HTF AWARDS 2011

Star Wars is the worst boxset of the year? Really? Just goes to show how stupid the fans are...

I think you are way out of line characterizing the fans (who are members of this board and voted) as stupid.
Many felt that the absence of the original version of the trilogy (before the changes) and the lack of substantial extras that would really make this a definitive set, was the reason why most people were disappointed.

Unfair yes, but I stand by that Star Wars fans are irrational and stupid. The Star Wars boxset had the films never looking or sounding better, had a bunch of deleted scenes that the fans asked for, had a collection of old making of specials that again the fans asked for on the previous DVDs, on top of original features and design galleries. For what was presented, it was a top notch reference quality release.
If you look at Lord Of The Rings, which I don't think is the worst at all, you got one version of the films (yes, the theatrical version is available separate, and supposedly has picture issues that could of been rectified for this release) and the majority (might be all, I'd have to double check) of the extras were repeats from previous releases. To the point of re-pressed appendix discs. No additional deleted scenes, no additional substantial feature. It's a retread missing the original versions as opposed to the be all version. But that's OKay because there's bound to be a set with all the LOTR films packed with the Hobbit right? As opposed to a Massive Star Wars set in the future that could include the Theatrical, the SE, the Ultimate and the 3D versions. Lucas wont do that since he's an asshole and Jackson loves his fans. Right?
LOTR gets a critical pass but Star Wars doesn't. And the reason for that is: Star Wars fans are cry babies. It's the underlining truth and I get that it hurts. Despite West Side Story being released flat out screwed up and wrong. It's ridiculous.

Do the studios see the winner and loser results?

SO pleased that Raintree County won for the most desired title of 2012!

Fellowship is green so I didn't buy it when the whole set was $50. Now it's the best of the year? How'd that happen?

I voted for Star Wars because as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't contain the movies. I don't care what Lucas says, the original versions ARE what most people know and love. The first time he made changes he said "THIS is what my original vision was", but now he's done that at least 2 more times and will probably make yet more changes if they are released again. If he'd just get his head out of his ass and release quality editions of the original versions AND whatever his latest "vision" is, he'd get a lot less hate.

Wondering why Universal got the Worst Studio award?

Which proves my point.

Regarding this "Irrational and Stupid" Fan theory. Imagine if ted Turner had decided to change Gone With The Wind so the Yankees lost the war and Rhett doesn't leave Scarlett. It was HIS property after all, and he could do what he wanted, right? Even if he made the new version look twice as good, and threw in amazing extras, it would NOT be the movie that was originally intended nor the story or film that the world came to love. But fans would be irrational and stupid to complain because it was after all HIS movie, right?

Wrong. I don't care if you "create" Star Wars or invent the frickin' wheel, you get nowhere near any level of control unless somebody, or nearly Everybody, BUYS it. Fans have bought Star Wars again and again and again and again, through movie tickets, merchandise, media, etc... enough to make Lucas extraordinarily wealthy, and THAT is how he got the level of control over the films he has now. Otherwise he would have just made one little movie that Fox would still own to this day.

It's no more unreasonable for the fans who made Lucas a multi-billionaire to ask for the Original versions that made him rich than it would be for people to want the Original Gone With The Wind where the Yankees win the war and Rhett leaves.

When the fans are willing to gamely accept (and inevitably pay extra for) whatever incessant obsessive revisionist tinkering Lucas wants to do) as long as they can also keep getting the most technically advanced transfers of the original films, that is only fair and reasonable and not at all too much to ask.

I actually think Lucas' stubbornly refusing to grant that simple request while fully expecting everyone to keep buying the movies again and again, (and denying them the choice they most want) frankly IS arrogant, irrational and stupid. If his new versions are so wonderful, why not have the confidence to release both versions separately and see which one really sells?

The big surprise here is I am not at all a fan of these movies, have only bought them a couple times, once VHS, Once DVD, no other merchandise, I just marginally like the first three, and I don't really care enough to buy them all again on blu, unless maybe the originals are included.

Final point to anyone who thinks Star Wars fans are "Irrational and Stupid" for not rewarding this new excessively revised release: Do you drink New Coke? I didn't think so.

Which Proves OUR point.

Hey Ron, thank you for the bar charts to compare the votes. Did I miss a FAQ explaining how the nominees are chosen?

I can understand how some people, while appreciating what your award votes do accomplish, may wish that studios perpetrating other big mistakes and bad decisions (and maybe other good stuff) could also be acknowledged. Maybe adding some Honorable, and Dishonorable Mention titles?

For a period of two weeks specific categories are posted and every member of the forum has the opportunity to throw out 3 titles or studios. The most mentioned titles/studios are compiled and put for up for final vote.

It's a little disappointing that Ben-Hur won over The Ten Commandments. While it's a better film, Warner did nothing besides remastering the film and adding another documentary. Paramount went through the trouble to remaster all three trailers, the 1923 version, and the making-of documentary all in 1080p. Even the short newsreel excerpt is HD. Warner included the 1925 Ben-Hur from the same 480i master used for the previous DVD. I guess there's always the chance for a single release of the '25, but Warner hasn't released a remastered silent on just DVD since the Garbo and Keaton TCM Archives sets.

I totally agree, Patrick. It is a little disappointing. But I think Commandments edges out Ben-Hur for those reasons. And I thought the packaging (despite some early manufacturing defects) was very inventive as well, which put it over the top for me. Ben-Hur was even (very slightly) cropped from the dvd release. Commandments is a first-class restoration. Hur is too, but the former was just perfection in my eyes.

I don't see how the GWtW comparison equals what Lucas did to Star Wars. The dark side doesn't win the only change he made was who shot first Han Solo or the Bounty Hunter in the bar scene. Everything else is just additions like more creatures and the scene with Joba.

Interesting point re WB Hur vs Par Ten. I'm very tired of WB multi-dipping on catalog titles and not remastering the supps, heck sometimes they don't even remaster the feature!

Re SW vs GWTW, okay say Rhett says "Go to Hell" and kicks out Scarlett instead of leaving with "I Don't Give a Damn." Bonnie's pony stops at the fence and she's thrown over, and Mammy has Blue Eyes. You can argue degrees of change all day (though not with me). He Changed the Movie and refuses to let the fans who made him rich have what they want most, the originals. Spielberg made sure that the originals of Close Encounters and E.T. are right there with his variations. That's all I'm sayin, but again I'm not a Star Wars fan...

I agree that the original should be made available for those that want it. Most DVD/Blu-ray releases include the extended version and if it doesn't some people will not buy it and wait for a possible extended version. Star Wars is different people want the original version not some extended cut version.

I was perfectly happy with the extended version, and bought the Star Wars set knowing pretty much exactly what I was going to get. If it included the original theatrical versions I probably would of still not gotten to them, similar to other sets that have an original and directors cut version. Again, these should be judged on what the content is, not what isn't there. And sorry, but Star Wars isn't a special case just because it has cry baby fans.

Russell, this wasn't just a case of "What isn't there" but also a matter of "what we were promised".

From the start, we were told that the transfers for the BluRay were going to be the masters used for the DVD. No new negative scanning. Just an outdated source from seven years ago before the advent of either BluRay or HD-DVD. And speaking of deleted scenes, have you noticed the bad shape they were in? Take a look at the Phantom Menace deleted scenes and you will find a whole documentary on how they restored the scenes for both the film itself and for the special features. These scenes were just thrown in with little to no care in presenting them in good quality.

And don't forget the other issues that were addressed by Lucasfilm but were completely ignored for the set. Vader's lightsaber is still pink, Luke's lightsaber is still green in some areas, and the blue tint is ever so present throughout the original films.