The ones who were there 47 years ago remember it clearly: Han shot first. But in nearly every version of 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope that you can find today, Harrison Ford’s charming smuggler was a little slow to the trigger in his face-off against Greedo — one of the many changes that director George Lucas made to the three original Star Wars movies in their home video releases over the past four decades. Lucas has been criticized for his tendency to fiddle with his original Star Wars trilogy in these re-releases; adding scenes, changing pivotal moments, and punching up the practical effects with new digital innovations. The new versions have become so controversial that fans have launched whole projects to restore the original theatrical versions. But if Lucas had his way, no one would see those versions again.
Luckily there are community passion-projects like the Silverscreen Edition and 4K77 and so on.
George, you don’t even own your movie anymore. The mouse bought it for four billion dollars.
Art belongs to its audience. Nobody has a right to censor it after-the-fact - least of all the artist. If you wanted it to be yours alone, you had the choice, and you instead decided to publish. Any control after that is a gift from us to you, and it’s a gift for the explicit purpose of getting us more art.
Me, having downloaded 4k77 and seeing this exact thing this morning: “Sure things, George”
Probably because he can’t make money off it.
Never say never. Disney owns this now and can do whatever the hell they please with it.
