millenniumfalcon.com

Found this at HomeTheaterForums.com among other places... This is LucasFilm's stock email reply to those who email and phone bombed LFL apparently:

[hr]
Lynne Hale (publicity@lucasfilm.com) wrote:

I wanted you to know how much we appreciate the passion and enthusiasm you have for Star Wars, and thank you for sharing your concerns about our upcoming DVD release.

The DVDs being released in September will contain two versions of Star Wars: Episodes IV, V and VI – the Special Editions (which represent George’s vision of the movies) and the first versions, which will be included as bonus material. We hoped that releasing those “original” movies on a bonus disc would be a way to have some additional fun with the debut of the movies as individual DVDs. We certainly did not want it to become a source of concern or frustration for any of our fans.

As you may know, an enormous amount of effort was put into digitally restoring the negatives for the Special Editions. In one scene alone, nearly 1 million pieces of dirt had to be removed, and the Special Editions were created through a frame-by-frame digital restoration. The negatives of the movies were permanently altered for the creation of the Special Editions, and existing prints of the first versions are in poor condition.

So many fans have requested the original movies, we wanted to find a way to bring them to you. But since these movies do not represent George's artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions. The 1993 Laserdisc masters represented the best source for providing the original versions as DVD bonus material. Although these are non-anamorphic versions, they do preserve the original widescreen composition of the movies.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans – now or in the future – to restore the earlier versions.

We hope you will understand our decision and, again, want to let you know how much we appreciate your interest and enthusiasm.

Sincerely,
Lynne Hale
publicity@lucasfilm.com

[hr]

I have no plans – now or in the future – to spend a single penny on these.

Repent, George! REPENT!!!

Sounds fair enough to me. I can understand folks not buying into the original versions because they aren't presented precisely the way they wanted them. But I also understand why LFL wouldn't want to put additional resources behind a version of the films that are considered to be "inferior" by the creator of those films. I certainly understand the fact that an animorphic release would be superior in quality than what we're going to be getting, however, since I do not own an LD player, I am perfectly happy to get an official version of the LD on DVD.

The creator of these films is not the target audience.

I don't think there's ever been a filmmaker who has so misunderstood his audience as Lucas.

i second this. god, it's almost like they WANT to snub fans.

Here's some lol I found at some other forums.

Original Trilogy.com forums are a great resource... if you discount the General Star Wars forum that is:

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HomeTheaterForum.com, again great place with exception of the Star Wars threads which degenerate into circlejerks. This HTF thread turned into a rage against LFL email circlejerk.

Below is where the thread took a turn for the lol

[web]http://hometheaterforum.com/htf/showpost.php?p=2871554&postcount=548[/web]

wtf!?!?
Someone should issue a fatwa on their asses, I mean buttocks. For being the last bastion of intelligent discussion they seem to be arguing like everyone else.

Intelligent Star Wars discussion on the internet...

I'm sorry, but this is pathetic, classless and embarassing.

There comes a point when you move on with life and realize it's just a movie. Sadly, there will always be a place in this world for such lowlifes who can't.

The last HTF OUT DVD thread was locked due to it degenerating to into "OMG LUKKKA$ 9/12 NEVER 4GET".

Also I should have pointed this out in the post but many from HTF frequent here including one of the HTF admins or mods. "Paul Arnette" also browses here apparently, given their post history.

There's really not much to talk about the OUT DVDs until the discs leak so I guess emailing and phoneing are something to do while some wait.

We pretty much know everything there is to know thanks to Bill Hunt, along with John Singh and Lynn Hale of LucasFilm press releases. HB has been very kind to us by posting new info. We're hoping DarthFirst comes through again by getting a set early but that could be up to two months from now.

At least this summr we do have something to chat about... before the television shows ramp up. When the discs do leak we will be ripping and torrenting just like we have in the past.

Wasn't there one site that claimed the reason this release was happening was because of GL's ex-wife Marcia or something? It was the dumbest thing I've ever read but I can't seem to find it.

That was TBone. It was reposted here briefly by MF Super Genius Lord Caldid before DP removed it, due to it retardating up the place.



I prefer a forum where it is cool to swear incessantly over one where it is cool to say "whilst." BTW, intelligent discussion dude, you spelled "incessantly" incorrectly.

fyds fuckface

I think, judging by his interviews, he understands them. Caring or having a need for them anymore, that's another story.

The thing to remember here is while the OUT DVDs are not anamorphic the OUT DVDS are sourced from the LASERDISC MASTERS.

When Jim Ward said in the USA 5.04.2006 USA Article: "It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that's not as good as state of the art 2006", net nerds raged:

THE OUT DVDS ARE NO BETTER THAN OUR LD2DVD RE-ENCODES LUKKKA$ 9/12 NEVER 4GET".

WE GON EMAIL AND PHONE BOMB ON YO ASS 187 ON LUKKKA$

The laserdisc mastered OUT DVDs are going to be better than most of your ebay and myspleen LD2DVD RE-ENCODES, which generally have smudgey and soft picture quality. Since well you know they are using the masters and not ripping from the laserdisc itself.

Which means fan created OUT DVDS are going to be better than your current myspleen LD2DVD re-encodes. Downloading sends a more powerful message: $


Posting these links for the record purposes:

imdb.com studio briefing on LUKKKA$ 9/12 NEVER 4GET

Despite earlier reports that Lucasfilm would be re-releasing the original unedited theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars movies on DVD, it now turns out that they will be copied from the laserdiscs of the films released in the mid'90s, formatted for the conventional TV screen and not wide-screen "letterbox" versions.

The revelation has provoked anger among Star Wars fans, expressed on such Internet sites as www.thedigitalbits.com and www.hometheaterforum.com

VideoBusiness.com quoted Lucasfilm spokesman John Singh as saying, "We hoped that by releasing the original movies as a bonus disc, it would be a way to give the fans something that is fun. We certainly didn't want to be become a source of frustration for fans."

homemediaretailing.com: Star Wars Fans Cry Foul Over Holy Trilogy

Die-hard “Star Wars” fans are using Internet forums to complain about news that the upcoming DVD releases of the original theatrical versions of the original “Star Wars Trilogy” will be transfers from the films’ early 1990s laserdisc release.

Lucasfilm confirmed the versions of Star Wars: Episode IV, V and VI that will be released on DVD Sept. 12 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, will be from the laserdisc prints, which aren’t in anamorphic widescreen.

Fans are upset because that means the original versions will not be given an upgrade to account for the improvements in widescreen technology over the past 15 years, and there will be no digital restoration of the prints, said both Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com and Ron Epstein, who runs HomeTheaterForum.com.

But Lucasfilm never intended this DVD release to be the definitive edition of the original theatrical versions, said spokesperson John Singh.

Lucasfilm is billing the original versions as a bonus feature packaged with the 2004 digitally enhanced DVD version of each film, which are being released individually for the first time.

The special-edition versions of the trilogy, with their extensive frame-by-frame restorations and sparkling new digital transfers, were previously released only in a boxed set in 2004.

The original theatrical versions are being added because Lucasfilm wanted to do something special for fans, Singh said.

“We had so many requests for these versions, we wanted to find a way to bring those to DVD, and we thought this would be a fun way to do that,” Singh said.

That stings, said HomeTheaterForum’s Epstein. “Just the mere fact that they’re treating this as a supplement means its almost an afterthought,” he said. “This is just not the way to reward fans that have been begging for these versions.”

But all the begging in the world can’t change George Lucas’ opinion of the original “Star Wars” releases.

“It’s important to understand that the movies that we call the originals don’t represent George’s vision of the movies, and we have to stay true to the creative vision of the person who is responsible for creating the saga,” Singh said. “So we’re not going to put an enormous amount of time and resources into something that doesn’t represent that vision.”

Basically, that means Lucasfilm is asking fans to shell out another $90 (each disc is $29.98) for movies they probably already own — the 2004 restored versions — just to own a sub-par DVD version of the nostalgic theatrical films, Hunt said.

It’s disappointing on a personal level, and also not in line with the image of Lucasfilm as a cutting edge leader of moviemaking technology, he said.

The anamorphic issue won’t be too noticeable to the average viewer watching the DVDs on an older TV set, Hunt said. But anyone who’s invested in an HDTV, which are all widescreen, will have the normal black bars at the top and bottom of the movie, as well as additional grey or black bars vertically framing the action. (A comparison of anamorphic and non-anamorphic widescreen can be seen at “The Ultimate Guide to Anamorphic Widescreen” link at www.thedigitalbits.com )

This isn’t just a group of technophile uber-fans getting all worked up, Hunt said. People are upgrading their home theaters all the time, and these versions are not going to hold up to even the most basic DVD release from the smallest supplier in today’s market, he said.

“People have come to expect a certain level of quality,” he said.

It’s also the principle that’s rubbing the fans the wrong way, both Hunt and Epstein said.

Compared to the amount of money Lucasfilm has made off “Star Wars” products over the years, and the amount the company stands to bring in from the versions coming out in September, the amount it would take to spruce up the films for DVD is small change, Hunt said.

Lucasfilm has said there are no plans to ever revisit the theatrical versions — not for high-definition, and not for a super-, mega- or ultimate-saga boxed set of all six installments of the franchise.

That’s all the more reason to make the September releases as great as possible, Hunt said.

According to Singh, when creating the restored versions released in 2004, Lucasfilm “cut into the negative,” so there is limited source material to even go back to.

Hunt cries foul at that too.

“Anyone who knows anything about film knows there are other places to go,” he said. “Good quality film elements of the original versions exist. We know there are separation masters out there.”

Not only that, but there are any number of restoration specialists who love these movies and would love to work on them, even for cheap, Hunt said.

Lucasfilm truly did not expect or intend to create such a fervor about the original versions’ DVD releases, Singh said.

And what the fans think is important to Lucasfilm, he said.

“We value them very much and value their opinions very much and we do make every effort to listen to what they say, “ Singh said.

Right. It is definitely worth noting that whether you do or don't own the laserdiscs, these are going to look better than anything you can currently get your hands on. That is a message that is being lost in the midst of the otherwise justified complaining.

However, given that every time Lucas or LFL has said that they are not going to do something in the future, it has turned out to be untrue, I would take with a pound of salt their assertion that they will never revisit the OUT. And given that someone is very likely to use the methods that Zion has described to produce fanmade anamorphic versions of these discs, I'd be more inclined to wait than to line up at the cash register on September 12.

You can guarantee that a few people are going to just that, and there will be a lot of people who will patiently wait for those versions to show up online.

This is a little bit frustrating to hear..

On one hand, I have the VHS "definitive" THX box, I also have the laserdisc box.. 2 bootlegs from Ebay that are hit and miss and the box that came out last year of all three Special Edition movies.

I said before that I felt like the DVD release of the Special Edition was half assed and rushed, there are lots of color issues, and overall other than Empire of Dreams it felt kind of like just cheap and rushed out the door. I felt the same way about the Indiana Jones movies as well.

That being said, if I buy this set I am getting 3 movies that I can only assume will be good transfers of the laserdiscs which means I can finally toss my 2 bootleg versions, my box of laserdiscs, my VHS tapes, etc.

On the other hand, most people are complaining about the the non-anamorphic issue and lack of attention being paid to the OUT DVDs, I'm more upset with the fac that I once again have to pay for 3 DVDs that I already have, with absolutely no changes that we know of, or any fixes that we have all complained about with the last round.

I'm wondering if any time has been taken to address those concerns that we all raised (bad lightsaber colors, shadows on the floor of lighsabers, etc.) or if this is just the same Special Edition release coupled with a quick-port of the original theatrical version to make me buy them again.

That's the part that stinks for me... I'm totally fine with getting a non-special edition version of the original trilogy.. because honestly, I'd feel WORSE if people went in and started messing with it in any way..fixing it up, cleaning it up, etc.

What bugs me is that if the Special Editions represent Lucas' true artistic vision then there are a lot of technical gaffes, production mistakes and overall just shoddy quality of the old movies being presented.

Say what you like about the prequels, but from a technical standpoint these movies were very well concieved and very well executed. I still haven't seen anything from a purely visual standpoint other than probably Lord of the Rings that even comes close to the last three star wars movies. The acting, story and direction aint so great.. but those three movies looked beautiful in theaters and looked great on DVD.

I'm still waiting to see something like that for Episodes 4,5,6... original, special edition, archive edition, 3D edition or otherwise.

The other thing that really bugs me is the Dec 31, 2006 sell by date on these disks.. which probably means that all revenue made by this release will be used to produce the obligatory 30th Anniversary Release that will probably be announced Jan-Feb of 2007.

By releasing what is arguably the biggest cash cow in the LFL library for 3 months only, it is pretty much raising the red flag that something else is coming in 2007 that will continue to provide a revenue stream and hopefully be the last release of the Star Wars movies.

I often wonder that aswell. If the Special Editions represent Lucas' true vision; why are there stll a number of technical gaffes, production mistakes and shoddy production quality through out the presentations? Seriously, there are a number of garbage matts that still exist, The color timing is off, the bad sabre FX. And last but not least, a number of the CG shots look cheaply done.

Seems to me like Lucas doesn't really want to put in the time and effort into bringing all the composites and CG effects up to todays standards. They had the technology back in 1996 to recomposite alot of the effects and fix the garbage matts for the 97 Special Editions, but they didn't do it. It really seems like everything Lucas has done for the OT ( in recent years ) has been a rush job with no "REAL" concern for quality and detail.

I couldn't agree more.

One thing that always bothers me is Boba's antenna on the wrong side of his helmet in ROTJ.

How does someone at Lucasfilm not spot that?

You get the same shit in the PT with Jedi Padawan braids (Ewan in TPM and Hayden in AOTC).

You'd think they would learn.

It's a joke because they're all flipped images. Lucas seems utterly fascinated by them. You'd think he'd discovered the cure for cancer or something judging by how often he uses them.

The joke is that they are usually easy to spot because he does it so often to characters that don't have bilateral symmetry.

I heard that Lucas took a few dumps while making the PT. How dare he! That was time he could have devoted to finishing the OT.

There are no color or sound errors. It's a deliberate creative decision.

By the time the ultimate editions come out, the remakes will be available for viewing.

I have noticed that aswell. I went into a music store just recently and caught a display for the OUT dvd's. The display just focused on the OUT dvd's, the 2004 Special Edition was not featured.