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25 Years of STAR WARS (2002 article)

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2.46- random rants Fall 2002
2.47

It is hard to believe that it has been twenty-five years since people first visted a place long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. STAR WARS has turned Goerge Lucas into a billionaire (and probably having FOX kicking themselves in the head for selling the sequel rights and merchandise rights back to George Lucas). Now George is writing Episode III of his saga which will finish the story of how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader and how all of this ties itno Episode IV to VI which George released a long time ago starting with A NEW HOPE into 1977. I vaguely remember seeing that movie at a drive-in back in 1979 or 1980 (around there since I was very young like 5 or 6 years old). I have seen the Star Wars movie several times over the years and own THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and THE PHANTOM MENACE on VHS. I have read several issues of the Marvel comic book series and some of the Dark Horse comic series (including DARK EMPIRE and the reprint of the old Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson newspaper strips and the Magna adaptation of the movies). I have also read some of the STAR WARS original novels taking place years after RETURN OF THE JEDI (I think I have read two others in addition to the Timothy Zahn trilogy of novels). I had over 40 of the original Kenner figures, but sadly they got lost to quick move ten years ago and I wish I still had those figures (which I might have sold if I had them still). The point is that George Lucas has left an impact on popular culture and lots of people. The United Kindom even considers Jedi as a religion.

Now I wonder why George just loves to tinker with his movies he made years ago. I know he loved adding new and better special effects and the controversial Greedo shot first shot. And yet I hear George filmed some new scenes during the shooting of the latest two STAR WARS movies to be incorporated into Episodes IV to VI. George said he wants to make those episodes flow even better to fit in the storyline that is being written in Episodes I to III. It is a shame he won't release the original versions of the other movies before the Special Editions (with say the Special Editions part as two to three disc sets per movie), but these are his movies to do with it as he pleases. Yes it would be neat if he put out Episode IV on DVD this year (a 2 to 3 DVD set with both versions of the movie with deleted scenes including the infamous Luke/Briggs Tatoonie scene), but he won't do that. It would have been a neat gift to the fans this year for the 25th anniversary of the movie, but George chooses to wait until he has Episode III filmed and released before he turns his attention to the other three movies for DVD release.

I love directors who release mulitple versions of their movies on DVD and i wonder why George can't do the same. It doesn't make George any less of a person because he has greated a great saga of chaarcters. Some people might not like the new films as good as the other STAR WARS movies, but I like George Lucase taking chances in trying to tell a different tyope of story and dare to experiment with something new. Yes, RETURN JEDI and THE PHANTHOM MENACE do seem like remakes of A NEW HOPE in some apects which means the other three movies released (ANH, ESB, AOTC) original and the best three of the five episodes so far. That leaves to wonder if Episode III will be even better than ATTACK OF THE CLONES and challenge A NEW HOPE or THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK as the best movie of the saga. Back to the DVD issue, I really love the fact that director Ridley Scott is trying to get four different versions of his movie BLADE RUNNER on a 3 DVD set. I just wonder why George won't consider doing the same because it would be the ultimate thank you to the fans who have watched the original and special editions versions of the original trilogy. And it is sad that a two and half hour rough cut of A NEW HOPE was left forgotten to degrade to black and white before an ILM employee discovered it. Just think of the deleted scenes and alternate takes that could have been taken from that for DVD release. It just makes a fan want to scream.

So my final point is this. Actually a request to George Lucas from a STAR WARS fan. Please consider releaseing the original versions of Episodes IV, V, and VI on DVD alongside with the Special Edition versions and the final versions because fans will be more than overjoyed. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.