When the original Star Wars trilogy comes out on DVD...

[Paul_Klein]

Am I the only one who thinks the Special Editions are better then the originals?

I like the nice new sweeping shots of Mos Eisley and Cloud City.

I liked Jabba being added to Ep4

It's true; some of the stuff was either weird, or just plain bad.

As for Greedo shooting first, I don't mind the CONCEPT so much. I mean, who the hell cares who shoots first? If Lucas wants Greedo to, then fine. My qualm is... it looks SO bad! The digital reflex they gave Han, Greedo's way-fake blaster shot, and the fact that there was no damage done to the wall behind Han piss me off.

And the song & dance number in Ep6 is just... weird. I can't say I hate it, but I don't love it either.

But anyway, I digress. My main point in this is this:

Does anyone agree with me that for the DVD Lucas and ILM should update the movies more? I don't mean adding new scenes, or actually changing ANYTHING. What I do mean is making them look less and less like they were made centuries ago!

For example:

1) In Ep4 mostly, but all three to some extent, so through all the scenes with "computer graphics" and update them to more with the times (especially because Ep1 & 2 had some nice graphics on their computer screens. Make it look like they have cool technology, not dot-matrix computer screens.

2) Again, Ep4 mostly, redo all the lightsaber graphics. ESPECIALLY with the new movies and their cool-looking sabers, the ones in Ep4 look awful by comparison. Give them vibrant color, and make them actually EXTEND from the hilt, instead of a "jump-shot" where POOF, and suddenly there’s a dull-colored blade.

Obviously, you understand where I'm going with this. I don't mean I want actual changes to the movies, but one day, when I'm feeling completely geeked, and I sit down to watch 1-6 on DVD in order, I don't want a huge blast from the past when I go from 3 to 4.

Am I crazy? I know some people would disagree with me, and like the "classic, retro" feel of the films, but I think they will stand the test of time better if they made them look more congruent with the first 3 episodes.

 

[John Crichton]

Would I mind another edition of the original trilogy? Nope. I would probably like it just like I liked the SE. My problem is that future generations should have access to the original prints of the movies. They are classic. The tech at the time was revolutionary. It's like saying they should go back and touch up The Matrix in 20 years. Wouldn't make much sence.

I did like the SE films. Alot. The final Death Star Battle was so intense compared to the original. Yeah, I've got issues with Greedo shooting first (big issues). I've got other problems with the changes Lucas made but not enought to kill the films.

The bottom line is: My kids should be able to see what the Star Wars films looked like when they first came out if they wanted to. They are an important part of film history. The special effects ILM did were awesome at the time they were released and most of them stand the test of time. I don't care about retro. I don't care about a line change here and there. What I do care about is preserving what has become movie lore. It's embedded in our culture. We would be robbing future generations of seeing what the Original Summer Blockbuster (tm) was. Star Wars created much of what cinema is today. That is my only problem with Lucas right now.

 

[Viking Bastard]

Of the SE films, I prefer SE ESB and RotJ, but not ANH.

The ANH changes just seemed not as well integrated and stood out more than in the other two.

 

[KenM]

The main problem with the change of having Greedo shoting first looking so bad is I think Lucas was limited by how the scene was orginailly shot on camera. I don't like the fact Lucas changed some of the lines in the movies.

 

[Tiefling]

I liked most of the "non-story, non-dialogue" changes, with the exception of the Alderaan/Death Star explosions, which looked cool the first time but got old real fast. Obviously I have issues with Greedo shooting first, and I didn't like how they put Jabba in. I don't mind his presence all that much, although I do think it's a bit better if he remains a mysterious character until the final chapter. However, the way that he let Han talk down to him and walk all over him (literally and figuratively) struck a nerve.

 

[Alzrius]

The only part of the SE that really bothered me came right at the end. After the second Death Star is destroyed, it shows people celebrating across myriad worlds, including Coruscant.

But the people on Coruscant shouldn't have been celebrating! The Empire controlled all the news channels on that planet; even if the people managed to find out about the destruction of the second Death Star that fast (unlikely since the Empire would have kept that under wraps if they could), the people wouldn't have been happy to see it go, since the Empire deliberately twisted all the news to make themselves seem benevolent.

 

[Mouseferatu]

As for Greedo shooting first, I don't mind the CONCEPT so much. I mean, who the hell cares who shoots first?

I do. That one single change completely destroyed Greedo's character, and severely weakened Han's.

Point one) For Greedo to miss at that range, no matter how it happens, indicates a serious lack of skill. Is he a bounty hunter or isn't he? You're not going to tell me that Han has the l33t ninja skillz to dodge a blaster bolt from two feet away.

Point two) The whole point of han's character is that he was a mercenary, a criminal, a nearly ruthless smuggler who was prepared to do whatever he needed to in order to survive. By having Greedo fire first, Lucas destroys a lot of the evolution Han's character went through, because it changes where he started.

 

[Gizzard]

...the people wouldn't have been happy to see it go, since the Empire deliberately twisted all the news to make themselves seem benevolent.

This line made me think of the NewsRadio SF spoof where they close their newscast with the terrible news that "in an unprovoked act of aggression, Rebel terrorists destroyed the Death Star today. Our hearts go out to the families of the brave men who lost their lives."

I do. That one single change completely destroyed Greedo's character, and severely weakened Han's.

Agree 100%. I'd really rather buy the original trilogy un-"improved" by Lucas' revisions. I'm kinda bummed that he's releasing the SE stuff first, perhaps Georges ego has overwhelmed what must be incessant pleading from the marketing department - Marketing: "First we release the old ones. Lots of people will buy them. Then 6 months later we release the SE versions. Double the sales, isn't it great?" Lucas: "You don't understand my new artistic vision. I will not shame the small screen with a mean Han Solo who would shoot a cute, green bounty hunter." :-(

 

[John Crichton]

Considering that Lucas has 3+ years to ponder it, I don't think it's that far of a reach to say that he might change his mind. I still think he will. We will have our originals and SE. I have forseen it. It is our destiny.

This line made me think of the NewsRadio SF spoof where they close their newscast with the terrible news that "in an unprovoked act of aggression, Rebel terrorists destroyed the Death Star today. Our hearts go out to the families of the brave men who lost their lives."

I loved that ep! "Lord Vader was unharmed in the attack.* " Classic.

* Not actual quote.

 

[demiurge1138]

The only part of the SE that really bothered me came right at the end. After the second Death Star is destroyed, it shows people celebrating across myriad worlds, including Coruscant.

But the people on Coruscant shouldn't have been celebrating! The Empire controlled all the news channels on that planet; even if the people managed to find out about the destruction of the second Death Star that fast (unlikely since the Empire would have kept that under wraps if they could), the people wouldn't have been happy to see it go, since the Empire deliberately twisted all the news to make themselves seem benevolent.

I feel that this was probably just a small Rebel enclave committing an act of terrorism in the wake of the Emperor's death. Of course, Lucas cut away before the Imperial police came in...

Demiurge out.