What do you think of the Star Wars Sequels?

[Danny McG]

For me, like George Lucas and Mark Hamill, there are 6 Star Wars Episodes.

Don't confuse me, there's only 3

 

[Bick]

Don't confuse me, there's only 3

That's the view of many too, I agree, but given the prequel series is indelibly tied into the Expanded Universe novels and comics, and was part of GL's own concept, I'm okay to accept them, even though they contain the worst dialogue in cinematic history.

 

[Rodders]

I have to confess that i believe that a studio's obsession with franchises and trilogies play very much into movie quality here. Gone are the well made, well told stories of old. Instead we have set piece after set piece which is ultimately quite boring.

I'm still hoping that Disney releases the original cinema cut of the OT as i didn't care for the special editions, either.

 

[Vince W]

I have to confess that i believe that a studio's obsession with franchises and trilogies play very much into movie quality here. Gone are the well made, well told stories of old. Instead we have set piece after set piece which is ultimately quite boring.

I'm still hoping that Disney releases the original cinema cut of the OT as i didn't care for the special editions, either.

When I watch Star Wars, I only ever watch the original, untouched versions I have on dvd. I think I even turfed the special edition discs that came with them.

 

[Matteo]

When I watch Star Wars, I only ever watch the original, untouched versions I have on dvd. I think I even turfed the special edition discs that came with them.

These exist?! I thought only the editions with the later Lucas changes were available.

 

[Vince W]

These exist?! I thought only the editions with the later Lucas changes were available.

When the 'special' editions were released on dvd they also included the original untouched versions. Very hard to come by now as Lucas and now Disney deny they ever existed.

What I would really like is an untouched version of STAR WARS with no episode IV added in the crawl. That really messed up my head the first time I saw that!

 

[Matteo]

Ah, yes. Now I do some searching I see those - and very pricey they are too!

It would be nice if the original cinema cut was re-released (preferably a cleaned up version). Presumably this is possible? Presumably even the "special" editions can be used - with the added bits removed? And now that Disney have taken control, they don't need to contend with Lucas's whims?

 

[soulsinging]

When the 'special' editions were released on dvd they also included the original untouched versions. Very hard to come by now as Lucas and now Disney deny they ever existed.

I've got this too. Might be one of the few media items I've retained through dozens of moves, because I know it would be impossible to replace! I think George literally claimed the OT no longer existed (something about disappeared masters) at one time, but I'm almost positive that was before these special editions were released after people kept badgering him about it.

Ah, yes. Now I do some searching I see those - and very pricey they are too!

It would be nice if the original cinema cut was re-released (preferably a cleaned up version). Presumably this is possible? Presumably even the "special" editions can be used - with the added bits removed? And now that Disney have taken control, they don't need to contend with Lucas's whims?

There was a lot of speculation about that when Lucas sold to Disney and as I recall, Disney made some vague statement about the movies being what George said they were that poured cold water on the idea. It had me wondering if one of the terms of the sale was Disney couldn't scrap Lucas's edits and had to retain them in all future versions.

That said, if Disney is willing to stiff Alan Dean Foster on his novelization royalties, I have to believe they have thought about doing it anyway. A 4k ultra remastered version of the OT would undoubtedly sell big to the generations that have been lukewarm on the latest trilogy. Maybe they're waiting until they feel they need a reset.

 

[Vince W]

Oh, yes. Disney would have no qualms about issuing copies of the original trilogy if it means big profits. Contracts be damned. I'm surprised they haven't done it already.

 

[Matteo]

It's very strange they have not already done so - whatever the terms of the contract. There are a hell of a lot of fans of the original trilogy and a large proportion of them don't like the changes. The "cleaning up" is fine - needed actually - and I doubt anyone disagrees. But the changes are either completely unnecessary (and for the CGI stand out like a sore thumb) or change the sense of the original film (Han shot first, Vader's ghost, etc.). But I think we're going off topic...

As for the sequels...I enjoyed them. There were things I didn't like (some of which are listed in other posts - e.g. Rey being able to fight with a light sabre like a pro) and things I thought "really?" (e.g. passing physical objects via the force) but I don't follow the expanded universe so I wasn't as bothered as others are. I will say that I always thought the Emperor died rather easily for someone so strong in the force so his reappearance didn't bother me that much. But, on the whole they were fun.

 

[paranoid marvin]

My only real issue with the changes to the original trilogy is the scene with Han and Jabba in A New Hope. And that because it has been so poorly done. Surely the technology is there to improve this? Han firing first is only a bit of an annoyance, but we have seen with Rogue One that Disney has no qualms about portraying Rebels as anti-heroes, and that is exactly what Han is (at least at the time this happens). But overall the improvement to the visuals and sound make the movies a much better experience.

But definitely fans of the originals should be given the chance to watch them 'as was' , and I agree that there would be plenty of money to be made from it.