Comments on: Lucas Abuse http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sat, 26 May 2012 21:58:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: a http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-155087 a Tue, 09 May 2006 16:26:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-155087 a a

]]> By: garymar http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154852 garymar Sun, 07 May 2006 23:31:19 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154852 Was it in Crooked Timber that I first read about the infamous "Star Wars Christmas Special" of (?)1978? Han Solo and Chewbacca toasting chestnuts by an open fire, or something like that. <i>That</i> is the Star Wars release I want to see! Was it in Crooked Timber that I first read about the infamous “Star Wars Christmas Special” of (?)1978? Han Solo and Chewbacca toasting chestnuts by an open fire, or something like that. That is the Star Wars release I want to see!

]]> By: huxley http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154835 huxley Sun, 07 May 2006 20:07:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154835 <blockquote>Nine months from now he’ll announce an Ewoks/Gungans musical or something</blockquote> I hope it has "Luke Be A Jedi Tonight" in it ...
Nine months from now he’ll announce an Ewoks/Gungans musical or something

I hope it has “Luke Be A Jedi Tonight” in it …

]]> By: Gary Farber http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154627 Gary Farber Sat, 06 May 2006 02:17:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154627 "Nine months from now he’ll announce an Ewoks/Gungans musical or something...." Well, there's the 3rd DVD of <i>Clone Wars</i> coming soon, and the live-action tv show with all new characters, set between the two trilogies, still promised for about a year and a half or two from now. Plus more games, of course. "Further, I can’t tell if the original theatrical versions are the ones with or without the special effects cleaned up...." Without; that's part of the point (as I understand it). (I'm not entirely sure if the title will be restored to "Star Wars," though, rather than "Episode IV" and "A New Hope." I'm guessing so, but it seems unclear as yet.) "The original effects for Star Wars, I’m sorry “Episode IV” were done in a few weeks...." Also, for about twenty bucks. No one knew the movie wouldn't be a complete failure; it wasn't remotely a big budget movie. Myself, though, as well as the famous Greedo triple-play, I hated the added scream of Luke falling at the end of <i>Empire Strikes Back</i> (arguably the best of the original three) in the later edition; what the hell was the point of <i>that?</i> But the visual effects in the later ones, I have no problem with, myself, other than the whole Greedo thing, which wasn't changed to look better, but for moronic reasons of alleged characterization. My own suspicion is that Lucas authorized this release not for money -- he's swimming in the stuff, and doesn't live a grossly luxurious life, after all, and neither am I aware of his companies needing a cash infusion -- but simply because fans have been screaming for it for so many years, and the ill-will build-up was becoming overwhelming. I could be all wrong, of course. “Nine months from now he’ll announce an Ewoks/Gungans musical or something….”

Well, there’s the 3rd DVD of Clone Wars coming soon, and the live-action tv show with all new characters, set between the two trilogies, still promised for about a year and a half or two from now.

Plus more games, of course.

“Further, I can’t tell if the original theatrical versions are the ones with or without the special effects cleaned up….”

Without; that’s part of the point (as I understand it). (I’m not entirely sure if the title will be restored to “Star Wars,” though, rather than “Episode IV” and “A New Hope.” I’m guessing so, but it seems unclear as yet.)

“The original effects for Star Wars, I’m sorry “Episode IV” were done in a few weeks….”

Also, for about twenty bucks. No one knew the movie wouldn’t be a complete failure; it wasn’t remotely a big budget movie.

Myself, though, as well as the famous Greedo triple-play, I hated the added scream of Luke falling at the end of Empire Strikes Back (arguably the best of the original three) in the later edition; what the hell was the point of that?

But the visual effects in the later ones, I have no problem with, myself, other than the whole Greedo thing, which wasn’t changed to look better, but for moronic reasons of alleged characterization.

My own suspicion is that Lucas authorized this release not for money—he’s swimming in the stuff, and doesn’t live a grossly luxurious life, after all, and neither am I aware of his companies needing a cash infusion—but simply because fans have been screaming for it for so many years, and the ill-will build-up was becoming overwhelming.

I could be all wrong, of course.

]]> By: No Nym http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154599 No Nym Fri, 05 May 2006 19:17:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154599 Personally, I'm holding out for the theatrical release with the embossed foil cover. With special pony holograms! Personally, I’m holding out for the theatrical release with the embossed foil cover. With special pony holograms!

]]> By: Grand Moff Texan http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154578 Grand Moff Texan Fri, 05 May 2006 16:30:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154578 Aside from the "Greedo shot first" atrocity, I can understand why Lucas wanted to redo the effects (aside from the fact that it was a money-maker). The original effects for Star Wars, I'm sorry "Episode IV" were done in a few weeks because the company he'd hired wasn't doing it's jobs. The effects on Hoth in Episode V were a disaster due to the limitations of matte technology at that time (black space = good background; white snow = very, very bad background). Imagine being famous for something you hated. Hell, Cobain killed himself for that. . Aside from the “Greedo shot first” atrocity, I can understand why Lucas wanted to redo the effects (aside from the fact that it was a money-maker).

The original effects for Star Wars, I’m sorry “Episode IV” were done in a few weeks because the company he’d hired wasn’t doing it’s jobs. The effects on Hoth in Episode V were a disaster due to the limitations of matte technology at that time (black space = good background; white snow = very, very bad background).

Imagine being famous for something you hated. Hell, Cobain killed himself for that.
.

]]> By: Ugh http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154572 Ugh Fri, 05 May 2006 15:15:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154572 The worst part is that the original theatrical version is coupled with the DVD versions released in 2004, so if you bought the 2004 version and want the originals, you'll have to buy the 2004 editions again. Further, I can't tell if the original theatrical versions are the ones with or without the special effects cleaned up (e.g., where they removed the matting and outlines around ships but didn't actually change any of the story line). The worst part is that the original theatrical version is coupled with the DVD versions released in 2004, so if you bought the 2004 version and want the originals, you’ll have to buy the 2004 editions again. Further, I can’t tell if the original theatrical versions are the ones with or without the special effects cleaned up (e.g., where they removed the matting and outlines around ships but didn’t actually change any of the story line).

]]> By: ArC http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154521 ArC Fri, 05 May 2006 08:10:09 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154521 9 months from now is the dip, which then implies that another 9 months after that will be fall 2007, when (I believe) the Star Wars TV series debuts, so then that'll be good! For the record, I strongly disapprove of DVD "double-dipping" (releasing a "special" edition within a year of the first to suck extra money from fans.) 9 months from now is the dip, which then implies that another 9 months after that will be fall 2007, when (I believe) the Star Wars TV series debuts, so then that’ll be good!

For the record, I strongly disapprove of DVD “double-dipping” (releasing a “special” edition within a year of the first to suck extra money from fans.)

]]> By: Zain http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154516 Zain Fri, 05 May 2006 06:21:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154516 R-#6: Yes, but Lucas is probably the most shameless exploiter. R-#6: Yes, but Lucas is probably the most shameless exploiter.

]]> By: Kieran Healy http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154501 Kieran Healy Fri, 05 May 2006 02:14:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154501 I know, I know ... other guys treat you even worse. It's OK. We can talk about it. I know, I know … other guys treat you even worse. It’s OK. We can talk about it.

]]> By: C.S.Strowbridge http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154500 C.S.Strowbridge Fri, 05 May 2006 02:06:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154500 Everyone knew this was going to happen, and many people held off buying the re-release version because of this. So it's hardly abuse. If you want to complain about fandom abuse, talk about how many versions of Aliens there are on DVD. Or Terminator. Hell, they release a special edition version of Crash about 6 months after the original came out on DVD. So singling out Lucas is intellectually dishonest. Everyone knew this was going to happen, and many people held off buying the re-release version because of this. So it’s hardly abuse.

If you want to complain about fandom abuse, talk about how many versions of Aliens there are on DVD. Or Terminator. Hell, they release a special edition version of Crash about 6 months after the original came out on DVD. So singling out Lucas is intellectually dishonest.

]]> By: boos http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154496 boos Fri, 05 May 2006 01:04:18 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154496 don't forget the onion classic: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32911" rel="nofollow">George Lucas Announces Gala 21st Anniversary <i>Star Wars</i> Rerelease</a> don’t forget the onion classic: George Lucas Announces Gala 21st Anniversary Star Wars Rerelease

]]> By: Keith http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154494 Keith Thu, 04 May 2006 23:48:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154494 Someone dangled cash in front of him, I bet. Not that I care, becaue I'll finally have my childhood back. Someone dangled cash in front of him, I bet. Not that I care, becaue I’ll finally have my childhood back.

]]> By: Alan Green http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154492 Alan Green Thu, 04 May 2006 23:21:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154492 yub nub, fabio, yub nub. yub nub, fabio, yub nub.

]]> By: Fabio rojas http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-154490 Fabio rojas Thu, 04 May 2006 22:39:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/05/04/lucas-abuse/#comment-154490 As a recovering Lucas co-dependent, I avoided all the DVD releases and just stuck to my old VHS copies. I knew that the originals would be released one day. Thankfully, they have and I don't have to go pirate on this one. For you naysayers, I'll sacrifice a little computer generated polish in exchange for Han "Shoot First" Solo. And the Ewok anthem. Yes, I know it's lame, but I'll take the Brazilian-street-music-meets-the-Smurfs ditty over the Enya inspired drivel any day. As a recovering Lucas co-dependent, I avoided all the DVD releases and just stuck to my old VHS copies. I knew that the originals would be released one day. Thankfully, they have and I don’t have to go pirate on this one.

For you naysayers, I’ll sacrifice a little computer generated polish in exchange for Han “Shoot First” Solo. And the Ewok anthem. Yes, I know it’s lame, but I’ll take the Brazilian-street-music-meets-the-Smurfs ditty over the Enya inspired drivel any day.

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