I guess we've all heard the news by now that Lucas has gone the Disney route and said that he will now release the original versions of the first trilogy, but only for a limited time, from September to December? Gee, didn't he say about 2 years ago that he couldn't find the original versions and/or that he wasn't gonna release them anyway? Methinks he not only had 'em all along but planned on doing this very thing as well!
Word is that no restoration will be done on this print. There shouldn't be that much to restore, only the scenes that got replaced.
But then, we wouldn't have to shell out for the "Original Version, Restored" next Spring. Lucas ain't fooling anyone.
Apparently each film will come as a two disk set. The original theatrical version with Dolby 2.0, and the DVD special edition version.
Personally anyone that doesn't like it can go ***k themselves. Fans have been moaning and complaining about the special editions for a decade now. They've been gripping about their precious stop motion effects and how they want to see the "original" version, mat lines and all. So Lucas gives in and gives the fans WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DEMANDING. So what does he get for it? More whining. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
I'm just disappointed that they're only going to be on the shelves through December. I don't like it when Disney does that with their classics either.
Producer Gary Kurtz says that Lucas is a toymaker first, and a filmmaker second.