George Lucas Speaks on Trilogy Changes 759
Warlock7 writes "Yahoo has posted an interview with George Lucas by the AP on the changes to the original trilogy from the new DVD box set. They also discuss the future of the franchise and the direction he intends to take it."
Trilogy Changes (Score:2, Informative)
Actually, I don't think he mentions any changes to the trilogy, other than they are the Special Edition versions.
Re:Let me be the first to say: (Score:5, Informative)
You know where to go.
Re:Trilogy Changes (Score:5, Informative)
in the 90's they added a sequence of Han Solo talking to Jaba the Hutt at the space port. Jaba was added through computer animation, but the live shot of Harrison Ford was from the original filming. Upon reflection it added nothing to the story or the film that wasn't already apparently clear.
Not seeing Jaba gave the impression of something menacing. The CG Jaba looked small and rendered on a sheet of Saran Wrap which seemed to shift in the breeze and looked terrible.
Re:Let me be the first to say: (Score:5, Informative)
Re:What Does "Han Shoots First" Mean? (Score:5, Informative)
In the "enhanced" version, Greedo shoots first, apparently unable to hit a target at absurdly close range, and Han "returns fire" killing him in "self-defense", and cementing him in our minds as a dumbass, though an insanely lucky one, who was apparantly smart enough to have his hand on his blaster, but dumb enough not to use it proactively against an obvious treacherous slimeball.
Re:What Does "Han Shoots First" Mean? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Special Editions vs. regular (Score:2, Informative)
Why bother with LD?
Are these available as torrents?
[Back from a quick search]
Yup, the original LD rips are available.
*cough cough* fuck him *cough*
Re:In fairness .... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Special Editions vs. regular (Score:1, Informative)
> offed a guy who wasn't an imminent threat to him.
Who are these people?? It's clear that Greedo is a threat to Han. He's a bounty hunter who intends to take Han dead or alive back to Jabba for a reward, after which Jabba is going to kill him. If Han doesn't shoot first he's going to die. In fact, it doesn't make any sense for Greedo to shoot first. Greedo has his guy captured and he's gonna return him for the reward.
So not only does the change mess with the character of Han Solo, the change itself doesn't make sense!!
Re:Let me be the first to say: (Score:3, Informative)
So the petition is likely going to fall on completely deaf ears.
Choice Quotes: (Score:3, Informative)
What? Every place I look claims DVD sales are very stong and not losing momentum any time soon (mainly thanks to idiots like me who buy 2 and 3 versions of the same crap I already own). Regardless, his decision boiled down to cold hard cash... not fan appreciation, not the desire to allow us to preserve the movies in a non-degrading format, not the desire to give us a higher-resolution better mastered version of the movies we love. Screw that, he needs cash.
On the altered footage: It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it.
Wow... what complete and utter contempt for his most die-hard fans. "Screw you, this is what I like." "Screw your support for the past couple decades, this is what I want." Hate to tell you, Mr. Lucas but both your originality and your integrity have gone steadily downhill since those first 'incomplete' Star Wars movies. It's become painfully obvious that instead of a compelling storyline you'd prefer fancy effects. Instead of well developed characters you'd prefer good looking twits and CGIed alien idiots. It may be age or greed getting to you but make no mistake, you didn't release these special editions because they were the 'movies you wanted to make.' You released them so you could slap "New Special Effects" and a media-whoring poorly CGIed Jabba scene on the box cover and make a mint. Maybe, just maybe everyone fell in love with your movies because they were, you know, good. And just maybe we're all bitching because not only are you releasing movies that aren't any good but your destroying those that are.
On the future of Star Wars: "Ultimately, I'm going to probably move it into television and let other people take it."
Well, this is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, Lucas seems to be relinquishing control to someone who may possibly have some talent. That would be cool. On the other hand, we all know this is a last ditch pimp out to squeeze every little bit of cash from his cow. I can only hope that the TV series takes place in a land far far away from the trilogy's universe. There's not enough material in a movie to have a multi-season tv-show intersect with the same characters and timeline without seriously affecting the story. At this rate I wouldn't be suprised to see some "Leia: The Teenage Years" pushed on the ignorant masses.
And finally:AP:"Do you pay much attention to fan reactions to your choices?"
Lucas: "Not really."
Yeah, Fuck you too.
Re: Review of Trilogy DVD (Score:2, Informative)