All you need is

DO NOT DISCUSS BOOTLEGGING

Are these the versions with the missing C3PO footage in ANH and the missing Leia footage in ESB?

9/10 is way too high. Yes, some will.

I just don't understand why it's so hard to accept that many of us won't be buying the SE releases. It's simple: watching movies is supposed to be pleasurable.

Watching the SE, each change grates and irritates. It's like a slap in the face repeatedly. "Dammit, Han shoots first. Dammit, there's no Jabba scene. Dammit, Luke says you're lucky you don't taste very good."

Watching the SE simply doesn't bring me pleasure.

he was made well aware of the 50,000+ sigs on the petition.
he chose to not 'service' those consumers, so i don't see what difference a few hundred letters (he won't read) woud make.

look this is clearly an 'ego' thing with him at this point.
this is the kind of release HE wants.
they didn't take any polls at fan conventions or online asking the people who would be buying it what they wanted to see...this is all about George and what he wants.

the only way i can ever see him relenting on the "the OTs don't exist" line, is if his ego started taking some hits with the films as they are now.
but sales of the dvd sets is not not going to be the vehicle for that-
the sales will be strong no matter how many people abstain- it's the 'after sales' chatter that would start making a difference.
if you find when you pick up a wide circulation magazine a year from now and it mentions how the 'latest and greatest' dvd release is going to be "at least not as disappointing as last years Star Wars set"...or "far more satisfying than the revision stunted OT of Star Wars" , then you'll see some headway being made
-because if this release (and the revised films) start to become a lightening rod for criticism and ridicule, then that becomes like brushing aside this mans relevance entirely- because this release is all about George.

Funny -- but I don't remember Nike asking me what color shoes to make. Or Raisin Bran asking me if I wanted '2 scoops' in every box. And how dare Costco sell the Tyson buffalo chicken nuggets when I surely prefer the buffalo strips.

Nobody owes you shit. It's a free market. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

uh...i think all those companies you cited (and many many more) do commision studies of consumer preferences.

pretty common practice to solicit consumer feedback and take that into account in marketing products and services.

That's why I didn't say 100%.

First of all, I'm not talking about the casual fan who is not into Star Wars other than liking the films. I'm talking about fans who grew up with the original trilogy, and are huge fans of the original trilogy.

Why don't I believe it? For one thing, saying you're not going to do something on a message board is quite easy, because nobody can call you on it. For all we know, people could shout they aren't going to buy it, then go and buy it, and then come back and brag about how they didn't cave in. It's a hollow threat, plain in simple. It's not so easy when you're a huge fan who has waited for the Star Wars trilogy on DVD for a long time, to walk into a store and see that box set, and then pass it by. DVDs are addictive to people like us. That's the first reason I don't believe them. It would be different if you never liked the movies to begin with, or weren't a big fan. Then I would believe most of these people. But I don't believe for a second that some changes, despite them not liking them, will keep them from buying these DVDs.

The second reason I don't believe them is because they are big Star Wars fans, and Star Wars fans buy anything with the name Star Wars on it, even if they hate it. We've seen it all before. Look no further than the SEs that came before. Even tons of SW fans who didn't like Episode I, saw it over and over and over. Same with the SE re-releases.

I agree, but at least it would be a hell of a lot more constructive than whining about it on a message board. It's far more likely to get results than whining will, even if it is a pipe dream. As you and others have said before, if we complain enough, Lucas may relent. Well, he's more likely to relent over angry letters and emails, than whining on the internet.

Of course it is. He's the filmmaker. He wants his vision for his 6 film saga out there. This is part of that.

I hate to tell you this, Lucas doesn't give a damn what critics or reporters have to say. That's not going to get him to change his mind. Only one thing will ever get him to relent, and that's input from his closest filmmaking friends. People like Spielberg, Scorsese, DePalma, Howard, Milius, Ford, Hamill, and Fisher. These are the only people that can get him to release the originals.

they do studies, sure -- but do you know that they heed the advice? no -- you just assume they do.

and one focus group person's preference may not be my preference, yet the company has to make a decision one way or the other.

so, they put out a product that a (large or small) segment will not be happy with.

as has lucasfilm.



really, this "we need choice!" story is not only tiresome, but has been in place since business began.

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Posting requests for copies of copyrighted material, or "how-to-get/make bootleg material" instructions

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nemein

I would still prefer to see these as they were "originally" produced, if only to preserve the historical signficance these 3 movies have on the history of film. I can appreciate a King Kong, a Jason and the Argonauts, etc. , even though the effects seem primitive by todays standards, for the groundbreaking movies they were. A lot of the added CGI effects pull me out of SW, they just do not match the costumes, sets, and characters that were originally filmed. I want the movies that broke new ground 25 years ago, not just the grand experiments we are getting now.

I understand George wanting to redo the original and make it look better and go with the story but can they not release both versions. I agree completley with you stinkeye. This is a piece of history. Star Wars is one of the greatest movies of all time. While I understand the need to update why not allow the original to be seen. Students 20 years from know will not be able to see the original Star Wars. That is a crime

Doesn't change the fact that you're *way* off in that prediction. 30, 40% tops. No way in hell it's 90%.

Yeah, folks like *me*. Folks who saw each film 10+ times in the theatre on first release. Folks who've seen the films dozens and dozens of times on tv and video before the SE's even existed.

You vastly over-estimate the "will buy any crap" factor. Much of the SE business was new, folks who'd never seen the films in the theatre before.

Myself, I saw ANH SE once, and was so disgusted, that I didn't even see Ep 5 or 6. Still haven't actually.

We're not snot nosed petulant teens who change our minds on a whim. We're middle aged, and know ourselves well enough to tell you exactly what we'll do. Some might even call us crotchety old fogies, set in our ways.

Trust me, no SE will ever set foot in this household.

Hmmm...I wish this were the case, but given the high suck-factor of the first two films in the new trilogy, I don't think this thinking will hold any sway...

Have to agree. Lucas at this point is living in his own little bubble completely oblivious as to what his fans think, say or want. I remember an interview he did for PREMIERE magazine in 2002 shortly before the release of Clones. One of the first questions the interviewer asked was, "Did the general disappointment many had with The Phantom Menace have any bearing or effect on the direction of this new film?" His reply was to the effect of "Um, huh? I'm not aware of that."

Point taken. On 9/21, I'll be first in line, no doubts. I am happy with this set, but would be even happier with both cuts.

Yes and 50000 is a drop in the bucket compared to how many copies will sell. I agree that if the bashing in the mainstreeam starts, then we may see a release sooner.

Actually, his reply was there were always critics of Star Wars, even the original trilogy, and that he's not going to worry about those people. He's going to make the films he wants, and hope the majority gets some enjoyment from them.

Please! If you honestly think only 30-40 percent of Star Wars fans disappointed with the changes are going to buy this DVD, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

You severely underestimate the "buy any crap with Star Wars on it" factor. SW fans are predictable when it comes to buying things, especially the movies. Past history prove me right.

When they came out on VHS and LD they weren't new.

Then consider yourself part of the 10%. But you are in the very small minority.......that much is for sure.

No, that was his reaction to the hatred directed towards Jar Jar Binks. Defending Jar Jar he'd make up this bullshit that people hated 3-PO and Yoda in the original trilogy as well. Delusions of grandeur.

Your right about him comparing Jar Jar to Yoda and Threepio, but he did also say pretty much exactly what Terrell said too. That I remember for sure. Matter of fact I think I have that on tape from when he was interviewed at the Ranch (prior to AOTC release), on CNN I believe.

We weren't talking about the "fans disappointed with the changes". We were talking about those who signed the petition at originaltrilogy. These aren't guys that are just disappointed, these are the seriously mad folks. The creme de la creme of the pissed off fanboys, so to speak.

The average person who doesn't care that much about the changes didn't sign that petition.

I think the massive drop in Ep. 2 gate receipts proves you wrong. And the even bigger drop that Ep. 3 is going to take, not to mention the overall reputation of the entire series that Lucas is flushing down the crapper.

Who the hell mentioned those people? I didn't even mention anything about that petition or the people who signed it. However, if you think that only 40% of those people are going to buy the DVD, then I've still got a bridge to sell you. The overwhelming majority of those people will buy it as well.

I guess by your logic, ESB was a awful, and ANH was a disappointment. It made much less than the original Star Wars. How do you explain that one?

Episode II made 310 million dollars. If you had any clue what you were talking about, you'd know it wasn't Star Wars fans who didn't come back for repeat viewings. It was the casual movie fans. The film still made more than both ROTJ and ESB. Yeah, that's real disappointing. If you want to know how many films in history have ever made 310 million dollars, go look it up. You might be surprised how few in a very long history, have ever done that.

Care to make a bet? It will make about the same, or a bit more than Episode II.

Either way, I'm not going to get into a pissing contest over what you think of the prequels. You think they're awful, have at it. I don't. Then again, you probably own those DVDs as well.

Let's keep the discussion about whether SW fans will buy the DVDs. Anyone with 2 brain cells know the vast majority will, whether they whine like babies about the changes or not.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if only 40% of those that signed that petition buy it.

As the other guy said these are the creme de la creme of pissed off fanboys.

They're much more likely to stick to their laurels and not buy it, than the less annoyed persons merely stating they don't like the changes on message boards and what not given that the searched out a site devoted to getting the OT and signed the petition.

Give me a break, Terrell. You know that isn't true for several reasons

1.) Ticket prices are probably double, maybe triple what they were back in the late 70's and early 80's

2.) Overseas markerts, where the majority of money made was nowhere near the levels they are now

3.) Even when adjusting for inflation, the original trilogy kicks the new prequels ass.:

Boxoffice Mojo Inflation Adjusted Ranks
A New Hope - 2
Empire Strikes Back - 12
Return of the Jedi - 14
Phantom Menace - 19
Attack of the Clone - 80

It sure seems like Phantom Menace killed the franchise IMHO.

I signed that petition too. I'm still going to buy the DVD.

Josh, That petition doesn't consists of only royally pissed off Star Wars fans in my opinion. Almost all Star Wars fans want the originals. Ask any of them. They want that and the Director's cut. That doesn't mean they're going to not buy this DVD. A whole bunch of folks at TF.N signed it as well. Do you think any of those folks are going to pass on the DVD.

Basically, internet SW fans signed that petition. The SW fans like us who discuss this on the internet.

Lucas has said, because of the nature of the events necc in III, that he expects it to pull in the least of all the films.

i doubt it will make more than II.


i do think you are right in that a majority of the petition signers will end up picking up the set-
but 51% is technically a majority.
for me, taken as a whole i loathe the revisions that these films have undergone.
i would gladly trade all the prettier space shots and whatnots to get back those scenes and line readings that were iconic to me.
but with the equipment i have now, it just wouldn't be satisfying to watch the LDs (or God forbid, VHS)- in its own way, it would be just as distracting, just as irritating to be viewing a smaller, smeary analog picture- as it will be to be fast forwarding and skipping chunks of these discs just to watch the more unadultered elements.
unlike many of you, i haven't watched these films since the theatrical release of the SEs, and i haven't owned them on video for over 10 years.

and i don't buy anything with SW on it.
i haven't done that since the late 70s.