[The Scornful Roman]

There are many different versions of the OOT that have been converted to DVD and are available through trades, etc. with Star Wars fans.

Check out Originaltrilogy.com for a lot of good resources and information about preserving the OOT. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Er, but isn't that sort of copying illegal? Won't Lucasfilm crack down on stuff like that?

See, that's another thing to legitimately resent George Lucas for: instead of giving us both versions of the films on the DVD box set, ala the Alien Quadrilogy, he gives us only one and then forces us to either take very good care of our VHSs, or burn a copy of the OOT to DVD.

What is this? Yes, he created Star Wars, but the Trilogy has been alive in the public's imagination for close to thirty years. Why is Lucas suddenly being like "My way or the highway"? It makes no sense! He's let other people (the Extended Universe authors, the computer game designers, artists) dabble in his imaginary world-- why can't he allow us the simple choice of which version of the film we want to see?

[ernesttomlinson]

Hey, I've got the original movies on laserdisc. And I have a player, really. You can get a lot of good movies cheap on laserdisc if you know where to look. But it was my brother who got hold of the SW discs for me, God knows where.

Those laserdiscs, for me, have become the definitive OOT, the best quality replica of it that exists.

A thought: what if Lucas were to cark it tomorrow? Who gets control of his estate? I assume that Lucas has 35 mm prints or negatives of the original, unaltered movies locked up in a vault in the Skywalker Ranch somewhere; would they be revealed if Lucas should pass on?

[CowboyCurtis]

I have no doubt in mind that Lucas has in his will on how the OOT will be treated, and it will not be in our better interest.

[Michel Orla]

Grrrr, I have the remastered VSH versions that came out in 95, and those are quite better in quality (both one screen and the actual videos themselves), but even so I don't want to watch them too much to cause wear and tear. They're all I have left of the OOT, and by the looks of it that wont change anytime soon

[Michel Orla]

*Edit* Double post. Am so choked about this I tried to get the same point across twice

This post has been edited by Michel Orla: 18 April 2005 - 11:54 AM

[CowboyCurtis]

We should just network and get the Laserdisc editions out to all the OOT-Defenders we can. I know it's illegal, but GEEZ---IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SITUATION!!!

[Mnesymone]

Hear hear!

Let us engage in massive copying fraud - use VHS-to-DVD recorders for our videos, download laserdiscs - preserve the originals.

Also let us wire a bomb to a piece of the film for Episode III so that when george is editing...
That won't work - it's digitally filmed... Damn. Lucky for me my Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back Originals are still in good nick - my Return of the Jedi is almost dead and gone though. Damnation.

[Casual Fan]

Its occurred to me that Lucas could have used the money he put into the special editions and the prequels, and instead bought up every celluioid copy of the OT and destroyed it -and then released a movie about that. It would have had the same effect as what actually happened and we at least would have gotten an entertaining movie out of it.

[Casual Fan]

Its occurred to me that Lucas could have used the money he put into the special editions and the prequels, and instead bought up every celluioid copy of the OT and destroyed it -and then released a movie about that. It would have had the same effect as what actually happened and we at least would have gotten an entertaining movie out of it.

[Just your average movie goer]

I'm curious about the idea of burning the original trilogy onto discs being illegal. One might be able to make an interesting legal defence on that -

The 'product' being unofficially produced is not available through any legal avenues, nor is Lucas officially making it. Therefore, it is impossible that we could be depriving him of income.

And if Lucas feels that he IS being deprived of income, then the only person he can really sue would be himself.


However, I think we're going to lose the original trilogy, guys... speaking for most of us. Some of you guys have laserdiscs, some of you have got hold of bootleg DVDs, but for the rest of us, we're going to have to do without, I think.

It's a pity I didn't get the remastered versions when I had the chance. They had little stickers on them, saying "The Original Star Wars movies available for the last time."

If only I had known that was for real.

[HK 47]

Since Lucas intends to make a TV series as well as "Star Wars 3d" (Gaaah!!) I think the odds are still pretty good that he'll release the OOT in the future. Lucas pass up a chance to make a quick buck? Hmmm...

If he doesn't, I feel it's not only our right but our obligation to make digital mpg/dvd copies off the laserdiscs.

[Just your average movie goer]

Fair point. Well then, let's wait and see if Lucas' lust for dollars wins over his petty urge to always be a spiteful prat.

[CowboyCurtis]

That's a fascinating thought, JYAMG!! I think that's a great legal defense!

[Just your average movie goer]

Why, thank you.

[Chefelf]

Er, but isn't that sort of copying illegal? Won't Lucasfilm crack down on stuff like that? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's a gray area but I don't feel it's illegal.

The bottom line is this: If George Lucas released a fine quality DVD version of the OOT, there would be a huge audience of people that would purchase it. He doesn't allow such a DVD to be released, so the best we can do is preserve those originals and trade them amongst ourself. If there is a demand for a product such as this, it will get around one way or another.

If GL is upset about any loss of revenue I would suggest that he make them available for purchase. If not, just allow the fans to trade and be merry, but certainly crack down on anyone trying to profit off of it for that is not the place of any fan.

*Okay, I just read JYAMG's post after writing the above and I guess we're pretty much saying the same thing.

From what I've read Lucas doesn't seem to really care much about this. He says to those who want the OOT that they are welcome to enjoy the VHS copies that exist. So it only stands to reason that fans would update these and transfer them to the current medium (DVD).