I’m finding it hard to get outraged today. Maybe it’s because my apartment is so cold, or maybe it’s because I didn’t have enough coffee today. Either way, I just can’t bring up the bile right now, even when faced with two different George Lucas news items that would normally have me quite annoyed*.
First up is the news – and I use that word in the sense of “something we all totally knew in advance but that was not confirmed out of sheer evil and greed” – that George Lucas et al may be doing yet another version of Star Wars on DVD. Or maybe Blu-Ray or HD-DVD; same difference. Coming Soon found this in an AP story about Hasbro’s earnings:
Looking ahead, Verrecchia said he expected Star Wars to continue to be a strong performer with Lucas planning a video release for this year’s 30th anniversary, a Star Wars animated TV show next year and a live-action Star Wars TV show in 2009.
"He and his studio have a lot going on over the next several years to support the franchise," Verrecchia said.
Now, that could mean that Lucas is finally releasing the Holiday Special to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the franchise that has enslaved a city’s worth of virginal men, but common sense dictates that this will be the Mother of All Star Wars DVD Sets – all six films, and a Ludovico Machine that will hold your eyes open so you can watch the prequels.
Elsewhen, George Lucas appeared at this week’s Publicist’s Guild Awards (Jesus H Christ, why don’t the Gaffers give out trophies?), and David Poland brings back this report:
Geirge [sic] Lucas, giving the award to Sid Ganis, who was the in-house publicist on Star Wars: Episode Five – The Empire Strikes Back, said, "Sid is the reason why The Empire Strikes Back is always written about as the best of the films, when it actually was the worst one."
It’s like he’s daring us. He knows that everybody likes that one the most, but because it’s the one he had the least control over, he hates it. Look at me, almost getting my dander up.
But no, it won’t work. And I most likely won’t buy this new Star Wars DVD set, just like I have resisted everything Star Wars related since Episode II proved that this whole thing was a tragic farce.
*Theory three: I just don’t give a fuck about anything George Lucas thinks, says or does anymore. He’s burned me out. Maybe if he took a preschool hostage I could work up some kind of indignation.