Star Wars

[Jedi-Bendu]

Wow, the VHS version will always be the “original” version for me since I never saw the OT in theater, awesome find man. I think the bluray unaltered OT was confirmed, I knew about it on starwars.com if I remember correctly.

No, it was never confirmed.

Releasing the unaltered OT will be a very hard thing to do for Disney. Even though they bought Star Wars, FOX still owns A New Hope.

Fox owns distribution rights to the original Star Wars, No. 4 in the series, in perpetuity in all media worldwide. And as for the five subsequent movies, Fox has theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide through May 2020.

The rights to Empire and Jedi and the Prequels will revert to Lucasfilm (and thus Disney) in 2020, but Fox will retain the rights to Star Wars forever. In perpetuity. And they'll never give it up. Will they work with Disney to do some sort of release? Sure - there's a lot of money to be made. But unless a deal has been quietly made to give Disney the distribution rights to the original trilogy, there's no chance the Mouse House is working on a rerelease. Now, if the report said that Fox was working on a new Blu, I might believe it. But if the sources don't even know who owns the movies, how can they know anything about remastering or release plans for them?

Also, what are the unaltered editions? Many people think Lucas changed the movies in 1997 (Special Editions), 2004 (DVD version) and 2011 (BluRay version), but in fact there were several more changes made before that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases

Edited April 2, 2015 by Jedi-Bendu

[Robianco]

The unaltered editions, to me, are the original theatrical releases.

I got to see Empire and Jedi at the cinema when I was a kid so they're what I base 'original' on... Star Wars was a few years before I could go but I think a vhs I have was from way back... The despecialised actually use an original print of SW for part of its release.

[Jedi-Bendu]

The unaltered editions, to me, are the original theatrical releases.

Funny thing is that most people have never ever seen the original theatrical version of Star Wars (except the ones who saw it back in 1977 at the cinema).; the original Star Wars didn't have Episode IV and A New Hope in the crawl.

[Robianco]

Funny thing is that most people have never ever seen the original theatrical version of Star Wars (except the ones who saw it back in 1977 at the cinema).; the original Star Wars didn't have Episode IV and A New Hope in the crawl.

Very very true! :)

[Jedi-Bendu]

I should have added that that's funny because many people are complaining about Lucas altering the movies and the fact that they want the versions they grew up with on DVD/BR.

Well, the version most people grew up with......was also an altered version. (and they don't complain about that!)

[Khaled Yousef]

Perhaps you can enlighten us on those alterations from theatrical release to the old VHS and old laser disc versions that we, the funny guys who want to see the version they grew up with, want to see in good quality in a medium that doesn't deteriorate so much with use like VHS tapes?

[Jedi-Bendu]

Perhaps you can enlighten us on those alterations from theatrical release to the old VHS and old laser disc versions that we, the funny guys who want to see the version they grew up with, want to see in good quality in a medium that doesn't deteriorate so much with use like VHS tapes?

Here's a list of all the changes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases

There are a lot of fan edits.....some have been mentioned here like the despecialized edition. They're all downloads, non-official. I must say I'm not a big fan of fan edits.

Regarding official releases the best non-VHS way to watch a pre-special edition version of the movie would be the 1993 Laserdisc or the 2006 bonus disc DVD (quality is not that great.....but better than VHS).

Although releasing the movies in a pre-1997 (special edition) form may be hard and difficult (I posted the reasons earlier today) I don't doubt that somewhere in the (distant?) future we'll get those old versions. Reason is that it will sell extremely well.....and who wouldn't want to cash? (yes, Lucas didn't.....but he is no longer involved)

[Khaled Yousef]

I meant the differences between the theatrical edition and the laserdisc edition; can you mention a difference that makes you think it’s funny when people can’t differentiate between them?

All the alterations in this list you provided, those before the 1997 Special Edition, are so insignificant that even those who saw the movie in theater back in 1977 would never notice them. The laser disc edition, the one without A New Hope in opening crawl, is almost exactly the theatrical release, aside from some additional beeps and whistles and very minor editing, it still has the original visual effects.

It’s the closest thing to the original without the heavy alterations done later in the 1997 edition, the one that makes the movie look very different, not because of those insignificant alterations in the list you provided which is all about different sounds for blasters and stuff, but by completely changing scenes and replacing major special effects… all versions with minor tweaks prior to the heavily altered 1997 edition are what people generally refer to as “unaltered edition” to answer your question.

It’s also fair to mention that the people who worked on the academy award winning special effects of the original version, pre 1997 heavy alterations, deserves recognition and should be able to see their work immortalized in a better quality medium, don’t you think? Not to mention the actors who got completely replaced.

I didn’t see the originals in theater in 1977, and it would be hard for me to remember all the differences between the VHS versions I saw as a child and the 1997 editions I saw later in theaters, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the original versions I saw much later on laserdisc.

It’s not always about fanboys whining about things they don’t know, or childishly asking for things merely for their nostalgic value, nor is it about who did or didn’t see the movies in theater back in 1977, it’s about cinema history that deserves recognition. And I don’t think it’s funny at all.

And I stand corrected about the confirmation of the release, amongst all the Episode VII news things got mixed up for me, but why would it be very difficult for Disney to come up with some deal with Fox to release A New Hope? People who work at Disney are not business school fresh graduates. And people at Fox know there is no better way to milk that property than to ride on the Disney wave.

[Jedi-Bendu]

I meant the differences between the theatrical edition and the laserdisc edition; can you mention a difference that makes you think it’s funny when people can’t differentiate between them?

The differences between those two versions are minor, I totally agree with that.

I also agree with the cinematic history part.

What I think is funny is that a lot of people (I wasn't referring to anyone in this thread btw!) have been criticising Lucas for altering the movies and want the 'original' versions (in 99% of the cases the VHS version from the 80s) while those versions aren't original at all.....although the differences aren't as big as the Special Editions, it's still a a version that's been tampered with: exactly the thing some fanboys hate Lucas for.

I think that's funny.

(FYI: although I saw ROTJ at the cinema back in 1983 I grew up with the 'not original' VHS version of ANH as well)

[Khaled Yousef]

Now I understand you, and I totally agree with you about the Lucas bashers, I find it funny too that a Star Wars fan would show so much hate for the Star Wars creator, using strong words like “you ruined my childhood” and such, especially that he released the version that was very close to the theatrical release for all fans to enjoy already on laserdisc and DVD, but some fanboys are quiet ungrateful.

I was just trying to explain that I’m not one of those guys, and that some of us might have other reasons to ask for a “Pre Special Editions” version of the OT on bluray. But you’re right, I should have used the term PSE instead of “unaltered”.

You know what’s funny, new fact I learnt from the link you provided which is that Lucas actually altered the original theatrical release WHILE it was showing in theaters back in 1977. I try to hide the DVDs I own fearing that he might pull them back and alter them.

(FYI: while you were watching ROTJ in theater in 1983 I was still learning how to walk)

[GallardoLU]

(FYI: while you were watching ROTJ in theater in 1983 I was still learning how to walk)

pft! that's nothing, I was still... well waiting my turn so to speak. (waited approx. 4 more years too) I grew up with the 1997 rerelease, and honestly hadn't thought much of star wars until that hit theaters. since then though I've always wanted to see the original, or most original version available. as for my complaints about changes made to films I wasn't even around to see it, its never been about the change to the memories as it has been the change to how feel of the scene is received. Han and Greedo for example, the first time I saw that Han DID shoot first BUT I never cared about who was first the scene still left Han as someone who will kill Just as Obiwan will slice you up (for some people multiple times) the reason I want Han to shoot first is simply to reaffirm the fact that he is actually a killer, no matter if he is a good guy amongst the bad, he is still the bad guy amongst the good.

And I have to believe there are others out there begging for the originals for the same reason I sought out the VHS, they grew up with the new one and hear all these complaints about the changes, it’s hard to NOT think that the original would be better than the new.

Really though at the end of it all I just want a film that feels right, the extra CGI moments (looking at you RotJ) feel completely out of place at times and break the immersion you get with the practical effects used originally.

[Khaled Yousef]

Totally agree, it makes me sad that I have to fast forward every time I’m watching ROTJ once Sy Snootles song begins, I just can’t stand it, it’s uber stupid and it adds absolutely nothing to the movie.

[CMP]

I feel like some changes were for the better. The pointless CGI that permeates Episodes IV and VI sucks, as do the songs in the later. But I have no issue with the Episode V altered version.

Unfortunately, I lost my original version of Episode IV. (I have the 2004 special editions and the second disks contains the (as far as I can tell) unaltered versions. )

[dr_spock]

I was fortunate enough to see the original release a couple of times in theater back in 1977. It was something special. I haven't seen a movie like that before. Fast forward to the OT re-release in theater, I noticed stuff like the ring when the Death Star exploded. The audio enhancements didn't detract from my memories of 1977. The WTF moment came when Greedo got to fire off a shot. Totally ruined the cold bloodedness of Han. What's the deal with the end of RTOJ? Why? It's like painting the Mona Lisa and going back to repaint a big smile.

[Ceroknight]

Just watched the latest episode of The Flash, and couldn't help but burst into laughter when Mark Hamil quoted Star Wars

[CMP]

I was fortunate enough to see the original release a couple of times in theater back in 1977. It was something special. I haven't seen a movie like that before. Fast forward to the OT re-release in theater, I noticed stuff like the ring when the Death Star exploded. The audio enhancements didn't detract from my memories of 1977. The WTF moment came when Greedo got to fire off a shot. Totally ruined the cold bloodedness of Han. What's the deal with the end of RTOJ? Why? It's like painting the Mona Lisa and going back to repaint a big smile.

Yeah, I actually like the explosions better in the revised version. And the one big one I notice and nobody seems to talk about is the Emperor scene in Episode V. It's the change I most approve of and I don't think I've ever heard anyone say anything about it.

[Khaled Yousef]

That might be because Ian Mcdiarmid is the best thing that ever happened in the PT, and no body actually felt bad he found his way into the OT.

[Jedi-Bendu]

That might be because Ian Mcdiarmid is the best thing that ever happened in the PT, and no body actually felt bad he found his way into the OT.

*cough* Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor *cough*

[Khaled Yousef]

Agree on both, Liam is an awesome actor and Ewan really loved playing his part, but Ian seemed to be more into it than both, Liam suffered from some wooden performance due to his weird lines (not his fault but still) and Ewan didn’t get a good chance to show what he’s really made of until the last movie where he was completely awesome. Ian’s presence was pronounced from the start, and peaked to tower over everyone else in the third, I can’t think of anyone else who gave a better performance than him revealing he’s a Sith to Anakin.

[The Legonater]

I grew up with the 97 version in the house, and while some parts of the original I still hold more to, it's the version I associate Star Wars with the most. It doesn't change a lot, and most of what it does change adds some to the world, pushing it just a little bit more, such as the changes made to Cloud City.

I appreciate what they tried to do with the 05 version, largely connecting it more to the PT, but it just fell flat. I agree that McDiarmid was a great addition, but Temuera Mason as Boba Fett just falls so flat. I haven't looked at the Blu-Ray version - I don't have a player - but from what I've heard it's even less good.

[Mr Man]

Just watched the latest episode of The Flash, and couldn't help but burst into laughter when Mark Hamil quoted Star Wars

I loved that bit, it was so nicely built up to as well and didn't feel forced.

[Thelegomaster]

I loved that bit, it was so nicely built up to as well and didn't feel forced.

Pun intended?

[Darth Lurtz]

That might be because Ian Mcdiarmid is the best thing that ever happened in the PT, and no body actually felt bad he found his way into the OT.

I actually find that change to be just as bad as the others. They changed the dialogue in that scene to have Darth Vader not know that Luke is his son prior to that conversation. This doesn't make any sense for the opening crawl clearly states that Darth Vader is seeking Luke. It makes Darth Vader seem incompetent for not considering that someone with the same last name as him and is force sensitive might be related to him.

[Khaled Yousef]

Not necessarily, Vader might have known but that conversation could be the first time the Emperor discusses it with him. This actually makes sense because Vader wasn’t surprised, and he made his suggestion to turn Luke promptly, which means he thought about it already before the conversation and just found a good opportunity to mention it.

[Darth Lurtz]

I disagree, the original scene would have worked just as well with your interpretation. The scene was altered to adhere more to the prequels. In Revenge of the Sith, the Emperor tells Vader that he killed Padme in his anger. Vader blindly believes this and screams the infamous "No". It's also worth pointing out that later day Lucas has no subtlety in his work. Look no further than the forced inclusion of the "No" in the Blu Ray release of Return of the Jedi. The altered conversation ends up being another example of how the prequels don't align well with the originals.