Movies News Talk
George Lucas's Star Wars special edition cuts were controversial when first published, which caused the director to defend them against criticism. Starting in 1977, 1980, and 1983 successively, Lucas's original trilogy films debuted When the first chronological Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, came out, Lucas went back over the old movies and added various tweaks, additions, and computer-generated imagery improvements. Since then, they have been known as the Star Wars special editions; certain changes have been well-received while others are less so.
Fascinatingly, George Lucas defended the changes done in the special editions (via The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter/X) at CinemaCon 2024. Lucas said, under interrogation on the contentious character of the Star Wars special editions, "I think a film belongs to its creator." Michelangelo gazed at the Sistine Chapel's ceiling he created and declared: I'm going to redo this part. This shows the opinions of the Star Wars creator on the special edition debate: Lucas's movies are his property, hence he is quite entitled to change them.
One of the larger, more rational changes done to the original trilogy was including prequel performers. For instance, Ian McDiarmid was inserted to the Emperor's sequence in The Empire Strikes Back and Hayden Christensen's Force Ghost was added at the end of Return of the Jedi. All of this helps these six films of the Skywalker Saga to largely flow naturally from one to the next.
The adjustments were really about Lucas claiming responsibility for the franchise he developed and justifying his ownership of it. Lucas's remarks demonstrate how, as Michelangelo did with the Sistine Chapel, the Star Wars producer had every right to confirm his ownership of the franchise.
Lucas has every justification to change the first Star Wars films since he owned the franchise and created it. Though some would object to some of the little changes—such as the musical number from Return of the Jedi, Jabba the Hutt's A New Hope appearance, or Greedo shooting Han Solo first—the more major changes to fit the visual styles of both trilogies make sense. The revisions were really about Lucas claiming credit for the franchise he developed and justifying his ownership of it.
Lucas has every excuse to change the first Star Wars films since he owned the franchise and created it. Though some would object to some of the little changes—such as the musical number from Return of the Jedi, Jabba the Hutt's A New Hope appearance, or Greedo shooting Han Solo first—the more major changes to fit the visual styles of both trilogies make sense. The revisions were really about Lucas claiming credit for the franchise he developed and justifying his ownership of it.
Claiming that the original Star Wars trilogy was his to alter, George Lucas has justified the tweaks done in the special editions. What about the first runs of the movies that many enthusiasts would rather see? Lucas has said these will never be made public. The unique editions reflect his franchise ownership. The unique editions reflect his franchise ownership.
The Star Wars producer is obviously not going to waver on this point. Lucas insists the special editions are the official versions of the movies. Although some fans may find this frustrating, Lucas has every right to do what he pleases with his own work.
Though not everyone is convinced, George Lucas has defended the alterations he made to the first Star Wars trilogy. Many admirers of the movies prefer their original forms since they seem more classic. Lucas's justification of the modifications to the original movies is most likely to cause continuous controversy. George Lucas considered it essential to make many changes to the original trilogy that nobody requested as technology in filmmaking advanced.
Though there are reasons Lucas made the decisions he did, his alterations to the films are not generally appreciated. The unique editions reflect Lucas's vision and act as a reminder of his Star Wars franchise ownership.
When first published, the special versions of the original Star Wars trilogy were controversial and the director responded with a rebuttal against their complaints. Starting in 1977, 1980, and 1983 successively, Lucas's original trilogy films debuted When the first chronological Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, came out, Lucas went back over the old movies and added various tweaks, additions, and computer-generated imagery improvements. Since then, they have been known as the Star Wars special editions; certain changes have been well-received while others are less so.
Fascinatingly, George Lucas defended the changes done in the special editions (via The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter/X) at CinemaCon 2024. Lucas said, under interrogation on the contentious character of the Star Wars special editions, "I think a film belongs to its creator." Michelangelo gazed at the Sistine Chapel's ceiling he created and declared: I'm going to redo this part. This captures the opinions of the Star Wars writer on the special edition debate: Lucas's films are his creations, hence he is quite entitled to change them if he so wants.