Each film will carry a THX enhanced English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track, along with an audio commentary for each film, and easterggs.

eastereggs = original versions of the films!

Not funny.

That actually occurred to me, but not seriously. I suppose beggars can't be choosy (although I'm not exactly begging), but I wouldn't want them as Easter Eggs, anyway. If the 77/80/83 versions ever do find their way to DVD, I'm hoping for an official release.

And let's be clear--because there are many slightly differing presentations of the original films, at least A New Hope--I'm talking about the versions that were distributed in the 1995 release. The one advertised as the last time the original versions would be released. They had just been remastered, and were THX-certified.

As disgusted as Lucas apparently is with those, the fact cannot be denied that those were the ones that propelled him into the empire he has today. He may be embarassed by them, but we, the fans, had a torrid love affair with them for 14 years, flaws and all. We still do, which is why so many of us want the films we experienced as children, the films we grew up with. I'm not pining for them. Really doesn't matter to me if Lucas ever brings them out. Would just be a lovely dream for most Star Wars fans if he did. I believe a boxed set of the 77/80/83 films would sell big time. Bare bones. Picture and sound on par with the current release. No extras. I'm there.

Afterthought: Then again...are the "special edition" changes things that only hardcore fans care about? Is the casual fan perfectly happy with the films as they are now? Friend of mine certainly falls under the latter category, and I don't think she even realizes what's new and what's not. A set of the original, unaltered films would sell big to fans like us, sure, but perhaps not as well as I thought to the general public. Hard to know, really.

--THX

The Easter Eggs are probably a re-edited version of the 5-minute blooper reel that appears on the current boxed set's bonus disc...probably edited for each individual movie now...or perhaps some other bonuses brought over from that bonus DVD. I'd be surprised if it was something brand-new.

BTW, I think fans are most upset about the current "Special Editions" vs. the originals because the changes don't enhance the enjoyment of the movie - and, in fact, make the movies less enjoyable then they were originally. Had Lucas only enhanced the special effects, and not fooled around with things like storyline and dialogue, I think fans would be less upset about not having the original versions on DVD.

Forgot to include the actual point I was trying to make here. Which is to say that perhaps Lucas could have more respect for what he was able to do all those years ago, not completely write the product off. It wasn't complete in his eyes; didn't reflect his vision. It's understandable that he would want to finish what he started, bring it in line with his original conception.

But an entire generation was blown away by his "incomplete" work. That generation helped put him on top. Does he owe them anything? No, of course not. But why not honor them by giving them what they really want? Kind of a "thank you." Just a thought.

--THX

I'm no Lucas defender, but arguments like these, and ANY relating to the OT are pointless. He's said the Trilogy as it existed prior to the SEs no longer exist. They aren't there to give us or anyone else. The original masters have been "updated" to accomodate his "vision".

He's the creator. If he says the SEs are his original vision, then I believe him, and we all have to get over it. I often think that diehard SW fans feel more kin with the movies than Lucas himself.

Man, they repackage a set and the post gets six pages? Why don't people care as much about Fight Club or some other movie when they repackage it?

Rhetorical question! Rhetorical question!

Then you obviously dont' know Lucas and aren't familiar with the various releases of the trilogy

George Lucas is a great guy. I think about him every time I watch my VHS tapes of the Star Wars trilogy, and my DVDs of the Indiana Jones trilogy.

True, but imagine being an artist who created a work, and was not completely happy. Not happy because some things didn't turn out as well as he wanted, like the cantina scene. Not happy because he could do little things. I imagine it grates at you and eats at you until you can't stand it anymore, and can't rest until you fix it in your own eyes. I know, people have no problem with him making changes, but he should release the originals. I agree. But we've been down this track before.

That's a sweeping generalization. I love the vast majority of changes. I know many others who do as well. The 3 changes I don't like are the ones that have been argued ad nauseum. So no need to bring that up here.

I've never been clear on what it means that the 77/80/83 trilogy "doesn't exist anymore." Perhaps you have heard something I have not. I've seen two possibilities: Either, as you say, the masters no longer exist in their original forms, or Lucas just refuses to acknowledge them.

In any event, I'm certainly not arguing anything with the hope of something actually happening. Just expressing a thought or two. I don't have fanatic attachments to what Lucas decides. I do miss elements of the 77/80/83 versions of the films, but I also love most of what Lucas has done to spruce them up. In fact, I think he should do a lot more.

Indeed we have. And we will no doubt be down it many more times.

I agree with everything you said. Which is why I understand why Lucas is making the changes. And I have almost no problem with that. The films look better and better for them.

The only modification I could really do without is the new song-and-dance number in Jabba's palace. That little CGI character that runs up to the camera and screams is the most annoying thing in all six films. Yes, more so than young Anakin and the whole Gungan race.

I can accept that many of the changes are to bring the trilogy into Lucas's original vision, but I can't help but think that things like that have been done more-or-less just because he could. I know A New Hope was a rushed job, and he didn't have the time or technology to shape it into what he really wanted. But hadn't circumstances changed by the time of Return of the Jedi?

Spielberg replaced the "terrorist" line in E.T. due to sensitivities after 9/11. Understandable alteration. But there doesn't seem to be any logic behind the new music in Jabba's palace. It's just something new. That's what I don't agree with. Not my call, of course. His baby, his choice. Just saying.

--THX

I thought both songs sucked, but I preferred the original scene. Though I wouldn't have minded at all if Lucas just replaced the Sly Snootles puppet with a more realistic CG Sly Snootles, and left everything else alone.

What he really needs to do is get 5 or so extras, and redo the masks from the cantina scene. Then shoot them against the bluescreen exactly as the extras in the original are shot, and then composite them into the scene just like they were always there, but with far more realistic makeup and masks. I remember Hamill talking about the Cantina scene and how disappointed they were with the makeup. I know Rick Baker absolutely despised the wolfman mask he did.

Don't worry. With everyone commenting on how Serenity is so much better than Star Wars, you'll forget about Lucas and his silly space opera movies after Serenity takes over. Then you won't care about getting the originals

Don't mean to be a party pooper but wouldn't the last page make more sense in "movie talk?"

Not since they took away the Star Wars sub-forum


And as for the cantina scene, why then did it only get one modification for the SEs, and the DVD release?

Aside from the Greedo shooting first thing, I've always been bothered by all the problems that weren't fixed in the 97 editions when the goofy stuff like the ROTJ song was done. I far prefer the original song, it's far more of a sleazy, jazzy number that you'd expect in a place like that.

There were still numerous lightsaber erros and such left in the SE's, but we did get the closeup view of the Honeycomb monster's tonsils I think if he limited it to purely cosmetic changes (that includes *not* inserting the Jabba scene in ANH), then the schism between the OEs and the SEs would have been far smaller.

hmmm, now I have to decide wheter to pick up the original release since i dont want to loose to oppurtunity to get the bonus disc.

Decisions Decisions......

Just read six pages of this thread, and I still don't understand something: is the 4 disc box going out of print?

I don't know either, but I do know I see plenty of copies of it both new and used.

hah that actually could be a probable egg since Lucas considers it them inferior but not to us!

The Digital Bits described this 3-disc as a "Limited Edition," and I've heard nothing that would indicate a moratorium on the 4-disc. I can see something happening to it, though, perhaps a year before the release of the Mega Set in 2007.

--THX

Okay, I've got a question. If Lucas was to put out a 15-disc, six film box set in 2007, included the originals, and the price was $200, would you guys be pissed? Also, would you buy it?

Considering i spent OVER that in the early 90's for laserdiscs of the first 3...

NOPE.

Please, I once dropped about $120, sight unseen, on a 4 disc anime box set just because it came in a really nifty lunch box. $200 for a 15 disc set of something I know I like is chicken scratch.

I wouldn't be happy but I have to admit that I would probably buy it to have the originals. I would either just dump the prequel trilogy or try buying the official originals separately via ebay. I would love to replace my bootlegs.

Considering the money that I have spent on Star Wars since 1978, $200 bucks is nothing.