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50,000 Monkeys at 50,000 Typewriters Can't Be Wrong

this is not the special edition you’re looking for

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If you’re going to be in a sub-culture, you absolutely must be able to laugh at yourself. It starts out in school, as a defense mechanism against The Cool Kids. When we grow older, if we’re smart, it’s how we snort laugh right back at people who just don’t get it . . . you know, the mundies. (Who used to be The Cool Kids, before we realized that it is we who are truly The Cool Kids.)
In this endeavor, John Kovalic is our leader. Case in point: “The force can have a strong influence on the geek-minded.”

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20 September, 2004 Wil

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dancing in the deepest oceans → ← just this guy, you know?

30 thoughts on “this is not the special edition you’re looking for”

  1. Jojo says:
    20 September, 2004 at 7:53 pm

    does anyone know when the new/last star wars is coming out, and is it rumoured to be good? I can’t help looking forward to them, despite everything

  2. Lawless1 says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:00 pm

    I SO cannot wait to get my hands on the dvd set of Star Wars. And yes, it did totally suck ass when they made Greedo shot first. Totally ruined the scene.

  3. Lawless1 says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:02 pm

    Duh, that was “shoot first”, not shot.

  4. Ben Lantow says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:06 pm

    I could really go for the original, but apparently if George Lucas thinks his SPECIAL Editions are more eh, well special thats what we get, along with a trilogy of prequels, and maybe another trilogy of post whatevers, is there even a word for it, at what point does it get rediculous.
    I know I can’t spell.

  5. Bryan K says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:28 pm

    I dunno about you guys but im more for the ORIGINAL VERSION of the Star Wars movies. I don’t think I’ll buy this set. Wil’s a fan of Star Wars I believe, I can’t imagine he’d like the NEWLY REMASTERED AND F*CKED WITH EDITION OF STAR WARS 4-6….right wil?
    Bryan

  6. Magus says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:43 pm

    It’s times like this that being a dork is painful. Not just on the brain, but the wallet. Needless to say, I know I’ll be at Westwood tonight.
    M

  7. Eric In Pa says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:43 pm

    LOL. Yes, yes it can.
    Since I work at a theatre (and yes, we DO spell it that way, since we’re “classy” and “historic”), I’ll most likely be sitting there the night before the opening, running Episode III for myself and myself alone. Without anyone else in the theatre, I’m going to sit in the front-center balcony seat and see for myself what Lucas does with his final prequel installment.
    Based on I and II, I don’t hold much hope for III. But sit there I will, and watch, having given nothing to Lucas for it, and actually getting paid in the process. Jar-Jar destroyed Phantom Menace. The love-sick and ill-titled second installment was just as bad, if not worse. You can see why my hope doesn’t float for this next film…
    I will say this, though. Clone Wars was a triumph for Genndy Tartakovsky and the Star Wars universe as a whole. They spent a whole 5 seconds on the Anikan/Amidala love story, and the rest was, even for five minute episodes, rather righteous. Lucas’ one bright decision, I suppose, to hand the reigns over to Tartakovsky.
    I won’t be buying the DVD set because of what they did at the end of Jedi, subbing in the new Anikan for the old. Fsck that (yeah, it’s so bad it doesn’t even get a full-blown fuck).
    Jedi Mind Trick my ass.
    I still love my VHS copies of the original Trilogy 10th anniversary editions. They still play like champs. If I want the Trilogy on DVD, I can always scan it and make a DVD. I’m just to lazy. LOL

  8. seasnail says:
    20 September, 2004 at 8:48 pm

    dude

  9. The poster formerly known as Ratboy says:
    20 September, 2004 at 10:17 pm

    I know it’s the Special Edition, but I don’t care. It’s still Star Wars to me. Today, it will be mine.

  10. anc says:
    20 September, 2004 at 10:38 pm

    hey Ben, post whatevers can also be called sequels. 🙂

  11. Devin says:
    20 September, 2004 at 10:57 pm

    Isn’t it John *Kovalic*?

  12. Kevbo says:
    20 September, 2004 at 11:54 pm

    That cartoon sums things up for me too. I actually will be buying them NOW just in case George changes his mind about the movies AGAIN later! I still am not planning on watching the 3rd one right now. Hrumph.

  13. TS says:
    21 September, 2004 at 12:34 am

    This is the group I’m in ‘Doh!! I’ve bitched and pissed and moaned about the ’97 “updates” and the new trillogy, and not only will I be buying this dvd set, which has the ’97 movies that have been further messed with, but I’ll also be in line on opening night for “Revenge of the Sith”. Thanks for pointing out my flaws Wil…. LoL You still r0x0r.

  14. Jessie says:
    21 September, 2004 at 4:11 am

    The first poster asked when the third prequel is coming out. May of next year. And I hold a lot more hope for it than 1 and 2. Although I do wish they had stuck with the rumored title circulating the internet – Rise of the Empire. I guess Lucas just really wanted to use that “revenge” once and for all.
    But despite all of Lucas’ flaws I’ll be at Celebration III waiting to see what all the “special surprises” are. And I’ll be watching the dvds tonight because of course I have to buy them. If only he’d stick with the plots he licenses in the books – the movies would rock.
    This is why I get into arguments with my fellow 501st members about why I think Roddenberry was so much better and more dedicated to his work than Lucas ever was or will be. ::sigh:: We’ll see next year.

  15. DuJour says:
    21 September, 2004 at 5:15 am

    Lucas doesn’t trust his own work I think. He can’t seem to not fiddle with what he’s already done (THX 1138 is another example). And so he makes changes. And more changes. And in the process loses the spark that makes the originals so great.
    And yet I’m still going to go buy them today.
    CNN.com had 3 articles about The Trilogy coming out today on it’s website yesterday. 3! This is going to make George even more millions he doesn’t need.

  16. tankgirl says:
    21 September, 2004 at 5:24 am

    I started calling ‘mundies’ ‘muggles’ after my harry potter obsession started. It’s really a perfect word for the purpose 🙂

  17. Vanessa Nichole says:
    21 September, 2004 at 6:37 am

    Wil,
    “If you’re going to be in a sub-culture, you absolutely must be able to laugh at yourself. It starts out in school, as a defense mechanism against The Cool Kids. When we grow older, if we’re smart, it’s how we laugh right back at people who just don’t get it… you know, the mundies. (Who used to be The Cool Kids, before we realized that it is we who are truly The Cool Kids.)”
    Dude, I just dicussed the exact same thing with my best friend Lisa the other day, so it was funny/coincidental actually reading this entry. The comic was funny, but there’s a seed of truth to it, too.
    Arrivederci!
    -Vanessa Nichole

  18. Robert in Austin says:
    21 September, 2004 at 7:32 am

    Of course be prepared to shell out bucks again in a couple of years when Lucas releases the Definitive Collector’s Edition of all six remastered and re-edited movies on HD-DVD.

  19. Craig Steffen says:
    21 September, 2004 at 7:39 am

    I’ve struggled with whether or not to buy the new DVD set. I think that this is very close, if not over the line of milking it purely for money.
    It’s not as clear cut for me as Terminator 2. I bought the original DVD, which was just the movie. Then the “T2: Special Edition” came out, which had three versions of the movie in seamless branching, and tons and tons of behind the scenes stuff that was really cool to watch. I bought the special edition of T2, sold the older one on eBay, and was happy with the trade. However, I completely refused to buy the third edition (“Ultimate Edition” or whatever it was called). They already had a truly excellent collectors edition of the movie out, there was no reason to put out a third one.
    So I’m in a dilemna about Star Wars. I think, though, that I won’t rush right out a buy it right now. I think that George’s ego has been inflated enough; I’ll wait to buy it when it’s been on shelves a bit.
    Sorry to not geek out with the rest of you. The thing is, the character that really made the original trilogy most interesting was Han Solo, the morally ambiguous character. The new cuts of _Star Wars_ have ruined that character.
    Phantom menace was really bad, and quite blatantly racist, but queen Amidala had some promise as an interesting character. But I have to say that I was pretty disgusted with episode 2’s use of her. All of a sudden, we find out that the “queen” is an elected position, and it’s no big deal for her to marry a former slave and failed jedi. Instead, we have the warm and squishy wedding that’s guaranteed to not annoy parents of young children so that they buy them lots of Star Wars toys for Christmas. Blech.
    End of rant. Back to work…

  20. Sandie K says:
    21 September, 2004 at 7:54 am

    …yeow. such mixed opinions of this.
    When Revenge of the Jedi (i think thats what I heard it was gonna be called), itll do fairly well not cuz its a good movie, but because of stuff like that rather amusing comic. And no, i didnt deduce that form the comic, it was obvious as to why Phantom suceeded.
    Dunno if Im gonna get the DVDs yet. I have a perfectly good of Special Edition tapes and the Remastered release they had before that. Depedns on what the ‘extra’ stuff is. Although Ill probably end up with it anyway. If I dont get it myself itll be a Christmas present.

  21. Eleri says:
    21 September, 2004 at 8:55 am

    I dunno, I find it highly amusing how completely unapolagetic Lucas is about redoing scenes. It’s his movie, and he’ll do it his way.
    There was an interview where he said something like “I’m sorry if you fell in love with a half-done movie”. He makes it quite clear that he’s making these for him, and not us.
    And you know what, that’s what’s art is supposed to be. The creator’s vision, even if the people looking think it sucks rocks through a twisty straw.

  22. Sandie says:
    21 September, 2004 at 11:05 am

    SITH!!!!!!!! damnit whered I get Jedi from????
    i feel stupid now.

  23. Jessie says:
    21 September, 2004 at 11:31 am

    Sandie,
    Because that’s what ROTJ was originally called, but Lucas’ “advisors” or whatever thought that it didn’t sound right. Too rough. Why would a Jedi seek revenge? So now he’s wanted to use it and he finally gets to. Like I said – Rise of the Empire or Rise of the Sith is way better.

  24. Gary says:
    21 September, 2004 at 11:57 am

    This made me think. I ran into a guy from High School about a year ago. He was one of the top jocks and “cool” kids. He was burnt out of his mind. And we were only 8 years out.
    Ran into another one. Chubby fella, life going no where, fast.
    Luckily, a couple more have turned into decent guys, but most of the “cool kids” from HS flamed out badly. The peeked as Juniors and Seniors.
    I played football, but was lauded for my intelligence over all else, at the senior recognition. I thought “man, this sucks”, and yet, now I’m a coding fool who does well and has the respect of those who matter. Funny how that works out, huh?

  25. Beth says:
    21 September, 2004 at 4:10 pm

    That was so freakin’funny! I’ve tried the Jedi Mind Trick and it failed miserably…but enough of that! I loved it, it was so funny.

  26. Jocelyn says:
    21 September, 2004 at 6:15 pm

    That’s possibly the best comic strip ever.
    Thank you Wil.

  27. Lauren Carter says:
    21 September, 2004 at 7:36 pm

    Yeah….I must admit that the remastered will never be as good as watching the originals. But I will still watch them as they are among my all time favourite movies.
    However I have trouble with the prequels. I do watch them but it just doesnt seem right. They seem wierd and way too high tech. Not true star wars films.

  28. Jim Gilmore says:
    21 September, 2004 at 10:34 pm

    No, I don’t think I will be purchasing this one. It really is a matter of Jabba. Once the movie gets to that CG Jabba, my suspension of disbelief is blown. I mean, any geek knows, Hutts live for thousands of years. Did he suddenly go through a growth spurt between A New Hope and ROTJ? Probably not. But the eyballs pooching out is way over the top. I’m done watching it from that point on. The poor job they did on that CG makes my skin crawl. George, there are exellent 3D artists who are pining for jobs. Hire a few. At the very least, George, hire someone who knows how to make decent textures for the models they make. He looked like a rubber toy. As much money as you made off these re-releases, you could have afforded some real artists to help you butcher a classic in style.
    No amount of cool Death Star explosiveness can make up for the devastation caused by that scene, which should have been left in it’s rightful place, the cutting room floor.
    The rest, I could live with. Even Greedo shooting first, though I must say, that was an error in judgement, George. But that scene just ruins it for me. Six years later, I still haven’t watched it again. I may be scarred for life.

  29. cinder says:
    21 September, 2004 at 11:18 pm

    i got my trilogy set in the mail today. this makes the 6th copy of the trilogy that i own, and like the others, it’s different from the rest. but now my vhs tapes can finally go into retirement and rest in peace.
    also point out for all you interested in the greedo scene on the dvds to go here for the han/greedo scene in an animated gif format (if you have the dvds, dont bother).

  30. Ariel says:
    24 September, 2004 at 6:50 am

    I don’t care what anyone says! It’s “Star Wars,” Lucas has lost it anyway, my friend bought it, and I’m going to see them this weekend.
    Wil, see you at BatCon in Dallas next month!

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