If you haven’t heard Gotye’s No. 1 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” in the last five minutes (as unlikely as that seems) and you like to bemoan the digital revisionism of George Lucas we’ve got a treat for you. Check out this video that takes the Jedi universe into the echo chamber of pop parody…
For fans of a certain age, Lucas seems like a painter who won’t let go of his most famous canvas — instead of treating the original “Star Wars” trilogy as a piece of fixed history, he scrapes off the appealing pigments of the past (like Han Solo’s outlaw ethics and unsportsmanlike decision to preemptively murder a green guy named Greedo) and then digitally paint right over our collective moviegoing memories (the Blu-rays show us now that it was Greedo who fired first).
Lucas has said that he sees the changes as merely a tech-upgrade that gets the Jedi saga’s on-screen achievement closer to the version in his head; well, sure, that applies to the salvage effort that added a viable Jabba the Hutt into an effects-challenged sequence that had been abandoned during the making of the 1977 film. But it sure doesn’t explain the taming of Solo’s soul.
You can watch “Star Wars” on Blu-ray now but it won’t be the version released in theaters in 1977 — that’s not available because Lucas doesn’t cherish it the way the rest of the world does. In the decades to come, Lucas may find other improvements to make to our sadly flawed memories. When the 50th anniversary edition of “Star Wars” arrives in 2027 maybe Solo will be recreated as the man who shot Liberty Valance on Tattoine? Or perhaps it’ll be a spectral 2Pac who pulls the trigger and rips open Greedo’s gut?
– Geoff Boucher
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"… (like Han Solo’s outlaw ethics and unsportsmanlike decision to preemptively murder a green guy named Greedo) …"
Thank You for stating what is IMO, the way it originally happened. I don't agree with the 'Han Shot First' contingent. Han Shot Period. The End. There was no attempt by the green goon to take Han in/down.
I've been saying this for many years – none of my friends think this way. Losers.
That Han originally shot first is not an opinion ("IMO"); it's a fact. When the scene played out on the big screen at the Larkfield Cinema in my hometown of Santa Rosa, California, in 1977, me and hundreds of other enthralled moviegoers watched Han shoot first. And to my recollection, he took the only shot, too.
Reminds of a band called “The Board of Education,” and their tune of ‘Why is Dad do mad about Star Wars.’
I'm all for the changes and all for the prequals. The more Star Wars the better, and I was there from the start, unlike the majority of you who jumped on when the originals were re – released pre phantom menance. Lucas, there are many who appreciate your work.
I grew up with star wars it was a saturday morning staple that and raiders of the lost ark I chose to watch them on my old vhs. as a child they had a profound effect on me. And I never understood the reasons for all the changes over the years. As far as the prequels go I think of them as stand alone films purely made for entertaining a new generation of child fans.
This parody video was great. Metachlorians were the worst idea Lucas ever had (yes, even worse than Jar Jar). This video inspired my short commentary http://wp.me/plb5b-DM
Proudly in the minority. Team Lucas all the way. Anyone that buys remastered/remixed music of their favorite artists and rips Lucas for his changes is a flat out hypocrite. I love the story, the action, and the music of Star Wars. I never watched it for good acting, dialogue, or direction. The magic was always in the storytelling, visuals, and editing. Nothing was ruined for me. Thank you, Mr. Lucas.
Blah, blah, blah! More STAR WARS bashing. I swear . . . all of this bashing of the Special Editions and the Prequel Trilogy has become over-the-top and psychotic. It's really getting ridiculous. And by the way, A NEW HOPE was the first SW movie that I saw and that was back in 1977.