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Star Wars Prequels Media Movies

Star Wars on DVD 635

Posted by michael
from the money-money-money-money-money-money dept.
twigstamc420 writes "USA Today is reporting that Lucasfilm has announced the details of releasing the Star Wars episodes IV through VI on DVD as well as a bonus DVD with commentary."
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Star Wars on DVD More

Star Wars on DVD

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  • Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Informative)

    by MrP- (45616) * <rob@NoSpAm.elitemrp.net> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:01AM (#9997989) Homepage
    Some of the changes:

    Good change: dvd_palpatine1.jpg [elitemrp.net]
    They replaced the horrible emperor [elitemrp.net] from ESB with the real emperor

    OK Change: dvd_jabba1.jpg [elitemrp.net]
    They updated the Jabba scene from ANH SE, now Jabba doesn't look like he was rendered on a Nintendo64

    Horrible puke-inducing change:
    dvd_esprit2.jpg [elitemrp.net]
    Hayden Christensen in the end of RoTJ. ::barf::
    • For some reason this part of the article disturbed me:

      Rumor have circulated about additional changes, but Ward would not deny or confirm them. "We want to encourage our fans to check them out themselves."

      • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Insightful)

        by TomServo (79922) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @04:01AM (#9998703)
        I enjoyed the star wars films, and while I'm not a huge star wars fan, I was most likely going to pick these up.

        Then I read the same bit you quoted.

        That's crap. They're complaining in the article that they're not the highest forecasted sellers for this holiday season because it's $70, and blaming it on that. Maybe it has something to do with:

        a) not releasing the original versions, the ones that everyone really wants to see and
        b) telling them to pay $70, yet refusing to tell them what they're actually getting, so they can "check them out for themselves."

        When I buy a DVD, I damn well want to know what I'm getting. Extras are beyond that, but I want to know that the movie I'm buying is the movie that I've seen previously and enjoyed.

        LotR is one thing. They have additional scenes on the super fancy-pants versions. But they don't go changing the scenes you've already watched. LotR gave extras that we hadn't seen, ones that we can skip easily with the remote if we decide we don't like them, or even purchase the version that's identical to the theatrical release. With this, we STILL can't buy the theatrical release, and we don't even know if they're changing what we saw in the re-release. That's absolutely ridiculous.

        However, given the way that LucasFilm has treated its fans, give it 3-4 years. We'll have the originals, untouched, on DVD, as a super special bonus edition at $90 just to bleed a little more out of those that bought this set. It makes me sad, I remember loving these movies as a kid. However, as a principle, I feel like buying any of these versions now gives LucasFilm validation to fuck with me and take every possible dollar they can out of my wallet. Screw 'em. I like the movies a lot, but they're not my favorites.

        I'll miss 'em, but they're not good enough to bend over for.

      • Look for the extra scenes where they have digitally inserted Jar Jar Binks in. Plus, Jar Jar does a stand up comedy routine in the bar scene in Star Wars ;->

    • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Insightful)

      by TheGatekeeper (309483) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:08AM (#9998027)
      Lucas's revisionist history really does bother me as a geek. While I agree some of the added scenes do add to the movies, some of them are simply unacceptable. Greedo shooting first for example.

      If they were offering the original movies on DVD, I'd jump at it. I don't know how I feel about this revisionist version, but it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

      • Just be thankful... (Score:5, Funny)

        by Chordonblue (585047) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:47AM (#9998247) Homepage Journal
        ...They didn't replace the original Anakin with Jar-Jar!

        (The HORROR!)

      • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Funny)

        by Waffle Iron (339739) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:53AM (#9998275)
        If they were offering the original movies on DVD, I'd jump at it. I don't know how I feel about this revisionist version, but it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

        I have altered the film. Pray I don't alter it any further.

        -GL

      • Greedo shooting first for example.

        And taking out the best songs.

      • Even worse!!! (Score:4, Funny)

        by c0p0n (770852) <copong@[ ]il.com ['gma' in gap]> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:22AM (#9998372)
        I've heard that they could POSSIBLY CHANGE the order of the camera crew listing on the end credits.
        Mostly unacceptable!!!

      • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Interesting)

        by ideonode (163753) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @07:54AM (#9999568)
        Lucas's revisionist history really does bother me as a geek.

        Here's an interesting question for you. Tolkien published The Hobbit in 1937. When he was writing The Lord of the Rings, he realised that the 'Riddles in the Dark' chapter that he had originally written didn't really fit in with the whole ring mythos of LotR (basically, in the original, Gollum simply gives Bilbo the ring after the riddle contest is won - but of course, we know that there's no way that the ring-consumed Smeagol would have simply handed it over because he couldn't guess a riddle). My question to you is, is that ok? Is that any more or less wrong than Lucas' revisionism?

        I think it's a tricky issue. Tolkien alludes to his re-write in the LotR (Bilbo occassionally mentions how he changed his story - cf. 'The Council of Elrond'), whereas Lucas tends to simply re-write the story and erase the previous versions.

        Still, I think it asks interesting questions as to whether authorial control can ever be retained once the original text is out in the wilderness.

        • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Ubergrendle (531719) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @11:28AM (#10002016) Journal
          Completely different kettle of fish here.

          First off, there is a very strong rationale for his changes. He documents them fully. It is not in the interests of marketing.

          Second, the previous version is still availalbe in print. Some editions of The Hobbit include both chapters so that the reader can make the difference. There has been no active attempt to surpress or prevent the distribution of the original version.

          Finally, I'd argue that a popular, visual, commercial medium that is available for a 20 year period because a culturally shared product. I fear that just like people are still trying to rebuild/recreate the original version of Metropolis (Fritz Lang) or The Magnificent Ambersons, down the road a high-resolution version of Star Wars/Empire/ROTJ won't be available and it will be lost to the ages.

          Ultimately I find Lucas' and Speilberg's post-editing of their successes to be a sign of self-concious inferiority complexes. Its the equivalent to me of an aging movie star going through plastic surgery, to attempt to prolong their glory days or relive their past success.

      • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Funny)

        by squiggleslash (241428) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @09:09AM (#10000193) Homepage Journal
        My understanding is that Lucas has been fairly concerned about the criticism of the "Greedo shooting first" thing and has modified it quite a bit in the new DVD version. I took a sneak peek at the modified script.

        Essentially, Greedo will take Solo at gun-point to a small room and torture Solo for about five minutes. At the end of this sequence, Solo is able to get an arm free and knocks over a rack of sharp pointy metal rods, which fall on Greedo knocking him out, but otherwise leaving him uninjured.

        Solo then gets up, considers shooting Greedo, but then says "No, I cannot shoot you Greedo. That would be decending to the same depths as Jabba the Hutt. One day you will look back on this, on what you did today, and you will be filled with regret and remorse. When that day comes, consider it your punishment, for you will feel so much shame you will wish I had killed you."

        With this, he puts back on his loin-cloth and round glasses, and hastily makes his way back to the Millenium Falcon.

    • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:4, Insightful)

      by afidel (530433) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:11AM (#9998055)
      Blah, when will Lucas get it, we want the origional damn films as shown in theaters, not his revisionist history with all the damn modern FX. Jeezus if South Park is making fun of you you know you are doing something wrong.

      • Heh. (Score:4, Funny)

        by Black Parrot (19622) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:03AM (#9998511)


        > Blah, when will Lucas get it, we want the origional damn films as shown in theaters, not his revisionist history with all the damn modern FX. Jeezus if South Park is making fun of you you know you are doing something wrong.

        Due to word-wrapping in my browser I read that as -

        not his revisionist history with all the damn modern FX Jeezus.
        Sadly, I was wondering which scene he inserted Jesus into rather than marvelling that he would stoop to it.

    • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Funny)

      by wass (72082) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:49AM (#9998256)
      Isn't he also changing the name to 'The Gathering Shadow' and making the following the scrolling introduction:
      It is a time of uncertainty. The
      empire's ambiguous tariff statutes
      mandate close reexamination of
      galactic import quotas. Interim
      Princess Agoomba has co-chaired
      a subcommittee to draft amendments
      to existing trade policies

      Meanwhile, regulatory agencies
      are being heavily lobbied by a
      consortium of mercantile interest
      groups and their suppliers to
      streamline loading restrictions for
      class C cargo vessels. The shipping...

      Oh wait, director mixup, that was Randall Curtis [tvtome.com].

    • They changed it? you mean (Score:5, Insightful)

      by commodoresloat (172735) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:54AM (#9998280)
      "These aren't the DVDs you're looking for."

    • the futility of protest (Score:5, Funny)

      by gad_zuki! (70830) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:20AM (#9998565)
      I really hope DVDs/SVCDs of the laserdisc version get pushed on popular bittorrent and p2p networks the day this comes out. I'd love to read news articles and talking heads on the news trying to figure this out.

      *two local tv anchors on location at a suncoast DVD retailer observing the long line*

      "Well Jane, it seems this is one of the most pirated movies in history."

      "Yes Tom, the online world has never been shy about co-opting releases."

      "True, except they're pirating the version sold in the 80s from something called a 'laserdisc.'"

      *confusion ensues as a pasty skined geek grabs Jane's mic*

      Fan: "Greedo does NOT shoot first!!!"

      *security hauls the fan away*

      "What was that about?"

      "No idea. What's a greedo? *pause* Don't worry folks he's getting the help he needs."

      *back on Skywalker Ranch*

      Fan has eyes clipped open while a projector plays the Greedo scene endlessly before him and a small crowd tied to their chairs in a small theater. A tear run downs his cheek as he quietly, in unison with the rest, whispers, "Greedo shoots first. Greedo shoots first. Greedo shoots first."

    • Re:Some of the changes (possible spoilers) (Score:5, Interesting)

      by CrazyTalk (662055) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @08:19AM (#9999700)
      OK, your mention of Jabba in ANH gives me a chance to rant a bit - he shouldn't be in that movie at all. Period. (In my mind, this is worse than the famous Han-shoots-first controversy). Having grown up watching the original movies, having Jabba be this unseen, mysterious figure added to the interest and suspense in the sequels. In ROTJ when he was finally revealed, that was a defining moment in the movies. Showing what he looks like up front in the "first" movie just ruins the ending! Of course, by now everyone on the planet with any remote interest at all knows what Jabba the Hut is and what he looks like, but in my mind his presence early on does nothing but hurt the story.

  • Anyone have a .torrent? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:02AM (#9997992)
    Oh wait...wrong forum. Nothing to see here...move along...

  • Mr Lucas (Score:5, Funny)

    by onyxruby (118189) <onyxruby.comcast@net> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:03AM (#9998003)
    On behalf of the slashdot community and geeks everywhere. I beg you please release these as they were originaly shown in the theaters.

    Thank-you Your fan base

  • Honestly... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by RealBeanDip (26604) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:03AM (#9998004)
    Episode IV was incredible. I was blown away by it when it came out.

    But by the time VI came out, it had a very Police Academy IV thing going on.

    Let's hope Episode III is good..

  • Box Set (Score:5, Funny)

    by devinoni (13244) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:03AM (#9998007)
    I'm waiting for the super-special-extended-ultra-remastered-digitally- enhanced mega super version box set of all 6 movies.

    • Re:Box Set (Score:5, Insightful)

      by decipher_saint (72686) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:10AM (#9998046) Homepage
      Actually, I would like a super-UNenhanced version of the original three...

      *grips tightly DVD burns of LaserDisc versions*
      Pr-r-r-reciousssss

    • Re:Box Set (Score:5, Insightful)

      by AstrumPreliator (708436) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:12AM (#9998060)
      By the time they're done with all six movies they'll have to remaster the first trilogy (IV - VI) and show it in theaters (again). Then when that's done they'll have to remaster the second trilogy (I - III) and show those in theaters again. But by that time the first trilogy will be so far out of date they'll decide to completely remake it.

      You'll be waiting for that all-in-one box set for a long long time.

      =P

  • Changes? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Russ Steffen (263) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:04AM (#9998015) Homepage

    I hear that in this version Alderaan shoots first.

    • Re:Changes? (Score:5, Funny)

      by colmore (56499) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:26AM (#9998152) Journal
      No, but there's good inteligence that clearly shows Alderaan had a stockpile of WMDs that it planned to give to the Rebel Alliance. The new DVD further points out that its government was an anti-democratic dictatorship by a royal family, and goes on to document its sentient-rights abuses which while largely decades in the past, still play a part in building a convincing case for a pre-emptive planetary destruction by the Emp - er - Coalition Forces.

  • I'm going to wait...believe it or not. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Agent Green (231202) * on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:04AM (#9998016)
    I'm actually going to wait this one out. I can't recall how many times the trilogy was released on VHS...and am not going to get taken like a sucker on this like I was with Fellowship of the Ring.

    Once the second release is out, then it'll be time to party. Probably when episode 3 is done and release and it's all in one pretty box. :)

    • Re:I'm going to wait...believe it or not. (Score:5, Informative)

      by The-Bus (138060) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:50AM (#9998260) Homepage
      and am not going to get taken like a sucker on this like I was with Fellowship of the Ring.


      Purely your fault...

      1. Peter Jackson announced the EE (extended edition) before the regular edition had been released.
      2. The EE is an entirely different cut.
      3. The extras are all different.
      4. New Line offers at least $5 off if you send in the UPC from the first one, bringing the cost of the EEs down to about $20 when they come out.


      And, on topic, I'll be getting the DVDs.

  • This is amazing news... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:06AM (#9998021)
    It was even more amazing when I heard it last year around this time.

  • As ObiWan said... (Score:5, Funny)

    by whiteranger99x (235024) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:07AM (#9998026) Journal
    "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of geeks suddenly cried out in glee and were suddenly silenced."

  • Well? WELL? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by jerkychew (80913) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:09AM (#9998038) Homepage
    Come on! This article has been up for seven minutes, and nobody has answered the most important question:

    Does Greedo shoot first???

    Come on! You call yourselves geeks?

  • Lucas' reality check bounced. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by beldraen (94534) <chad.montplaisir ... l.com minus city> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:17AM (#9998089)
    From the man who refuses to release original editions and continues to "rice" out his movies said this about movie purity:
    "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, who testified with Steven Spielberg before Congress in the 1980s against colorization and other forms of alteration, said the process yanks such slapstick performers as the Stooges out of the black-and-white universe they belong in.
    Appearently, putting stooges into the movies is ok. Read more about this fun here. [cnn.com]

  • Han shoots first? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Alcimedes (398213) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:17AM (#9998090)
    If he does, I'm not buying them, period. I can't believe that they'd change what basically amounts to a massive character development over three movies, and rework it to crap. all because it's not nice for Han to shoot first. that was the WHOLE FREEKING point. ugh.

    i hate people sometimes.

    • Re:Han shoots first? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:42AM (#9998219)
      Han shoots first?

      If he does, I'm not buying them, period.

      Er, we WANT Han to shoot first.

    • Re:Han shoots first? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Blakey Rat (99501)
      Han shoots first? If he does, I'm not buying them, period.

      So you're saying you like the reissues from 1997 better than the original theatrical release? Or are you just really bad at proofreading?

      And, arguably, since Lucas directed and wrote the movie, and he obviously has no problems with Han shooting second, that kind of means that maybe that's *not* the whole point?

      In any case, calm down, it's just a movie.

      • Re:Han shoots first? (Score:3, Informative)

        by Alcimedes (398213)
        no, i'm just really bad at proof reading.

        Lucas directed the movie, but it was basically a ripoff of an older, Japanese title. what i don't understand is why he'd make a fairly significant change without an excellent reason.

        in our society, we have justifiable homocide. if you're protecting yourself from someone who's trying to kill you, and you kill them, you don't go to jail.

        if, on the other hand, you murder someone, you have problems. Han murders Greedo. (or whatever his name is) because he doesn't

    • Re: Han shoots first? (Score:4, Funny)

      by Black Parrot (19622) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:13AM (#9998536)


      > If he does, I'm not buying them, period.

      A real geek would hack his hardware to play the scene backward.

  • Wait a minute.. what? (Score:3)

    by Malicious (567158) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:17AM (#9998093)
    Isn't this like REALLY old news? What's new about this? It's not like they have anything we didn't already know! This was announced AGES ago.

  • "Digitally Remastered Footage" (Score:5, Funny)

    by johnthorensen (539527) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:19AM (#9998106)
    Here's to hoping this has something to do with Princess Leia in Jabba's Palace :)

    -JT

  • I'll stick to my LaserDiscs.... (Score:5, Informative)

    by elberserko (758501) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:23AM (#9998130)
    The only true way to see the original theatrical versions of the trilogy is to get the laserdiscs. Not only does it look and sound better than the VHS but If you get the right ones, they are widescreen, which no VHS copy of the "original theatrical" versions have to the best of my knowledge.

  • Sorry people (Score:5, Informative)

    by Neo-Rio-101 (700494) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:24AM (#9998140)
    If you RTFA, you see this:-


    The controversy. The versions of Lucas' beloved films that are on these new DVDs are not the original theatrical releases but the special editions that played in theaters in 1997. Rumor have circulated about additional changes, but Ward would not deny or confirm them. "We want to encourage our fans to check them out themselves."

  • To point out the obvious (not a conspiracy theory) (Score:5, Interesting)

    by kamapuaa (555446) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:27AM (#9998153) Homepage
    George Lucas is about making money, not about establishing or preserving legacies or whatever. I just have to believe that he'll release these DVDs, claim they're the only official release ever, and wait for every nerd to buy them, even though they grumble about it being the revised version.

    Only then, after the DVD saled have slowed down, will he decide to relent, release the original movies on DVD, and snap up the profits from nerds re-purchasing the DVDs of the original movie.

    Kind of the inverse of Lord of the Rings DVD strategy - Lucas realizes if he releases the original versions first, nobody will buy the revised versions later.

    • Believe it or not, there are a LOT of people who would buy the special editions because "they're the special editions!" Most of the sheeple believe marketing hype and I bet even a few of them like the changes. I'd even bet even money that the purists are in the minority; they're just in the majority here because of the demographic.

  • Why? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by telstar (236404) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:30AM (#9998167)
    Why can't Lucas take a hint from the LOTR series and release the 13-DVD super-duper box set with 35 variations of each film including the original versions and his new screwed up versions? Charge people eleventy-seven dollars or whatever ... just give people what they want .... not what he thinks they should have.

    • 'Star Wars - Interactive' - God help us... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Chordonblue (585047) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:14AM (#9998338) Homepage Journal
      Be careful what you wish for - I envision the future this way:

      ***Yo, Yo, Yo!!!*** - Check It! It's 'Star Wars Interactive' comin' to you on Supa Blu-Ray!

      - See the original blocky transparencies around Tie Fighters and X-Wings! (Some of you out there really want that, huh?)

      - Replace Greedo with Jar-Jar and make Han shoot first again! And again. And again!

      - See the original Irish guy who played the part of Jabba the Hutt and put him in Episode Six!

      - Give Boba Fett some extra rocket fuel so he can escape his fate!

      Seriously, you know this sort of thing is coming eventually. So is all this panic about original versions a case of purity or old-tyme familiarity for us old farts? Believe me, it's hard to see some of this stuff happening to the films I grew up with (I was 12 when I saw Star Wars), but is the fact that Greedo shot first going to change the entire demeanor of the film?

      Maybe it's a question of relevancy. As time goes on, you can expect more of this sort of thing to happen to films like it has with music.

      Example: Look at Rap. Rap recycles old music into newer stuff. Should that be outlawed too?

  • The Commentary (Score:5, Funny)

    by SpootFinallyRegister (787720) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:33AM (#9998175)
    Heres a part where i rake in some money.

    Ooh, heres another million... selling out, selling out, cashing in, nother million.

    Money. Money, money.

    Is anyone still watching this? suckers.

    -George Lucas

  • Wake me up when they put the ORIGINALs on DVD (Score:4, Interesting)

    by neurojab (15737) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:38AM (#9998196)
    An open letter to George Lucas.

    Dear George,

    The nostalgic value for DVD collectors of these movies is very high, but your changes destroy that value. No one who loved the movies in the 70s and 80s wants the "special edition" release, or the changes you have made since. The changes make them new movies, lesser versions of their former selves, they certainly are not the same movies I enjoyed in my youth. One of the great things about Star Wars was the amazing effect work that was very groundbreaking using the technology of the day. Updating the films with new technology destroys that accomplishment.

    I will not buy Star Wars (again) until the original, unmodified movie is on DVD. Likewise for Empire.

    Thank you.
    -an 80's Star Wars fan in your target market.

    • Re:Wake me up when they put the ORIGINALs on DVD (Score:5, Funny)

      by daVinci1980 (73174) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:17AM (#9998350) Homepage
      Dear 80's Star Wars fan in my target market,

      Actually, I'm willing to be that you will purchase this version when it comes out. You'll open up the shiny plastic and you'll curse my name for not releasing the "pure" movies. It is possible that you will resist this boxed set, but fortunately for me you have friends and relatives who remember how much you love Star Wars, and *certainly* one or more of them will purchase this collection for you. Either way, your money will already be mine, and I won't really care. I'll be laughing all the way to the bank in one of my 30 new Ferraris.

      However, I will let you in on a little secret. Ever since DVD came around as a format, I've been saying that I didn't feel DVD was an appropriate format for the Star Wars franchise. I didn't think the betamax sales had fallen off enough to cannibalize my own market share. However, I've clearly changed views on that, and it is therefore likely that at *some* point in the future, I will release the super-duper-ultra-elite-Star-Wars-Final-absolutely -no-kidding-this-time Edition. Which will actually just be the original theater version.

      I hope this tidbit holds you over.

      The master of your wallet,

      George Lucas
      • >fortunately for me you have friends and relatives who remember how much you love Star Wars, and *certainly* one or more of them will purchase this collection for you. Either way, your money will already be mine

        No, that's not true. That's impossible! NO!!!!!

  • Is it the "Coke Classic" ploy? (Score:4, Funny)

    by NotQuiteReal (608241) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @01:55AM (#9998281) Journal
    1) Sell the [slightly?] altererd DVD versions to those who just have to have them.

    2) Profit!

    1b) Then wait a bit and [re]-sell the "original" version to purists who have to have that.

    2b) Profit!

    Wow, you don't even need the usual 3 steps.

  • Lyrics to theme song announced (Score:3, Funny)

    by smclean (521851) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:20AM (#9998361) Homepage
    I just got a special pre-release of the DVDs, and Lucas has added lyrics to the beloved Star Wars theme song!

    Download the SPECIAL EDITION here! [blueharvest.net]

  • How hard would it be... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by multiplexo (27356) * on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:39AM (#9998439) Journal
    To get LaserDiscs of the original movies before George started fucking around with them and remaster them onto DVDs and then distribute them underground? I have no desire to see the new and improved _Star Wars_ and it just shows how unoriginal Lucas is, he can't come up with anything new so he just reedits _Star Wars_ and re-releases it every time he needs a few more bux (just like the way Francis Ford Coppola) keeps re-editing _Apocalypse Now_ and adding new footage.

    I'd be willing to bet that with decent equipment you could make a pretty good transfer from a LaserDisc and while it might not have the resolution or sound of the new versions it would retain all of the stuff that made the original movies so great.

  • I haven't seen anyone mention this yet. (Score:5, Informative)

    by cheetah (9485) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @02:45AM (#9998458)
    But there is a longtime petition site to get the original movies put on Dvd. http://www.originaltrilogy.com/ [originaltrilogy.com] Check it out...

  • I don't mind (Score:4, Interesting)

    by martingunnarsson (590268) * <martin&snarl-up,com> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:09AM (#9998524) Homepage
    Perhaps it's because I'm too young to have seen the original movies in theater, but I *like* the newer versions. They have a couple of extra scenes, and they look better. More, better looking Star wars can't be a bad thing? I also think they make some scenes feel more alive, with more people in the background and so on.
    There, now you can go ahead and mod me down.

    • Re:I don't mind (Score:3, Insightful)

      by cranos (592602)
      I'm sorry but part of the charm of the originals was the fact the special effects were amazing without the use of CG.

      The newer bits just clashed something chronic with the original, hell they couldn't even get Jabba's size right between A New Hope and Return of The Jedi.

  • StarWars.com News Releases (Score:3, Informative)

    by crashnbur (127738) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:19AM (#9998555)
    DVD Details [starwars.com] (April 20, 2004). Extras include:
    Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of Darth Vader

    The Birth of the Lightsaber
    The Characters of Star Wars
    The Force Is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars
    Star Wars Battlefront Trailer and Playable Demo
    Star Wars: Episode III Making the Game Preview
    Original Trailers and TV Spots
    Never-Before-Seen Production Gallery
    Original Posters and Print Campaigns
    The DVD package is described here [starwars.com], and this page [starwars.com] shows each individual case and DVD nicely.

  • Deleted scene on DVD (Score:3, Funny)

    by FryGuy1013 (664126) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:33AM (#9998604) Homepage
    http://www.limpfish.com/starwars/

    Sorry, I couldn't resist posting this. Mod me down if you want.

  • The Ewoks (Score:5, Funny)

    by BillsPetMonkey (654200) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @03:33AM (#9998606)
    having a disco at the end of RoTJ unfortunately won't be erased from living memory on the new DVD ...

  • Darth Lucas quote (Score:5, Funny)

    by CaptainCarrot (84625) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @04:41AM (#9998848)
    "I find your lack of cash disturbing..."

  • Imagine... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by huchida (764848) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @05:37AM (#9999011)
    ... If George Lucas would've learned something from his good friend Steven Spielberg. Make movies, don't muck around with your old ones (well, muck around as little as possible, I'm aware of the E.T. walkie talkies. Something tells me Spielberg didn't put in a fraction of the effort coming up with that.) Do something new every now and then. Take your skills and knowledge and try and tell a good story, maybe even break away from science fiction a bit. I know he had it in him at one point, American Graffiti's a great movie.

    But I guess Lucas isn't a director at heart. If he was, he would've directed Empire and Return. He likes his special effects and he's good at them-- the last two movies felt more like advertisements for Industrial Light and Magic than labors of love.

    Though to his credit, the Star Wars video games have generally been great... Fun, well-made, darker and more true to the promise of Star Wars than any of the movie's sequels have been.

    (No, I didn't call it "Episode IV" or "A New Hope." I still call the first one Star Wars. The eight-year-old me would've wanted it that way.)

  • Saddest part about the whole thing: (Score:4, Interesting)

    by dioscaido (541037) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @06:23AM (#9999186)
    That even with all the caveats about the changes, most people will buy the DVDs. Giving Lucas another $1 billion dollar smash hit, and further shielding him from the truth that most fans, while they consume his movies faithfully, hate them nonetheless.

  • My George Lucas moment (Score:5, Funny)

    by sdo1 (213835) on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @07:56AM (#9999575) Journal
    My four year old gave me a piece of artwork, which was a mess, but great (if you have kids, you'd understand). But the next day he wanted to take it back to make some changes and additions. I accused him of being like George Lucas. He cried.

    Does that make me a bad parent?

    -S

  • Starwars, the Original Trilogy, Version 3 (Score:3, Funny)

    by EmagGeek (574360) <gterich@@@aol...com> on Wednesday August 18, 2004 @08:07AM (#9999637) Journal
    In version 3 of TOT, not only does Han not shoot first, but greedo is arrested by the department of homeland security for no goddamn reason whatsoever. After 45 years of litigation, he is found guilty of making terroristic threats, but the decision is overturned by the ninth circus court of appeals on grounds that his trial was unfair because he's green. After seeing this news on intergalactic TV, Han escapes from his retirement home, finds greedo, and finally shoots him dead with the only weapon remaining in the universe that can still be taken on space vessels - strained peas!

There has been a little distress selling on the stock exchange. -- Thomas W. Lamont, October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday)

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