It seems like Lucas is now, above all, the head of a large company with thousands of employees depending on consistent projects that return huge numbers. The pressure must be especially intense since he sunk over $300 million into the San Francisco campus.
When you look at projects like the unnecessarily effects-crammed and creatively questionable special editions, prequels, and Indy 4 through that lens, their existence makes perfect sense.
It seems like Lucas is now, above all, the head of a large company with thousands of employees depending on consistent projects that return huge numbers. The pressure must be especially intense since he sunk over $300 million into the San Francisco campus.
When you look at projects like the unnecessarily effects-crammed and creatively questionable special editions, prequels, and Indy 4 through that lens, their existence makes perfect sense.
Because the next release will probably be on Bluray, but if they were ACTUALLY only considering the money, like you're suggesting, there would be a remastered originals release on DVD as well, prior to the HD jump.
I'll stick to my VHSs then, I even remember the "touched" versions released during Episode 1 on VHS as well. Can't recall what had other than a few CGI monsters and what not.
Because the next release will probably be on Bluray, but if they were ACTUALLY only considering the money, like you're suggesting, there would be a remastered originals release on DVD as well, prior to the HD jump.
Well, the whole sales pitch of the Special Editions was that they were what Lucas wanted to do all along. Putting any more work into the originals, which Lucas claims to be embarrassed by, would contradict the whole concept of the Special Editions being the definitive version of the Star Wars trilogy.
So at this point it may be about where they've staked the brand - not to mention the Anakin continuity they injected into Return of the Jedi. The fact that the SEs sold well (even to purists, no doubt) means they have no compelling reason to backpedal anyway.
Well, the whole sales pitch of the Special Editions was that they were what Lucas wanted to do all along. Putting any more work into the originals, which Lucas claims to be embarrassed by, would contradict the whole concept of the Special Editions being the definitive version of the Star Wars trilogy.
So at this point it may be about where they've staked the brand - not to mention the Anakin continuity they injected into Return of the Jedi. The fact that the SEs sold well (even to purists, no doubt) means they have no compelling reason to backpedal anyway.
They DID release the originals, though, bundled individually with their respective remakes. They just refused to remaster the colors and audio, etc.
If this was purely monitary, they would remaster it, because it WOULD sell. Clearly (and I don't think you disagree) there is another agenda in place beyond JUST money.
