If you're new to the Fanboys controversy, please read this article I wrote first, which will put this new development into context.

Well, it seems no sooner had the article I posted gone up than the folks at "Stop Darth Weinstein" got a response from Weinstein high-up Steve Brill! They've posted their own feelings regarding it, and I have broken it down below as to why I think it smells of something... unpleasent. I think there's a few points the guys at "SDW" missed so really recommend you reading my analysis of why it's all wrong.
What I will say is that this reponse should not dishearten us, but encourage us- whilst it is full of excuses as to why the version we want won't get released, it shows that we are having an effect!! So keep writing to Weinstein, keep spreading the word!!

By the way - I am not affiliated with "Stop Darth Weinstein", but support the campaign; therefore this letter was written to that website specifically, however I am taking it as designed for all of us who support the campaign, and seeing the original version released.

Anyway, here's the reponse, broken down with my thoughts (his e-mail is in bold, my thoughts are in regular font):

I can hook you up with the facts on this one.
My only advice is don't judge something til you have seen it. Have you seen the cancer version of this movie? I have.

Ah, so you imply we haven't seen the cancer version - I have! So have the guys at "Stop Darth Weinstein" - and all of the other people who sent them reviews from the Celebration Europe screening!

It is unreleaseable. It would be irresponsible to release it.

Unreleasable -yikes! That's scary! So irresponsible that you can't release it!
But hang on - it's irresponsible to release it, but not to show it to a bunch of people at Celebration Europe, and show bits of it a Celebration IV and Comic Con.... Hmmm...

The cancer is used as a convenient subplot and is actually offensive to anybody who knows anything about or has gone through cancer.

Wrong again - it is not a subplot, but an integral part of the plot. Also, my Grandfather sadly passed due to cancer last year, and the film does not offend me, in it's original, cancer-including form.

And if it's so offensive, why were you prepared to screen it at Celebration Europe? Didn't you care about offending us then?

Trust me. You are fighting for something that you would not be proud of. Cancer is trivialized, marginalized and reduced to the worst kind of contrivance. That is what you are fighting to see.

Wrong (and I won't trust you, because I have seen it, and know what I'm fighting for). I would be proud of the film - that's why I stood up and applauded along with the rest of the audience as soon as the credits rolled at Celebration Europe.

Cancer is not trivialized or marginalized. Cancer is dealt with in a subtle way, and the character is not in the advanced stages during the film. That does not mean it is trivialized etc, it simply means that it is not dealt with in a typical overly sentimental Hollywood way. There are many films that seriously and tragically deal with terminal illness, this one does in a more subtle, but no less poignant way.

And you will see it. At least on the dvd. And you will cringe at the bad, manipulative melodrama that goes against the true spirit of the piece.

Wait, wait, wait... you're telling me that this cancer-version is UNRELEASABLE. It would be IRRESPONSIBLE to release it... but you're gonna put it on DVD!? On DVD!? But then people will demand it's withdrawn because it's such an irresponsible, unreleasable version of the film...surely?

Sarcasm and this self-contradiction aside, that is one glimmer of hope, as long as it's not just deleted scenes and the full original cut is on the DVD.

The non cancer version is true, joyful and and in no way
condescending to star wars fans. But again. You should see it. And perhaps you will.

True and joyful? I'm not really sure what that description means - but the use of the word "perhaps" - fingers crossed their may be some re-considering going on here...

If you stop ranting about things you have not seen.

I'm not - nor are the guys at "Stop Darth Weinstein". We all saw the original version.

You honestly remind me of the religious right condemning movies and books they haven't seen or read, and have only been fed inflammatory facts about....usually from people with an agenda.

Ouch. Fair point to the extent we haven't seen the new version, although as I keep pointing out, many of us have seen the original version. But what we are fighting for is the version we loved, not fighting against the version we've not seen.

Your precious Star Wars homage movie has been made, and has been preserved......you will see.

Ouch again. "Your precious Star Wars homage". That is one damn patronizing quote. If they didn't expect Star Wars fans to embrace this film, then why the hell buy the film in the first place?

And I won't, and hope others won't, see the film unless the original version is put out.

And then you should apologize to Darth Weinstein......

For what? Embarking on a campaign to try and get the version of the film we truly believe in released?

One thing I will add is that i think the campaign as a whole MUST be conducted in a civil way... I in no way condone the patronising way Brill's e-mail spoke about the fans, however I don't think name-calling is the appropriate response either. Let's all try and keep our end of the dialogue civil.

Keep up the fight, we're getting to 'em!

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