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[Iceman]

I most certainly cannot.

When you create a film (which I too have done in the past) not only are you creating a moment in time, often for the express purpose of producing a narrative (which has no regard to "real life"), you are also capturing a very real moment which records what all the actors, the writer, the director, basically everyone involved are doing at that precise moment.

When I see a film that I helmed, not only do I see the movie by itself, but who I was as a filmmaker and a person at that exact moment. Not only am I seeing the story, but how I, and others, handled the creative process. When I see a mistake in my films (and trust me, there's plenty there) I recall the circumstances surrounding that mistake, as well as the what measure I took (or couldn't take) to address it. When you make a movie, regardless of the format or sitatuation, you are recording a moment, and to go back and attempt to change it is simply ridiculous.

I know Lucas hated the films as they were. Well they got him to where he is right now, so they should be respected as such. I know he loathed the Cantina scene, but what he managed to get is a testament to what he was able to do, which was no easy feat, in light of all the heavy pressures he had to deal with.

By doing what he has done, it's not so much that he's not just disrespecting the films and its fans, but himself as an artist.

From my point of view I cannot agree with this post. I have just recently begun attempting to create my first movie. I wrote most of the script myself and have a vision for what the film is supposed to look like, feel like and sound like. I wrote the characters with very specific types of personalities and behaviors in mind. But when I started filming my first few scenes although I got some very dynamic acting and clever improvisation the mood, the pacing, the general feel of the scenes were definitely off from what I envision. Although I captured some very funny scenes in their own right, they simply don't have a place in the movie I'm trying to make. So while I captured something in time, something of value, particularly for the people involved I am simply hesitant to include the scenes at all. Now if I were on a fixed timeline and budget then I would be forced to make such sacrifices, time and time again I imagine, but never would I be satisfied with the final product because I know the whole thing can't mirror what's in my head. Each scene was written and designed with purposes in mind.. everything is supposed to fit like gears in clockwork.

 

[FortNinety]

From my point of view I cannot agree with this post. I have just recently begun attempting to create my first movie. I wrote most of the script myself and have a vision for what the film is supposed to look like, feel like and sound like. I wrote the characters with very specific types of personalities and behaviors in mind. But when I started filming my first few scenes although I got some very dynamic acting and clever improvisation the mood, the pacing, the general feel of the scenes were definitely off from what I envision. Although I captured some very funny scenes in their own right, they simply don't have a place in the movie I'm trying to make. So while I captured something in time, something of value, particularly for the people involved I am simply hesitant to include the scenes at all. Now if I were on a fixed timeline and budget then I would be forced to make such sacrifices, time and time again I imagine, but never would I be satisfied with the final product because I know the whole thing can't mirror what's in my head. Each scene was written and designed with purposes in mind.. everything is supposed to fit like gears in clockwork.

You're missing my point.

Film is an evolving process, one which cannot be anticipated to an exact degree (which you yourself just discovered). No matter how hard you try, you will never get what you want. That's just the way it is, especially when you deal with other people and places. I'm not saying your choice to get rid of the footage is a bad one, but as you stated, you do not have a tight schedule or budget looming over your head, so you have the luxury to make that call.

But Lucas didn't. He had all the pressures in the world. And what he shot and assembled was a result of this. And the end product still fascinated the world and changed everything. So if that was good enough for the world (for back then, and even today I would hope) then it should be good enough for him. He should be proud of the product, all rough edges and all, instead of going after the pointless endeavor for perfection.

Because no matter how "perfect" or "100%" he may say the new editions are, they won't be. After all, didn't he say after the first Special Editions that they were what he finally wanted? And then he changed it again. What's to say he won't go for a third time. Even I know that's a pretty ridiculous assumption, but the bottom line is, no film is ever "perfect", and every filmmaker, every artist knows this. One of the key traits of being any kind of artist is to know when to stop.

All this whining and complaining, but everyone in this thread is going to buy the box anyway. Also, what if youwatch the remastered, re-edited movies and you actually enjoy them more? Will you come back here and take back all your curses directed at Lucas?

Well I for one am not going to be buying them. I'm not going to lie... I am interested in seeing the final product. But I'll just borrow them for a friend.

 

[human5892]

Kubrick was the same way. There's a Kubrick movie that is held by the Kubrick estate and will never be officially released. The only way to see it is via a bootleg.

Do you have any more information on this?

 

[ManaByte]

Do you have any more information on this?

I can't remember the name of the movie. There was some discussion about it in the HTF Star Wars DVD thread (the BIG ONE), but the thread is gone now.

 

[human5892]

I can't remember the name of the movie. There was some discussion about it in the HTF Star Wars DVD thread (the BIG ONE), but the thread is gone now.

Damn. Thanks anyway -- maybe I'll spend some time searching on the Inter-Web.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

lets not forget about Jerry Lewis' infamous holocaust movie. Haven't only like 3 people see it or something?

 

[levious]

Damn. Thanks anyway -- maybe I'll spend some time searching on the Inter-Web.

Fear and Desire

There's some original prints still out there, I believe some film institute in NY still held onto theirs despite Kubrick attempting a personal worldwide recall.

AICN claimed a bit ago that a dvd release (legit) was to happen soon.
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17194

This movie, among other earlier shorts, is available via bittorrent.

 

[Boogie]

All this whining and complaining, but everyone in this thread is going to buy the box anyway. Also, what if youwatch the remastered, re-edited movies and you actually enjoy them more? Will you come back here and take back all your curses directed at Lucas?

Umm, no. I have absolutely no plans to buy this set, and it is because of said changes. So you're wrong. And if you think there's any chance I'd like Hadyn's dorky visage at the end of ROTJ more than the original version, then you'd better lay off the crack pipe for a while.

 

[border]

If Lucas wants to continue to fuck up his most-loved films, then that's fine. I don't think anybody would really care if he would just release the original versions as well.

And please don't tell me that all these changes are the result of an unfulfilled "vision" he had in the 70's. A lot of it is clearly bullshit that he only recently thought up.

There's really no reason for the originals not to be on DVD. Only slightly less ridiculous is their continual refusal to release any of the deleted scenes. I still have faith that the originals and deleted material will make it to market someday, if only because of Lucasfilm's greed.

All this whining and complaining, but everyone in this thread is going to buy the box anyway.

I think that's where you're wrong. This is the internet age. =)

 

[Makura]

i just want the unedited originals in DVD quality... is that too much to ask?

Me too