Does George Lucas Know How to Make Money or What?

[Cyclotron]

You may not have seen the last of Star Wars on the big screen.

My father works for Dolby labs, and apparently there is a new technology being developed that can process old film movies into digital - and 3D - new movies. 3D as in those ridiculous looking glasses. After a trade show, he told me that Lucas (who was there in person) said that he was preparing to do this with the old Star Wars movies, and that, once upgraded to 3D, a theatrical release (again) might be in the works.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
For the same reason you'd rather have a real ancient Greek urn with a chip in than a chipless modern replica.

Bad analogy. The real ancient Green urn is worth a Hell of a lot more money.

[Last Conformist]

You've got a point.

Anyway, the originals have an attraction as historical objets d'art - an example of '70s cinematic art. The updated versions are just effects-based movies with effects that are much worse than they'd need to be.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Anyway, the originals have an attraction as historical objets d'art - an example of '70s cinematic art. The updated versions are just effects-based movies with effects that are much worse than they'd need to be.

And the original Star Wars was not 'effects-based'? That's the main reason it got popular in the first place.

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Anyway, the originals have an attraction as historical objets d'art - an example of '70s cinematic art. The updated versions are just effects-based movies with effects that are much worse than they'd need to be.

And the original Star Wars was not 'effects-based'? That's the main reason it got popular in the first place.

Obviously, they're effects-based. The difference is that their effects were state-of-the-art when they came out.

By today's standards, both the originals and the updated versions have sucky effects. The difference is that the originals have an historical interest. Now, you may not care about historical interest, but some of us do.

[Zkribbler]

I don't know. I kinda liked the new scene where the camera pans over from the storm troopers riding giant reptiles to where others stromtroppers are searching the escape pod used by R2D2 and C3PO. And I like the "feel" of Mos Eisley as a much bigger city.

For the original, Lucas had shot a scene between Han Solo and Jabba the Hut, and had cast a human as Jaba. In the new version, the human has been electronically replaced by a very young Jabba. Lucas even went so far as elevating Solo's image when he walks behind Jabba and having Jabba react, which makes it looks as if Han stepped on Jabba's tail.

[Lorizael]

That scene is a nice addition, but - and this is probably because it's new and different - I can tell that it's not real.

[reismark]

Never bought the DVDs that are currently out, because I knew this day would come.

Finally, once again, Han fires first... as it should be!

[Pyrodrew]

I never bought the originals or Lucas' weird version, but everybody & their mother has them. I haven't had a desire to see them for the xth time, but if I did it wouldn't be hard to find someone with them.

I kinda liked the new scene where the camera pans over from the storm troopers riding giant reptiles to where others stromtroppers

I didn't mind it, but I didn't see anything lacking from the original without them. And with Lucas' other changes like Han not shooting Gweedo (splg?) first and baby Jabba... not worth it.

[Kidlicious]

Exploitation of the Nerds!

[Silver14]

I hope Greedo still shoots first in this 'original' edition, just to piss off the Nerds.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Silver14
I hope Greedo still shoots first in this 'original' edition, just to piss off the Nerds.

[Geronimo]

Re: Does George Lucas Know How to Make Money or What?

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/04/film.starwars.reut/index.html

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -- The original theatrical versions of the first three "Star Wars" films are finally coming to DVD on September 12, two years after diehard fans blasted George Lucas for releasing only the digitally modified 2004 versions of the celebrated trilogy in a boxed collection.

This time, "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" will be available individually and appear on DVD exactly as they did in their respective theatrical runs in 1977, 1980 and 1983.

Each release, distributed by 20th Century Fox, will be a two-disc set that also includes the digitally tweaked 2004 edition.

The DVDs will be available only through December 31.

HAHA! I'm not wasting my money, but I know there are a bunch of nutjobs who desperatly wanted the 'originals' on DVD, who'll buy this and pad Lucas' wallet.

Brilliant move by Lucas, though I thought he was going to take a little longer to do it (after a prequal box set).

It might make sense to buy if you don't own any versions of the star wars movies at all yet so long as the price is comparable to the other sets.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Silver14
I hope Greedo still shoots first in this 'original' edition, just to piss off the Nerds.

I hope they introduce another version where both Han and Greedo settle the dispute peacefully

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Silver14
I hope Greedo still shoots first in this 'original' edition, just to piss off the Nerds.

He only shot first in the special edition because the se came out after the formation of the New Republic. It's clearly pro-Republic propaganda.