George Lucas Alters Star Wars Blu-ray, Darth Vader (and Fans) Say "NO!"
George Lucas Alters Star Wars Blu-ray, Darth Vader (and Fans) Say "NO!"
Posted 09/02/2011 at 10:13am
| by Paul Lilly
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Just once, we'd like to see George Lucas leave well enough alone. But like a painter obsessed with adding more strokes to what's already a masterpiece, Lucas runs the risk of ruining the Star Wars universe with each new media format. A tweak here, an added scene there, and before long, the Star Wars series will look and sound completely different the than the ones we grew up with. Unfortunately, the madness continues with the upcoming Blu-ray release.
Darth Vader is the consummate bad guy. He wears dark clothes, has a distinct voice, and won't think twice about choking a dude if he finds his lack of faith disturbing. He embraces the Dark Side, (SPOILER ALERT) right up until the end of Return of the Jedi when he picks up the Evil Emperor and tosses him like a rag doll down a reactor shaft in the Death Star. It was an act that brought him back from the Dark Side just before he dies, and he did it in silence. Or at least that's how you remember the scene.
In the Blu-ray version, Darth Vader shouts "NO!," and this has Star Wars purists up in arms. Earlier this week, a PR agent for Lucasfilm confirmed the change in dialogue to The New York Times, writing in an email, "Yes -- Darth says NO."
It's a subtle change, we'll give George Lucas that much. But it's yet another example of not being able to leave the franchise alone. And who knows if that will be the only alteration. According to NYT, there have been reports that the Yoda puppet could receive a completely digital makeover in Star Wars -- Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
In any event, you can view the altered scene here, and then tell us what you think in the comments section below.
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bling581
September 06, 2011 at 10:54am
I don't even see the reason for most of the changes he's made to the film. If it's not broke then don't fix it. The ones that irritate me the most is the music change in the Ewok village at the end of ROTJ, and the death of Greedo.
protaganis
September 05, 2011 at 9:24am
Next up he'll be doing digital recasting...
Obi Wan will be played by Gilbert Gottfried
Han Solo will be played by Carrot Top
Princess Leia will be played by Courtney Love
Luke Skywalker will be played by Shia Labeuf
Darth Vader will be voiced by Yeardley Smith
The Emperor will be played by Dr. Phil
Lando Calrissian will be played by Erkel
Chewbakka will be played by John Goodman
Jabba the Hutt will be played by Steven Segal
Bobba Fett will be played by Don Knotts
All the robots will be done in CG and voiced by Seth McFarlane...
(I cannot be held responsible for any aneurisms caused by trying to imagine the charactorial substitutions I have written. Visualize them at your own risk ; )
Now, For heaven's sake SOMEBODY purchase the rights to this franchise from him before he destroys it.
schneider1492
September 17, 2011 at 1:54pm
"The Emperor will be played by Dr. Phil" LMFAO!
and switch Leia for Kim kardashian instead of Courtney Love
szore
September 04, 2011 at 8:59am
The problem with Lucas is that his big fat hairy head is obsessed with "HIS" films, and he doesn't give one happy crappy what the FANS WANT. That is what pisses people off. He is a self-absorbed has-been. He knows he is a second rate director that is why he didn't touch Empire and Return.
Caboose
September 06, 2011 at 1:18pm
Only he DID touch Return. He changed the ending, and he's adding MORE to the ending that wasn't in the original. Honestly, I don't know of any alterations in Empire Strikes Back. I think that might be the only pure one. Oh... except for the Emperor.... In the original it is someone wearing a mask and a hood, but it was replaced with the actual actor playing The Emperor in one of the holos.
So even they've been altered.
M.
September 03, 2011 at 8:04pm
Star Wars fans, please visit our FACEBOOK page: SAVE STAR WARS - BOYCOTT THE BLU-RAYS
Thank you!
Bilbert
September 03, 2011 at 1:10pm
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and buying Star Wars (again) on the latest movie format.
I'll only buy the latest Star Wars if it includes the original theatrical release. And George Lucas needs to hear the saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it". To say nothing of the prequel trilogy.
nealtse
September 03, 2011 at 9:37am
I personally don't have a problem with that one change, but I don't want GL thinking it's a free pass to start fiddling with it. Seriously, did he get replaced by an alien?
eday_2010
September 03, 2011 at 6:15am
This is why I didn't pre-order the box set when it was announced. Actually, I didn't pre-order it because I knew it wouldn't include the original versions of the movies. The additional changes solidify my decision.
chop_slap
September 03, 2011 at 12:54am
So keep watching your VHS/DVD's or skip the new stuff. Change <em>is</em> actually quite good for people, it spins the wheels of creativity.
eday_2010
September 03, 2011 at 6:20am
Change in life is good for people; in film - like this - is useless for people.
Keith E. Whisman
September 02, 2011 at 9:43pm
he says no too late, should say it as he is getting ready to grab the emperor, that would be more realistic.
nmanguy
September 02, 2011 at 3:06pm
Is this that big of a deal? It's not like he's edited the scene to have R2D2 knock out the Emperor.
CrowTrobot
September 02, 2011 at 4:45pm
I guess it's only a big deal to the over 40 fans who watched it for 20 years only knowing ONE version of the films and now feel betrayed by Lucas.
Ghok
September 02, 2011 at 2:02pm
Lucas has been altering his movies after the fact since the 70s... I'd expect people to be used to it by now. They're his movies, and he can do what he wants to them. I don't see the harm in allowing an original version cut to be released. There probably will be one eventually.
I simply don't need another copy... and there's nothing about this release that really interests me.
jac_goudsmit
September 02, 2011 at 1:39pm
Hey, give the guy a break! At least he doesn't want you to keep buying the same movie over and over again!
:-)
lhatten
September 02, 2011 at 12:44pm
Look, let me state this s l o w l y so the dull among you can understand. Star Wars is George Luca's series. He conceived it, wrote most of it, directed most of it, and if he wants to have Princes Leia belly dance for Hans Solo, that is his prerogative. If you don't like it, don't buy it. I for one will buy it and enjoy it again.
Architek9
September 08, 2011 at 7:52am
GL must have something mentally wrong with him to keep making his series worse
All he has done has craped on the awesome universe he created its his series but his series doesnt mean anything if nobody wants to buy it
iceman08
September 02, 2011 at 1:30pm
No one denies that it's his series. Everyone is upset that he continually denies his original series and decides that they weren't good enough. let him *shudders* let him remake 4-6
"People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians"- George Lucas speech 1988
lhatten
September 02, 2011 at 1:35pm
From the very begining, Mr. Lucas has stated that he was not satisfied with the original Star Wars. He always has felt the he could have done better, and, I would guess that in his opinion the changes he has made are for the better. Your opinon does not count for squat.
iceman08
September 02, 2011 at 1:42pm
he can do better when there are holographic displays, when there's virtual reality rooms, etc. Bladerunner could have been better, and some of the editions WERE better. but at least that director had the sense to include the theatrical release in its original format. My opinion may matter little to George Lucas, but I still have my right to the opinion. Take a look at his 1988 speech. He does say that small alterations can be made, but so long as the directors and primary writers agree and are still alive. He apparently decided his own beliefs couldn't substantiate his business or dreams of what the series should be. Again, let him remake it, and use his profits from the last 30 years to make the most of the technology available today...just like he did 30 years ago
iceman08
September 02, 2011 at 1:29pm
No one denies that it's his series. Everyone is upset that he continually denies his original series and decides that they weren't good enough. let him *shudders* let him remake 4-6
"People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an exercise of power are barbarians"- George Lucas speech 1988
r6srider
September 02, 2011 at 1:24pm
I completly understand that, but, I for one would want to purchase the original versions that he hasn't tweaked, but you can't unless you want it on vhs, so if he was smart he would offer different versions (cause you know those hardcore fans would buy every version) that way people like me can get the earlier ones before they added all those usless "extra" scenes, and changed the music at the end of part 6 as well as putting the young version of darth vader (which makes no sense because why do yoda and obi look the same as when they died, but anakin is back to when he was 20ish?). But those are just my thoughts.
Red Ensign
September 02, 2011 at 4:59pm
Even Lucas doesn't have the balls to remove Sir Alec Guinness and replace him with Ewan McGregor. On the other hand, how many people can name the actor who played sprit Anakin from the end of EP VI without Googling it?
lhatten
September 02, 2011 at 1:32pm
I understand completely, however, asking nicely instead of denigrating the man because he has the audacity to change a work that he created and owns is probably a better way to approach the problem. Maybe an email to him or his company asking nicely may bear some fruit.
Caboose
September 06, 2011 at 1:06pm
"Maybe an email to him or his company asking nicely may bear some fruit."
You'd have better luck getting a response from another fruit, Apple, than a civilized response from Lucas!
Arlips
September 02, 2011 at 12:23pm
I really hope they recorded a new NO! instead of pasting on the one from RotS. That would be so dumb if they did it that way. No reason not to record a new line with JEJ still alive and well.
That video the author linked isn't real (just a fan that pasted on the NO from RotS), so there's still hope it won't be as cheesy as it sounds.
In other news what the hell is up with Lucas? I used to actually respect that man, even through the original special editions from 1997. Now he doesn't even make it a secret anymore that the old fans don't matter and that he'll butcher his classic movies with anything as long as the current generation of kids will buy it.
QuadraQ
September 02, 2011 at 11:40am
Honestly this change doesn't bother me at all. Star Wars are just fun films, and getting excited about changes like this tells me that people are too invested.
Caboose
September 06, 2011 at 1:01pm
If you have a favourite story that you remember from your childhood, and it sparked such imagination and ideas in you, then to watch your childhood favourite changed, altered and destroyed and the creater saying "I like it this way! If you don't, you can shove it!" Then go laughing while swimming in a pile of money ala Scrooge McDuck, how would you feel?
US_Ranger
September 02, 2011 at 11:23am
Another crappy change although nowhere near as bad as the Han Solo gumby dodge on Mos Eisley.
someuid
September 02, 2011 at 11:11am
You know what bugs me about Star Wars? The opening of the third movie, where they are flying their fighters in space, and you can see the clone ships that look like prototypes of the Tie Fighter with the bubble pilot pod and white structure pattern.
Some group of designers probably poured weeks and weeks of work into designing that stuff, and George shows us 30 jittery seconds.
So much work went into the overall design of ships and weapons, etc, and he uses it for 30 freakin' seconds.
So, honestly, these changes are minor compared to the other major issues these movies have (boring dialog between vader and portman, great design team work that gets a few seconds of exposure, jar-jar).
Lucas can do what he wants. Just so long as I have access to the original release of Bladerunner I'm happy.
Phrish
September 02, 2011 at 11:04am
It's not bad. I think I prefer the original, but I'm not going to be a blathering, chest-beating idiot about it.
DogPatch1149
September 02, 2011 at 10:58am
After all of the "do-overs" by Lucas, all I keep thinking is, "Adywan's fan edits FTW!"
MaximumMike
September 02, 2011 at 10:49am
I am neither a Star Wars fanboy or purist. But I don't see the need to go back and make tweaks to movies that were shot 30+ years ago. They were fine the way they were. If you have some new philosophy on how movies should look or feel, fine. Make a new movie. I think an addition like this would have been stupid in any classic film, especially in the climatic scene of what was at the time a 3 part series.
CrowTrobot
September 02, 2011 at 10:40am
unless it has an un-altered version of the original movies. Hopefully he'll die soon and the estate will give us a true blu-ray collector set.
orca11
September 02, 2011 at 10:39am
Cancelled my preorder last night. I've still got the originals on VHS (that's a tape for you kids out there)... time to transfer them to digital.
iceman08
September 02, 2011 at 1:27pm
I cancelled mine when I found out that the original theatrical releases wouldn't be remastered for the BluRay version. And I have the Collector's Edition DVD that has the Laserdisc version as a bonus disc
CrowTrobot
September 02, 2011 at 11:06am
after the first release on DVD, the sold a "Limited Edition" DVD that has an original version of the movie. It's not anamorphic, but it's better than VHS and way better than the "new" versions.
p47riot
September 02, 2011 at 10:57am
Think I'll do the same. I've got the THX widescreen remasters on VHS that I would love to watch again.
It wouldn't be so bad if Lucas made the originals available in a theatrical Blu-Ray release; he could sodomize his "Special Edition Director's 3-D Cuts" all he wanted, as long as the originals would be left alone. But no! He wants to Jar-Jar the whole series and make sure we never view the original masterpieces again, if only for the reason than they make his goiter itch. So, thanks but no thanks, Mr. Lucas. I'm sticking with the preferred version where Han shoots pre-emptively, Mos Eisley is truly a wretched hive of scum and villainy and not a CGI demo reel, and Vader finally defies his master in muted badassery.
P.S. If he wants to add anything he could add a CGI version of Jar-Jar's head flying in 3-D to the scene where the Death Star blows up Alderaan. THAT I could get behind.
OliverSudden
September 02, 2011 at 10:26am
I, for one, say "who cares?" Those movies are dead to me.
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