Just saw RotJ Spec. Ed. on DVD for the first time...

[Felix]

What are these "prequils" you all are talking about? I've heard rumors, but haven't seen conclusive evidence that they exist. My THX remastered VHS tapes also have Han Solo killing Greedo in cold blood, so I don't know where people get off saying "Greedo Shoots First". All that is complete bubkis.

The Star Wars saga was complete in 1997. All since is spurious.

 

[Kai Lord]

What are these "prequils" you all are talking about? I've heard rumors, but haven't seen conclusive evidence that they exist. My THX remastered VHS tapes also have Han Solo killing Greedo in cold blood, so I don't know where people get off saying "Greedo Shoots First". All that is complete bubkis.

The Star Wars saga was complete in 1997. All since is spurious.

If the saga was complete in 1997, then that makes you an advocate of "Greedo shoots first." Otherwise you would have said the saga was complete in 1983. Nothing wrong with that you Special Edition fanboy.

 

[Felix]

Nah, 1997 was when the THX digitally remastered edition of the OT was released with cool pictures of Vader, a Stormtrooper, and Yoda on the covers. (which I thank my lucky stars that I found at a garage sale on sale for $1, woo!)

And I am most certainly not a member of the "Professional Bounty-hunter Greedo Misses at Point-blank Range Club".

 

[Kai Lord]

Nah, 1997 was when the THX digitally remastered edition of the OT was released with cool pictures of Vader, a Stormtrooper, and Yoda on the covers.

Actually it was 1995 (bought 'em all on laserdisc), and those pictures were pale successors to the awesome painted art of the original theater posters...

 

[Welverin]

My tinfoil hat conspiracy theory is that Lucas will release the High Definition DvDs with the current "updated" versions. Then he'll wait a couple of years and release the originals in HD DvD.

I base this on no evidence whatsoever.

Actually there is, George's tendency to cave to the desire of fans supports it.

 

[Welverin]

Actually it was 1995 (bought 'em all on laserdisc), and those pictures were pale successors to the awesome painted art of the original theater posters...

Sure, in bizarro world.

 

[wingsandsword]

Probably has to do with union rules or something, he did the work for the voice lines (originally) and has to be credited with it or something. It might be something else entirely. I don't look for logic in Hollywood.

Actually, the Star Wars films were non-union. Lucas was fined by the Director's Guild for not putting opening credits in front of Star Wars, and the guild demanded that Star Wars be re-cut with "proper" opening credits. Lucas refused, paid the fine, and quit the guild, leaving the union scene in Hollywood (and becoming rich enough to generally not worry about the unions). Lucas wanted Spielberg to direct The Empire Strikes Back, but he couldn't because of union obstacles (since Spielberg is part of the Director's Guild.) However, as Spielberg is credited as an Assistant Director on Episode III, he either changed his mind, left the Guild, or the rules were relaxed.

The non-union status of the Star Wars movies has kept some notable actors out, like Gary Oldman (the original voice of General Grievous), who bowed out of production early on because Lucas uses non-union actors and crew. Presumably some SAG members didn't have a problem (like Samuel L. Jackson).

Also note that most of the production of the Star Wars movies was done overseas, either in location shooting, or in studio work done mostly in England (although some of Episode II was done in Australia). The only shooting I can think of for any Star Wars movie done in the U.S. would be the Dune Sea parts of Return of the Jedi, which were filmed in Death Valley.

 

[Chaldfont]

What are these "prequils" you all are talking about? I've heard rumors, but haven't seen conclusive evidence that they exist. My THX remastered VHS tapes also have Han Solo killing Greedo in cold blood, so I don't know where people get off saying "Greedo Shoots First". All that is complete bubkis.

I'm with you on this one, Felix. I still have my VHS copies and have not purchased the DVDs. These are the films that changed the industry, not the recently modified ones.

I keep waiting for someone to make a high-quality "rip" of those VHS copies and stick them up on a P2P network. They could be the definitive Star Wars trilogy instead of the constantly updated versions Lucas keeps making.

 

[mojo1701]

The only shooting I can think of for any Star Wars movie done in the U.S. would be the Dune Sea parts of Return of the Jedi, which were filmed in Death Valley.

And the California redwood forests shots for Endor.

 

[Kai Lord]

I'm with you on this one, Felix. I still have my VHS copies and have not purchased the DVDs. These are the films that changed the industry, not the recently modified ones.

The films that changed the industry? Yes. The best versions of the Star Wars films? No. But if all you care about is watching films that "change the industry" then you better run out and pick up Attack of the Clones on DVD immediately if you haven't already. That film was the beginning of an industry change probably even more dramatic than even the first Star Wars film.