Lucasfilm: Original Star Wars 'bonus'
Fans protest release of laserdisc prints on DVD
By Susanne Ault 5/23/2006
In the wake of extreme fan protests, Lucasfilm is positioning its release of the original ’70s theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars movies as bonus features.
As groused about on various DVD enthusiast Web sites, including www.thedigitalbits.com and www.hometheaterforum.com, Lucasfilm confirmed the studio is not remastering these early films. The prints for the Sept. 12 DVDs of Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi come from laserdiscs of the films released in the mid ’90s. This means that Episodes IV-V1 will be presented in widescreen but not anamorphic, thereby not making full use of modern TV screens.
Lucasfilm acknowledges that some imperfections are embedded in the prints, but director of publicity John Singh said the company felt there was little need to invest resources into sprucing up films that have already been restored to pristine form.
Special edition versions of the films with additions made by George Lucas were released in theaters in the ’90s and on DVD in 2004.
“We put a lot of time and effort into digitally restoring the negatives for the 2004 DVD releases,” Singh said. “The late ’90s theatrical versions represent George’s vision for Star Wars. We hoped that by releasing the original movies as a bonus disc, it would be a way to give the fans something that is fun. We certainly didn’t want to be become a source of frustration for fans.”
Although the prints aren’t in the best of shape, the masters used for the laserdiscs “do look good,” Singh assured.
Both old and new versions of Episodes IV-VI will be included in the Sept. 14 Star Wars sets, to be distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The revamped ’90s theatrical versions will be offered in anamorphic widescreen.
This release also represents the first time the movies will be available individually on DVD.
Fans have threatened to boycott buying the original Star Wars films if they aren’t cleaned up.
“These are the versions that the fans saw as kids back in the ’70s—this was how they grew up,” said Ron Epstein, HomeTheaterForum.com co-owner. “George doesn’t like these versions, and it’s not the way he wants his legacy to be remembered. But fans [are saying], ‘You aren’t doing us a favor [in putting out] what basically amounts to a laserdisc transfer.”
Aware of the uproar, Lucasfilm is in the process of directly contacting its upset fan base in an attempt to smooth things over.
Some fans had been speculating that Lucasfilm was saving its big gun efforts for the new generation DVD formats. But the company said that at this time, there are no plans to release the original ’70s Star Wars versions in high-definition.
“We absolutely appreciate the fact that these fans are so passionate,” Singh said. “It’s indicative of the fact that they care so much about Star Wars.”
7 comments:
"Fans have threatened to boycott buying the original Star Wars films if they aren’t cleaned up."
Yeah that'll show him! Er, haven't these very same fans already spent oodles of money on Star Wars stuff? I'm sure Lucas isn't too worried. To tell you the truth, I've had good laserdisc bootlegs of the originals for years and have been perfectly happy with them. Also, if given the choice I'll always throw in the special editions over the originals. I realize this is a contraversial position but it's the truth. Greedo shooting first doesn't ruin the Star Wars experience for me.
First of all, JPX, the last time I was in your house all you wanted to do was watch the musical number in SE ROJ over and over again, and when you weren't drooling over the alien dancers, you were pointing at the digital lead singer, rocking back and forth with laughter, and repeatedly shouting "he's so funny!" in my ear.
Sigh. I didn't see any actual "response" in this article, but I like this: "Lucasfilm is in the process of directly contacting its upset fan base in an attempt to smooth things over." It's like that Doonesbury in which the Senator Lacey Davenport got a phone call from "the American people," who called back later to see if she got the message.
I predict the response will be a bunch of the usual crap. Like "there was little need to invest resources into sprucing up films that have already been restored to pristine form." Yo! Idiots! It's not pristine at all! Someone spilled a bunch of cartoony dewbacks all over it! Seriously, the fucking arrogance. "We made it better, you like it this way." And the old chestnut, "George's vision." I bet there's Lucasfilm higher-ups who clench their teeth when they say those words, who secretly wish he'd just take the damn Kleenex boxes off his feet, remaster and release the original versions, make another zillion dollars and shut up.
Honestly, I'm just tired of this. I wish I could say I was over it, but each new bit of news about it brings the insult and illogic right to the fore. If he could go back in time and pull Star Wars out of our eyeholes, he would. That, right there -- regardless of what he replaced it with -- is the crowning outrage. It's two decades of film history he's trying to rewrite; it's arrogant enough to want to retool the origin and arc of your own success, but IT ALREADY FUCKING HAPPENED. "George doesn’t like these versions, and it’s not the way he wants his legacy to be remembered." That statement drives me crazy. The man ALREADY has a legacy, and it's a damn good one. His behavior has all the dignity of the lady across the street downplaying her husband's drinking problem to her next door neighbor while he's out front whizzing in the rose bushes.
I like this one, too: "We hoped that by releasing the original movies as a bonus disc, it would be a way to give the fans something that is fun. We certainly didn’t want to be become a source of frustration for fans." Oh, gosh shucks guys, we're sorry. Somehow being told that we're WRONG to treasure something that was THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD when we were kids...it just gets to us.
You're right, no boycott will have any kind of effect. It's just so damn insulting, though. You're lucky, JPX, to remain apart from this gripery.
But my friends with kids are showing them my copies of the letterboxed VHS versions. I'd watch the SE versions for the SW Death Star battle sometimes, but if throwing these movies in, I'll always opt for the older ones.
I never asked to see his "vision" of what it could be. Nobody did. I wanted another trilogy, a good one, and I didn't get that either. I think there's a good deal of credence to Jordan's theory that he wanted to make all six movies seem as if they were cut from the same cloth, even if it dumbed down some of his best stuff. That's a sad misstep for an artist.
Octo, you're just a practical dewback.
I'm frankly sick of and worn out by the Star Wars "fanboys" or whatever the hell they're called. Their constant whining and obsessiveness is no longer cute and it actually distanced me from the movies I once loved. I honestly have no idea whether or not I liked Sith. I've only seen it once and can't stomach the idea of seeing it again because the nerds sucked every last bit of fun out of the franchise. I feel like I've been robbed of something dear.
Only seen Sith once? Them's fighting words.
Don't try it! I've got the high ground.
(Leap! Zap zap zap!)
Oh wow, you tried it. That's so gross. And...yep, now you're on fire...oh man that sucks.
This site is one of the best I have ever seen, wish I had one like this.
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