T-Bone wrote:
I remember I bought the Trilogy box set in VHS with the THX widescreen remastering. Back then I thought I would be set for life and
never need to buy another version ever again
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I think I ended up giving it away with my dozens and dozens of other VHS tapes
about 10 years ago. I never realized that the messed up Lucas version was what was considered the "standard" these days. I haven't
watched it on TV in years. I'd agree that shouldn't be the version that people be shown.
That THX widescreen was the last release of the OT as it should have been.
Plenty of directors will make edits after their film has been released, however all of them (except for Lucas) will also make sure the original version you grew up with is available as well so that you had the choice to watch the version you wanted. As an example, Ridley Scott has something like 5 cuts of Blade Runner available, but he'll make sure all of them are purchasable so that you get the version you want. What George Lucas did to the OT was nothing short of cultural vandalism... Of course in 1988 he testified before Congress to condemn others who were doing the same. What he then did in the 90s and '00s to the OT made that an all time WYC.
I honestly think the original trilogy was probably only successful because George Lucas had people there to tell him now and fix his mistake. By the time he started fiddling with the OT and making the PT, he had gotten rid of everyone else who had been there to tell him no. Gary Kurtz (who is the real hero of the OT) was long gone. I think if Lucas had the control of the OT that he had over the PT, there probably would've only been 1 Star Wars film made and it would've been a disaster. The original edit was reportedly a trainwreck that makes Suicide Squad look like a coherent movie. Paul Hirsch then stepped in and saved the film in editing.
Here is an interview with Gary Kurtz where he trashes the Special Editions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKpD_w58I30