George Lucas - 1944-2011

[ApexOversteer]

Yup, he's dead. Dead to me, anyway.

There was a time that I worshiped this man. Once I believed that I was actually witnessing the reincarnatin of Leonardo Davinci, and I say that with total seriousness.

Within my lifetime the man has written and directed the perfect coming-of-age story, American Grafitti and the prefect science fiction fantasy, Star Wars. He had created the all-time greatest adventure hero, Dr. Henry Jones Jr., and with his investment and desire to advance the art, he had changed the very face of filmmaking, allowing people like Steven Speilberg, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and Guillermo Del Toro to bring the visions in their heads to mine.

Without George Lucas things would be very different in Hollywood, and not for the better, I reckon.

The man is truly great, a giant of the art. He IS Leonardo, he IS Henry Ford, he IS Ben f**cking Franklin... but he is also Edi Amin, Pol Pot and Adolf Hitler.

Until recently I have been a Lucas apologist. I could look past the horrible things hes done to his films. I could explain why it was ok that he put Jabba back into Star Wars, made Greedo shoot first, or spat JarJar Binks onto our faces.

This I can no longer do. After a decade of pleading, swearing, crying, hating and begging George has turned away from us, the fans and done it again.

Very soon, the Star Wars Saga will be on store shelves in BluRay. As one would expect, Lucas has created an incredible boxset. Not only is this cleanest, most beautiful transfer of these films, but they sound better than ever and come with the most expansive set of extra features I've ever seen. But...

He done it again. Yes, he has changed them again. So, what is in store for us? How about...

CGI Yoda in Episode 1? Ok, this was a good change, since Yoda is CGI in the next two films and the puppet they built for Episode 1 looked like shit...

Star Wars Blu-ray: CGI Yoda In Episode I The Phantom Menace - YouTube

Obi Wan Kenobi's Krayt Dragon call, scaring the Sandpeople away from Luke, now sounds like he's getting a BJ from a Bantha...

Star Wars: Episode IV - Obi-Wan Comparison (Theatrical / Blu-ray) - YouTube

Right after that, R2D2 is hiding in the canyon wall, with new CGI rocks to hide him better...





There are new CGI aliens in Jabba's Palace, which also has a new front door, much MUCH bigger than before.

Star Wars Blu-ray: Dug in Jabba's Palace - YouTube

The Ewoks now have CGI eyes.

Star Wars Blu-ray: Wicket - YouTube

Ok, I will admit, it doesn't sound bad so far, right? These are little tiny things.

But then there is this...

Darth Vader's 'Nooo!' in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (ACTUAL Blu-Ray Clip) - YouTube

Yeah, that's real.

Now, it isn't really the changes themselves I'm angry with. I still have the original theatrical versions on DVD. I can watch those and pretend these changes were never made.

What pisses me off is George continually saying "f*ck the fans".

Not many people know that I met and spoke with George at length. I was introduced to him as a "Star Wars philosopher", something I quickly brushed aside telling George "there is nothing I can say about Star Wars but thank you" and we spoke about cars, mostly his Ferrari Dino and the '48 Tucker Torpedo. He had an interesting take on the Tucker convertible that had just been "discovered".

Now I kick myself. An opportunity wasted, a chance to explain why the fans hate him and his changes, why these aren't just his movies anymore and why he needed to stop f*cking with them. This is my burden, forever knowing I could have said something. I know it likely would have fallen on deaf ears, but to be able to sleep in the knowledge that I did what I could would help right now.

So, I'm asking everyone I know to do one thing. The one thing that might, just might, have a effect on George.

DON'T BUY THE FUCKING BLURAY

[ZipZap]

I think he did it originally because he thought it was a good thing to do. Now I know he's just f-ing with the nerds

[Entropy]

I grew up with Star Wars, I'm a huge fan and I know it chapter and verse. The only versions I own are the original theatrical releases on VHS of episodes IV, V and VI.

When they came out with the DVD versions, I was holding off until Blu-ray to get the best possible picture, sound, etc. since that was the future.

Now I hear that it won't be on the bluray. Well F*&$ you George Lucas.

[dwjz06]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

Yup, he's dead. Dead to me, anyway.

There was a time that I worshiped this man. Once I believed that I was actually witnessing the reincarnatin of Leonardo Davinci, and I say that with total seriousness.


DON'T BUY THE FUCKING BLURAY

Apex,

Need to step back from the caffiene man It's ok how bad can he screw them up without a rebellion?

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by Entropy

I grew up with Star Wars, I'm a huge fan and I know it chapter and verse. The only versions I own are the original theatrical releases on VHS of episodes IV, V and VI.

When they came out with the DVD versions, I was holding off until Blu-ray to get the best possible picture, sound, etc. since that was the future.

Now I hear that it won't be on the bluray. Well F*&$ you George Lucas.

Ahhh, but what you don't know is that the VHS tapes are changed! The audio used for the first film on the 1984 CBS/FOX VHS release is the first documented set of changes. All the changes are in the audio. George had dialog lines removed, sound effects changed and cues from the score are altered.

The only true way to get the 1977 theatrical version of the first film is the DVD release.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

Ahhh, but what you don't know is that the VHS tapes are changed! The audio used for the first film on the 1984 CBS/FOX VHS release is the first documented set of changes. All the changes are in the audio. George had dialog lines removed, sound effects changed and cues from the score are altered.

The only true way to get the 1977 theatrical version of the first film is the DVD release.

Damn.

It's what I grew up with, since I was born in 1980 and never got to see any of the original theatrical releases in theaters. I watched those tapes religiously as a kid. I'm surprised they still play to be honest.

[Kerrmudgeon]

STUPID TITLE!


that's not a nice thing to write about a living person! How would you like to read your obituary in the paper when you're still kicking?????

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Lucas has indicated for years that he would be almost continually changing things.

I saw all the originals in the theater and ANH was groundbreaking at the time but in retrospect the effects from then look like it ought to star Buster Crabbe. IIRC they couldn't even mask the rotoscope well, so some scenes have the foreground image at only 90% opacity so they could register to the background plate. I have zero issue with the man adding in stuff digitally to complete the vision in the best possible means. A few new critters in Mos Eisley, even adding Jabba somewhat goofily to the Falcon escape scene - sets up the storyline in Empire and Revenge/Return.


Now I agree when he changes major plot points - Han shoots first and all that that - changes the complexion of the character - makes him a little more genteel and less ruthless. Not good IMHO.
But Vader yelling 'Nooooo' and a few changes in scoring tweaks don't strike me as that big a deal in the overall scheme.


Just wait until they get Christensen in a makeup chair to look 150years old and then put his head in place of Sebastian Shaw at the end of Return. That'll really drive the fanboys nuts.

[Cybercowboy]

The first two Star Wars films were great, I saw them both in the theaters. The third one had me shaking my head as muppet Ewoks pranced around gaily. The other three were extremely meh. I couldn't care any less what Lucas does to these films. I hope Star Wars geeks get confused and angry. I hope they throw their Storm Trooper costume (size XXXL) out in the dumpster and decide that, for once, they will actually get a life.

[DAB]

never saw any of them in a theatre, only seen the first 1 or 2 on TV years later.

authors can revise their books after they are first published, so can movie makers. and as long as peeps keep buying copies and enriching him, he'll continue to mess in the editing room. and i won't buy any of them.

[bearstrail]

I don't own a BlueRay player, but I can assure you, if I did, I would not be shelling out for this thing. I've got my DVD's of Ep 4,5 and 6 which are as close as I think you can get to original. I will happily watch those without ever putting another cent in Lucas' pocket.

[snide]

Can't wait for episodes 7-9...

[Joecooool]

Lost me with Jar Jar.

[Yerf Dog]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

The first two Star Wars films were great, I saw them both in the theaters. The third one had me shaking my head as muppet Ewoks pranced around gaily. The other three were extremely meh. I couldn't care any less what Lucas does to these films.

I do have the DVDs which I picked up used, but I don't see any need to pick up the BluRays.

[Fastguy]

A friend of mine is working with him at the Skywalker Ranch on Quantum Quest, I'll send him this thread.

[theriver]

He's obviously a bored tinkerer but fking up his creation

[kylebuck]

ive never seen all of the star wars movies... or the Indiana Jones, or american graffiti

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Lost me with Jar Jar.

you mean Gilligan ?


Also, the person that chose this dud:


for Anakins role... should be banished from film making.

[dwjz06]

Originally Posted by joebuck

ive never seen all of the star wars movies... or the Indiana Jones, or american graffiti

Damn JB you need to catch up. You need a movie weekend instead of chasing women folk. AG will not really work for you as you were not born to that era. Your dad prolly liked it though.

[kylebuck]

Originally Posted by dwjz06

Damn JB you need to catch up. You need a movie weekend instead of chasing women folk.

meh I guess I just have never sat down and watched them. To busy.