View Full Version : Star Wars: A New Mis-step
Claviusb
11-20-2003, 08:43 PM
I had been told before that Lucas had done additional work to the light saber fight in the original Star Wars (ep. 4) after the Special Editions had come out, but let's hope the Digital Bits is wrong:sigh: about this...
From the Bits:
One other note today... we've heard from a number of interesting (and we believe reliable) inside sources that Lucsafilm is currently making major new changes to the original Star Wars films - the kind of changes he began a few years ago with the theatrical "Special Edition" releases. These changes include new special effects, revised and updated shots and scenes, and new footage shot with actors Hayden Christensen (Anakin) and Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) that would flesh out moments with their characters in the original films. For example, an aged and scarred Hayden now appears as Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi when Luke removes Vader's helmet. Among the other changes reportedly being made are the restoration of the original "Han shoots first" moment from Star Wars and a revamped lightsaber fight between Obi-Wan and Vader. What we've heard meshes with what we've been told before, which is that Lucas has always planned to release ultimate, "Archive" editions of these films that tie in better with the new prequels. The main question in our minds now is this: will these changes be completed in time to appear on the DVD releases planned for next September, or will we have to wait until after Episode III hits theaters to see them? And if we have to wait, what versions will appear on the DVDs? Time will tell.
Sckott
11-20-2003, 08:47 PM
I hope my THX LD's hold for many years, lemmie tell ya.
They ALWAYS have to muck around, don't they....?
Ronflugelguy
11-20-2003, 09:19 PM
I need some mint original VHS's for my son, as he has played them to death. Then we can burn DVD's of them. I'm sure they exist somewhere, but not for long.
Todd Fredericks
11-20-2003, 09:30 PM
Thanks for this news Robert. I think it's time to buy a laserdisc player....
Seems like a good idea to add Hayden Christensen to the original Star Wars movies after his award-winning performance in The Phantom Menace. Lucas is finally giving Star Wars fans what they really want.
Tyler
11-20-2003, 09:55 PM
Somebody should show George Lucas the episode of "South Park" where the boys prevent Steven Speilberg from "improving" Raiders of the lost ark. I don't have any interest in buying any incarnation of the "Star Wars" trilogy unless it's the original, pre-ruined version.
Todd Fredericks
11-20-2003, 09:59 PM
Originally posted by Tyler
I don't have any interest in buying any incarnation of the "Star Wars" trilogy unless it's the original, pre-ruined version.
I sadly would most likely buy the DVD's when they come out (too weak sometimes). It's still a crime that he removed the damn Ewok song from 'Return of the Jedi'....
Nothing's gonna change my world (unless Lucas gets his hands on it)... :)
MagicAlex
11-20-2003, 10:06 PM
I think that it's probable that he'll "enhance" the movie as the Bits say. Let's just hope that if it happens that way that we get the original theatrical release as part of the package as well. Spielburg mucked around with the 2002 re-release of E.T. but thank goodness the original movie was also included in the DVD package along with the new. That would be acceptable to me if a rehaul has to done.
Originally posted by Claviusb
For example, an aged and scarred Hayden now appears as Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi when Luke removes Vader's helmet.
Here he is:
Originally posted by Claviusb
...and a revamped lightsaber fight between Obi-Wan and Vader.
Here ya go:
czeskleba
11-20-2003, 11:15 PM
Originally posted by Claviusb
an aged and scarred Hayden now appears as Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi when Luke removes Vader's helmet.
Why not use an aged and scarred Jake Lloyd? That would be cool...
Jeff H.
11-20-2003, 11:29 PM
Originally posted by Sckott
I hope my THX LD's hold for many years, lemmie tell ya.
They ALWAYS have to muck around, don't they....?
I was just watching my THX LD(from the box set) of "The Empire Strikes Back" yesterday. That movie still looks and sounds great. I wish George Lucas would once and for all stop messing with these movies. He got it right the first time!!!!:realmad:
Aquateen
11-20-2003, 11:33 PM
Get this, even the Phantom Menace is getting a make over! :confused: I wish my childhood would stop being raped.
Jamie Tate
11-21-2003, 12:15 AM
We're all going to buy these movies (again) even if he only lets us have the tinkered-with versions. This gives him no motivation to release them in their original form. Maybe he'll listen to the complaints as he did with Guido shooting first and Jar Jar.
czeskleba
11-21-2003, 12:38 AM
Originally posted by Aquateen
Get this, even the Phantom Menace is getting a make over! :confused: I wish my childhood would stop being raped.
Maybe he'll re-edit Phantom Menace and turn it into a good movie...?
GabeG
11-21-2003, 02:58 AM
Originally posted by MagicAlex
I think that it's probable that he'll "enhance" the movie as the Bits say. Let's just hope that if it happens that way that we get the original theatrical release as part of the package as well. Spielburg mucked around with the 2002 re-release of E.T. but thank goodness the original movie was also included in the DVD package along with the new. That would be acceptable to me if a rehaul has to done.
This would certainly be my hope. Maybe Speilberg will talk him into it. After all they did for the Alien Quadrilogy set.
voicebug
11-21-2003, 10:01 AM
I don't know. Maybe I'm completely alone. But I think it's a really, really cool thing. I grew up with these movies, and the original movies are burned in my mind having viewed them so many times. I can live with transfers to DVD-R of my original video tapes if I want to view these films in their original incarnations.
If you think about it, this is one of the things that makes the Star Wars movies unique. The Star Wars movies are a living, breathing entity because of the work that is 'still' being done on them. They are a work in progress. OK. If the Ultimate Editions suck, who cares? Life is too short and I already have way too many books, CDs, DVDs, and other interests that I'll never have enough time to fully appreciate as long as I live.
Can you imagine in 1977, when Star Wars came out, someone re-working films that were shot in 1957? Now that would be science fiction. But the fact that Lucas is using the old films as a template for an ultimate work is an exciting artistic undertaking. Maybe the guy isn't going to change the world, but I'm just a fan of the Star Wars universe and I think it's cool that this work is being done.
Just my two cents. :)
Michael St. Clair
11-21-2003, 10:34 AM
I am a Star Wars fan and I am disgusted by the constant revisionism and tinkering. The man is insecure with his own work.
Ken_McAlinden
11-21-2003, 10:46 AM
Originally posted by voicebug
I don't know. Maybe I'm completely alone. But I think it's a really, really cool thing
Yeah, but couldn't they just call the re-tooled one oh, I dunno, "Star Wars ... Naked" and keep the original in circulation for the sake of history. If George Lucas goes nutso and decides that the film would better match his vision if he rubber cemented rose petals to his original negative before processing, that would be a darn shame.
Regards,
He's made so many changes I don't know why he doesn't just remake them from scratch. And remake and remake and remake.
fjhuerta
11-21-2003, 04:22 PM
Originally posted by ybe
Here ya go:
I'm LMAO as I type... if Lucas is going to fool around with his movies, then I'll have to keep on watching Spaceballs!!! :laugh:
Seriously - I was talking today to a friend of mine about my THX SW LD's. I was thinking about framing them when my LD died... but now I think I'll look for a new player. :(
Chris M
11-21-2003, 04:31 PM
Is it true that all prints of the original Star Wars that was seen in theaters by millions in 1977 is damaged beyond repair? IIRC Lucas made some minor changes to a couple of scenes and/or changed some of the dialog and remixed the soundtrack for the first VHS versions and TV airing in the early 80's.
Chris
Michael St. Clair
11-21-2003, 06:38 PM
Is it true that all prints of the original Star Wars that was seen in theaters by millions in 1977 is damaged beyond repair? IIRC Lucas made some minor changes to a couple of scenes and/or changed some of the dialog and remixed the soundtrack for the first VHS versions and TV airing in the early 80's.
When Lucas scanned in the original negatives to make the SEs, there is no way in hell he would have gone to all the extra work to make sure the original deleted frames were discarded and not archived.
You can be sure that even if there isn't a good negative or interpositive any more, there is at least a 2K digital master of the original that is of the same quality as the digital elements that were used to create the SEs.
Steve Hoffman
11-21-2003, 06:40 PM
Not only that but Lucas has several true IB Technicolor non-fading interpositives of all his movies ...
We don't get to see STAR WARS in true Technicolor processing but he does....Why don't they issue THAT print on a DVD? Now THAT would be something to cheer about.....
fjhuerta
11-21-2003, 06:50 PM
I do remember Star Wars had a different scene when it was shown in theaters: when running away from the Stormtroopers, he came to a border where no platform existed. He shot some kind of rope to an overhead module and swung to the other side. In the original movie, I do remember him having to shoot twice (he missed the first time).
So, I guess Lucas has always loved to mess around with SW.
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