George Lucas adds "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" to Return of the Jedi Blu-ray (and more)

[Lasosa]

He did direct A New Hope and the prequels. Just not Empire or Jedi.

 

[doctorsun]

As only a passing watcher of these movies (I was FAR more of a Trekker) can I ask JUBbers a question....

Has Lucas made it IMPOSSIBLE for fans to be able to obtain or to watch the original versions of the trilogy as they were released in the cinema in 1977/1980/1983?

They were released on VHS and DVD. However, the DVDs were only included as bonus discs in limited editions of the DVDs released for the Special Editions, which in themselves included even more changes than the FIRST Special Editions.

 

[Joshua_me]

I grabbed Empire Strikes Back on Laser Disc a couple of years ago for $2 just because I loved the box art. If only I had something to play it on.

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80 Bucks well spent ! The Pioneer's last forever !

 

[Joshua_me]

I grabbed Empire Strikes Back on Laser Disc a couple of years ago for $2 just because I loved the box art. If only I had something to play it on.

Amazon has a GREAT deal on a used Pioneer model number (like I can fucking remember ) But - it's a good one and it's only 80 bucks.

Much like vinyl, the old LD's are making a comeback and some swear they have a better picture than dvd's and even Blu-ray's. (I dunno about that last part)

But the thing is, the players are built like tanks. Where as you go through a dvd player every few years, you could pass these bad boys down to your grandkids.

Plus, if you've got an amp with the old Dolby Pro-Logic decoder they sound amazing.

Plus, plus, if you can get your hands on a copy of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit ?" you're in for quite a treat. The X-rated stuff they crammed into that movie is amazing. (It was taken out of all other formats)

There are guides on line to show you where everything is....

 

[trinket]

There's some good thoughts in this thread. Lucas's continual tinkering and his stance, "Well, I was never happy with them the way they were originally...so much I wanted to fix" and the "Well, they're my movies, so I can" probably shows someone in too much control or a position of power that nobody can really say "No" to that.

Three great pieces externally that relate to this thread:

Untouched is impossible: the story of Star Wars in film. Points out why the "original" print of "Star Wars" is actually gone, so anything coming out is a restoration/re-creation/revision anyway; it's just a question of degrees.

If You Buy Star Wars On Blu-Ray, You Are Destroying Art. A piece that looks at director "revisions" and why it's a travesty the "original" (in its lousy release on the Special Edition DVDs) isn't better preserved.

And a BBC oldie but goodie - from 2004 but still relevant:

Macs Do Star Wars Dirty Work. Covers the technology of scanning and digitizing each frame of "Star Wars" elements.

 

[mygaybuffet]

I've always somewhat defended the special editions and even think some of the changes actually made sense, like adding Ian McDiarmid to Empire. However, some of the things he'd done have seemed to be solely for the purpose of fucking with the fans, like adding Hayden Christensen to Jedi and now adding the infamous "NOOOO!" to Jedi. I suspect he'll add even more shit when he start converting the movies to 3D.

You're right...if he still feels the need to be so creative with the Star Wars franchise, he should just make more movies. Personally, I'd love to see episodes taking place in between the prequels and the original trilogy to show us how the Empire took shape and the formation of the Rebellion.

I too happen to like the Special Editions much better than the originals. It was inevitable. It's his story. I don't understand all this vitriolic hatred?!

 

[GamerBear]

I grabbed Empire Strikes Back on Laser Disc a couple of years ago for $2 just because I loved the box art. If only I had something to play it on.

lol my brother did the same shit but I think he paid a shit load of money back when it first came out on Laser Disc. Laser Discs were fucking expensive back in the 90's. I can't believe that I have all my collection of laser discs and no Laser disc player.

 

[Lasosa]

It is funny that the two best films are the ones he didn't direct.

 

[Ninja108]

I'm sorry, but new and improved never is.
Leave them how they were.

 

[Lasosa]

 

[Joshua_me]

Oh. let's face it:

Everything was fine until the Ewoks showed up....

(Don't get me started...)

So, what we have is two and half GREAT films, now available on Blu -Ray.

According to Home Theater Magazine. (And those MF-ers KNOW what they are talking about,,,,,) "A New Hope" only rates 3 and half stars. and the audio. (which COULD be remastered to perfection if Lucas would get off his lazy ass...) gets less than three stars,

This is unacceptable.

If I'm going to cough up the better part of $ 100.00 dollars on yet *another* version of fucking "Star Wars" then I want perfection. both in video and audio.

I bought my Mom "The Sound of Music" on Blu-ray, it looks and sounds *amazing* (Honest;y, if you can get over the cheese factor, rent it some day on BD...) The colors of the mountains and the crispness of the audio are astounding...")

Which leads us back to George Lucas.

I don't buy for a minute that the the first three (the last three, whatever...) are being shown in their truest formats.

It's Lucas screwing with us YET again.

 

[spooky]

I have decided not to buy the latest copy of the Star Wars movies until Lucas releases a better product; meaning the original movies as they were with all the bells and whistles along with them. I also would not mind if he includes the latest tampered versions on there. Think of the Bladerunner release from a few years ago. That had FIVE versions of the movie with all the bells and whistles, that is how it should be done. Lucas will not be getting my money for his latest re-re-release. Its funny because people complain about the latest release and still buy the product making Lucas richer and more fatter. I wish people would stand up for something they believe in. As for me, I will wait until he produces the final release with everything in it. No Mr. Lucas, you've fooled me twice before so shame on you, you will not fool me a third time, bitch!

 

[trinket]

Spooky, yes. Just a couple weeks ago I watched "The People vs. George Lucas" and it echoes your points nicely - they use the "Blade Runner" example (as well as Terry Gilliam's "Brazil", including the cut he hated!). There's an amusing section about the sheer Lucas dorkery that was the "Han Shot First" revisions - which doesn't even make sense ("How can an accomplished assassin miss, at close range?!").

Did you take a look at the articles I linked to in my post #29 above? The first one debates what's actually left of the "original", so fans may be clamoring for something that doesn't exist in that form - but as it points out, it could be "re-constructed" to match. Link #3 is from a few years back and talk about Lucas scanning every single frame of film digitally in order to be able to edit his new versions and perform clean-ups/restorations, so they could cobble together a new one - resembling the "old" - from that, presumably.

It's actually so weird that Lucas has successively distanced himself from his original film release after release to the point that we have to speculate about stitching together a "new" version that mimics the original, heh. He's...interesting.

 

[ChickenGuy]

^ I mean, it's so crazy that the original versions have to be speculated upon and almost 'reconstructed'. And you can be sure he's got the whole copyright/legal side of affairs locked down as well to prevent anyone ever attempting to see them ever again. And now with the advance of technology, he'll have done goodness knows how much 'digital tinkering' with them.

I go back to the point I made in #11 - if he's SO unsatisfied with his original movies, then WHY NOT just make a 'reboot' of them with a brand new cast?

It was recently done with Star Trek on the big screen, so why not with Star Wars?

I thought he'd have jumped at the chance at creating a new trilogy (and, of course, the box office receipts such a franchise would rake in)



COMING SOON: Star Wars Episode IV Version II: A Newer Hope

 

[GamerBear]

Was I the only one who didn't care much about the changes. The movies look really good and sound awesome. I have the originals but the picture quality looks miles better.

 

[spooky]

Do you know what bugs me the most. After all the changes that he has done to the original movies, George has yet to fix those space scenes with the stars in background with foreground action. I'm talking about the ones with Luke, Vader and the Emperor in that throne room with the large windows looking out into space. Look at that youtube clip, those stars are perfectly clear. Shouldn't they be blurred, the background around it is blurred yet stars are clear like focused elements that distract from the scene, it looks fake. That looks wrong George fix it NOW!

 

[jjonn3]

All the fucking with the movie is why I have not bought the BluRay - I would pay a premium to get the original movie!

 

[trinket]

All the fucking with the movie...

There's fucking in "Star Wars" now? Wow, Lucas has really gone full-tilt with this revisionist thing of his. (Although, having said that, it might at least improve the movies somewhat... )

 

[spooky]

There's fucking in "Star Wars" now? Wow, Lucas has really gone full-tilt with this revisionist thing of his. (Although, having said that, it might at least improve the movies somewhat... )

LOL... the only one getting any fucking in those movies is C3P0, he's gotta be doing something with R2 walking around like that.

 

[hotatlboi]

Han shot first.

that is all