Been Here Before

Lucasfilm has announced that they are releasing DVDs of the theatrical versions of the original movies - yes, that's right, no Special Editions, no Greedo shoots first, no horrible music video at the beginning of ROTJ, etc.

On the surface, this sounds like a great thing. I can finally get a nice DVD version of the movies I grew up with.

But how many times is Lucas going to charge us for essentially the same movies? Lucasfilm swore up and down that we'd never get DVD releases of the originals, that the Special Edition versions were what Lucas considered to be the definitive versions.

He's milking us (use your favorite verb here), and we're taking it. They've probably meant to do this all along. We got how many different versions of the movies on VHS, back in the day? First the regular version, then the widescreen, then the digitally remastered widescreen, then the Special Edition versions of same.

I'm reminded of the scene in Liar Liar where Jim Carrey's character points out the big scratch that was put on his car by the guys who towed it.

Fletcher: You scratched my car!
Motorpool Guy: Where?
Fletcher: [indicating with his hands] Right there!
Motorpool Guy: OH... That was already there.
Fletcher: You - -LIAR! You know what I am going to do about this?
Motorpool Guy: what?
Fletcher: Nothing! Because if I take it to small claims court, it will just drain 8 hours out of my life and you probably won't show up and even if I got the judgment you'd just stiff me anyway; so what I am going to do is piss and moan like an impotent jerk, and then bend over and take it up the tailpipe!
Motorpool Guy: [tossing the keys to Fletcher] You've been here before haven't ya?

We've been here before, haven't we?