As most of you know the Star Wars saga will be released on Blu-ray in the fall of 2011. However according to George Lucas (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/movies/16lucas.html?_r=1) this release will not include the pre-Special Edition Original Trilogy. This is not acceptable to many of us Star Wars fans; but while we have frequently voiced our discontent over the years regarding the lack of a proper release of the Original Trilogy, we have not made an effective organized effort to do something about it. I propose an idea (one that most of us have toyed with) that we the Star Wars fans boycott Star Wars on Blu-ray unless it includes the pre-Special Edition Original Trilogy, fully restored and in high definition. I do not know what the best way to organize such an effort is, nor am I in away competent to lead it, but I do know that unless we do something about it, the prospects of us ever seeing Star Wars the way we long to see it are grim.

Outside of our fragmented efforts so far (like http://originaltrilogy.com/petition/ which is largely unknown outside of the active Star Wars fan community), I think one very good medium with the potential to reach even the most casual fans is Facebook. I had the idea to start a Facebook Page but it appears that one already exists (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Star-Wars-Blu-Ray/146137858743842) with a few people already supporting it. Instead of fragmenting our efforts I suggest we all simply support the existing Page. All you have to do is "Like" the Page and "Suggest [it] to [all your] Friends" on Facebook. If you have the time, it would also be of great help to mention this Page in other online communities you frequent.

I think that we can realistically get 1 million supporters for our boycott and I think this would be enough to create an impact and more importantly bring people together to organize and put pressure on George Lucas and the distributor of Star Wars on Blu-ray, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. I do not think this Page alone will be sufficient (even if we get 1 million supporters) but I do think it is a critical first step. What gives me great hope is the fact that while George Lucas might truly believe that the legacy of Star Wars should not include the pre-Special Edition Original Trilogy, the executives at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will be less sympathetic to this idea if their bottom line is threatened (especially since films by the likes of Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott have already been released on Blu-ray with all their different versions without taking anything away from the "canonical" director's cuts).

George Lucas is a great storyteller but he is also a great businessman, and I think that we can get him to come around on this issue. But we can only do this with a sustained and concerted effort.

Please boycott Star Wars on Blu-ray (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Star-Wars-Blu-Ray/146137858743842)! And also please give your input!

Nah, the Special Edition's better.

Oh jesus christ, nobody gives a ****...

The only thing that bugs me about the Special Edition is the dodgy singing alien in RotJ.

This. However I will add that I never understood why CGI Jabba hardly resembles the ROTJ puppet Jabba. Of course he looks better in the DVD version than he did in the original Special Edition VHS version, but that's not saying much. He is a lot smaller and the coloring isn't even close to being right.

Im sure they would release it if they actualy had high quality masters to scan, but remember, even 13 years ago when they did the first special edition, many original masters (which would have had the best original image) were at best, seriously degraded in colour, and at worse, starting to disintegrate. The reason they could release it on dvd is because there had been a laserdisc release to get it from, but that was done before the THX uprages for home release, and would not have the image resolution to make a blu-ray release worthwhile

If you know where to find an orignal master of the orignal trilogy, and would be willing to pay a prememium on top of the regular blu-ray cost to pay for the extensive resoration work (and sound upgrades to thx), be my guest. But remember, the majority of fans of star wars movies don't even care enough to get involved in these arguments, mostly beucause they know there is no point in arguing with people that will never change their minds.


Also, the reason that petition is little known outside the star wars fandom is because most people that would buy the star wars releases are just fans of the movies, and not involved in the active fandom, which is where all the complaining happens.

No I think I will be acquiring the trilogy in Blu-Ray because I would like to see the movies in 1080p. Yes, some of the things they did to the trilogy do suck (i.e. "bring my shuttle" being changed). Oh well, that sucks. This little thing is pretty low on the Things That Are Important list as I'm sure this will equally rank on a lot others. This only to serve an outlet for nerdrage and will have a complete miniscule impact on the sales.

In short, you are completely wasting your time. You are better focusing your efforts on something that the general populace will actually care about.

Hey you wanted my input.

sorry to burst your bubble on this but GL has more say in what happens with the SW films than Fox does

boycotting could actually reduce your chances of ever seeing the theatrical editions of the OT released on bluray

as much as i want to see the original versions on bluray if a bunch of people boycott i'd love GL to do the restoration, have the discs made, then film himself destroying every single one of them plus all copies of the digital master, and all film content of the original versions that he has... and he could finish by pissing on the ashes

Just wait for a fan cut

The problem is Star Wars belongs to George, and he will release whatever the heck he wants.

Maybe if you're lucky, some of the changed scenes (like when Han shot first) will be included on the Blu-Ray in a branching format so we can see that scene instead of the crap Greedo-shoots-at-cardboard-physics-defying Han.

you are the master of tonberries

nerdrage rules

One man's timeless classic is another man's live action anime ripoff toy commercial aimed at 9 year old boys.

Nope, I am going to buy it.
Skipped DVD for a reason.

Once I get a Blu Ray player I'll be buying it. I don't see a legitimate reason not to.

ADYWAN.

Does piracy count as boycotting? Not saying I would ever illegally download movies, of course >.>

Reason being that you didn't want to spend $20?

To the OP I would say, no. Nobody has any right to HD versions of the "original" releases. He already caved, essentially, when he released the original theatrical versions on DVD. His plan was to release the restored, digitally remastered and THX optimized versions in '95 for the last time and that was a major selling point to this release.

I'm going to buy three, just to spite Master Thongberry.

I'm tempted to buy it even though I don't own a BluRay player yet...

the only thing I didn't like that they changed was adding young Anakin (SP?) at the end instead of keeping the orginal actor

a cheezy way to unite the 2 trillogies.

2 trilogies

whoops

This is not a question of the "right to HD versions of the 'original' releases". If this was a question of the "right to HD versions of the 'original' releases" I would join the Democrat Party and push to make forcing George Lucas to re-release the pre-Special Edition Original Trilogy in high definition their platform for the November elections. The concept of a boycott is that while no one can force George Lucas to do anything, neither can he force us to buy a product we do not want (although it seems most of you have already capitulated to his Evil Empire).

Unlike most of you, I actually liked Episodes I-III when they were released and still like them (including Jar Jar Binks). I also do not care whether Han Solo shot first or Greedo shot first, and frankly most of the enhancements in the 2004 DVD release actually make the movies better for me. There are three things, however, that I find intolerable: 1. Jedi Rocks, 2. ghost Hayden Christensen, and 3. no Yub Yub. Return of the Jedi is my favorite Star Wars movie and these changes ruin some of the best scenes. In any case, whether you like the changes is a separate issue from whether the pre-Special Edition Original Trilogy should be included in the Blu-ray release next year.

he's not forcing us to buy ****

seriously are you that much of a ****ing retard?

The other day I was at Target checking out the bargain bin games, and George Lucas showed up with a shotgun and made me buy The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition for $55, even though I already own the original The Force Unleashed.

I believe it is doubtful that even further changes won't be made. I'm irritated by a few of the changes as well but certainly not enough to make an issue out of a simple choice of whether or not to purchase the HD release. Lucas already knows that certain fans feel alienated. He capitulated by releasing the original theatrical versions on DVD, a major Emon in my mind, and a reason that I did not purchase that DVD version of the trilogy. So, while I agree with many of your opinions I don't see any validity to a boycott movement. However, maybe you can at least get CM to post a news reference to it on the main page of Massassi. That ought to kick start any major, organized effort and will probably garner some major media attention.

Haha, I love Wookie's posts. The sarcasm is so subtle, most people (who hate him) will start calling him stupid for it.

YES THAT WAS SOME SUBTLE SARCASM ALRIGHT!

Yes?

He might be selling ****, but no one is forcing you buy ****

DrkJedi82 and Steven, would you please carefully think about what exactly is the point you are trying to make by stating the obvious fact that George Lucas is not forcing us to buy anything and how it relates at all to anything in this thread.

No one cares about your boycott. Your belief that it will be effective is unfounded, and it will not accomplish anything. [/size]

Clear enough for ya?

?

He's double mocking me because I'm being mean to you about your idea, and because I had to edit because I left out a / on one of my tags.

It's OK thought, I don't mind sab teasing me, because deep down inside of me, I know he wants me to be deep down inside of him.