The artist's burden. What we treasure is a pain to them.
Spoilers All Things STAR WARS - News, Speculation & Spoilers Thread
- Thread starter Reverend
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Spot on.
Harmy's Despecialized Editions are a high quality fan-made reconstruction project - which gave the fans what they wanted - the chance to see the Original Trilogy as many of us remembered it... before the 1997 Special Edition alterations. Before the 2004 SE alterations. Before the 2011 alterations. Before the 2019 alterations.
All with differing sound options down the years to give people their preferred choice - and also a fantastic array of subtitles for many differing languages all over the world.
A deservedly respected and quality project. All done by Harmy and a small team of dedicated individuals coming together to make that happen - of their own bat, on their own considerable time. What they achieved is nothing short of stunning.
These are pioneering and landmark versions of the films that won those multiple Academy Awards - and for a long time if you wanted to see this version in the comfort of your own home home, in HD, this was the 'go to' option. That changed film-making; especially the effects industry at the time.
That hundreds of thousands of fans the world over have acquired this project over the years speaks volumes over the years. That it sits on the shelf of many a Lucasfilm employee from that era (and since) shows how highly it is thought of - even amongst those to worked on and contributed to the original films.
Personally, I find it baffling that some people try to attempt to put down the 'theatrical cuts' (pre-Special Editions) of the Original Trilogy - and the history of it - which basically underpins all of the GFFA.
All fans want is a choice... to watch the version of the Original Trilogy that was released to them - to share that experience with their family, loved ones, and friends - especially to that next generation. To have the choice to watch whichever of the 5 main 'visions' released by George over the years. In the best quality possible - in the comfort of their own home.
And that's just what a small number of dedicated fans have achieved over the years.
All credit and kudos to them.
Nice one - great to have options and choice, isn't it?
(and some pretty cool artwork and box sets back in the day - for the VHS, Beta, Laserdisc releases etc)
Indeed. I have a strong fondness for this format plus it's cheaper.Nice one - great to have options and choice, isn't it?
(and some pretty cool artwork and box sets back in the day - for the VHS, Beta, Laserdisc releases etc)
Which unaltered version of Episode 4 though? The original print? The 80s edit with A New Hope Added? the stereo mix or the mono mix with slightly different dialogue in some places?
starwars.fandom.com
List of changes in Star Wars re-releases
The following are partial lists of changes in Star Wars re-releases. The commercial success of Star Wars has given George Lucas the opportunity to tinker with his original trilogy, now called Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI Return of the Jedi. In a...
starwars.fandom.com
I have to admit that I give zero f**** about any alterations that George Lucas made to these movies. JRR Tolkien revised The Hobbit after the fact, and he's considered one of the greatest creatives who ever lived. As long as the larger story doesn't change, I just don't care.
I mean, I don't even think the "Greedo shoots first" thing is a change of any relevance whatsoever. The badassery of that scene wasn't in the shooting, it was after the shooting -- when Han calmly stands up stares down the room, throws the bartender some coin while apologizing for the mess and walking out the door as if it were it everyday occurrence. I find the whole "who shot first" thing to be a complete non-issue, and I always have.
I mean, I don't even think the "Greedo shoots first" thing is a change of any relevance whatsoever. The badassery of that scene wasn't in the shooting, it was after the shooting -- when Han calmly stands up stares down the room, throws the bartender some coin while apologizing for the mess and walking out the door as if it were it everyday occurrence. I find the whole "who shot first" thing to be a complete non-issue, and I always have.
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Most of the changes are cosmetic and come down to personal preference of aesthetics. They are as close to a non-issue as a thing can come and probably hit closer to the extreme end of a first world problem.
But, I'm the weird guy who thinks if I'm watching a film or show and commenting on the effects then the film has failed because I'm focusing on aesthetics not story.
Which unaltered version of Episode 4 though? The original print? The 80s edit with A New Hope Added? the stereo mix or the mono mix with slightly different dialogue in some places?
List of changes in Star Wars re-releases
The following are partial lists of changes in Star Wars re-releases. The commercial success of Star Wars has given George Lucas the opportunity to tinker with his original trilogy, now called Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI Return of the Jedi. In a...
'unaltered theatrical edition' is just a term used to differentiate between the original cuts that came before the 1997 Special Editions. Whether that was at the cinema with the 35mm or 70mm, the mono or stereo, the later cinema re-releases... or at home; with the re-masters, or later THX - all before the 1997 Special Editions.
For many people... the 'unaltered theatrical version' will likely be whichever VHS/Beta/V2000 tapes or Laserdiscs they had during the 80's and 90's - or taped off the TV (or even telecines - or the Super8 and Video8 for the film reel buffs among us). Before the 1997 Special Editions (and alterations since - in 2004, 2011, and 2019)...
Or even the 2006 GOUT DVDs that fan campaigns fought and won - as well as the overwhelming demand for those original cuts to be released on the latest home digital format at the time (DVD) - as acknowledged by Lucasfilm. Even though it ended up being a no-effort release from a then 13 year master meant for laserdisc - and plagued by DNR and other technical issues. Despite the initial 4 month 'limited edition window' for the 2006 set... they were still being pressed and sent to stores nearly 5 years later in 2011 - only stopping shortly before the 2011 SE cuts on blu ray were released.
Near on all of the differing variances of the original cuts have been preserved by fans - for individual choice and options (even the 70mm... soon).
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And fans doing the work kudos to them.
No other obligation is laid on Lucasfilm.
No other obligation is laid on Lucasfilm.
Never understood why Lucas felt the need to continually lie about the scene - or continue to change it.
Or introduce redundant dialogue in the new Jabba scene - when it already existed in the previous Greedo scene.
Baffled me why they introduced the mistake of the Death Star being in direct line of Yavin IV in the 1997 Special Edition - yet didn't fix it in any of the subsequent altered releases (2004, 2011 or 2019)...
Or George making alterations to other directors' work - in this case Kershner and Marquand...
At the time of above conversation George Lucas had already made changes to directors Irvin Kershner’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’, and Richard Marquand’s ‘Return Of The Jedi’ - and would also make go on to make further additional changes to both films.
Neither the Empire Strikes Back or Return Of The Jedi are available as their respective directors intended, or indeed made, on a modern and quality digital format.
I think it is also different when an author makes alterations for a later revised edition of a book... than it is someone making alterations to a film and not making the earlier versions available (and making bizarre, disingenuous and untrue claims about that decision).
Give everyone the option to buy and watch whatever previous version was released to them - or whatever version they want to buy and watch... let them have that choice again (on a modern digital home format - or even via Disney+).
Lucasfilm/George's default/canon/official vision continues to be the 2019 SE 'Maclunkey' cut (as poor quality as it is) - and everyone gets to be happy with whatever version they actually choose to watch.
Dissatisfied with his work.
The sixth time is the charm, then?
I think in the 6th version Han won't even shoot!
The 'Han Never Shot' merch will be strong.
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For an anxious person, probably not.The sixth time is the charm, then?
He's a bit of a dummy about it?