Wow, I've never thought about it...something to ponder...

There's a review on Amazon of the current DVD set by someone claiming to be a Lucasfilms employee saying that the original films will be released on DVD within a few years.

The validity of this review is a bit suspect, however, so believe it at your own risk. It could be a huge load yet it could be one huge smart maneuver by Lucas saying this is all you'll get with the DVDs only to release the originals later on and rake in the cash yet again. This will undoubtedly piss off tons of people who bought the set yet they won't have any choice, if they want the originals buy them, if they don't, don't buy them.

"***** A note from a Lucas employee, May 4, 2005
Reviewer: John - See all my reviews
I am tired of all the outcries over this boxset, so I'm going to give you all a bit of insight to what went on behind the curtain.

First of all, let me explain why Lucas released this set. Demand was very high, and DVDs were going to be phased out in the near future. He wanted to please the fans, and give them something to tide over with until the BD/HD-DVD set hits stores in 2007.

Long story short, we had a lot to do and a very short period of time to do it in. Most of our resources were busy with Episode III (both the release and the DVD for the film). We were strained to begin with. Add putting the entire star wars trilogy on DVD with only a little bit over a year to restore and master it, and you have a race against time.

We would have liked to re-color the lightsabers, re-color Jabba, spend more time on the audio/picture, and everything else we wanted to do, but WE HAD NO TIME TO DO IT.

In addition, we only had time to work on one version of the film. We had to choose: the originals, or the special editions. Lucas chose the SE. Lucas didn't want to shell out the millions, and divert time and resources to them when they would be released in 2007.

Yes everyone, the originals are coming to BD/HD-DVD. Seeing all this moaning and groaning makes us wonder if anything will please you guys. The film team is curious if this High-Def set will fill you with joy, or make you all whine further. Why? Because we are already having to make alterations to the film. The restoration is screwing with some key elements, so we are having to go back and manually insert some things. For example, the lightsabers. Yes, they will look like the ones from Episodes I-III, because the High-Def conversion/restoration downgraded the appearence. We had to fix it, and couldn't give it that "70's look" so we were forced to make the sabers look like the more modern ones seen in the prequels.

I'm sorry for all the pain this DVD set has caused some of you. Had we had more time, things would have been different. Now we have a substantial amount of time to work with. With this additional production time, we can now include everything (such as deleted scenes) in the BD/HD-DVD set that we could not include here. You will have your original films (HAN SHOOTS FIRST) and a new directors cut (with more changes) in High Def very soon. Please be patient with us. We hope you can enjoy this set while we work to blow you away with our finished product in 2007. Thank You.

EDIT: It seems some people are paying no attention to my words, but thats ok...

Continue to make an outcry over the set if you want. It will convince Lucas further that the originals will sell (he feels everyone will prefer the DX over the originals). So go ahead and bash us if you want, but try to be somewhat respectful about it? Thanks again."

I smelled bullshit as soon as I got to "DVDs were going to be phased out in the near future."

I can't say I buy any of that. If he/she says that "had" to update the light sabers, what else? Phbbbt. Whatever. I would buy a restored original trilogy. Full stop. You don't see Criterion having to change things, right? And their restorations are great, right? I don't give a shit how "crappy" by "today's standards" the effects would look. I've recently watched the LD rips and still love them. If you have to change the light sabers to look like Sith than that isn't film restoration, I'm sorry.

He seems rather confrontational for a guy whose job security depends on our $...

Do what I did - go to a comic convention and buy the bootleg versions that are made from the laserdisc.

And before people start getting after me about mentioning bootlegs here - I understand that people get upset about buying bootlegs of movies / shows that are already legally available, or are coming soon, or even have a slim chance of coming out eventually. I would never suggest or support buying a bootleg when the legal version can be obtained. But in this case Lucas has stated that he absolutely will not be providing a product that we want... so too bad for him if we decide to obtain it somewhere else.

Exactly. I have great-looking anamorphic boots that please me. I would prefer to buy official releases of the OT and will in a heart-beat if they decide to release them. Until Lucas releases them he will continue to help the bootleg market survive.

I agree with Cameron's earlier post. They will be released one day but no time soon.

There is a lot of money to be made by releasing the original versions on DVD (or HD-DVD, or Blu-Ray, or whatever). Whether it takes two years or twenty, the original versions will see the light of day on the current dominant media format.

Even if George Lucas is adamant about NOT releasing them, they will show up as official releases eventually. George won't live forever. Of course, we may all be so old by then that we just won't care anymore.... ;)

Until then i'm happy with the VHS.

Actually I wished he use some of the episodes of the future live-action TV show to fill in the gaps between Ep. I & II, and Ep. II & III. There was what, 10 years between Ep. I and II? For pre Ep. II stuff, I could see several stories dealing with the adventures of some of the Jedi. I'd love to see some stories dealing with Kit Fisto and others.

FYI, ESB and ROTJ were always episodes V & VI.

Sorry, but what does BD mean (BD/HD-DVD, I know What HD-DVD is) in that amazon review posted above

Blue-Ray?

Will Lucas release the unaltered Star Wars films on DVD?
 

He will, if he ever wants any of my bucks in his wallet.

Oh wait, I forgot, everyone said it was impossible to actually not buy the current trash he released. -ohbfrank-

It was called The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. Not every sequel needs an affirmative number next to it to designate it as a sequel. Just having The Empire Strikes Back in itself is a perfect title.

OK whatever, get over it. The Star Wars saga in now composed of SIX films, numbered I-VI. To continue to spout on about the original titles in the opening crawls is a bit pointless at this point.

Was it not every Star Wars fan's childhood dream during the Star Wars film hiatus from '83-'99, to have Lucas go back and tell us the back story eluded to in A New Hope (or Star Wars as you like to call it). From everything from the Clone Wars to the ultimate duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan? "The circle is now complete, when we last met, I was but the learner, now I am the master." and "You fought in the Clone Wars?"..."Yes, and so did your father."

Ya think?

Incorrect. Son, I saw the film in theaters at release. I remember the gasps of "WTF?" when the words "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" appeared on the screen.

I'm sure some of my fellow elders can back me up on this.

The people who claim with such certainty the originals will be released again remind me of the same people who claim Elvis is alive.

Correct Groucho!

Every film in the original trilogy had at the beginning of it's opening scroll:

Star Wars Episode (Whatever) Followed by the title of the film ( A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi )

They just choose not to put episode IV-VI on any of the original movie posters.

Take care all!!

"Episode IV: A New Hope" didn't appear on that film's opening crawl until its 1981 re-release.

DJ

That's funny. I always remember "Episode IV" being at the beginning of the movie, and an episode number at the beginning of every subsequent movie. I have the original trilogy on pre-recorded VHS, as well as the Definitive LD's, and it's on both. I even seem to remember seeing it in the theater and wondering why a brand-new movie said "Episode IV".

http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/cut_sc...ng_episode.htm

DJ

Huh. Ok.

So the gasps from the audience that Groucho referred to were because when viewing ESB for the first time, in the audience's eyes, they jumped from what they thought was episode one to episode five. Cool to learn.