My not-so-cleverly-disguised inner geek did a little victory lap this week upon hearing the news that the original version of "Star Wars" (y'know…the version prior to George Lucas' entirely revisionist, needlessly touched-up "special edition" from the mid-90's…which summarily became the only version available) is slated for a September release on DVD. For those of you who might not know (or, more likely, care) about the arguably subtle differences between the versions, the "special edition" found Lucas adding lots of garish computer animation to certain scenes, which -- on what was then twenty-year old film -- stuck out like glistening brown turds on a prayer rug (did DaVinci touch up the "Mona Lisa"? LEAVE IT ALONE, GEORGE!) More crucially, the "special edition" altered the simmering exchange between Greedo (Jabba the Hut's slimey, pistol-wielding errand boy in the Cantina scene) and insouciant space pirate (note the second word in that title), Han Solo. In the original scene, punkishly louche Solo -- sensing imminent execution at Greedo's hand -- SHOOTS FIRST from underneath the table in an endearing demonstration of self-preserving dirty pool. At the time, it completely fit the profile: Han Solo is a badass PIRATE! Pirates do that sorta thing; and don't think twice about it. In the "special edition," Lucas clumsily re-edited the scene to have Greedo fire the first shot, providing Solo a "self-defense" alibi to buffer his re-tooled image as a saintly "hero"/role model. I remember loudly exclaiming an incredulous "OH WHAT THE FUCK?" in the middle of Manhattan's posh-o Zigfeld theatre at the close of that sanitized scene. I hate revisionism, and have hated George Lucas for it ever since.
It's not all good news, though. While Lucas may have buckled to the demand of Uber-Geek Nation, he'll see a pretty profit from it, being that he's releasing it inna Disney stylee in a limited edition run before it's sequestered back to "the vaults," which means if you don't pony up the cash with all speed, you'll never get your hands on a copy. But perhaps this was the man's plan all along? In the same way Kiss knew they could always pull out their trump card and re-unite the original foursome with make-up -- ensuring that the oldsters all come out of the woodwork with wallets out and ready, maybe Lucas was counting on milking the die-hard completist dollar from the get-go? I wouldn't put it passed him.
In any case, read my colleague Larry Carrol's more authoritative piece on the news by clicking here.
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