Well, guess what? It’s true, it’s all TRUE! A representative from LucasFilm confirmed the news today to the NY Times.
“Yes””Darth says NO.”
Seriously? How much more can George Lucas desecrate the Star Wars movies? Wait, I really shouldn’t ask that question, because there’s plenty more footage to doctor up in the future.
When I hysterically told this news to my mom before writing this up, she asked if if Lucas was changing parts of the movies so that he could always give the fans something new with each release. Now, that’s a logical assumption… for someone who’s NOT a Star Wars fan. I had to explain to her that when it comes to Star Wars, the fans want NOTHING changed; instead, leave everything as it was and so be it. Let’s face it, they could release the original trilogy on DVD and/or Blu-ray every year and just slap a new package on it, and people would buy that shit right up. So, messing with the actual movies is NOT a selling point. So, Mom asks, why does George Lucas keep changing things then? Because he can, Mom, because he can.
I’ve said it before, and now I’ll have to say it again now that the Blu-ray Edition is worthless too: The only versions worth watching are the LaserDisc copies.
Okay. I’m a die-hard
Star Wars fan. I grew up worshiping George Lucas and everything he
did. I’m young enough to have had the Special Editions in the theaters
be the first Star Wars movies I saw. Of course, I’ve also seen the
originals, unaltered, on LaserDisc countless times. But I recognize
Lucas’s incredible contributions to the visual arts and special
effects. And so I give the man a little latitude… I can
deal with Solo ridiculously stepping on Jabba’s tail in A New Hope. I
can roll with putting the new Emperor into the hologram transmission in
Empire. Makes sense, I suppose. I can even deal with putting Hayden
(Douche) Christensen into the end of Jedi. Almost. But this? This completely
alters, to the point of undoing, the artful, nuanced establishment and
the vital, visceral turning and salvation of one of film’s most
compelling figures. This, moreover, signals the
ultimate betrayal of this same character, one I had foolishly assumed
Lucas was finished silver-screen raping after casting Jake Lloyd and
Christensen and then handling the story of his downfall so carelessly. This will
compel me, literally, to mute the movie at the appropriate time; it
will cause embarrassed, pained laughter when I should be experiencing
fulfillment and relief at perhaps the most crucial plot point of the
series. It is a decision representing and confirming not only Lucas’s
shortcomings as a filmmaker but also his tragically myopic understanding
of storytelling, an art at which he once seemed so adept. Ultimately,
this seemingly small insertion casts what was once the climax of a
supremely powerful scene into the realm of painful joke, and for it, I
have no more eloquence. FUCK. THIS. http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2011/08/31/confirmed-darth-vader-shouts-no-in-star-wars-blu-ray-release-of-return-of-the-jedi/
I’ve seen a lot of coverage on this “No” thing, but no one has mentioned what I’ve been wondering:
In a few of the write-ups I’ve seen on this set, it has been mentioned that they went back to the original audio tapes and were able to bring some sounds/voices into the mix that were inaudible in all previous mixes. Isn’t it possible that the “no” was always there and just wasn’t audible?
I”m kind of ambivalent about the change itself. It sounds fine, but I prefer the silence. Just saying, this might not be a “change” as much as a “fix”.
Comment by Anonymous — September 1, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Cooper my man….I could not have put it any better. Â Lucas is an ass! Â Thank the Lord above that he did not have all the technology he has today available to him when he made the original films. Â Â
Comment by Artjacinto — September 1, 2011 @ 9:43 am
I’m an average Star Wars fan and I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if Vader shouts no.
I don’t think it was necessary to add it since his actions against the emperor says it all.
It is his film and he can do what he wants with it and people don’t have to buy it.
It would be nice though if he would label it as a director’s cut, cut, cut enhanced edition. Then release an untouched bluray editions for the die-hards.
Comment by Edward Young Jr. — September 1, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I just wonder how many people are going to bitch, moan, and complain, yet buy the Blu-Ray versions, anyway.
Comment by David Loewen — September 2, 2011 @ 2:20 am
Thank’s George for giving us a subject for a fresh Motifake:
Any self-respecting Star Wars fan will refuse to buy the blu-rays. I know I won’t. This “enhancing” that Lucas continues to do is anything but. He is destroying his legacy by being a greedy fucking hypocrite. What Lucas has done to these classic films (and I mean the original trilogy, not the god-awful prequels) is unforgivable. I hope the sales completely tank. Thank you, George Lucas, for raping my childhood yet again.
Comment by JABARRA78 — September 4, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
I was nearly sick on myself when I watched the new Darth “No…NO” clip, what does that add to the film? it’s quite clear Darth is wrestling internally between his loyalties, illustrated pretty obviously when he chucks his boss down a big well! I was 5 years old when I watched Jedi, I got it just fine. Quality is never outdated, leave it alone Lucas!!!
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So don’t buy it LOL
Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — August 31, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
This has never been more appropriate…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ
Comment by Eveator — August 31, 2011 @ 2:47 pm
Okay. I’m a die-hard
Star Wars fan. I grew up worshiping George Lucas and everything he
did. I’m young enough to have had the Special Editions in the theaters
be the first Star Wars movies I saw. Of course, I’ve also seen the
originals, unaltered, on LaserDisc countless times. But I recognize
Lucas’s incredible contributions to the visual arts and special
effects. And so I give the man a little latitude… I can
deal with Solo ridiculously stepping on Jabba’s tail in A New Hope. I
can roll with putting the new Emperor into the hologram transmission in
Empire. Makes sense, I suppose. I can even deal with putting Hayden
(Douche) Christensen into the end of Jedi. Almost. But this? This completely
alters, to the point of undoing, the artful, nuanced establishment and
the vital, visceral turning and salvation of one of film’s most
compelling figures. This, moreover, signals the
ultimate betrayal of this same character, one I had foolishly assumed
Lucas was finished silver-screen raping after casting Jake Lloyd and
Christensen and then handling the story of his downfall so carelessly. This will
compel me, literally, to mute the movie at the appropriate time; it
will cause embarrassed, pained laughter when I should be experiencing
fulfillment and relief at perhaps the most crucial plot point of the
series. It is a decision representing and confirming not only Lucas’s
shortcomings as a filmmaker but also his tragically myopic understanding
of storytelling, an art at which he once seemed so adept. Ultimately,
this seemingly small insertion casts what was once the climax of a
supremely powerful scene into the realm of painful joke, and for it, I
have no more eloquence. FUCK. THIS. http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2011/08/31/confirmed-darth-vader-shouts-no-in-star-wars-blu-ray-release-of-return-of-the-jedi/
Comment by Cooper Carter — August 31, 2011 @ 8:01 pm
I’ve seen a lot of coverage on this “No” thing, but no one has mentioned what I’ve been wondering:
In a few of the write-ups I’ve seen on this set, it has been mentioned that they went back to the original audio tapes and were able to bring some sounds/voices into the mix that were inaudible in all previous mixes. Isn’t it possible that the “no” was always there and just wasn’t audible?
I”m kind of ambivalent about the change itself. It sounds fine, but I prefer the silence. Just saying, this might not be a “change” as much as a “fix”.
Comment by Anonymous — September 1, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Cooper my man….I could not have put it any better. Â Lucas is an ass! Â Thank the Lord above that he did not have all the technology he has today available to him when he made the original films. Â Â
Comment by Artjacinto — September 1, 2011 @ 9:43 am
I’m an average Star Wars fan and I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if Vader shouts no.
I don’t think it was necessary to add it since his actions against the emperor says it all.
It is his film and he can do what he wants with it and people don’t have to buy it.
It would be nice though if he would label it as a director’s cut, cut, cut enhanced edition. Then release an untouched bluray editions for the die-hards.
Comment by Edward Young Jr. — September 1, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I just wonder how many people are going to bitch, moan, and complain, yet buy the Blu-Ray versions, anyway.
Comment by David Loewen — September 2, 2011 @ 2:20 am
Thank’s George for giving us a subject for a fresh Motifake:
http://diokletan.deviantart.com/#/d48n39u
The next stage of Darth improvement is a black Teletubbie like this German blog predicts:
http://twixraider.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/er-kanns-nicht-lassen/
Comment by Twix Raider — September 3, 2011 @ 9:23 am
Any self-respecting Star Wars fan will refuse to buy the blu-rays. I know I won’t. This “enhancing” that Lucas continues to do is anything but. He is destroying his legacy by being a greedy fucking hypocrite. What Lucas has done to these classic films (and I mean the original trilogy, not the god-awful prequels) is unforgivable. I hope the sales completely tank. Thank you, George Lucas, for raping my childhood yet again.
Comment by JABARRA78 — September 4, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
I was nearly sick on myself when I watched the new Darth “No…NO” clip, what does that add to the film? it’s quite clear Darth is wrestling internally between his loyalties, illustrated pretty obviously when he chucks his boss down a big well! I was 5 years old when I watched Jedi, I got it just fine. Quality is never outdated, leave it alone Lucas!!!
Comment by guest — September 17, 2011 @ 1:51 am