Disney to fix the Original Trilogy

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**Grey Templar**

http://news.yahoo.com/star-wars-original-theatrical-cut-to-be-081934213.html

For as long as ‘Star Wars’ movies have been released to the home entertainment market, changes have been made to them. Now Disney finally looks to set things straight With the release of the original theatrical cuts of the first three 'Star Wars’ movies.

While not officially confirmed just yet, Empire Magazine reports that Hollywood director, producer and screenwriter John Landis revealed as much in a Q&A in Orlando, Florida.

A tweet from Empire’s official account broke the news, saying: “At a Q&A tonight John Landis dropped that Disney are finally going to re-release the theatrical cuts of the original Star Wars trilogy.”

They followed that up with another explaining: “Apparently George [Lucas] mentioned it when last they spoke. Somebody put Yub Nub on. Let the celebrations commence!”

George Lucas has been tinkering with his movies for a long time and has come under fire for a lot of the changes he’s made. Some have certainly been better than others but for all the remixed audio there is also a bunch of CGI rocks hiding R2-D2, Vader yelling “Nooooo!” at the end of 'Return of the Jedi’ and that awful band in Jabba’s Palace.

Fans have been calling for the release of the original theatrical cuts since Disney first acquired the 'Star Wars’ license in 2012 and rumours of such plans have been circulating ever since.

A release in time for Christmas and the much more important Holy event, the release of 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens’, would be the most logical time for Disney to re-release the films.

'The Force Awakens’ is out on 17 December 2015.

Rejoice! Our pain and suffering shall be coming to an end.

**LordofHats**

There is no SPECIAL EDITION!

**Jimsolo**

I predicted, I did.

Said it, dint I? Said: "Now that Disney has the Star Wars license, it's only a matter of time before someone realizes they can sell a version of the movie with less content, charge more cash for it, and sleep on mattresses stuffed with money."

Super exciting. I've been holding off introducing my child to Star Wars until I can definitively show him that despite what some might say, Han shot first.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

While not officially confirmed just yet

**Grey Templar**

ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
While not officially confirmed just yet

That's the key piece in this puzzle. I wouldn't place too much stock in what Landis has to say in the matter and I still don't think it's ever going to happen.

While not confirmed yet, there is zero reason not to do this, and every reason to do it.

They'd sell by the bucket load and for almost no effort on Disney's part.

Heck, you could probably do in a week. Design a special case for it, get the original film out of storage, send it to production, make tons of $$$

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Grey Templar wrote:
While not confirmed yet, there is zero reason not to do this, and every reason to do it.

They'd sell by the bucket load and for almost no effort on Disney's part.

Heck, you could probably do in a week. Design a special case for it, get the original film out of storage, send it to production, make tons of $$$

There's lots of reasons not to do it. Most importantly, Fox own the rights to Star Wars indefinitely and distribution rights for home video, theatrical and non-theatrical rights to the other five movies worldwide until 2020.

So yeah, lots of money is to be made if it happened. The question is, who gets that money?

**Orlanth**

Jimsolo wrote:

Han shot first.

Han shot.

**cincydooley**

I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

**Chongara**

I know this has been a sore point for Star Wars fans for the longest time. Good to know they're getting this finally.

**Paradigm**

cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I quite agree, I consider them the definitive editions. They look markedly better than the original versions in every way, and while stuff was added, very little was actually changed. Unlike the last round of releases, which weren't really necessary. A blu-ray release of the Special Edition is all that was really needed, but Lucas had to meddle for the sake of meddling.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

To be fair, I'm totally cool with that, but at the same time, the slight edit is a fair trade for much better effects and modern CGI.

**Grey Templar**

cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

Why yes, yes I am ok with that. I think it was an important part of his character.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Grey Templar wrote:
cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

Why yes, yes I am ok with that. I think it was an important part of his character.

I agree.

It's also important to remember that they weren't just hanging out, shooting the gak and drinking blue milk... Greedo had cornered Han with his blaster pistol drawn.

**cygnnus**

Grey Templar wrote:
cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

Why yes, yes I am ok with that. I think it was an important part of his character.

Absolutely! Without Han being, at the very least, a morally questionable character, his redemption at the end of New Hope is weakened.

Let's see... He's a smuggler for a crime lord. He's hanging out in the proverbial "hive of scum and villany". He doesn't bat an eye when Obi Wan defends Luke in the bar.

Heck, his redemption is a foreshadowing of Vader's story arc.

So, yeah, I have no problem with Han not being a squeeky-clean white hat to start. Makes him a more interesting character, makes his story line more compelling, and how the movie was originally shot!

And, yes, I am the proud owner of a "Han Shot First!" T-shirt!

Valete,

JohnS

**Tannhauser42**

Pretty much expected this for a long time. Easy money to be made. Especially if done up as one really nice box set with all the versions of the movies included in high-def.

Anyway, the whole "Han shot first because he's a badass/morally questionable person" never quite rang true with me. He is, after all, cornered in a booth by a bounty hunter who has a gun drawn on him and is directly telling him there's a death sentence on him from Jabba and Greedo's there to collect. It's simple self-defense. Han shot first, yes, but Greedo drew first. The only real problem I have with the new version of the scene is just badly they tried to make it look with that little head-dodge.

**Grey Templar**

At best it just makes Greedo look like a terrible shot

**Psienesis**

cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

Um, yes. Han is a spice-smuggler and a gangster. It's totally okay for him to murder other scum of the galaxy.

**Tannhauser42**

Grey Templar wrote:
At best it just makes Greedo look like a terrible shot

Exactly. Greedo already proved his incompetence from not learning one of Tuco's most important rules:

Spoiler:

**DarkLink**

Orlanth wrote:
Jimsolo wrote:

Han shot first.

Han shot.

Someone actually found a copy of the script they used while filming, apparently, and it backs up Lucas's revision. Don't quote me on that, though.

**Grey Templar**

DarkLink wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Jimsolo wrote:

Han shot first.

Han shot.

Someone actually found a copy of the script they used while filming, apparently, and it backs up Lucas's revision. Don't quote me on that, though.

I think it was the opposite actually. It proved that Han indeed shot first.

**Kid_Kyoto**

ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:
While not confirmed yet, there is zero reason not to do this, and every reason to do it.

They'd sell by the bucket load and for almost no effort on Disney's part.

Heck, you could probably do in a week. Design a special case for it, get the original film out of storage, send it to production, make tons of $$$
There's lots of reasons not to do it. Most importantly, Fox own the rights to Star Wars indefinitely and distribution rights for home video, theatrical and non-theatrical rights to the other five movies worldwide until 2020.

So yeah, lots of money is to be made if it happened. The question is, who gets that money?

that's what I heard as well. Don't get me wrong Disney would still get a dozen dump trucks full of money, but it just sticks in their craw that Fox would also get a dozen dump trucks full of money.

And somehow in Hollywood stopping the other guy from making money is considered as important as actually, y'know, making money.

**hotsauceman1**

I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

**Grey Templar**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

Is it an official one? Because the only way I could see you having one is if it was a DVD copied from an old VHS of the original trilogy. IIRC this was the only release of the movie prior to Lucas's "remastering" and no unedited DVDs were ever made.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

I feel Han being a wholesale transporter of space-heroin says quite enough about his moral character,

(but he did indeed shoot first)

**Kid_Kyoto**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

IIRC there was a blue ray release with the theatrical versions (maybe with remixed sound) as an extra. But never a stand alone release and the blue rays are OOP.

**hotsauceman1**

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
hotsauceman1 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

IIRC there was a blue ray release with the theatrical versions (maybe with remixed sound) as an extra. But never a stand alone release and the blue rays are OOP.

N they are dvds and have thetheatrical cut as an extra.

**Jimsolo**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
hotsauceman1 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

IIRC there was a blue ray release with the theatrical versions (maybe with remixed sound) as an extra. But never a stand alone release and the blue rays are OOP.

N they are dvds and have thetheatrical cut as an extra.

I've always assumed their would be--or should be--but never been able to find them.

**Flashman**

There are many bits of the Special Editions I loathe, but also bits which are an undeniable improvement e.g.

Luke's speeder looks like it is flying
Han and Chewie running into a hanger full of Storm Troopers is pretty cool
The Death Star battle (Yavin flyby excepted) looks sooooooooo much better.
Those extra Wampa bits work quite well
The Battle of Hoth looks soooooooooooo much better
Most of the extra stuff in Jedi can sod off, but the space scenes in the Battle of Endor are that much more polished.

I think we should have a vote on what is kept in

**BobtheInquisitor**

Grey Templar wrote:
hotsauceman1 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I have a DVD of theatrical cut. Unmastered edition.

Is it an official one? Because the only way I could see you having one is if it was a DVD copied from an old VHS of the original trilogy. IIRC this was the only release of the movie prior to Lucas's "remastering" and no unedited DVDs were ever made.

No, there was a DVD, not Blu-Ray, release of the OT that included the theatrical cuts as a second, bonus disc in each box. I have those films, and they are the real deal, even if they don't look much better than the VHS versions. At least they are widescreen instead of pan and scan. The laserdisc versions are cleaner in my inexpert opinion.

**Grey Templar**

OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
I feel Han being a wholesale transporter of space-heroin says quite enough about his moral character,

(but he did indeed shoot first)

Well when you say it like that...

**Kilkrazy**

cincydooley wrote:
I have no problem with the special editions.

I also think the adamant arguments about Han shot first are basically saying, "I'm okay with Han being a cold blooded murderer".

The point about Han Shot First is that he starts as a scummy space pirate and goes on a journey of redemption.

That is why the revision by Lucas was such bloody terrible piece of narrative. It entirely ruins the character development of Han Solo.