney need to sell something SW for the balance sheet.

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:34 pm
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    There is only ever one original camera negative.

    • September 28, 2016 at 4:12 pm
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      I think most of us just want the “story” alterations removed… and are great with the visual brush up.

    • September 30, 2016 at 4:37 am
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      Correct. And no fan can get access to it on eBay, that’s patently absurd! “Mr. Black” and Team Negative1 used 35mm release prints for their “Silver Screen Edition.” Release prints are 3rd generation copies of the original camera negative. They are very soft-looking compared to the OCN.

      Standard 1.85:1 release prints have only slightly more resolution than the best looking 1080p blu-rays, somewhere around 1,000 lines per picture height or 88 lines per millimeter. For a 35mm anamorphic release print that would be about 1850×1550.

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:01 pm
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    I just want blu Ray quality, pre special edition versions, that’s all. I don’t particularly care if they’re the very first version or not. A version of A New Hope before George was all powerful and inflicted his brain farts on it. And Kershners Empire and Marquand’s Jedi.

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:01 pm
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    I really really dislike the Special Editions and the prequels yet I did enjoy the improved starship battles and removal of matte lines.. so I’d love a version with the FX cleaned up but without the inane story changed.

    • September 28, 2016 at 4:11 pm
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      Yeah… I have a DVD boxed set, that includes (begrudgingly, on Lucas’ part) the “theatrical cuts” of the O.T. but, they’re super grainy. Still, that kinda adds to the effect, in a way… but, It was just a half-a$$ed thing to do. I’d really like a cleaned-up edition of the O.T. in “theatrical” cuts.

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:34 pm
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    The only thing I really like from the new versions is the replacement of that ape emperor. It seems a lot better with Ian McDairmid. Other than that I don’t care either way, I’ve never been one to fuss over the minor stuff either way.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:19 pm
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      That is one of the few changes that actually made sense. That, and the technical cleanups (matte lines and such). The added CGI, changed scenes, added scenes, etc. were all terrible decisions.

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:07 pm
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        McDairmid’s Emperor replacing the old ESB Emperor did make a certain bit of sense, but I’d still prefer to see the original scene. Who cares that they’re two different actors? It’s how the movies were originally made. There are discrepancies in those films which give them a bit of character.

        • September 28, 2016 at 11:14 pm
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          Totally agree. I just at least understand why he made that particular change. It’s logical. The rest of the changes are just tinkering for tinkering’s sake.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:21 pm
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      What, the Hemperor? Ugh. McDiarmid’s performance in that sequence is straight out awful.

      • September 29, 2016 at 12:21 pm
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        I don’t like that they used the silicone over the foam latex more than his performance, that right there contradicts his appearance worse than the everybody freaking out about Alden Ehrenreich not looking just like Harrison Ford 10+ years earlier hahaa

    • September 29, 2016 at 8:55 am
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      Yeah, the monkey eye emperor always used to take me out of the film since he looks nothing like he did in Jedi. That is the best change of the bunch IMO

  • September 28, 2016 at 4:38 pm
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    There is money in it. It will happen eventually.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:13 pm
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    I feel teased.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:14 pm
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    The big issue with this is that Disney doesn’t own the rights to the first 6 Star Wars movies until 2019 or 2020. They will never own the rights to the original Star Wars film A New Hope and that film will always belong to Fox. The Force Awakens is currently the only film Disney has rights to.

    So there will have to be a deal between Disney and Fox for a release of the unedited version to ever be officially released again.

    • September 28, 2016 at 5:18 pm
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      I think that’s a minor hurdle to clear. There’s much money to be had by both parties in doing this.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:20 pm
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      It’ll happen. They both like money, and nobody’s making ANY if they can’t play nice over a release.

  • September 28, 2016 at 5:20 pm
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    It’s a shame. “Star Wars” won, I believe, 7 Academy Awards…It’s crazy that it’s impossible to see an Oscar winning classic.

    • September 29, 2016 at 12:08 pm
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      What you liked that change!!!!? Blasphemy. 😉

      I’m kidding, that does seem very weird that you are okay with Christensen but not a lot of the other changes.

  • September 28, 2016 at 7:31 pm
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    “I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s, to go back and reinvent a movie.”

    Wasn’t Empire directed by Irvin Kirshner? And Jedi directed by Richard Marquand? Funny how Lucas has no problem altering the films of those directors when he goes on about the director’s vision being supreme.

    • September 28, 2016 at 8:12 pm
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      That’s a great point.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:19 pm
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      Except to be fair he DID consult with Kersh on what he was doing, and Kersh publicly said he was fine with it (particularly opening up Cloud City). Marquand was dead, or we can assume he would have consulted him too. I still HATE what he did to the films, but that’s one criticism that doesn’t have a lot of validity.

      • September 29, 2016 at 1:29 am
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        He kept altering the films after the deaths of both men. He put an embarrassing cartoon dance sequence into Marquand’s film, then senselessly added Hayden Christensen at the end. That doesn’t sound like someone who honors another director’s vision.

        • September 29, 2016 at 3:45 am
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          Again, Kersh said he was consulted and was fine with the changes. Empire hasn’t had any changes I can think of since then, and it was the least fucked with at any rate. Jedi has got some truly abhorrent crap going on, but besides Marquand no longer being around to ask, there’s a pretty good case that Lucas directed a fair amount of the film, and he certainly paid for the whole thing at any rate. Again, I am IN NO WAY a supporter of ANY of the changes to the films, but where possible Lucas did discuss with and obtain agreement from.

      • September 29, 2016 at 12:07 pm
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        I never realized that Marquand died at a fairly young age and was outlived by the older Irvin Kirshner.

  • September 28, 2016 at 8:10 pm
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    Here’s the thing: Although many aspects of the Episode 4 special edition were totally crappy (i.e., Greedo shoots [at all], Jabba and Boba Fett, goofy Jawas falling off animal), there are many aspects that I would never want to give up (i.e., overall SFX cleanup, better Death Star attack SFX, nice sandcrawler shots, extra Biggs material). I don’t really understand people needing to be so pure that even the addition of “Episode IV A New Hope” to the crawl is bad. Or that they insist on seeing bad matte lines or poor light saber effects.

    • September 28, 2016 at 9:08 pm
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      You’re right, the memory that people have of the unaltered film is false.
      People think that effects that are ‘new’ are part of the original, and that it looked as pristine as it does now. truth is it never did.
      What I think I really object to are the additions Lucas made, they really jar with the rest of the film(s) and look dated now.
      I’d like to see a full ‘original’ restoration released (with a polish of the original effects). And one day, if Disney want the money, It’ll get done. But at the moment their coffers are overflowing.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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      The DS shots are so badly out of place with the original footage that even though I like some of the shots in isloation, I’d rather see them excised.

      • September 29, 2016 at 12:24 am
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        I disagree, I think the revised Death Star attack scenes work perfectly and merge nicely with existing (and cleaned up) footage. It’s jarring for you personally because they do not match with your memory of how the scenes played out and the model technology available in 1977, rather than them being truly out of place.

        • September 29, 2016 at 2:12 am
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          Here’s an idea. How about we have BOTH versions?! Worked pretty well for Blade Runner and The Exorcist.

          • September 29, 2016 at 3:06 am
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            I agree 100%. I would love to have a pristine copy of the unaltered original trilogy. I’m not happy that the only copy of the original version is on non-anamorphic DVD. It should absolutely be distributed on Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray.

        • September 29, 2016 at 3:28 am
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          I find it jarring because of that admittedly, and the fact that the footage looks absolutely nothing like the footage around it. Seriously, look at the colour of the ships in an original shot and then compare it to a CGI shot. Part of the problem is that to texture the CGI ILM took extensive photos of the surviving miniatures, but they don’t seem to have paid any attention to how those miniatures look photographed vs how they looked under studio lighting and composited and re-composited.

          • September 29, 2016 at 3:38 am
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            I watch on a 100-inch screen, and I don’t see a jarring difference in texture or color.

  • September 28, 2016 at 9:12 pm
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    Work yourself through the five stages of grief and find acceptance. Its never going to happen. Accept that and being a star wars fan becomes so much easier.

    • September 28, 2016 at 10:16 pm
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      If Disney wants to sell these films any time in the future (hint, “they do”), they need something better than a 1080p scan of the negs, which is all that exists right now. I’m thinking a non-movie year, so maybe after the current trilogy, but just be prepared to eat those words 🙂

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:34 pm
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        This is incorrect a Mike Verta has produced a professional 4K restoration of the original 1977 Star Wars, based on combining detail from five different release prints. It is currently known as the Star Wars Legacy Edition, and he’s in the process of preparing a pitch for Disney and Lucasfilm executives. You can find more details on Legacy on his vimeo channel.

        • September 28, 2016 at 10:47 pm
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          Except, last time I checked (and I’ve followed the project since the website first went up and the thing was going to be on DVD if I remember 🙂 ) Mike won’t show anyone his work. With good reason, but nobody really knows what he’s got. Regardless, Mike was working with what he could get his hands on – going back further than release prints would be ideal

          • September 29, 2016 at 3:47 am
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            No doubt, it looks good. Was that from one of the private group shares, or has he started releasing snippets publically?

          • September 29, 2016 at 8:49 am
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            This was from his private group shares. He planning to build a website dedicated to the restoration.

      • September 28, 2016 at 10:45 pm
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        If it happens, that’s great, but accepting that it won’t has worked out pretty well over the years. No disappointment at rumors, no hope to be quashed. Acceptance is pretty good.

  • September 28, 2016 at 10:03 pm
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    I really wish this would happen. It’s sort of silly that there’s not an official release of the original theatrical versions of these films. While I really don’t mind the restoration and matte cleanup aspect of the Special Editions, the altered story stuff is garbage. The Special Editions are closing in on 20 years old and I’m still taken out of the film every time I see droids getting punched, Sarlaac beaks, and that awful revised music scene in Jabba’s palace.

    Still, what Lucasfilm won’t (or can’t) provide, the general fanbase will. There are really, really good fan edits of these movies where the original scenes are integrated back into the high-def quality release of the films. Until whoever owns the rights to distribute these films decides to make a bit more money off of me, I’ll watch them for free.

    While we’re on the subject, the Tolkien Edit of the three Hobbit movies is pretty well done. Peter Jackson had more material in his Hobbit trilogy that didn’t occur in the book than material that did. Someone whittled the movie down to something that much closer resembles the book. It’s not perfect, but it’s leagues better than that 9 hour bloatfest that Jackson gave us.

  • September 28, 2016 at 10:14 pm
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    K, first, – “over the years” why is this in quotes?
    Second, as to tracking down negs, well, mostly what keeps turning up is release prints. While these are around, they have some issues as far as usefullness for a restoration. First, they are struck from copies from copies. As with any analogue process, this degrades the image every generation. Second, they were release prints. They ran over and over and over again through projectors, damaging the prints a little each time. Team -1 has done a home brew scan from a few of these prints, and it’s nice, but not really a rival for even the woeful official scans.

    The real hope is Lucas, or rather, what we know about him. One, he’s a hoarder. The real reason he was able to redo all of the compositing for the SEs is because he KEEPS EVERYTHING. He doesn’t thrown any film away. Second, he’s a liar. He says the originals were destroyed, and that may be strictly true (or not) if you’re looking at whole negatives of the films, but bets are that it’s all still there at the archives, just in pieces. Better yet, with the fragility of film and a ticking clock on the negs, it even seems likely that Disney had them start on it almost immediately. This IS going to happen, I’m willing to bet on it.

    • September 29, 2016 at 11:59 am
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      It would be neat to own a copy of very first versions of the original trilogy.

  • September 28, 2016 at 10:34 pm
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    I prefer the altered versions. More and better special effects

    • September 28, 2016 at 11:44 pm
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      With nothing but narrative flow and competent storytelling as the sacrifice. Awesome trade.

    • September 29, 2016 at 1:24 am
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      I prefer them, too. They add so much more to the narrative and smooth the saga out as a whole.

    • September 30, 2016 at 7:31 am
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      altered versions = CGI-overdose

  • September 29, 2016 at 12:26 am
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    I have the unaltered “Star Wars” (a New Hope) on DVD… and it’s guarded by a heavily armed group of Marines. The New Hope Special Edition is just awful. “Empire” actually benefits from the few changes that were made to it. “Jedi” offers some positive editions, but dear god Boba Fett dancing in Jabba’s Palace is just… there are no words.

    • September 29, 2016 at 2:05 am
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      I don’t recall Boba Fett dancing.

      • September 29, 2016 at 2:19 am
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        i do remember him hitting on the ladies though.

        • September 29, 2016 at 2:34 am
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          As do I.

      • September 29, 2016 at 10:29 pm
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        My bad, that was in “Return of the Jedi” SE, in Jabba’s Palace

        • September 30, 2016 at 6:05 am
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          He didn’t dance in that, either.

          • September 30, 2016 at 10:26 pm
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            You’re right. I misremembered. Re-watched the scene on YouTube. Weird. I still remember seeing a shot of Boba Fett slightly grooving to “Jedi Rocks” in SE. Obvious brain meltdown, which will no doubt lead to uncontrollable drooling and possible coma. Still hate “Jedi Rocks” though.

          • October 1, 2016 at 7:25 pm
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            Jedi Rocks is known to cause brain meltdowns, so I don’t blame you.

  • September 29, 2016 at 1:24 am
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    Most fans don’t care.

    • September 29, 2016 at 1:32 am
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      i think if we had a poll more people would be against the changes.

      • September 29, 2016 at 1:39 am
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        A poll among who? Most Star Wars fans watch the movies once in the theatre and then once every few years on video and don’t know the difference.

        • September 29, 2016 at 2:01 am
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          most of the general audience don’t care about any of these kinds of discussions so their presence in it is inconsequential. i would be curious to see a poll among people who care enough to have an opinion either way.

          • September 29, 2016 at 2:03 am
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            They’re completely consequential. They made The Force Awakens the highest grossing film of all time. They put Phantom Menace at over $400 million domestically when that number was almost unheard of. Theirs are the dollars Disney is chasing. And they’re doing it very well. No reason for them to muddy the waters with differing versions of films.

          • September 29, 2016 at 2:17 am
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            are they ones shelling out a Benjamin for the newest blue ray set? or waiting in line at force friday? the special editions are for the people who care enough to spend that extra cash, not the ones who will only watch it “every couple years” as you said. they will blissfully watch it for free on TNT.

          • September 29, 2016 at 2:19 am
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            Yes. Those Star Wars blu-rays were some of the bestselling blu-rays ever. They set records. It’s hard to think we’re not in the majority as Star Wars fans, but it’s true.

          • September 29, 2016 at 2:26 am
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            i feel like we’re talking in circles around each other. as i said, i just would like to see a poll.

          • September 29, 2016 at 11:57 am
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            Even if Viralhide set up a poll for this, the data would be pretty biased. It would have to be a poll on Facebook, or Google where a lot of users, potential fans or not, could participate.

          • September 29, 2016 at 11:34 pm
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            I’m not saying the results would be taken as gospel, just get some basic feel of the fans. We always seem to talk in such broad strokes about these kinds of topics without gaining any more clarity.

          • September 29, 2016 at 3:08 pm
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            An online poll is about as useless as an online comment.

          • September 29, 2016 at 11:34 pm
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            Then what the heck are we doing with our lives? 😉

          • September 29, 2016 at 11:51 pm
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            WE ARE LIVING

  • September 29, 2016 at 2:03 am
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    Short answer: no.

  • September 29, 2016 at 2:24 am
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    I never understood what the issue is with this. 90% of the ott exists. To change from se to ott, it’s mostly cutting crap out and audio changes

    • September 29, 2016 at 2:35 am
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      And also grafting horrific CGI onto every frame. But other than that, they’re very minor. /s

  • September 29, 2016 at 7:14 am
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    If they ever want me to buy the OT again. It will be the original cuts. Star Wars for me at this point is whatever you want it to be. It’s retconned itself and altered so many things… I don’t feel any one canon is all that sacred anymore. I’ll pick and choose what I want it to be. I’ll always understand there is a “true canon” for the series… but it wont be my own 😛

    OT unaltered, TFA (hopefully R1) is my canon!

    • September 29, 2016 at 11:54 am
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      I always thought the most sacred version of star Wars was the one released initially in theaters, and that includes the original Star Wars without the title attached “A New Hope”

      Those are the purest of the pure Star Wars peeps. The eugenicists of Star Wars hahaa

      • September 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm
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        The most sacred one is the one you saw first and loved.

        • September 30, 2016 at 3:56 am
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          For me that’s the VHS version in the early 1990s lol

      • September 30, 2016 at 1:43 am
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        To me, the 4th episode will be always Star Wars. never liked the title A new hope, I grew up without this new title and choose to ignore it.

    • September 30, 2016 at 1:48 am
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      I am a firm believer that every fanboy can choose his own personal canon. To me, for example, cartoons or some guy with different face and 1foot shortr than Ford pretending to be “young Han Solo” will never be canon. To me.

      • September 30, 2016 at 4:06 pm
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        I can totally agree with that. I think it’s almost healthier for all involved heh. Just go with what feels right. Or natural. Don’t try to force something that doesn’t work or was poorly implemented.

        Like I really enjoy a lot of what happens in Rebels and I really like Ahsoka. Yet when I watch the OT or TFA… I never once think to myself those were all really a part of it. Just like I just don’t see the OT Obi-wan really being connected to the PT Obi-wan etc etc. To much disconnect.

        That’s why I loved TFA rehash or not. It’s hard not to feel the connection when the same characters are on screen!

  • September 29, 2016 at 8:45 am
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    I may be alone in this, but i never really cared if they released the “original cut” of Star Wars. I’m not crazy about some of the changes, but most of the changes feel so minor to me. A few seconds here, an awkward cgi there. And for every bad add-in you get something cool like a wide establishing shot or windows to the outside, or better lightsaber coloring. I mean I hope they get released for people who want them, but I’ll stick with the canon versions, warts and all. Besides, while No TRUELY unedited copy exists, I feel like I could get the same effect watching my old VHS tapes or streaming the OT online somewhere

  • September 29, 2016 at 1:44 pm
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    I’d be happy if they dropped the CGI from the planet side of the movie but kept the space battles, it’s the dumbing down jokey scenes that do the most harm to the movie

  • September 30, 2016 at 7:30 am
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    Most fans DO care. Seeing these Films released “SANS SPECIAL EDITION CHANGES” is a dream come true and would be a retail-JOYGASM for Disney.

  • October 28, 2016 at 2:05 am
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    I simply will not watch any special editions..they are a stain.

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