Lucas changes around Star Wars movies yet again.

[Vigo]

I though this article was an april fool's gag at first.


http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=7234

Lucasfilm Confirms Audio Change for Return of the Jedi Blu-ray   
Posted August 31, 2011 06:59 PM by Matthew Smith

   
Lucasfilm put an end to rumors today surrounding a line of dialogue added to the Blu-ray release of Return of the Jedi. For those unaware of the controversy, YouTube videos began circulating yesterday that revealed inserted audio of Darth Vader screaming "No!" as he saves Luke from Emperor Palpatine during the film's climactic ending battle. This video was accompanied by another from Episode IV which shows that Obi-Wan's Krayt Dragon call used to frighten the Sand People has also been altered.

According to the NY Times, a press representative from Lucasfilm has confirmed the addition of Vader's dialogue by responding in an email, "Yes — Darth says NO." While the many other changes that have surfaced in the past few days were not addressed, Matthew Wood of Skywalker Sound said that fans should be prepared for more alterations. Speaking to IGN during last week's press presentation, Wood stated, "Every time we watch the movies he's got something he wants to change... And so there's obviously changes done to the films, visually as well as audio-wise. So there are some changes in the Blu-ray version that you'll have to find."

Other changes that have been discovered include CGI inserted blinking eyes for the Ewoks in Return of Jedi and the replacement of the Yoda puppet with a CGI version in Episode I. Below is a round-up of the YouTube clips that are currently circulating the web. Additionally, the debut of the Star Wars Saga on Blu-ray is creeping closer with the September 16th release date just a bit over 2 weeks away.

 

If you go to the link, it will show you the actual changes. I actually busted out in laughter at the Obi Wan call.

[GibsonRiddler]

 I don't think I even care anymore 

[DaveMMR]

Yeah me too - I'm sticking to the Laserdisc versions...

[TOK]

He has to know everyone thinks he's an a-hole at this point. He should go back and put Jar Jar Binks in all the other movies to make nerd heads explode.

[Ginsu Victim]

the replacement of the Yoda puppet with a CGI version in Episode I

"Hey Frank Oz, you know all that puppet work you did.....let's forget you ever did it."

[hypernova]

I love the Star Wars movies, for the most part.

I probably never would have noticed the blinking thing.  I also probably never would've noticed the different Obi-Wan call.  I only watch these movies once a decade or so, so I'm not that knowledgeable about the intricacies of them.  Heck, I never would've realized that Han originally shot first (and he still does NOT in the blu-rays), because I've only seen the originals once or twice as a kid.

But I'm fairly certain I would've noticed the "No" addition.  It's not like adding in that sound was difficult in the original edit of the film.  Why does he wait until now to do it?  We are accustomed to no voice.  Why risk it?

Someone needs to hire a psychologist to get to the bottom of why he keeps doing this crap.

Our only recourse is to NOT BUY THEM.

[SavannahLion]

From what I understand, that ---uvula--- has been ---smurfing--- with his movies from day one. There a pretty decent site that documents the know changes of the film while in theaters and across the numerous releases over the years. Greedo shooting first is what probably brought these changes to the forefront of the pblic in general and not in obscurity only to be known by the most dedicated of fans.

There's a pretty good comment in that link. Lucas has lost touch with the audience. Clearly evident with Jar Jar Binks and Indiana IV.

Quite honestly he's not the artist he fancies himself but some retarded ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- resting on his laurels instead of expanding his universe. Granted, they're pretty damn good laurels but damn, let's move it along. Where is the promised episodes 7, 8, and 9? How about an Avatar killer? Kind of sad some glorified Smurf film makes a bazillion dollars overnight all because the guy wet his dick with Titanic.

[Generic Eric]

He's not done editing the vader scene until he ends up with this:

[spoot]

Yeah me too - I'm sticking the to Laserdisc versions...

Kinda sad isn't it........as the chroma noise drives me nutz now with my laserdisc collection.   

That being said....it's the only version I'll watch cuz they aren't hosed with more stupidity.  There was enough stupidity before the changes.   

[Howard_Casto]

MOST of those changes are pretty valid. 

The final sequence of IV was always a bit off to me.  I got what it was TRYING to get across, namely that Vader was silently struggling with his emotions as the Emperor shocked his son.  What it actually looked like though was a guy in a mask getting a close up when it was obvious that he didn't know what lines they were going to dub in and thus his body actions didn't match the dialog or shots.  Now it looks like they sped it up a little to fix that.  Although to be prefectly honest the first "no" sounded a little off.

I don't get the sand-people call thing.

The ewoks had some pretty cheap masks, so some blinking is nice, BUT those cgi blinks look fake as hell... I hope that isn't the final version.



Now as for the Yoda thing, that's completely uncalled for.  Everybody knows that puppets  (It's Frank Oz, so is yoda a muppet??) are better than cgi.  And just look at the result in the clip.  While the cg version is certainly a little more expressive, it looks like a fake as hell cgi character instead of yoda.

[ChadTower]

I can't really say I care anymore either. 

[Mikezilla]

Now as for the Yoda thing, that's completely uncalled for.  Everybody knows that puppets  (It's Frank Oz, so is yoda a muppet??) are better than cgi.  And just look at the result in the clip.  While the cg version is certainly a little more expressive, it looks like a fake as hell cgi character instead of yoda

 

Everyone knows that practical is better than CGI any day of the week.

The only thing I want to see that is Star Wars related is for the Timothy Zahn books to be made into films. Thats it. All this other crap is just to make more money. I think Lucas ran out of really good LCD, thats why he cant do anything else but ---fudgesicle--- up his own movies. Stupid bastard.

[wp34]

The only thing I want to see that is Star Wars related is for the Timothy Zahn books to be made into films.

+1

The Zahn books are awesome. 

I'll probably break and buy A New Hope on BluRay.  Spike used to show it regularly in HD and it looks fantastic.

[Vigo]

Now as for the Yoda thing, that's completely uncalled for.  Everybody knows that puppets  (It's Frank Oz, so is yoda a muppet??) are better than cgi.  And just look at the result in the clip.  While the cg version is certainly a little more expressive, it looks like a fake as hell cgi character instead of yoda

 

Everyone knows that practical is better than CGI any day of the week.

The only thing I want to see that is Star Wars related is for the Timothy Zahn books to be made into films. Thats it. All this other crap is just to make more money. I think Lucas ran out of really good LCD, thats why he cant do anything else but ---fudgesicle--- up his own movies. Stupid bastard.

I think you might have meant to put LSD, but I guess it is possible his monitor broke as well.  

As far a Yoda goes, Everytime i see what they did with Yoda, a little part of my childhood dies. Not just the CGI, but they killed all of Yoda's fun eccentricities. In episode 1 especially, Yoda just comes off as a dick.

[Well Fed Games]

In my mind, Star Wars canon consists of the original trilogy and Zahn's novels. And the Christmas special, but only because that lets Bea Arthur and Boba Fett exist in the same universe.

Now as for the Yoda thing, that's completely uncalled for.  Everybody knows that puppets  (It's Frank Oz, so is yoda a muppet??) are better than cgi.  And just look at the result in the clip.  While the cg version is certainly a little more expressive, it looks like a fake as hell cgi character instead of yoda

 

Everyone knows that practical is better than CGI any day of the week.

The only thing I want to see that is Star Wars related is for the Timothy Zahn books to be made into films. Thats it. All this other crap is just to make more money. I think Lucas ran out of really good LCD, thats why he cant do anything else but ---fudgesicle--- up his own movies. Stupid bastard.

[ChadTower]

In the books the Jedi are ---Deutsche Frankfurters---.  They aren't any better than the Sith.  The Jedi just think they're better and happen to be in control at the time of the movies. 

[Mikezilla]

Now as for the Yoda thing, that's completely uncalled for.  Everybody knows that puppets  (It's Frank Oz, so is yoda a muppet??) are better than cgi.  And just look at the result in the clip.  While the cg version is certainly a little more expressive, it looks like a fake as hell cgi character instead of yoda

 

Everyone knows that practical is better than CGI any day of the week.

The only thing I want to see that is Star Wars related is for the Timothy Zahn books to be made into films. Thats it. All this other crap is just to make more money. I think Lucas ran out of really good LCD, thats why he cant do anything else but ---fudgesicle--- up his own movies. Stupid bastard.

I think you might have meant to put LSD, but I guess it is possible his monitor broke as well.  

As far a Yoda goes, Everytime i see what they did with Yoda, a little part of my childhood dies. Not just the CGI, but they killed all of Yoda's fun eccentricities. In episode 1 especially, Yoda just comes off as a dick.

Haha youre right Vigo, I meant LSD, I was shopping for TV's last night and LED and LCD are burned into my brain. 

I couldnt agree more about Yoda being a dick in the new movies. In the originals he kind of had that spiritual sage kind of vibe. Like "hey, Im super powerful and stuff but its no big deal." Now he is like "yeah I talk funny but I can kick your ass so back the ---fudgesicle--- off Im CG now and the effects from some of the movies looks like a green pillow being thrown around between a couple of grips but I have a foot long lightsaber so back off bitches" kind of vibe.

Giving Yoda a lightsabre was the stupidest thing I have ever seen. When I saw it at midnight the crowd cheered like a bunch of tards. 

[HaRuMaN]

I'm so glad I have the laserdisc versions.  At this point, they are the only Star Wars films that exist for me.   

[ChadTower]

Now he is like "yeah I talk funny but I can kick your ass so back the ---fudgesicle--- off

People are actually like that.  Age mellows people.  Makes them understand they aren't as strong as they used to be, they aren't badasses anymore, and they soften up.  I thought that was one of the better things about the prequels.  It makes total sense to me that a 'younger' Yoda would have a harder edge to his personality.

[Mikezilla]

Now he is like "yeah I talk funny but I can kick your ass so back the ---fudgesicle--- off

People are actually like that.  Age mellows people.  Makes them understand they aren't as strong as they used to be, they aren't badasses anymore, and they soften up.  I thought that was one of the better things about the prequels.  It makes total sense to me that a 'younger' Yoda would have a harder edge to his personality.

Yeah but isnt yoday supposed to be like 600 years old or something outlandish like that? I dont think 15-20 years when youre that old would make that much of a difference right?

[Mikezilla]

I was just told by a friend that yoda died at 900. So, that drives my point home even further. 

[ChadTower]

Yeah but isnt yoday supposed to be like 600 years old or something outlandish like that? I dont think 15-20 years when youre that old would make that much of a difference right?

Maybe, maybe not.  We don't know how badass he was 150 years prior.  Maybe he was Chuck Norris back then.

[Vigo]

I at first pinned as Yoda turned goofy from living alone in a swamp, but since he can Jedi talk to all his dead friends, I don't think being alone was the issue. The only plausible thing is that Yoda was in fact a dick, and out of boredom, he just began taking mind altering drugs on dagobah. The drugs mellowed him out, but in the end eventually killed him. For a 900 year old guy, that health failure was very sudden.


Edit: Oh, and checking the star wars wiki, Yoda spend many early years living on a swamp planet as well...i think living in a swamp was a personal preference.

[Donkbaca]

Here's what I think.

1) If he wants to change the movie, he can.  Its HIS movie, he can do whatever he wants about it.
2) Just about EVERYONE of you nerds that I know that saw episode one on opening night thought it was freaking awesome.  Only later did they come back to earth and that piece of garbage ruined more things about the first 3 films than someone adding in blinking eyes to the Ewoks, who themselves were kind of stupid and a waste to begin with.
3) Why are you bitching about effects?  That is what made that whole movie popular and interesting in the first place.  Hell the whole franchise is more or less on giant infomercial for Industrial Light and Magic.
4) This whole "books are better" blah blah blah.  The whole thing is kind of dumb.  In the original trilogy, they make the Jedi out to be some sort of mythical, underground sect.  Its almost like they are a legend and they didn't exist.  Then you find out later that only 20 years prior they were part of the ruling class.  Its stupid to think that they would go from pre-eminent decision makers to hermit, loaner "nobody believes they exist" type mythological creatures within 20 years.  Books, or movies, that whole premise is retarded.
5) The whole Jedi thing was really lame.  Luke Skywalker is a little ---smurfette--- throughout the whole movie.  Han Solo made that whole thing interesting.  That's why episodes one through three sucked.  Nobody watched the first three movies and and thought, "you know what?  I wonder what Darth Vader was like as a kid and young man? You know what else?  I want to know more about Luke Skywalkers mom "  No, nobody gives a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about that.  It would have been better if they focused on Han and Chewie and the intergalactic boozing and tail chasing they did before they had to babysit Luke.

[ChadTower]

4) This whole "books are better" blah blah blah. 

...

 It would have been better if they focused on Han and Chewie and the intergalactic boozing and tail chasing they did before they had to babysit Luke.

The books do focus on Han and Chewie's life both before and after they met Luke.  In fact there are dozens of books specifically about Han/Leia/their kids and Han/Chewie/pre Rebellion.  Doesn't make much sense to say the books are dumb and then complain that you missed out on what is in them.

[Donkbaca]

The books are dumb because the whole universe has this retarded notion that within 20 or so years a ruling, prominent, elite level of society would be completely forgotten.

The movies are dumb because nobody gives a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about what darth vader was like when he was a pre-teen

[wp34]

4) This whole "books are better" blah blah blah. 

...

 It would have been better if they focused on Han and Chewie and the intergalactic boozing and tail chasing they did before they had to babysit Luke.

The books do focus on Han and Chewie's life both before and after they met Luke.  In fact there are dozens of books specifically about Han/Leia/their kids and Han/Chewie/pre Rebellion.  Doesn't make much sense to say the books are dumb and then complain that you missed out on what is in them.

Many of the books are quite good, some not so much.  The "The Corellian Trilogy" that focuses on Han and Chewies early life is one of my favorites.

[Mikezilla]

Han Solo and Chewie are great, but they are one note. Some smugglers arent going to change the galaxy in the way that some one as prolific as Darth Vader can.

The thing is though, Lucas is his own worst enemy. You know why Empire Strikes Back is the best movie? It wasnt even directed by Lucas. A new hope was the weakest in the originals, and ALL of the prequels sucked. Like I mentioned before, the ONLY cool part in the prequels was when Qui gon cut his way through the door with the lightsabre. And when Anakin caught fire in the third one. Everything else was garbage. The writing, the casting, the directing, EVERYTHING. Imagine if someone else had the reins aside from Lucas, what kind of movie would we have watched? Pointless now, but you cant say it sucked because Han and Chewie werent showcased on it.

I do agree though the decline of the republic considering the time was kind of stupid.

Maybe there is some awesome swamp gas we dont know about Vigo that just trips you out. Jedi style. 

[Mikezilla]

They also made Vader a big vagina. And Hayden Christiansan cant act FOR ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Thanks a lot George. Way to suck. 

[wp34]

George Lucas is dumb because he has this retarded notion that within 20 or so years a ruling, prominent, elite level of society would be completely forgotten.

George Lucas is dumb because nobody gives a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about what darth vader was like when he was a pre-teen

Fixed that for ya.

[HaRuMaN]

Personally, I think Episode 4 is the best one.  It comes out of nowhere and doesn't really give any explanation for anything and it's got a nice tidy ending. 

I just agreed 100% with what pbj said...  weird.  The world must be ending.   

[Mikezilla]

Personally, I think Episode 4 is the best one.  It comes out of nowhere and doesn't really give any explanation for anything and it's got a nice tidy ending. 

My favorite was Episode 5. When I saw that movie I was about 5 years old and man. I wanted one of those AT-AT toys and the Ewok Playset. Darth Vader was so cool. I didnt know exactly what was going on, but the effects got my little kid mind going.

[Donkbaca]

I think you are all just bitter. The fact is, its an okay movie with great effects that you liked when you were younger, but now the effects aren't as impressive so you have come to the realization that the movies themselves, on their own merits aren't that great.

You hate George for "ruining it" instead of facing the reality that you are fanatics about something that, in the end is pretty lame.

[Mikezilla]

I think you are all just bitter. The fact is, its an okay movie with great effects that you liked when you were younger, but now the effects aren't as impressive so you have come to the realization that the movies themselves, on their own merits aren't that great.

You hate George for "ruining it" instead of facing the reality that you are fanatics about something that, in the end is pretty lame.

Wow. This is the first time I am inclined to disagree with you Donk. You must be a Trekkie then huh? 

[Vigo]

No Kidding. The original SW movies were really good on their own merits. You will be hard pressed to find a movie with more enjoyable characters. Usually when you get good character dynamics, it is only 2 or 3 characters that are very memorable. Here you have 8 great characters in the first film alone.

[lordnacho]

Has any other movie been modified and re-released?  Other than upgrades to audio/video quality or colorized?

[AtomSmasher]

Has any other movie been modified and re-released?  Other than upgrades to audio/video quality or colorized?

When ET was re-released a few years back, the guns the cops were holding were modified to be flashlights.  You might remember the South Park episode making fun of that decision where they changed all of the guns in Saving Private Ryan to flashlights.

[HaRuMaN]

Has any other movie been modified and re-released?  Other than upgrades to audio/video quality or colorized?

When ET was re-released a few years back, the guns the cops were holding were modified to be flashlights.  You might remember the South Park episode making fun of that decision where they changed all of the guns in Saving Private Ryan to flashlights.

I bought the limited edition, it came with both versions...

[Vigo]

They also updated the special effects in the original Star Trek Series. It was only for outer space shots and a few other special effects, and from the episodes I have seen, it was done very tastefully.

[lordnacho]

When ET was re-released a few years back, the guns the cops were holding were modified to be flashlights.  You might remember the South Park episode making fun of that decision where they changed all of the guns in Saving Private Ryan to flashlights.

Interesting, did not know this