# Lucas says: no original Star Wars on DVD for you! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609 "2003-02-08T00:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/1 "2003-02-08T00:14:58Z")
I looked, but found no thread about this yet, which was surprising: George Lucas has come out and said that the original versions of the original **Star Wars** trilogy [will not be released on DVD](http://cgi.theforce.net/theforce/tfn.cgi?storyID=19753). Only the “Special Edition” versions of the films will be released on everyone’s favorite home video format. He says that “the Special Editions are what he wanted the films to be originally, but time and money restraints way back when did not allow them to happen.” Oh, sure. He always _meant_ for Greedo to shoot first. To quote today’s editorial from [The Digital Bits](http://www.thedigitalbits.com/): > [@](#): > > It’s his right to make them the way he always wanted to, and I’m all for it. But he still needs to preserve the original versions. He owes it to the fans, he owes it to everyone who ever worked on the films, he owes it to film historians and he owes it to generations of film lovers as yet unborn. > > You might have built the Empire, George… but your fans paid for it. Join me in weeping for this tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/2 "2003-02-08T01:04:38Z")
I’m with ya, Torque. I loved the yub-yub song at the end of RETURN OF THE JEDI, and hated the song they replaced it with. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/3 "2003-02-08T01:10:55Z")
The DVD release of ET has both the original and the new editions. They should have both on them so one could compare. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/4 "2003-02-08T01:17:51Z")
What th…? Lucas showing contempt for his fanbase? Meesa shocked. How rude! Damn, it’s a real shame that anyone interested in the original version will have to throw their money toward a bootlegged copy, instead of further engorging Lucasfilm’s coffers. I, certainly, will not be one of those individuals, as I can fully appreciate how Lucas’ skill at scripting and directing have matured over the years. No, I can’t possibly see how anyone could possibly prefer the original films. Why, some scenes didn’t even have CGI effects covering every square inch of the shot! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/5 "2003-02-08T01:33:14Z")
New Coke, people. New Coke. He’ll sit on the originals for another year or two, because he knows that if he offers both of them at the same time, no one will buy the new versions. Once he’s squeezed the market dry for the new editions, he’ll release the old ones and everyone who bought the Special Editions will run out and buy the originals. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/6 "2003-02-08T01:37:18Z")
One word: bootleg. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/7 "2003-02-08T01:38:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*New Coke, people. New Coke. He’ll sit on the originals for another year or two, because he knows that if he offers both of them at the same time, no one will buy the new versions. Once he’s squeezed the market dry for the new editions, he’ll release the old ones and everyone who bought the Special Editions will run out and buy the originals. \*\* I envy your optimism. I fully expect Super-Special Editions where Han just talks Greedo out of the need for any shooting at all. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/8 "2003-02-08T01:41:13Z")
We sure will! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/9 "2003-02-08T01:44:07Z")
First job when I get my DVD recorder - transfer my widescreen ORIGINAL laserdiscs of the trilogy. Bite me, George. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/10 "2003-02-08T01:44:36Z")
In fact, the more I think about it, the more this pisses me off ('though I’m not surprised). Most of the objectionable Special Edition stuff (Greedo shooting first, that conversation with Jabba) could easily be worked around on DVD with seamless branching – you could, in substance, have both editions on one DVD. I don’t think anyone cares about the peripheral CGI work – making Mos Eisley look bigger and more bustling for example. It’s the stuff that changes characterization and story that upsets most folks, and that would be the easiest stuff to work around. Friggin’ Lucas. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/11 "2003-02-08T01:49:52Z")
For all of Lucas’s backpedalling on his statements the “Special Editions Only. Period. End of story. Quit asking me about it.” line has been pretty consistant. Not that I don’t expect they’ll get an official re-release on some home format in the future (Lucas’s policy might reasonably outlive DVD), but this has been his statement for more than five years. I don’t get how people can keep recycling the outrage at it every couple of months when someone asks about it again. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/12 "2003-02-08T01:54:06Z")
Nah, Lucas knows he can get more money by sitting on the originals. He’ll release his “Super-Nifty Special Edition” on DVD, wait a year, and then re-release it as the “Ultra-Super-Nifty Special Edition”, wait another year, then release some Special Boxed Set that has yet another “Mega-Ultra-Super-Nifty Special Edition” along with the originals. In other words, you’ll ultimately have to pay about $150 for the original movies on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/13 "2003-02-08T06:29:04Z")
I’ll have to live with my VHS copies then. But they’re pan-and-scan. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/14 "2003-02-08T06:39:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*First job when I get my DVD recorder - transfer my widescreen ORIGINAL laserdiscs of the trilogy. > > Bite me, George. \*\* That’s my plan too. Us rebel scum. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/15 "2003-02-08T06:48:34Z")
Oh, pfft. They’ll be available at some point. Either our esteemed colleagues here are right, and George will release the originals when he feels that the market is totally frickin’ saturated… …or he’s way over the edge with Digital Jabba Syndrome, and will never-never-never release them, take them to his grave, have the original prints destroyed… …and then one of his kids, or Fox, or somebody will release the reconstructed originals on DVD after he croaks. Still a crappy decision on George’s part, though. Must be nice not to have to give a shit about the people who made you rich… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/16 "2003-02-08T07:46:05Z")
Definitive Collection. Best reason ever to hold on to my LD player ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/17 "2003-02-08T08:06:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > **I don’t think anyone cares about the peripheral CGI work – making Mos Eisley look bigger and more bustling for example.** However, the first shots of Mos Eisley had this one large creature (or 'droid? I forget) smashing its fist down on a smaller creature’s head in an almost comical manner. The scene looked so damn Disney that I place it right up there with Greedo firing first on my list of “things I wish Lucas had never done to the Special Edition”. And despite Lucas’s $30 million makeover, he **still** didn’t go back and fix those few frames in the Vader-vs.-Kenobi light saber fight where it mistakenly looks like Kenobi’s light saber went out! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/18 "2003-02-08T08:22:36Z")
Or corrected the shots of R2-D2 in the X-Wing, when the starfield shows up on the normally-blue panels on his head. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/19 "2003-02-08T08:29:39Z")
I really hate all the new digital creatures mugging in the background: like the stormtrooper in Mos Eisley who can’t control his… whatever the hell it is because of some cutesy little things spooking it. Why not add in the Three Stooges too while you’re at it? ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609/20 "2003-02-08T09:09:30Z")
Hmmm, weird. I read this and all I could think was “If that turns out to be the case, then I just won’t buy them.” Not in the over-dramatic _ **Lucas is Stealing My Childhood! Boycott Lucasfilm Until He Caves To Our Demands!** _ sense, but the “hmm, I really don’t care much” sense. And then I realized that I haven’t bought either of the Episode I or II DVD’s, even though I’d intended to. I didn’t particularly like either of the movies (and strongly disliked 99% of the first), but still had intended to buy them because they said _Star Wars_. I just never got around to it. I hope I’m not getting more mature or something. Or maybe it’s just that [I’ve found something else to obsess over](http://www.theonion.com/onion3904/nations_love_affair.html). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-no-original-star-wars-on-dvd-for-you/153609.md?page=2)