There is nothing wrong with going back and fixing up special effects, and maybe adding scenes, but to change something around like Greedo shotting first is completely irresponsible. There is no reason in the world that he couldnt have had Greedo shoot first way back when the movies originally came out. Lucas wants to say how an artist vision is always changing, then maybe he should change it back. I really dont see what harm it would do.

There's no such thing as good C3PO dialog.

As long as JarJar doesn't show up anywhere, I won't complain.

lol, I never noticed that change but it is exactly my point as well. Lucas didnt have the technology in 1977 to make Luke say "you're lucky you got out"? Stupid meaningless changes. If he can't see for himself how stupid some of the changes are then hey thats probably why his whole career has been Star Wars.

I will be purchasing this as long as he doesn't further alter the films too much. I mean, I don't want a flashback scene with anakin and jar jar in there. I'm ok with the SE's, they don't really change much for me honestly, but I'd really like no further significant changes.

To clear up the line changes...

I've always heard they were done because that recording was the best versions they had for the scene, so when doing all the sound remixes, that's what they used. Secondly, it's not just about what he couldn't do at the time, it's also about what he thought tied the movies together as a trilogy. The original Jabba scene is pointless in the context of just ANH (a totally worthless, pointless scene) but with ROTJ in there, it makes more sense. Same with the Han and Greedo thing. Lucas thought Han shooting Greedo was fine in ANH, but seeing how Han behaves in ESB and ROTJ, he thought it wasn't really fitting. I don't agree myself, mostly because Greedo shooting first looked so stupid anyways.

As for Han calling Jabba a wonderful human being, I always found that line funny, but because it shows Han being very sarcastic. What, does anyone EVER use a line like "You're a wonderful human being" seriously?

As for this whole debate, it could be fixed with seemless branching. It would be a lot of branching, but it could be done. I'll buy either version regardless, as much as I would like the originals on there too.

I don't have high hopes after the Indiana Jones discs though. Lucas COULD put together the best DVDs ever, seemless brnaching, every extra on record.. ect.. ect.. ect.. but I'm sure we'll just get something like we did for Indy. Blah.

Whichever version they put out, I'm sure I'll pick it up - BUT - if they released separate sets of the Original Trilogy and the SEs, I'd pick up the Original Trilogy set.

Then maybe later that same day I'd get the SE cuts as well.

I have both versions in widescreen VHS - they're not great quality, but they've tided me over for the past 10 years.

There is SO MUCH material about the making of these films - I hope they at LEAST put out 2-disc sets for each disc, then PLUS an extra disc with a new doc. I mean, the prequels are getting as much. You'd think the Original Trilogy would be shown at least as much love.

These happened because of the versions used to make the sound mixes for the new versions. The masters that they used were the originals (if I remember correctly). And the masters used for the original home video versions were later masters where these lines of dialogue were different. Different masters for different releases sometimes. This was all covered in the liner notes for the laserdisc boxed set.

Final note: there is no original version of the star wars trilogy. At times, you saw a different "version" depending on which sound mix you saw.

Can you truely say that you no longer enjoy the movies after the SE changes? Not just that you prefer the orignals, but that you actually do not enjoy the movies in the SE form?I appreciate the attempt, but that is a HORRIBLE analogy. Taking a picture is capturing something that is pre-existing in the real world . . . altering it would be falsifying that reality (using the goal is a portrait, as in this case). The Star Wars movies are completely the fantasy of a man who decided to share his creativity with the world . . . altering it is merely refining the fantasy to a different form.If you find them stupid and meaningless, then why do you let them bother you so much?Is that supposed to be a slam? I'd being willing to venture that a vast majority of this board would give their legs to have a career that was "only" comprised of giving birth to, developing, and releasing (and, now, re-doing ) Star Wars. Plus, what about The Indiana Jones Trilogy (soon to be quadrilogy), Willow, American Grafitti . . . ?

Not only did Greedo shooting first look stupid, it didnt fit with the character of Han Solo. He starts off the trilogy as a semi -scoundrel, not a hero. You need him to shoot first otherwise it kills his character development in the following movies. Does Lucas not realize that Han becomes a hero and didnt start off as one? Has he ever watched these movies?

AS far as the dialougue changes thats fine if they didnt synch with the new remixes that is one thing, but get the actors back in there and re-record what needs to be fixed, or at least come up with something intelligible.

I'll make that statement, sure. Not that you were talking to me ...

I hope Lucas indeed does add Jar Jar in these movies just to spite each and every one of you.

i saw (and slept, ate , and breathed) the original movies with people i no longer can see, in theaters that no longer exist. for me, certain movies are more than just the story and the characters, they're a link to a part of my life that is gone forever.
i'll be interested in seeing Lucas work them over so that they all flow seemlessly as a whole-sure.
but for pete's sake, just let me experience the simple un-cgi pleasures of movies made with real physical objects.
there used to be a time when they did that, although many here may be too young to remember it first hand.
to not offer that, is the cinematic equivilent of raising historical buildings to build something wholly functional instead.

If it's not the original versions then forget it. Ill save my money for the Return of the king: Extended Edition

Sadly, I have a feeling that that scenario is probably more likely than not. Most of Lucas' recent decisions in regard to the OT seem calculated out spite more than anything else.

Man, I never saw this argument coming.

Why can't the love just shine brightly and we can all hold hands and be happy that Star Wars will be on DVD? Are you all so jaded? I just want the DVD, that is all

If all you want is Star Wars on DVD, you don't have to wait... you can buy the existing versions out there, or find a friend with a DVD burner and transfer your VHS copy to DVDR. That's pretty simple.

Some of us just don't want it on DVD... we want it done right.

I hope Lucas degitally edits the Ewoks and changes them into mini Jar Jars.

However only a minority of hardcore fans feels that releasing the original versions are the "right" way. I think most people, myself included, could care less.

This is the biggest reason for me. I literally grew up watching these on tape several times a week. I could do the dialogue along with the movie almost perfectly (very annoying to friends and family). To me, the special ed.'s are truly like somebody going into my photo album and drawing mustaches and devil horns on friends and family's picture's. All I'm asking is for a little bit of my past (yes, I said "my past") the way I remember it. It was good enough to make him bajillions of dollars then, it's good enough to give to us now.

You obviously have to high of an opinion on how much you dictate Lucas' intentions. He's certainly not some guy who sits around pulling strings just to get fanboys in an uproar.

Try to understand this. Lucas is a multi-billion dollar business man that does what he wants. He's not affected by nor does he even acknowledge a bunch of whiny fanboys on an internet chat room. He does things the way he wants. He doesn't do it to piss anyone like you off. He has his own motives. Lucas is not trying to personally piss you or anyone else off.

I'm sure Lucas is weeping as we speak.

Geez, step out for the weekend and fall way behind.

Anyway, to (belatedly) answer your question, I think a lot of the best examples are to be found in other artforms, like the oft-used example of textual changes to popular novels long after their dates of publication. However, in the cinema world, I think one of the more honest examples would be The Gold Rush. Now, some seventy years later, which version were we all elated to see included on the DVD?
Yet another argument that, with only the most minor of changes, could just as easily flow from Joe Six-Pack's mouth regarding Widescreen vs. Pan & Scan. I mean, only a minority of hardcore fans care about seeing the full, original composition, right? For the majority of us normal folks, 70% is just fine enough.

Except there's a difference between protecting the "director's vision" and the cries of fanatics that feel they're being robbed of their childhood.

Care to elaborate on what that difference is?

And what about those who aren't fanatics who feel they're being robbed of their childhoods, but merely film fans who would like to see its history preserved?

Sorry to rob you of your straw man, but, you know, it makes conversation so much more interesting.

Hmm with the storage abilities surely they can afford to have both versions bundled in the forthcoming box sets you know what you make me shoot my aural load, if it came in DTS-ES god I am praying for that...