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Matman Comes To The Aid Of George Lucas

1/25/2012

Next month, The Star Wars saga returns to the big screen in eye popping 3-D! The plan is for one release a year for the next six years. I’m surprised that there seems to be more anger and backlash about this than excitement!

For me being able to see prequel and original trilogy on the big screen is real exciting for me. I admit I’m a George Lucas apologist and with good reason… he created the best memories of my childhood!

In 1977 I was in 4th grade and moved from Massachusetts to Connecticut I was terrified. Of course I didn’t know anyone but I soon realized no one in East Windsor liked comic books, the New England Patriots or hockey. But what every kid loved was Star Wars! And because of that I was able to walk right into any conversation and be ok. So for that alone I love George Lucas.

And of course I will always defend him; new trilogy, ‘Howard the Duck’ and Greedo shooting first. Why? Because it’s his vision and his universe so he can do what he wants to with it. He is currently taking so much flack for the 3 – D releases as just ways to make money. So what is the problem with that? He has made money off me for years but I want to give it to him. I wanna see these movies in the theatre again and as long as George keeps putting them in there, I’ll be going. My choice!

So instead of taking it so personal or feeling like you wanna ‘stick it to the man’, just go or don’t go. Make your point with your wallet. If you don’t like ‘The Phantom Menace’, than don’t go see it. I happen to love the film, Jar Jar Binks and all! I will defend Mr. Lucas until the day I die for the way he colored my world. Luke Skywalker is as important to me as Captain America and The Beatles as far as the man (or at least the geek) I became.

I hated the Ewoks but I also don’t like ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’. However not liking those two things don’t make me angry; I just work around them. Those things shouldn’t distract from the entire bodies of work.

I can’t imagine my world without Star Wars… can you?

mdaddiothe nextgen

1/24/2012 10:29:21 am

I agree. I posted much the same sentiments on the forums.

Mr Fett link

1/24/2012 10:42:24 am

I think a lot of 'haters' fail to realize one of the primary reasons (if not THE primary reason) Lucas is re-releasing this film. No, it's not to suck dry the wallets of his legion of followers - - but instead to once again enhance the quality of his films - to make it a completely new experience to movie goers. He loves cinema and film-making, and he is fascinated by 3D technology, and well, any new technology for that matter. He is trying to prove nay-sayers wrong that upconverting a 2D film to 3D *is* possible........and it doesn't have to look like Clash of the Titans or 300. And really, what movie should George choose to start with? Episode IV? No. He wants to release them in chronological order so that kids (yes, that was always his intended target audience) would be able to follow the story from beginning to end. The Phantom Menace was my least favorite of the six films, but I already pre-purchased my ticket last week and will be in line at least two hours before the film starts. I can't wait to experience "Star Wars" in the third dimension.

Brian (a.k.a. "skulldaddy" on the forum)

1/24/2012 03:09:18 pm

I grew up loving the star wars movies. The comics in the nineties were great and I was eagerly looking forward to the prequals when they were announced... that is until I saw them.

Since then, I have done exactly as you suggested and chosen to "speak with my wallet". Although I loved the original trilogy I have never purchased any of the "special re-edited editions" or the prequals (I do own episode 3 but that is because my brother gave me a copy).

If they do release a version where the original trilogy isn't edited for content I'll purchase that, but until that time, he isn't getting any more of my money.

I won't go see the 3-D movies either, not because of I'm taking a stand or anything. I have a lazy eye and can't technically see ANY 3-D movies. Then again, even if I was capable of seeing them, I still wouldn't go.

Alex (Dumerill)

1/25/2012 01:42:47 am

I feel exactly the same way as Mattman! I posted something like this on the forum but I wanted to add one more thing, why is George Lucas talking so much slack about trying to "make money" with the 3D films and Peter Jackson ain't? Isn't Peter Jackson doing the same exact thing? Isn't the Hobbit just another way of making money off the same exact story we already know, the same characters and the same concepts? hasen't Peter Jackson made total pieces of crap movies after the LOR trilogy? Who's hating on him? Didn't he re-released the DVD and Blue Ray sets in various "definitive collections"? Didn't he re-released the LOR trilogy in 3d, much like Lucas did? And yet, nobody hates on him.
This is my hypothesis, the people who hate on Lucas for "ruining" Star Wars are the same LOR fans who feel that you shouldnt take risks, and if you do things how they didn't approve, all of a sudden you're "trying to make money off them or ruining the legacy". Guess what? He'll only make money off you if you're an idiot that buys anything without thinking. If you KNOW FOR A FACT that Lucas isn't putting out a product "up to your standards" and yet you buy it; sorry to break it to you, but it's not Lucas' fault that you're an idiot!
Me, I didn't buy the Blue Ray set, one because I don't own a BR player and I wasn't going to buy one just so I can watch these, like other people I know and second, this "definitive collection" has less extras than the previously released movies, so why would I buy it again with less material and costing me more money? I'm smart enough not to do this, but, I won't hate on the guy for doing this. And PLEASE, don't tell me that you buy them because you love the trilogy because if you love the trilogy, then my deffault, you love Lucas, so stop this hating non-sense and let's move on.
Like Matt said, SW is his story AND HIS PROPERTY!!! That's like me making my comic and somebody telling me I can't re-print it with variant covers or I can't change the origins! THAT my friends, is stupidity! I'll do with my property whatever I want and if you don't like it, don't buy it; simple! I'll end by saying that I can't wait to see the Star Wars Saga in 3D and talking my son to enjoy them with me will be a dream come true for me! May the Force be with you all!

Mr Fett link

1/26/2012 07:21:02 am

Hey Dumerill,
The BD boxed set actually had more extras than any previous collection. An entire disc was dedicated to extra content (though nothing really new). Each individual movie disc also has extras relating to that particular movie, including never before seen deleted scenes (well, at least seen in video format. I think most of us have seen Luke's friends at the Tosche Station in picture stills). Also, I think it's the Empire disc that has Boba Fett's first appearance from the SW Holiday Special. It's nice to see that in good quality as opposed to all the crummy bootlegs. But still, you bring up valid points. Sure, I like the extras that I haven't seen before, but if I didn't have a BD player, I doubt I would have purchased the latest release (unless I heard that it was going to be out for a limited time only). And contrary to what some people might think, that wouldn't make me any less a fan.

xPowerPadDeathStompx link

1/25/2012 03:59:18 am

Star Wars rules. I'll be there DAY ONE (day zero really, if they have a midnight showing) for this. Then I'm going to take my daughter to see it.

They already released the COMPLETELY UNALTERED IN ANY WAY versions of the movies on DVD.

The Clone Wars cartoon is awesome.

Haters gonna hate. Vaders gonna vade.

Brian (skulldaddy)

1/26/2012 03:59:05 am

To my knowledge the unaltered versions on DVD were only included with the special editions which I don't want to buy. If I'm wrong then I stand corrected. Sorry.

It still doesn't change the fact that I don't agree with the changes that Lucas has made to HIS movies in the last few years.

Unlike a lot of fans who feel that he somehow owes it to them to stop messing with the films, I understand that he is free to change them as he feels fit. I just wish that he hadn't done it and instead would have put his energies elsewhere (perhaps creating more great works instead of mucking with what was already done).

It's no great secret that movies get released and re-released in different versions and formats as a money grab by the movie companies. These are companies and they exist to make money and turn a profit for their share owners. Repackaging an existing property is a financial no-brainer.

While I respect that, I also don't have to buy it. I appreciate what Lucas did with the original trilogy, it was a huge part of my childhood and for that I'll be forever grateful.

Mr Fett link

1/26/2012 07:26:53 am

I don't agree with all of George's changes (<ahem> Greedo shooting first), but some of them are enormous improvements, such as re-doing Yoda for The Phantom Menace. Others are more subtle like the improved rotoscoping in A New Hope.

There are a few scenes I still wish he would have re-tooled....like replacing the stop-motion Tauntaun in ESB and subbing in a CGI model.

Wayne

1/26/2012 09:01:09 am

I really really like Episodes I and II. Episode III is one of the poopiest movies ever. I'm excited about the 3D movies. And I don't care about Lucas changing his movies. I care about his not releasing the original versions, and until he does he will draw my ire.

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Matman Comes To The Aid Of George Lucas

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