movies.com— 'Star Wars' Blu-ray Sales Breaks Records Globally Despite Fan Outcry. Read this and other movie news, reviews, and more at Movies.com.
Sep 24, 2011View in Crawl 4
And for someone who is supposedly a professional bounty hunter (Greedo) how the heck do you miss somone sitting across the table from you?
No, I place the blame completely on George "Toy Boy" Lucas for his stupidity. For ruining what used to be my fave bad guy of all time (Darth Vader) for turning him into such a whiny emo punk.
This is why a creator would go bankrupt for pandering to "fans". I have my gripes, but not enough to keep me from buying the movies in new formats. Plus my kids' interest ensures Star Wars will live on through future generations
I find none of the changes bothersome, I couldn't care less if Solo shoots first or not. It changes nothing, Greedo is still dead, Solo still flicks the coin to the barkeep saying "Sorry about the mess", and there is more continuity showing Hayden Christensen as the glowing force-ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi. The rest of the changes add CGI which was not possible in the 70's and early 80's (all the worlds celebrating at the end of Jedi, etc.). All good stuff.
I wish we were given the option of removing most of the moronic Annie comments in Phantom Menace (hey, I know, I'll spin, that's a good move.... what does this button do?.... He said stay in the ship, so we'll stay in the ship..... etc.etc. etc.). If Lucas had included "The Phantom Edit", the BR set would be perfect...
Conservatism. (not in the political way, but in the philosophical way)
thats the problem with the old fans of starwars.
back in the 70's, george used several tricks to do the FX, he didn't have lots of cash, and there was no cgi like we have now, so he had to do tricks to get close to what he wanted to achieve.
BUT, it wasn't, it just was close to that. Now he can have all the FX he want using cgi. HE want those changes, why should he stop of doing them? because of fan outcry?
What about the other changes? Han shot first, Hayden christensen in return of the jedi, and others? well, in some cases, he changed his mind, and tried to fix things, and the hayden thing was to make a better connection between his both trilogies.
George makes his movies for himself. He does those changes because he likes them. If he just wanted to make money, he would sell the original theatrical version on bluray (hidef but without any changes), making only a few copies, and offer them for a couple thousand bucks as a "collector thing". those conservative fans would pay a lot for them. (except the ultra-conservative ones, who believe any format newer than the original betamax format is a evil thing)
This really is a good thing, it can only mean that at some stage George will rub his hands together and get his checkbook out to start restoring the theatrical versions and scanning them in 4k or something for a blu-ray release. Then again I probably would have settled for the special editions minus Anikan in Return of the Jedi, minus the "NOOOO!" and for good measures fix the Han solo greedo scene it looks ridiculous.
It's all fairly obvious what the deal is... Fans if the originals, like me, won't buy the rereleases - so why should Lucas care what we think? I've got the original vhs tapes, obviously I'm not concerned with buying it again on every new format.
The first week sales were around one million units. That's actually a pretty low number for a "record".
Quite frankly, the Blu Ray format has been an underachiever to this point. A prime example of the industry misjudging the moment: consumers didn't want another physical format, they want Netflix streaming to be cheaper and get a larger library. What was supposed to be a premium format that demanded higher prices, is now only slightly more expensive than its DVD counterpart.
To wit, "Finding Nemo" reportedly sold 40 million DVDs by 2006. That's a sales record that's impressive to me.
All that aside, the sales of the Star Wars box set would be 1,000,000 + me if they put all the theatrical versions out (a la Blade Runner).Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
Are you aware of what you are comparing? Star Wars blu-ray sold 1 million in 1 week and it was for movies which came out a long time ago. Finding Nemo was released on DVD in 2004 so selling 40 million copies in 2 years is still impressive but not astronomical like you would make it appear. Finding Nemo is a kids movie whereas Star Wars is Sci-fi and it came out on DVD a year after the theatre release.
YOu are comparing apples to oranges. I would say that 1 million of sales in the first week is quite impressive.
My argument is against Blu Ray itself, that the record breaking numbers Star Wars achieved only highlight how weak the adoption of the format's been to this point.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
It's a really expensive box set of a (at this point) very old movie and it's only been on sale for a week. Come back with your fantasy about how poor Blu Ray adoption is after seeing the Christmas sales figures...
You forget that the price tag on the set is 90 bucks. Selling 1 mil units in a week seems pretty impressive to me for such a steep price. You are comparing it to Finding Nemo, which retailed for 20-25 bucks, making it much easier to pick up on your way out the store. 40 mil in 2 years is fantastic sales for a product on sale for the first time ever. Most of us have Star Wars in one form or another already, we have to make up our minds if we are going to double-dip.
skywiseSep 25, 2011
Noooo....
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
rudegarSep 25, 2011
I'll wait for a version which allow us to turn on and off crazy changes lucas made like chose in the settings if Greedo shoots
clitniblr036Sep 26, 2011
Agreed.
luigi1015Sep 26, 2011
I agree with your sentiment but I think you're going to be waiting a long time.
Something tells me Lucas isn't going to let that version come out as long as he lives.
dajobeSep 25, 2011Staff
Until the 3D edition comes out.
gentoofanboySep 25, 2011
This is a nice fix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkKtAjEbj4&feature=related
superkendallSep 25, 2011
The amusing thing is I wouldn't have minded if that had been the real change, it was funny enough... well worth watching.
It it just goes to show that by trying to clean up Han's image they made Greedo out to where he aims like a stormtrooper.
clitniblr036Sep 26, 2011
And for someone who is supposedly a professional bounty hunter (Greedo) how the heck do you miss somone sitting across the table from you?
No, I place the blame completely on George "Toy Boy" Lucas for his stupidity. For ruining what used to be my fave bad guy of all time (Darth Vader) for turning him into such a whiny emo punk.
aristotle0dudeSep 25, 2011
The simple answer here is the "fans" don't actually count for many sales anyway.
If I was in the entertainment industry, I would rather have patrons (people who actually buy stuff) than fans.
ryanwbSep 25, 2011
This is why a creator would go bankrupt for pandering to "fans". I have my gripes, but not enough to keep me from buying the movies in new formats. Plus my kids' interest ensures Star Wars will live on through future generations
imautobotSep 25, 2011
Here's a headline, George Lucas has another spontaneous orgasm as millions of stupid people buy the same product again.
aladinsaneSep 26, 2011
Unfortunately, those very same stupid people are going to bury you.
luigi1015Sep 26, 2011
Says the guy who still refuses to buy anything other than VHS tapes for his VCR.
roddackSep 26, 2011
Now now you know that isn't true he is a Beta Max man through and through
mrdougSep 25, 2011
I like that Yoda is 'fixed' in The Phantom Menace now. Jar-Jar is still there, but at least Yoda has his dignity back.
dcjoedogv2Sep 25, 2011
You mean you didn't like pothead Yoda in Phantom Menace?
spr0ketSep 26, 2011
That's because Star Wars fans are f**ken stupid.
dare978devilSep 26, 2011
I find none of the changes bothersome, I couldn't care less if Solo shoots first or not. It changes nothing, Greedo is still dead, Solo still flicks the coin to the barkeep saying "Sorry about the mess", and there is more continuity showing Hayden Christensen as the glowing force-ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi. The rest of the changes add CGI which was not possible in the 70's and early 80's (all the worlds celebrating at the end of Jedi, etc.). All good stuff.
I wish we were given the option of removing most of the moronic Annie comments in Phantom Menace (hey, I know, I'll spin, that's a good move.... what does this button do?.... He said stay in the ship, so we'll stay in the ship..... etc.etc. etc.). If Lucas had included "The Phantom Edit", the BR set would be perfect...
chrislunaishereSep 26, 2011
Conservatism. (not in the political way, but in the philosophical way)
thats the problem with the old fans of starwars.
back in the 70's, george used several tricks to do the FX, he didn't have lots of cash, and there was no cgi like we have now, so he had to do tricks to get close to what he wanted to achieve.
BUT, it wasn't, it just was close to that. Now he can have all the FX he want using cgi. HE want those changes, why should he stop of doing them? because of fan outcry?
What about the other changes? Han shot first, Hayden christensen in return of the jedi, and others? well, in some cases, he changed his mind, and tried to fix things, and the hayden thing was to make a better connection between his both trilogies.
George makes his movies for himself. He does those changes because he likes them. If he just wanted to make money, he would sell the original theatrical version on bluray (hidef but without any changes), making only a few copies, and offer them for a couple thousand bucks as a "collector thing". those conservative fans would pay a lot for them. (except the ultra-conservative ones, who believe any format newer than the original betamax format is a evil thing)
clitniblr036Sep 26, 2011
I still prefer my original VHS tapes without all the silly added edits.
Greedo did NOT shoot first!
Didn't buy the re-mastered editions, and don't plan on buying the blu-ray versions.
craigreedSep 25, 2011
This really is a good thing, it can only mean that at some stage George will rub his hands together and get his checkbook out to start restoring the theatrical versions and scanning them in 4k or something for a blu-ray release. Then again I probably would have settled for the special editions minus Anikan in Return of the Jedi, minus the "NOOOO!" and for good measures fix the Han solo greedo scene it looks ridiculous.
ninhSep 27, 2011
Star Wars fans .. whiny little bitches with fat wallets ;)
koushiroSep 26, 2011
I'll stick to my laserdisc special edition DVDs from a few years back.
Not sure why you'd want blue ray copies of movies made in the 70's and 80's to start with?
leodinSep 26, 2011
It's all fairly obvious what the deal is... Fans if the originals, like me, won't buy the rereleases - so why should Lucas care what we think? I've got the original vhs tapes, obviously I'm not concerned with buying it again on every new format.
evildeadashSep 26, 2011
http://nooooooooooooooo.com/
katzenbachSep 26, 2011
Great. No one can complain now 'cause the people that bought this damn thing are contributing to the madness.
m3g4tr0nSep 26, 2011
Well of course it did. The sheeple will always flock to the latest and greatest.
TheNoizeSep 26, 2011
...and it will break them again once it is re-released without the changes. Double the money for them!
danogburnSep 25, 2011
dude, we bought the blu-ray so we could hate on it.
imautobotSep 25, 2011
Here's a headline, George Lucas has another spontaneous orgasm as millions of stupid people buy the same product again.
superkendallSep 25, 2011
Hint: It was stupid enough the first time you said it, no need for the repeat.
stackoleeSep 25, 2011
The first week sales were around one million units. That's actually a pretty low number for a "record".
Quite frankly, the Blu Ray format has been an underachiever to this point. A prime example of the industry misjudging the moment: consumers didn't want another physical format, they want Netflix streaming to be cheaper and get a larger library. What was supposed to be a premium format that demanded higher prices, is now only slightly more expensive than its DVD counterpart.
To wit, "Finding Nemo" reportedly sold 40 million DVDs by 2006. That's a sales record that's impressive to me.
All that aside, the sales of the Star Wars box set would be 1,000,000 + me if they put all the theatrical versions out (a la Blade Runner).Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
aristotle0dudeSep 25, 2011
Are you aware of what you are comparing? Star Wars blu-ray sold 1 million in 1 week and it was for movies which came out a long time ago. Finding Nemo was released on DVD in 2004 so selling 40 million copies in 2 years is still impressive but not astronomical like you would make it appear. Finding Nemo is a kids movie whereas Star Wars is Sci-fi and it came out on DVD a year after the theatre release.
YOu are comparing apples to oranges. I would say that 1 million of sales in the first week is quite impressive.
stackoleeSep 25, 2011
My argument is against Blu Ray itself, that the record breaking numbers Star Wars achieved only highlight how weak the adoption of the format's been to this point.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
superkendallSep 25, 2011
It's a really expensive box set of a (at this point) very old movie and it's only been on sale for a week. Come back with your fantasy about how poor Blu Ray adoption is after seeing the Christmas sales figures...
dare978devilSep 26, 2011
You forget that the price tag on the set is 90 bucks. Selling 1 mil units in a week seems pretty impressive to me for such a steep price. You are comparing it to Finding Nemo, which retailed for 20-25 bucks, making it much easier to pick up on your way out the store. 40 mil in 2 years is fantastic sales for a product on sale for the first time ever. Most of us have Star Wars in one form or another already, we have to make up our minds if we are going to double-dip.