JediDefender.com Forums
Multimedia => The Original Trilogy => Topic started by: Jeff on May 3, 2006, 09:18 PM
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This September: Original Unaltered Trilogy on DVD (http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html#hljs)
Yes, it sucks ass that you have to re-buy the SE versions to get the "good ones", but I will be SOOOOOOOOO happy to see Han shoot first again...
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Wow! That's awesomely unexpected.
And for once I'm glad I don't own DVDs yet ;) These sound like everything I want- and it would be perfect for comparison, too. Sebastian Shaw's role unabridged will also not fade into any obscurity.
Ahh, what I really love is the way the Death star used to explode- just sort of vanished and was replaced by a million sparks. Good stuff ;)
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This is big. Huge! I'm marking September 12th on my calendar right now.
Finally, I get to see Han shoot first on DVD!
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Guess I can put the copies to the side for awhile. ;D
(http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/woohoo.gif) (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/Opening%20Figures/Party%20Time.gif)
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Wow! George finally caved in. About freaking time!
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Best news ever! I'm buying 2 copies of each in case I lose/break/wear out one of 'em! I can stop hating on Lucas and like him again! Just in time for my birthday! I'm freaking out, I'm freaking out!!!
:) :D ;D :o 8) :-* :'( :) ;) ;D :o 8) :P :-* :'( :-* ;D
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I am seriously shocked. To read the announcement, it seemed like I was reading a cruel April Fools day joke and was waiting for the "just kidding" punch line. Seriously, I had to think for a second to make sure April Fools was indeed over.
This is one of the best announcements I've ever heard, however, today seemed to be a day of good announcements as we got an even better one; we got official notification that our oldest daughter (6) just got into the #1 rated school in the Los Angeles School District. #10 in the State of CA.
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I am seriously shocked. To read the announcement, it seemed like I was reading a cruel April Fools day joke and was waiting for the "just kidding" punch line. Seriously, I had to think for a second to make sure April Fools was indeed over.
I thought the same thing!! How they were able to keep this under wraps? I can't beleive that this didn't leak out before now but I don't care. Mark me down for one of each please, hell...put me down for three each (one set for each kid at Xmas ;) ).
PS: Congrats Darth_Anton to you and your daughter. Very cool news indeed!
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I am seriously shocked. To read the announcement, it seemed like I was reading a cruel April Fools day joke and was waiting for the "just kidding" punch line. Seriously, I had to think for a second to make sure April Fools was indeed over.
Me too. I'm sitting here, scowling, skeptically looking for the hi-lar-ious punchline... Especially since so many dumbasses think that kind of gag is so funny on April 1st. So happy it's not BS. Now I can actually celebrate at the 30th con instead of boycotting it in disgust as I did for CIII!!!
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"Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound"
I'm curious to see what it's like to experience the movies just like they were during their original release. I have to admit, it would be nice to have the original movies digitally remastered for perfect picture and sound (ie Dolby 5.1*) but without the additional footage from the Special Editions; however, I'm going to be glad to have these regardless.
*Even better would be DTS, but since Lucasfilm owns Dolby, I'm sure SW will always use Dolby for their sound.
Geez, fans always find something to complain about. ;)
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I am shocked! I thought we'd wait years for these. It proves that Lucasfilm does care and does lsiten to us. Now we have a choice!! I am very, very happy!!
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Wow! I never really cared about a re-release of the original, unaltered films, but this will make a LOT of people happy.
Now, Instead of saying...
Well, this is good, but GL is a moron for not releasing them until now!
say...
Yes! Let's rejoice and be glad and not whine! YEAH!!
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I've had a great day all day. Scored some Target exclusives, got a big box full of stuff from ebay, and got some girl's digits. Then I come home and read this news.
Greatest day ever. ;D
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I'll be able to put away the bootlegs now. This is awesome news!!
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Woohoo! I hope this comes with that 2004 Bonus disc as well, that way I can sell the other set.
I also hope the price remains at/around $50
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Of course just last week I grabbed a widescreen VHS trilogy set off ebay. D'oh!
But good news nonetheless. I'll be selling my present DVD set at the used shop this weekend!
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I'm happy but it'd be cool if they'd had some "extras" on a bonus disc like cut scenes in their unfinished entirety or something. Just something nice and extra... Maybe a couple of the "making of" specials put to DVD that haven't already been done. I dunno.
I'll buy it just because I want the OT without the SE on it. I have a great clear copy now... But I'll want these I'm sure.
And of course when they do give us bonus footage some day I'm going to be dumb enough to get those too because I want that f'n footage.
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This paragraph is now missing from the story on the official site (http://starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html):
See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.
Conspiracy theorists unite.
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Yes! I held out on the SEs, not because I don't want them, but because I have the OT laserdisc transfers. Now I can have them all. Yes Yes Yes!
Hmmm, maybe they deleted that paragraph because it has that goofy fanboy tone, instead of the sober reverence appropriate for such an announcement.
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I'll agree with others who have mentioned it, I half-thought this was a joke when I first read it last night. It was quite a surprise, especially seeing them this year. Really great news, and I can't wait to pick them up. The way Lucas sounded for many years is as if this would never happen, but I guess he changed his mind. Maybe people will stop complaining about him a little bit now, because you know he had to sign off on this. It will be so nice to have the "original" versions on DVD, can't wait for September 12th. Of course (not that I'm complaining, since we're getting them), as my wife commented last night when I mentioned this to her, Star Wars sure knows how to get money out of its fanbase. :P
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Great!!! This is the Holy Grail of SW movies!! Yippee!
I'm glad Lucas is releasing these, because I'd like to show my kids that this is what SW was when I grew up!!
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This paragraph is now missing from the story on the official site (http://starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html):
See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.
Conspiracy theorists unite.
WTF? >:( Tease me with seeing Han shoot first and then tease me again that it might not happen? Or maybe it will. Or not. Argh.
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A little something I whipped up....
(http://www.yakface.com/jayson/newhopedvd.jpg) (http://www.yakface.com/jayson/rotjdvd.jpg)
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Nice work.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what the packaging looks like. The covers of the 2004 discs were already an ugly, Photoshopped-mess, and then they took the gorgeous original theatrical one-sheet artwork, and stuck those on the discs themselves.
I hope they make them as close as possible to the covers of the old, 1990 VHS box set. Just the original one-sheets, with the original logos in yellow, and that's it. Simple, elegant. No banners or stickers or lens flares or any of that other crap.
All the art they've released since then has sucked, in my opinion. The Faces art, the '97 SEs, all of the DVD covers, etc. Let's get back to the basics.
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Just One Word To Describe This...
FINALLY!!
;D
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I'd like to get these, but I already have the 2004 version.
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I'd like to get these, but I already have the 2004 version.
Never stopped us before.
Who else has in their collections:
the original VHS version.
1995 VHS THX version (one last time)
1997 VHS SE
2004 DVD remastered version
Oh well I can't wait til September anyway.
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I'd like to get these, but I already have the 2004 version.
Never stopped us before.
Who else has in their collections:
the original VHS version.
1995 VHS THX version (one last time)
1997 VHS SE
2004 DVD remastered version
Oh well I can't wait til September anyway.
That's nothing. I've got:
1980-something VHS copies
1992 (?) VHS Box set
1995 VHS THX version
1997 VHS SE box set
2004 S-SE DVD box set
1977/80/83 LD transfer set version 1
1977/80/83 LD transfer set version 2
1977/80/83 LD transfer set version 3 (all 3 are of varying qualities, and last one came with a bonus disc)
1997 SE LD transfer set
2004 OT version set (someone edited out all the "new" stuff, and kept the trilogy 99% OT versiosn, but with the 2004 DVD quality).
And I'll be the first in line on 9/12 to pick up these new versions. Actually, I'll probably get them earlier than that ;)
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This will be a day long remember- Darth Vader (A New Hope)
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
I have been waiting for this DVD set. It the perfect movies to finally add to my DVD collection. Heck maybe he will re-release them in theaters for the 30th Anniversity.
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Best news ever! I'm buying 2 copies of each in case I lose/break/wear out one of 'em! I can stop hating on Lucas and like him again! Just in time for my birthday! I'm freaking out, I'm freaking out!!!
:) :D ;D :o 8) :-* :'( :) ;) ;D :o 8) :P :-* :'( :-* ;D
No you can still hate Lucas because he will forever be a hypocritical, money-hungry nazi... I'm really not that suprised by this news. It only figures in the scheme of Lucas' evil plan to suck all the money out of our wallets. I'm just glad I held off til now to buy the OT on DVD...
Who else has in their collections:
the original VHS version.
1995 VHS THX version (one last time)
1997 VHS SE
I have the 1995 still sealed and the 1997 that's been well watched...
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This paragraph is now missing from the story on the official site (http://starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html):
See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.
Conspiracy theorists unite.
. . .And the phantom paragraph has returned.
Conspiracy theorists un-unite.
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This is probably one of the few resoundingly positive threads about a Lucasfim decision in internet history.
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Ahem... :D
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(http://tk421.homestead.com/files/icons/lol-anim.gif)
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To quote Homer, it's funny because it's true.
Honestly, it's marketing at it's best. Release the special editions knowing damn well everyone will buy - hardcore SW fans and 'regular' folk.
Tell the fans that they'll never see the unrestored versions so they might as well buy the SE's.
Then change your mind (for no reason at all) and re-release the SE's WITH the originals.
Now that is maximizing sales.
And you know that there will be a huge boxed set featuring all six movies with a bunch of bonus **** that we'll all want.
In the end, we'll own at least THREE versions of the OT.
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some say he's still greedy even though he's giving the fans what he wants, but I say he knows the business very well. Fans have been building up that desire for the original OT movies, now he is positiv almost all SW fans will go insane over this. You call him a moron, I call him a genius.
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I'm starting to get a little confused... the article I read today in Home Media Retailing says that the 2 disc sets will include "the original, unadulterated versions alongside the 2004 special edition versions to commemorate the release of the new LEGO video game". Makes me wonder why they put that, although it would make more sense if LFL just went ahead and re-issued the 2004 versions individually with a "bonus" disc of the original versions.
Personally, I'd rather get the 1997 versions instead of the 2004, but it really doesn't matter, because I'll never watch either. Kinda like saying I'd rather get the flu instead of bronchitis - they both suck :P
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Well,Lucas gets another 30 bucks from me.Probaly 70 bucks when he releases the Ultimate version s of all 6 films.
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So, new poll regarding these. What do you think?
I voted that I wish we could have the unedited versions, yet still have remastered versions. If they could release a version of all 3 that changed absolutely no storyline, scenes, characters, or anything, yet the FX were still enhanced, I'd buy 'em. Umtil they come out, I'll stick to my 1999 SE edition VHS tapes.
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So, new poll regarding these. What do you think?
I voted that I wish we could have the unedited versions, yet still have remastered versions. If they could release a version of all 3 that changed absolutely no storyline, scenes, characters, or anything, yet the FX were still enhanced, I'd buy 'em.
That's exactly what I'd prefer. However, if I can see Han shoot first, I'll buy them anyway.
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And you know that there will be a huge boxed set featuring all six movies with a bunch of bonus **** that we'll all want.
Slight correction, we probably won't want the bonus stuff that's included. The stuff we want will be released in a future boxed set. And of course there will be an original OT+PT trilogy and the SE-OT+PT trilogy to choose from. They'll have different bonus material with each.
And yeah, I'll not be telling my wife about this version either. :-X
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http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/3-06/OTonDVDad.jpg
Of note:
Each 2-Disc Set includes:
*Enhanced Trilogy Version with Commentary by George Lucas, Cast & Crew (Disc 1)
*Original Theatrical Movie Version, Plus Xbox-playable Game Demo & More! (Disc 2)
$19.95 M.A.P. (minimum advertised price)
"Integrated Retail Event Including Day and Date Launch of All-New Toys and Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Video Game"
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The Xbox-playable game demo is probably Lego II
"All-New Toys?" I wonder if that's the next set of retro vintage figures that were rumored a few weeks ago. . .
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Thanks for the linky...hopefully these DVDs won't be too pricey.
"All-New Toys?" I wonder if that's the next set of retro vintage figures that were rumored a few weeks ago. . .
I was wondering about this too, and posted in the "Future of SW Collecting" thread in the TSC forum that there is a Variety article on Hyperspace today that mentions an "All New Toyline" as well. Maybe its just the TSC line continuing, or maybe its more VTSC figures (which would be fine with me). Either way, hopefully we'll see some great OT product on the pegs/shelves around this time.
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...hopefully these DVDs won't be too pricey.
They should be in the neighborhood of $15-20 each, during release week. Not too much, I don't think. And it should be a fairly-high-profile release that week, too (although not to the extent of the 2004 set)--so there's a potential for some nice discounts or freebies or whatever.
What I'm curious about is if there's gonna be a separate box released. It doesn't appear so right now, but a box set was mentioned in a blurb in an e-mail I got from SWshop.com a few weeks ago.
I'm also curious to see what the packaging looks like. Not only the fronts, but also the spines, to see if they match they spines on the prequel discs. No matching spines = no sale.
And curious I am if the "Enhanced Trilogy" (first time I've heard them referred to that way) discs are indeed identical to the 2004 discs. On one hand, I'm hoping they're different, in that they've fixed the audio problems in A New Hope. But on the other hand, I'm also hoping they're the same, so I can ditch my 2004 set (sans bonus disc), and give them to my sister's family, who just have the VHS tapes.
I guess you could say that I'm still curious about a great many things regarding this set. Hopefully we'll get some more details soon.
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I'd agree that these movies are likely going to be a big priority for retailers that week, so the pricing should be very competitive.
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No matching spines = no sale.
Looks like you got you're wish and we're getting gold spines. Unfortunately, we're also getting hideous photoshopped artwork that savagely mocks the classic posters with tacky still shots culled from press kits and costume reference. They missed an opportunity to do something really classy on those covers, but I guess I'm not surprised.
Still looking forward to this as one of my few non-HD/BR disc purchases this year. :)
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Unfortunately, we're also getting hideous photoshopped artwork that savagely mocks the classic posters with tacky still shots culled from press kits and costume reference.
(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/5-06/tn_ootondvd.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/5-06/ootondvd.jpg)
Yeah, definitely lame on the photoshopped covers. >:(
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Awwwww, ****.
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Those are so ******* ugly!!! Why not just throw the UGH logo on there too as long as they're "Limited Editions". Christ.
I will be making my own covers for sure.
I new that Star Wars poster book would come in handy for sumthun'
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They look like shoddy fan-made covers. Looks like I, too, shall be making my own covers.
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It bugs me that when they use ROTS Vader in OT package materials. For some reason it's just not ok to do. I'm starting to wonder if it might be worth purchasing the OT box set that's out now, and swapping out the SE discs for the #2 discs from the new set into it. :-\
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000BKJ78U.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
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Covers were cool from far away, but close up they look eww. Good thing I don't buy DVDs for the covers.
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Here's a nice comparison someone put together of the new covers, and the theatrical posters they're "paying homage" to:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/robfett/DVDCollage.jpg
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Yeah, the covers are lame, but in the long run, who cares? When you're watching Han shoot first, it won't matter.
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Looks like poop in a swimming pool... and I care, because it would have been relatively easy to get this right. Alot of fans will prove that by making their own.
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Exactly.
I was hoping we'd get artwork similar to this:
(http://www.gibault.org/eBaypics/AA26012.jpg)
Sorry for the lame photo.
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A little something I whipped up....
(http://www.yakface.com/jayson/newhopedvd.jpg) (http://www.yakface.com/jayson/rotjdvd.jpg)
from my earlier post... I'll be using these for my set, with none of that roman numeral bullflop either
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I've had a set of these for years:
(http://www.prillaman.net/image/dvdcovers/sw_anh_orig2.jpg)
(http://www.prillaman.net/image/dvdcovers/sw_esb_orig2.jpg)
(http://www.prillaman.net/image/dvdcovers/sw_rotj_orig2.jpg)
Elegant and classy.
Bunch of other custom covers here (http://www.prillaman.net/dvd-covers-starwars.html).
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I like those
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Yeah, they're great.
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Oh, ****.
We've confirmed something that we'd begun to suspect... and it's probably going to disappoint a lot of you. It certainly disappoints us here at The Bits. Those new DVD editions of the Star Wars films? The original theatrical versions of the films are going to be non-anamorphic (our original post on this indicated otherwise, but we have confirmed that the widescreen versions will be letterboxed only). What this likely means is that Lucasfilm has simply re-purposed the previous non-anamorphic transfers that were done back in 1995 for the last laserdisc and VHS release of the "original" versions of the films. And with that, our enthusiasm for this DVD release has just dropped through the floor. Anamorphic-enhanced versions of the theatrical editions, we'd buy in a heartbeat. But what we're going to get instead is little better than a ported-over laserdisc. In this day and age, releasing a widescreen film without anamorphic enhancement on DVD is just unacceptable. Does Lucasfilm really think fans want those versions of the films on DVD so badly that people just won't care? Yes Virginia, they do. How many versions of these films do you suppose Lucasfilm will try to get fans to buy in high-def over the coming years? And think about it... you just know the studio has to be prepping yet another standard DVD release for next year's 30th Anniversary of the original Star Wars. Do you suppose this means that the theatrical editions won't be included in the super-über box set of all six films? Probably. Ugh.
Line up like Jersey cows and grease up yer teats, Force fans. Or better yet... run for the south forty as fast as your hooves'll carry you. Stampede!
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents
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Here's more:
Well... it seems we've started a bit of a firestorm with this business we posted yesterday about the original versions of the Star Wars films on the forthcoming (9/12) DVD release being offered in non-anamorphic widescreen video only. So be it. Sometimes, you have to call it like you see it. The news is absolutely true by the way. We've confirmed it specifically with reps of both Lucasfilm and Fox. It is no rumor.
By the way, for those of you who don't know what anamorphic means on DVD, we refer you to our in-depth guide on the subject.
What you will, in fact, be getting on the second disc in each of these new 2-disc sets (unless something changes dramatically and soon) are transfers of the original films that were done for the 1993 "definitive collection" laserdisc box set release. (By way of confirmation, Lucasfilm's Jim Ward had this to say about the transfers in the recent USA Today story: "It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that's not as good as state of the art 2006.") Great. Thanks. Swell.
So the transfers, and the technology used to produce them, are MORE than a decade old. Of course, they're going to be digitally cleaned up a bit, and even a non-anamorphic transfer is going to look better in digital video on DVD than the same transfer would when presented on an analog laserdisc. Colors are going to bleed less, detail will be a little sharper. There's also apparently an additional bit of tweaking being done, because Episode IV will feature the original 1977 version of the opening crawl (sans the "Episode IV" text) which has NEVER been released on home video before, save for in excerpted form in the 2004 Empire of Dreams DVD documentary (which, we feel strangely compelled to point out, WAS ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN). In any case, the bottom line is that the transfers we're getting on DVD are old and they're non-anamorphic. The video resolution and quality is going to pale in comparison to the look of most other widescreen films on DVD.
A lot of people have been e-mailing us asking why Lucasfilm doesn't simply do new anamorphic, high-definition transfers of these versions of the films. Well... after confirming and posting the non-anamorphic information yesterday, we started making follow-up calls to various experts and industry insiders... you know, just to figure out what the hell was really going on. Were we crazy in feeling a little outraged about this? Was this really just a half-assed effort designed to milk Star Wars fans yet again? What was the real reason for the lack of new anamorphic transfers?
It's been reported previously that when Lucas went back to the original negatives of the Star Wars films in the mid 1990s, they were found to be in bad shape. Such bad shape, in fact, that had they not been restored immediately, the films could have been lost forever. So restoration is exactly what Lucas had done. Except that when he was creating the new 1997 Special Edition versions of the films... he cut the original negatives. So the original negatives of the theatrical versions no longer exist. Okay, we knew that. But what's the big deal? What about the original interpositive prints? What about high-quality release prints? Why can't Lucasfilm just use either of those elements to do a new transfer for DVD?
Well... at the same time as he was preparing the 1997 versions, Lucas apparently went on a little tear and recalled every release print of the theatrical versions that he could get his hands on, and he had them all destroyed. Which means that when Lucas said back in 1997 that the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars films no longer existed, he was serious. He apparently tried hard to make sure of it.
Nonetheless (and thankfully), we know for a FACT that beautiful dye transfer prints of the original versions of the films still exist in private hands, and that additional copies are preserved in a number of film archives around the world. What's more, Lucas would have been foolhardy if he didn't keep the original interpositives carefully stored in a climate-controlled vault for preservation's sake. Come on... of course he did. No one is THAT stupid that they'd just trash all the original elements of the films that made them rich beyond the dreams of avarice. In any case, neither the man himself nor senior Lucasfilm executives are willing to admit to that they exist, because as Lucas has said many times in the past, "They no longer exist."
So what are we left with? Either the films truly don't exist anymore, so it simply isn't possible to give them to you in state of the art quality (unlikely in the extreme, despite public and private statements to the contrary)... or Lucasfilm DOES have copies of the original versions in their vaults, and they're just unwilling (or too damn cheap) to spend the money to give them to you in state of the art quality... yet.
If the former is true, there can be no future anamorphic release of the original versions on DVD, and there can be no high-def release on the new Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD formats. Laserdisc is as good as it will ever get for those original theatrical cuts. If, on the other hand, the latter is true (and we believe it is)... Lucasfilm's greed is truly boundless.
Bottom line: This notion that Lucasfilm is doing the fans a favor by finally giving them the original versions on DVD in 2006... but in 1993 laserdisc quality... is baloney. In fact, it's unacceptable. Even though most of them probably don't even know what anamorphic means on DVD, or why they should care about it, the fact remains that the fans are getting bilked. We hate to say it, because we've known many of the folks at Lucasfilm for years now. But someone HAS to say it. It needs to be said. Lucasfilm can and should do better. Who knows? Maybe they're already planning to do better for the 30th Anniversary of the original Star Wars next year... and this is just one more bite at the pie in the meantime.
The strange thing is, Lucas himself doesn't seem to think the fans are even interested in the original theatrical versions of the films on DVD. Witness his comments in this recent interview at MTV.com: "It's just the original versions, as they were," Lucas said. "We didn't do anything to it at all. But we're not sure how many people want that." That's just an insane thing to say given how many Most Wanted DVD lists the original Star Wars films top around the Net, and the folks at Lucasfilm have to know it. So here's an unsettling thought... Lucas finally agrees to include the original versions on the new DVDs, but he won't pony up for new transfers. Do you suppose there's a deliberate reason for that? If people don't buy them because of the lack of quality, Lucas can simply say, "See? People didn't buy them. They don't want 'em." And if they do buy them, but in a year or two start asking for better quality, Lucas can say, "Gimme a break. I already gave them to you on DVD. Now quit bugging me about it." D'oh!
In any case, rest assured that we're as sick of talking about the Star Wars films on disc as you probably are of hearing it. But our motto here at The Bits is right up there in our logo: "Celebrating Film in the Digital Age." It's awfully damn hard to find anything worth celebrating about this. Which is a real shame... because it was pretty damn cool news there for a little while.
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents
It's one thing to not like the horrid cover art, or some other minor aspect of these releases, but the fact that the original version are apparently not gonna be enhanced for 16x9 TVs is something that everybody should be pissed about. Because even if you don't have a widescreen TV now, you will eventually, and when you do, these old versions will look like absolute ass on it.
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The strange thing is, Lucas himself doesn't seem to think the fans are even interested in the original theatrical versions of the films on DVD.
Sigh. How can Lucas be so out of touch with his fans? It's so frustrating to see that he's finally agreed to give us the theatrical versions of the these movies, but at the poorer laserdisc quality than we should be getting. I don't believe for a second that the original theatrical prints don't exist anymore. ::)
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Never mind even it not being 16x9. It's a DVD mastered from an old D1 tape if its the laserdisc master. Here are some other titles released early on to DVD that used transfers intended for NTSC video format releases:
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305428514.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V54611455_.jpg)
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/6304711905.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
(The original release, not the SE)
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0783227507.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
(pre-cover change)
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004VY0H.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
These titles were unacceptable in quality when they were released, and some of those go back as far as 1997. This is the league that the OT will be in. Shameful.
So, this really is just to plug the hole of bootlegs and milk people for money without any effort or consideration for quality. What a pile of garbage.
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And if you're confused about the difference between anamorphic and non - check out this overview:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/anamorphic235demo.html
Thanks to Yakface for the link.
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So, this really is just to plug the hole of bootlegs and milk people for money without any effort or consideration for quality. What a pile of garbage.
Well, this is what Rebelscum's "DARTHJOSEPH" has to say to that:
I could care less...I have a regular TV, I also hate anamorphic...it's not the original aspect ratio! Everyone wanted UNALTERED original Trilogy...now they will have it and are still not happy!
What is all this "anamorphic = altered" bull****? There's a guy who's been a member at the Home Theater Forum for FIVE YEARS who's claiming the same thing. I know that this stuff can be somewhat confusing at first, but all it takes is a little bit of research, like at the page Ruiner linked, to know exactly what "anamorphic" means, and to know that it has absolutely nothing to do with the content or aspect ratio of a film.
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And honestly, welcome to 1997. If you haven't figured out aspect ratios or anamorphic squeeze on video by now, 2006, you're a lost cause. If you can't even set up a POS DVD player to downconvert 16:9 encodes for your POS 4:3 set, well, I feel sorry for the future of home entertainment.
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What about those who have VCRs whose clock still blinks 12:00? ;)
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My DVD player has an atomic clock or something, I've never set it and it's always been right.
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Screw this ****, I'll stick with my VHS versions.
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And the best of the bootlegs probably holds up pretty well to what LFL is ******** out.
I'll still get them (because I'll take the 5% improvement I'll get over my laserdiscs), but paying as much as they are asking for this rubbish is a complete insult.
This is on par with releasing Monkey-face Leia on a Vintage The Saga Collection card.
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Hmm... if this information is accurate, maybe I'll buy used 2004 DVDs and go ahead and burn my own DVD off a 1990 VHS tape (in a completely legal fashion of course and I'll, uhh, get rid of it in 24 hours) or not because that'd be slightly illegal. Right.
Ehh, we'll see. But I'll say that these are the times it's good to not keep up with currently-released stuff, because it means by the time I get something I'll be able to pick and choose my options. :) See, with videogames it just means that I've got more to catch up on...
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maybe I'll buy used 2004 DVDs and go ahead and burn my own DVD off a 1990 VHS tape (in a completely legal fashion of course and I'll, uhh, get rid of it in 24 hours) or not because that'd be slightly illegal. Right.
Making a backup DVD "archival copy" of your VHS tapes (that you bought) is perfectly legal as long as you don't start distributing/selling your newly made DVDs
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What is all this "anamorphic = altered" bull****? There's a guy who's been a member at the Home Theater Forum for FIVE YEARS who's claiming the same thing. I know that this stuff can be somewhat confusing at first, but all it takes is a little bit of research, like at the page Ruiner linked, to know exactly what "anamorphic" means, and to know that it has absolutely nothing to do with the content or aspect ratio of a film.
Nevermind--sounds like DARTHJOSEPH's finally got it all figured out:
Actually I am quite aware of what anamorphic is...your link did nothing but prove my comment correct, it ISN'T THE ORIGINAL RATIO, it modifies the picture to fill a 16X9 TV...None of the Star Wars films were filmed in 16X9! I didn't comment on the quality of picture etc, etc. Thanks for the smug "non-correction" though
Brilliant!
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Obviously he knows better than you do.
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Obviously he knows better than you do.
Obviously.
Ah...I gotcha. I guess I've only seen anamorphic movies that fill the ENTIRE 16X9 screen. Still don't care though. There wasn't anamorphic in 1977! We did want unaltered OT didn't we?! Not to mention these discs would cost even more if they did do anamorphic. I have a regular TV, I never supported 16X9 because it still isn't cinema accurate...I plan on getting a digital projector and avoiding 16X9 anyhow! You can't blame LFL for not including anamorphic, it's you who adopted that format.
Obviously.
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Well Lucas is also sort of getting away with this because the original unaltered versions are supposed to be "bonus material". So, if anyone gets mad at them they can say "Now, now boys and girls this meant as BONUS material". Even though we all know this is the only real reason for purchasing these and they know it as well.
Personally I am just happy to get this instead of seeing my worn our VHS sets. That and to skip all around without fast forwarding, etc. Lucas just wants to get a slice of the bootleg market anyway. I think that is the real reason we are even getting this version to begin with. I don't buy all that jazz about the originals being destroyed. Whatever you say Lucasfilm.
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People is smart.
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I still don't get what the big deal is. Everyone got mad when they combined Transformers with Star Wars, but now you're all acting mad that the Original Triliogy is not going to be Anamorphic?
All the Animorph movies I've seen have sucked... ???
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000G3I3.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
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Hey, isn' t that "Bobby/Iceman" from X-Men?
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Hey yeah, I remember hearing of Animorphs. I'd hate to see that happen to Star Wars! ;)
I think you might be right about the X-Men thing although I haven't seen it enough times to be sure.
While I don't collect them, I kind of appreciate the existance of the Star Wars transformers... I know some people that actually really like them.
I think I will be making an archival copy in the next couple weeks sometime, and then I'll buy whatever DVDs make the most sense at the time once I have and am willing to spend $35+ on a set.
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Hell, seeing as they're getting the OT from the Laserdisc versions, I'm hoping all the extra scenes will be in there as well!
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Doubtful on that. I'm sure any deleted scenes will be saved for the great boxed set that everyone talks about but Lucasfilm never offers.
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The thing is, with this set, the OOT is actually the "bonus material" despite what all of the starwars.com hoopla and marketing materials suggest. It's really an atrocity. Disc 1 is the 2004 SE, the same as the previous two releases, and Disc 2 is the original version of the film, dumped straight from an ancient composite NTSC source.
Here's the sticker from the front of the package:
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What's sad about having to buy the 2004 re-dos, just to get the OOT versions, are all the errors in the lightsaber color-correction. (i.e. Luke's green saber during the training remote scene and Vader's fashionable "pink" blade in ESB & ROTJ)
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This is exactly why we need an unaltered thetrical version (by "unaltered" I mean no change in scenes or storyline), yet digitally enhanced. Until that exact version of the OT comes out, I'm sticking to my VHS tapes from '99.
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I'm very disappointed that we're getting the 2004 SE and not the 97's. Not that the 97's were all that, but I prefer the non-Hayden SE.
Ah...I gotcha. I guess I've only seen anamorphic movies that fill the ENTIRE 16X9 screen. Still don't care though. There wasn't anamorphic in 1977! We did want unaltered OT didn't we?! Not to mention these discs would cost even more if they did do anamorphic. I have a regular TV, I never supported 16X9 because it still isn't cinema accurate...I plan on getting a digital projector and avoiding 16X9 anyhow! You can't blame LFL for not including anamorphic, it's you who adopted that format.
That is so painful to read.
Funny anecdote for those who want to hear someone like that get his due:
A good friend of mine was looking for Princess Diaries 2 for my daughter for her birthday. I always ask people to buy widescreen and my buddy always does anyway given what he does for a living. For whatever reason, he goes to TRU which is the worst source for widescreen movies (I'm surprised he didn't know that) and asks the clerk if they have it in widescreen. The clerk proceeds to incorrectly lecture him about the unpopularity of widescreen and how it crops the picture, etcetera, all the wrong technical info. Well, my buddy is the QC person for a DVD authoring company. He's responsible for the pristine LOTR SE prints and countless other films and TV shows. He was an hour late to my daughter's party lecturing the clerk about how uninformed he was.
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Well, if she's anything like the clerks here - he wasted an hour of his time.
Well, luckily I've got a brand new VCR-DVD recorder... so I'm about to pop in my OT tapes and record them to disc, right now.
Wish me luck, I'm a moron with this stuff.
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What's sad about having to buy the 2004 re-dos, just to get the OOT versions, are all the errors in the lightsaber color-correction. (i.e. Luke's green saber during the training remote scene and Vader's fashionable "pink" blade in ESB & ROTJ)
Well, this may prove to be exactly what's released, but on the other hand this is George Lucas- I give it a 75% probability that these versions are further edited. I don't expect anything major, but I have the feeling the Tie fighter "green force fields" in ANH and even more so the afforementioned lightsaber discolorations will both be edited/fixed.
Personally, I want to see the original version of ANH with all of Biggs' scenes, and Luke witnessing the opening scene battle at a distance with his macrobinoculars, re-added to the movie and all the original cheesy special effects; the DVD version of ESB as-is (although they might edit the new Emporer hologram to be a little shadier and harder to see quite so clearly- it gave him intrigue); and a version of ROTJ just like the DVD version sans that wretched SE song scene, and with a new, modified/refilmed Hayden ghost- Hayden Christensen with a less creepy/more warm smile, and make up/hair color changed to make him look a vague amount older.
And those versions will never, ever be made. :(
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Does anyone know any email addresses other than publicity@lucasfilm.com we can send complaints to? We need to flood anyone and everyone at lucas film with polite complaint letters.
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While it's a good idea to send comments, you won't see a change on the DVD's coming out in September.
I, for one, am skipping this weak marketing attempt to get hardcore fans to buy yet another version of the films. Even though I don't have a widescreen TV, I think it's bull**** that we've seen the same movies re-released three times in the span of what, two years?
I'm happy with my SW DVD's for the time being and will wait for the Ultimate Box Set (we all know it's coming).
I'm not about to blow $60 for lame laserdisc quality movies. I waste entirely too much money lining GL's pockets with toys and what not.
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While I too am disappointed with the set, there's a part of me that's still happy to be getting a wide-screen version. I missed the O-OT on Laser, but have a set on Tape (that 4-cassette set in the blue box with the hologram cover) and seldom watch it as to preserve it. Do I feel ripped off? You betcha. But I'm still picking it up.
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Well, I think I'll just buy this and be done with SW on DVD. I don't care what else he's got up his sleeve to get me to buy the next set, but I've lost interest in owning another set after this one.
It would have been nice to get a not-****** version of the OOT, but, eh.
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And it's not just the Rebelscum flunkies who are a little misinformed about the non-anamorphic DVDs--but (surprise!) their staff, too!
(http://threads.rebelscum.com/avatars/1647.gif)
Dave Myatt tells it like it is (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB38&Number=1916853&Forum=,f38,&Words=&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Main=1912415&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=1647&daterange=1&newerval=&newertype=w&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1916853):
Seriously, LFL has just made the DVD set everyone has asked for. This is the earliest source available. You can't have it both ways. Either you get the original release or you get something that's been tinkered with.
This is the perfect example of how Star Wars fans can't find a better use for the internet than complaining.
When it comes to producing things for SW collectors, LFL and all it's license holders are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Funny thing is, despite all the belly aching we read on the interweb, Star Wars movies and products sell out world wide. Seems to me that 97% of Internet using Star Wars fans do little more than whine, and judging by the sales numbers, only 1.6% of Star Wars fans use the Internet.
Basically, all the people who b****ed and moaned about having the unaltered original versions should have been more specific...
Dave decides there's still enough room for some more foot in that big mouth of his:
you know, Wizard of Oz was shot in 4:3, so the version that looks good on your widescreen TV has been altered from the original print. THat goes completely against the concept of releasing the OT in it's original form. Once more, fans demanding this set should have been more specific. We are getting exactly what we as a community asked for. LFL delivered. That's the truth. You can sit there and complain all you want, but know that they are releasing exactly what everyone has said they wanted: The unaltered original print of the OT on DVD.
You know, colour timing can be as easy as turning a knob. Having Greedo shoot first is as easy as hiring CGI artists to digitally paint in a laser blast and digitally make Han Solo flinch. No mater what you do, it's still altering the original print.
As for the crawl, I thought the Laserdisks had it on an alternate track, so it can indeed still exist...
And, after getting schooled by a couple of different people, Dave gets all huffy and demands that the thread get back on topic, without ever admitting that he may have been wrong, of course:
Ugh. Against my better judgement I'm going to reply to this... Brent, more or less, you just kind of called me a liar. Now, unless I'm wrong, you don't work for LFL so you don't know for a fact that they are all sitting around coming up with new ways to screw fans.
you talk about facts, well the facts are simple as can be. Fans have harped about getting the OT completely unaltered from the original prints on DVD. LFL (the company, btw, not just George Lucas himself) listened and are now releaseing exactly what was requested: the OT completely unaltered from the original prints on DVD.
Changing it to anamorphic, even if it makes it better for your screen, would mean altering the source, thereby going against the entire concept of releasing the OT completely unaltered from the original prints on DVD.
You and I could go on for days with this silly discussion, so why not put it to rest?
#1 Star Wars Collecting Fan Site on the Internet!
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Well I really don't know what the anamorphic (sp?) thing is. I kind of get it but really need to see screen captures or something to know what the big gripe is here. I am not a tech head. I am one of those that just wants a copy of the OT on DVD. Mainly because my VHS copies are practically ruined. It's just easier to skip around on the DVDs obviously. So, I'm okay with it being a transfer from the laserdiscs. Isn't that what the bootleg copies are anyway?
Lucas really does not even want the originals out there (I don't agree with him but that seems to be his position) I am surprised we are even getting this. So, it's not that surprising to me that he is not putting much effort into it. Again not agreeing with Lucas but that's his deal for whatever reasons. Again it's just a ploy to try and cut into the bootleg market anyway IMO. But for me it's better than not getting them on DVD at all.
I am not really defending Dave. As I don't quite agree with him and how he puts his opinions of the fans out there. But I can sort of see where he is coming from. Apparently most of you were expecting the OT to be unalterd on DVD but to be really nice and touched up to 2006 standards. With sound and picture to be jazzed up to the max. Nothing wrong with that I just never expected it from Lucas given his record on poo pooing on the originals since 1997 when the SEs came about.
If you don't want this version then don't get it at all is my suggestion. Go get the bootlegs if you have not already. Tell Lucas to stick it again. Maybe on his death bed he will give the fans a spiffed up originals on DVD or whatever the technology is by then. Just don't expect it from him.
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I'm happy to have this rather than nothing, and I might buy them, but I certainly wouldn't be if I already owned the original DVDs.
However, while I don't know what anamorphic technically means either, I get the impression these are going to be full-screen, fuzzy, generally crappy quality copies, and that's just not right when everybody knows that they could've at least given us crappy-quality widescreen versions. But I think what everybody was hoping to see was a remastered version of the original movies, in almost as good quality as the new versions. That's not really a whole lot to be asking for at this point either, but instead Lucasfilm wants to take the cheap route and still see if they can squeeze money out of the fans. It's VOTC C3PO all over again, so to speak.
Frankly, if Lucasfilm's position is "oh noes it's expensive to remaster the whole movie again," then surely they have some unedited copies from when they were working on the '97 SE, but also, if nothing else they could splice in the scenes that weren't edited/weren't edited significantly (sound modifications, stuff like Piett's rank badge) and only remaster the scenes that were truly modified (Han and Greedo's original exchange and such).
But, as I said, I'll buy these if nothing better comes along and I don't happen to find the original DVDs a lot cheaper. But I sure wouldn't be buying them if I had the original DVDs, because these copies are nothing to get worked up over- you could easily do the same thing yourself and apparently it'd even be quasi-legal.
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Anamorphic explained. (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/index.html)
[And make sure you check out this page (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/anamorphic235demo.html), too--since it specifically deals with the issue at hand (not the same movie, but the same aspect ratio)]
I didn't really understand what anamorphic was, either, until I read that several years ago.
Basically, if you have a 4x3 TV right now, and that's all you ever plan on having, ever, then you've got nothing to worry about with the upcoming DVDs. Buy them up and enjoy both the 2004 and original versions for the rest of your life on your 4x3 TV.
But if you've got a 16x9 TV now, or are planning to get one, oh, at any point in the next 50 years or so, you might think twice about laying down your hard-earned cash in September, because this is what the original versions will look like on that 16x9 TV:
(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/23516x9tvlbx.jpg)
Whereas this is what they could have looked like if Lucasland weren't being a bunch of dickheads about things:
(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/23516x9tv16x9.jpg)
(Did you guys know that Max Fischer is being inserted into the movie?)
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I was reading Amazon's stuff & the original versions are on Disc 2,that's strange since those are the only reasons these DVDs are coming out. ???
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Ok, so I saw that the "unaltered" versions were coming out and I was psyched and really excited... then I found out it was non-anamorphic and I was sorta bummed... then I found out it was transfers from 1990's techology, and I was even more bummed.
So, do we know if Lucas is going to clean these up at all like the 2004 Trilogy DVD release? Is he at least going to sharpen them and fix some of the old classic errors like the boxes floating around the tie fighters and whatnot?
I was so excited for this "unaltered version" that I was ready to shell out cash to reserve a copy at my local video store, but now I think I'm going to have to wait to see what everyone else says, maybe try to rent them to see how crappy the quality is.
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So, do we know if Lucas is going to clean these up at all like the 2004 Trilogy DVD release? Is he at least going to sharpen them and fix some of the old classic errors like the boxes floating around the tie fighters and whatnot?
This is an official response letter sent out in May by Lucasland's own Lynne Hale regarding the DVDebacle. Somehow, it didn't get posted here. Read it and weep:
I wanted you to know how much we appreciate the passion and enthusiasm you have for Star Wars, and thank you for sharing your concerns about our upcoming DVD release.
The DVDs being released in September will contain two versions of Star Wars: Episodes IV, V and VI – the Special Editions (which represent George’s vision of the movies) and the first versions, which will be included as bonus material. We hoped that releasing those “original” movies on a bonus disc would be a way to have some additional fun with the debut of the movies as individual DVDs. We certainly did not want it to become a source of concern or frustration for any of our fans.
As you may know, an enormous amount of effort was put into digitally restoring the negatives for the Special Editions. In one scene alone, nearly 1 million pieces of dirt had to be removed, and the Special Editions were created through a frame-by-frame digital restoration. The negatives of the movies were permanently altered for the creation of the Special Editions, and existing prints of the first versions are in poor condition.
So many fans have requested the original movies, we wanted to find a way to bring them to you. But since these movies do not represent George's artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions. The 1993 Laserdisc masters represented the best source for providing the original versions as DVD bonus material. Although these are non-anamorphic versions, they do preserve the original widescreen composition of the movies.
We want you to be aware that we have no plans – now or in the future – to restore the earlier versions.
We hope you will understand our decision and, again, want to let you know how much we appreciate your interest and enthusiasm.
Sincerely,
Lynne Hale
publicity@lucasfilm.com
I think the best (if not the only) way to enjoy these releases will be to do it just like it's 1993 all over again. Put on your Fresh Prince of Bel Air t-shirt and your Zubaz pants, and watch the films, while drinking your Crystal Pepsi, which was placed on your Beverly Hills 90210 TV tray. In between movies you can cheer for (or bitch about) President Clinton, celebrate the Chicago Bulls' third consecutive NBA championship, and look forward to the new Nirvana record.
That's gonna be the way to get the most out of these discs.
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Wow... what a way to screw the fans George!
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I think the best (if not the only) way to enjoy these releases will be to do it just like it's 1993 all over again. Put on your Fresh Prince of Bel Air t-shirt and your Zubaz pants, and watch the films, while drinking your Crystal Pepsi, which was placed on your Beverly Hills 90210 TV tray. In between movies you can cheer for (or bitch about) President Clinton, celebrate the Chicago Bulls' third consecutive NBA championship, and look forward to the new Nirvana record.
That's gonna be the way to get the most out of these discs.
;D
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;D
And that was a rare glimpse into my life, circa 1993. Glad you enjoyed it. I sure as hell didn't.
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New news! But is it good news? Could it be worse than what we already know?
TDB (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents) is reporting that some French dude is reporting that Fox France is reporting that the old school discs will indeed be in glorious anamorphic widescreen--at least in France, anyway. (Which pretty much means they'd be anamorphic here, too.) Nothing more at this time--but what a nice surprise it would be if Sansweet made an announcement at Comic Con that, due to the overwhelming fan demand, that Lucasland had indeed decided to make everything anamorphic. That'd go a long way in turning around what has been a fairly piss-poor summer for the filthy OT purists out there. . .
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I'll believe it when I hear it (can't see it on my 1990's 4:3 television).
Take pity.
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And now, from the "Everyone Should Have Seen This Coming A Mile Away" department:
We've got some more interesting standard DVD news to report today, starting with a follow-up on that French Star Wars DVD controversy we mentioned the other day. We've gotten a follow-up e-mail from our friend Arnaud at DVDRama in France. He's actually had the chance to see, with his own two eyes, the new Star Wars DVDs being released there, and it turns out Fox France was wrong. Someone in marketing over there apparently still doesn't know what anamorphic means. The special edition versions of the films on Disc One of each set are anamorphic, but the original theatrical editions on Disc Two of each are definitely NOT anamorphic. They're just letterboxed widescreen as we expected. Fox France has apparently apologized for the confusion, and we definitely appreciate Arnaud's efforts in confirming the truth of the situation. France is getting the same sub-par Star Wars DVDs as the rest of us. 'Nuff said.
Link (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#frup)
That one little glimmer of hope, crushed like a bug.
Enjoyable.
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Wow... what a way to screw the fans George!
Be happy he even decided to releasethese on DVDs,intsead of doing a super speacal edition where Vader shoots first then Greedo then Han! ;)
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I was at the Sansweet Star Wars presentation is SDCC yesterday afternoon and saw the DVD footage. When I got home this evening I was surprised that there hadn’t been posts from others in attendance, as the statements regarding the DVD release and the image quality of the footage shown was outrageous, to put it lightly.
Sansweet began his presentation by rolling the opening credits to Star Wars with the reinstated pre-ANH crawl. White ringing, that resembled edge enhancement, could clearly be seen on the inside edges of the yellow text during the crawl, though overall the image was very clean. The footage was shown on four front projectors throughout the room.
After this footage is where Sansweet addressed the complaints about the lack of anamorphic enhancement. Alarm bells started ringing for me when he assured the audience that “the black bars are still there, but are very, very small and hardly noticeable… not even an issue” or something along those lines. It seemed as though Sansweet did not grasp the fundamentals of 16:9 encoding on DVD, contorting the complaint into meaning that a group of internet users were upset that the movies were not being presented in a 16:9 framed image, instead of the correct concern that the discs are not anamorphically enhanced versions of the films that retain their correct 2:35:1 composition.
The next statement that Sansweet made was about the versions presented as being from “the highest quality laserdisc masters made, digitally restored frame by frame,” and that, “these movies look fantastic”. Which of course is true, fine and dandy if not for the fact that video technology has made leaps and bounds beyond the intended purpose of that “restoration”. Those technicalities were obviously not explored.
The jokey bits about the NASA-esque footage and windowboxed teeny-tiny footage was intermixed with the hard sell.
Then, the real deal was shown. The cantina scene with Han shooting Greedo first was shown and received a huge round of cheers when Han, did, as they are pushing so hard and handing out buttons to state, shoot first. But, oh boy, was there something wrong with what was on screen. Please set aside the issue of the loss of image resolution that the 4:3 letterboxed discs, as what was seen on screen was far more concerning:
Deinterlacing artifacts were visible throughout the clip, showing as horizontal combing in every bit of motion and in every shot transition. Speaking with my friends that I attended with, they all saw it clear as day as well. Not good. I’m rather lousy at understanding IVTC, but what I saw on screen was not acceptable.
I was rather startled at the dismissive attitude from Steve Sansweet towards the informed concerns highlighted from forum users and industry professionals, and the calculated assurances that he made about the supposed quality of the sources used for this project. His final comments on the issue were basically along the lines of “George considers these versions dead to him, so you should be grateful you’re getting them at all.”
I was very disappointed in his stance and seeming ignorance towards the real issues with the DVD release, and to wave away legitimate quality issues as the ravings of an over-demanding fan base was frankly startling. I’m a huge Star Wars fan and am interested in the preservation of the original versions of these movies for posterity, and yesterday’s presentation left me with the impression that such a goal is not in any way shared by Lucasfilm. Unfortunate.
I’ve attempted to recount the experience as accurately as possible, but it’s been a long trip and I’m sure I’ve missed details. If there are any omissions or inaccuracies, hopefully some other members can share, correct, and confirm what they saw as well.
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After this footage is where Sansweet addressed the complaints about the lack of anamorphic enhancement. Alarm bells started ringing for me when he assured the audience that “the black bars are still there, but are very, very small and hardly noticeable… not even an issue” or something along those lines. It seemed as though Sansweet did not grasp the fundamentals of 16:9 encoding on DVD, contorting the complaint into meaning that a group of internet users were upset that the movies were not being presented in a 16:9 framed image, instead of the correct concern that the discs are not anamorphically enhanced versions of the films that retain their correct 2:35:1 composition.
The next statement that Sansweet made was about the versions presented as being from “the highest quality laserdisc masters made, digitally restored frame by frame,” and that, “these movies look fantastic”. Which of course is true, fine and dandy if not for the fact that video technology has made leaps and bounds beyond the intended purpose of that “restoration”. Those technicalities were obviously not explored.
For a company that for decades has prided itself on the quality of their theatrical and home video presentations, it's absolutely astonishing how aloof, daft, and obtuse they're being in regards to this issue.
Thanks for the report, Jared. I've been wondering if we'd have any surprises on the SW DVD front this weekend, and. . . nope. Same old bull****.
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You guys should be rimming George Lucas for even making these movies in the first place, much less releasing them on a format that's been out for ten or so years--at least as long as the letterbox mastering we'll be getting was done.
I, for one, can't wait to grab my ankles (so the Wal-Mart cashier can get my wallet out) to buy these. FINALLY I can watch Star Wars without having to see the damned Outrider! I hate SOTE.
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What does SOTE stand for??? It does not look familiar to me.
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SOTE = Shadows of the Empire.
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After this footage is where Sansweet addressed the complaints about the lack of anamorphic enhancement. Alarm bells started ringing for me when he assured the audience that “the black bars are still there, but are very, very small and hardly noticeable… not even an issue” or something along those lines. It seemed as though Sansweet did not grasp the fundamentals of 16:9 encoding on DVD, contorting the complaint into meaning that a group of internet users were upset that the movies were not being presented in a 16:9 framed image, instead of the correct concern that the discs are not anamorphically enhanced versions of the films that retain their correct 2:35:1 composition.
The next statement that Sansweet made was about the versions presented as being from “the highest quality laserdisc masters made, digitally restored frame by frame,” and that, “these movies look fantastic”. Which of course is true, fine and dandy if not for the fact that video technology has made leaps and bounds beyond the intended purpose of that “restoration”. Those technicalities were obviously not explored.
For a company that for decades has prided itself on the quality of their theatrical and home video presentations, it's absolutely astonishing how aloof, daft, and obtuse they're being in regards to this issue.
Thanks for the report, Jared. I've been wondering if we'd have any surprises on the SW DVD front this weekend, and. . . nope. Same old bull****.
Exactly. George created THX and enforced stringent guidelines for theaters carrying his films. Obviously, it's all about the benjamins from here on out.
The evidence is in the sheer number of high end licensees of SW product. "Milk this thing for all it's worth" is the new motto. Hell, even Hasbro is living by it - everything shown at comic con was a rehash!
In his defense, I would do the same damn thing if I had the rights to all things SW.
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I wonder how many people who whine and complain about this Sept. 12 release will actually go out and buy them. Then out of that many, how many will come out and admit it, thus revealing their own internal hypocricy...
I'm buying these sets, more as a collector's item than anything else. I don't view this set as the "truest" OT anyway. Too much stuff is out of continuity with the PT, which pre-dates the OT from a story standpoint. As much as whiny OT purists might not wish it so, that is an undeniable fact that must be accounted for by a responsible storyteller.
The hypocricy of fans just never ceases to amaze me. For years, they beg, create useless web petitions saying all they want is the true OT they saw in the theaters. Now they get it, and what happens...yep, more whining.
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I don't view this set as the "truest" OT anyway. Too much stuff is out of continuity with the PT, which pre-dates the OT from a story standpoint. As much as whiny OT purists might not wish it so, that is an undeniable fact that must be accounted for by a responsible storyteller.
(http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Please tell me you're just trolling, buddy, because if you're not--holy ****--that's one of the most ill-informed things I've ever had the pleasure of reading on these boards.
If the prequels were fleshed out first, and then came the originals, then how exactly did the originals get to be "out of continuity" with the prequels?
The answer is: The prequel storyline only existed in the broadest sense of the term, and even then only functioned to serve as a backstory for the characters who needed one in the originals.
The hypocricy of fans just never ceases to amaze me. For years, they beg, create useless web petitions saying all they want is the true OT they saw in the theaters. Now they get it, and what happens...yep, more whining.
Nobody's complaining about getting the original versions--that's cool and all. But when everyone was begging for the originals, they were also expecting that, if they ever were released, that they'd be getting the same treatment that pretty much every other DVD has gotten for the last six or seven years. But no, we're getting transfers which were made thirteen years ago and were fine for the time, but are going to look horrible by today's standards.
If anyone's being hypocritical in this deal, it's (guess who?) Lucasland. One of their biggest mantras over the years has been presentation quality, but they're treating the films that made them what they are as a mere afterthought. They're stuck on the second discs as "bonus features" along with video game trailers and such. Technically, they're not even selling the originals, but they're sure making a huge deal about them being available again. Selling "Han Shoots First" t-shirts, and buttons, and whatnot. Obviously the big selling point of these discs is the originals, but when they're questioned about the quality, it turns into "oh, we're just really having fun with these versions" and "you're lucky to even be getting them at all."
Lucasland is trying to have it both ways with this release, and that's what the whiny, complainy, hypocritical OT purists like myself have such a problem with.
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Am I ill-informed to know that Episodes 1, 2 and 3 come before 4, 5 and 6 in the chronological telling of the Saga? I guess I should re-learn how to count.
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Man, you're really trying to have it both ways here, aren't you?
Who do you think you are, Lucasfilm?
(http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/lol.gif)
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Without trying to cost anyone their job, the Anamorphic, cleaned up transefer of the originals are rumored to be on tap for next years SW DVD release. I will work hard on getting a definative answer on this ASAP.
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would like to know before a purchase is made, thanks Anthony! ;D
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I have no interest in buying this set...my bootleg versions work just fine.
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And I'm just sick of buying the trilogy over and over.....
This one is an easy pass for me.
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I have no interest in buying this set...my bootleg versions work just fine.
I'm much more interested in this than in the official versions:
http://www.x0project.com/about.php
I just hope it gets finished sometime this decade.
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Without trying to cost anyone their job, the Anamorphic, cleaned up transefer of the originals are rumored to be on tap for next years SW DVD release. I will work hard on getting a definative answer on this ASAP.
That would be awesome if this turns out to be true.
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Ok, about a couple of weeks away now from the September 12 release - I was just curious, how many of us here are actually buying these DVDs? The anamorphic/etc. issues aside, I was originally planning on getting these - but I've been giving it second thoughts lately. Now, with the rumors of a big ole box set coming out in 2007 - possibly with deleted scenes, additions, etc. - I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I was just curious how many of you are planning on picking up the upcoming DVDs in September.
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Nope, not going to buy the Sep 12th DVDs.
If I want to see non-anamorphic versions of the original films, I'll just break out the VCR and watch my old tapes...
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Not buying, either.
Probably would have, if Lucasland hadn't have been such buttholes about the whole thing.
So I'll find a way to get 'em (after all, they probably will be the best-looking versions of the OOT available), and I'll save my money for whatever's coming out next year.
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No thanks.
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Now that there are strong rumors about a big box set for 2007 probably not. As much as I'd like to have the originals I'd rather have next year's set even if they do not include them. Although they would be idiots not to. But oh well.
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Nope, have better things to spend my money on, and my VHS versions still do me just fine.
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I'm a sucker, I'll be buying. I'll likely buy the 2007 set as well ::), but I can't wait that long knowing there's a DVD available for me to see Han shoot first. Sorry, but that "improvement" that Lucas made in the Special Editions has always pissed me off.
I'm very disappointed the quality won't be what it could (and should) be, but I guess I'm at the point where I'll take what I can get. I guess I'm always excited to make another Star Wars DVD purchase.
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Part of me kind of wants to pick up ANH, but if I buy one I have to buy all three. Bececause they aren't really the set we were hoping for I'm going to pass as well, and just wait until next year.
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I see these being the first Star Wars DVDs to drop significantly in value from their original release price with time. It happens with tons of other movies (most these days) so I'll wait on them and decide down the road. Or pick them up used or something, but not paying full price for them. Unless I really like the artwork in person :-X
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I'll be passing on these as well. Without improvements to the sound and picture, the VCR tapes I already have are just as good as the DVD's coming out. Now if they clean them up in 07 and add deleted scenes, I may change my mind.
I may have to break out the VHS tapes this weekend.
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I bet Lucas won't release the OOT again, so I'm picking them up. I will pick up the '07 set still. I'm a sucker as well!
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I might get them if I could send away for a personalized, handwritten apology from Lucas for not releasing them properly, but since they'll be having snowball fights in Hell before that happens, no.
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This and a similar thread on RS have convinced me not to buy them either. I have the Laserdiscs and love them on there, so until we get a clean DVD release with nothing altered except matte lines and clarity, I'm saving my money.
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It doesn't sound like too many of you here are planning on picking these up, so I'm sort of leaning that way now as well. I may pick up the Empire Strikes Back, just because my VHS version got eaten by a VCR when my younger brother was watching it years back, but I still have the others. But, then I'm sure that once I have Empire, I'd want the other two. I explained the new releases to my wife, and she's not real keen on picking these up either, so that weighs in as well. Plus, with LEGO Star Wars II coming out, as well as some other DVDs, it should be expensive enough as it is. We'll see, but if I do end up picking them up, its going to have to be quite spread out. Really, if Lucas would have just left a few things alone (Han shooting first, Jabba's Palace song, ending ROTJ song, etc.), I'd be ok with the changes. I mean, the Special Editions most definitely look better (at least than these versions that are coming out next Tuesday), and some of the changes are pretty good. Just a few that really bother the most. It will be interesting to see how well these sell.
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I was thinking I might rent the new disc for Star Wars and do a double watch of the laser disc copy I have on DVD to see if they're the same quality to help make a decision. I expect they will be about the same, but just for my own eyes.
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I might get them just as a replacement for my VHS set, which has seen better days. I noticed on the Official Site that these will be the only time that the OOT is on DVD, and since a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player is years away for me, I figure what the hell. It will be, without a doubt, my very dead last Star Wars DVD purchase. I don't care if even the Holiday Special or Ewoks and Droids are fully released on DVD, I wouldn't buy them.
I'll just take this as a lesson in being careful what I wish for. I asked for the original versions, and that's what I got. I never did think to ask for a respectable version of them (and changing them to anamorphic really doesn't make them original anymore, but I would have let that little bit slide.)
One would have assumed that an anamorphic transfer would be a given in this day and age, but Lucas and Co. are ever the kings of ****** results to high expectations.
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(and changing them to anamorphic really doesn't make them original anymore, but I would have let that little bit slide.)
::)
Kee-rist.
When are people going to learn that "anamorphic" does not equal "changing the film?"
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From the upcoming (9/10/06) Sunday paper...
(http://www.yakface.com/2006/DVDAD.JPG)
(http://www.yakface.com/2006/LEGOAD.JPG)
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(and changing them to anamorphic really doesn't make them original anymore, but I would have let that little bit slide.)
::)
Kee-rist.
When are people going to learn that "anamorphic" does not equal "changing the film?"
I don't know. I gathered from that link to The Digital Bits that it would be changing the film, but I forgot you love to jump down people's throats about this one just because you think you know more than everyone else about everything. Don't they have a place out there somewhere else where all you home theater know-it-alls can jerk each other off over fighting about aspect ratios?
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When are people going to learn that "anamorphic" does not equal "changing the film?"
So I can give a reply that's not as *******-ish as this last one:
Simplified, an "anamorphic transfer" just means that the DVD will look good on a 16x9 TV. It doesn't change the aspect ratio of the film, and it doesn't change any of the content of the film at all--it just looks better on widescreen displays.
Here's a visual example:
Non-anamorphic Rushmore:
(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/23516x9tvlbx.jpg)
Anamorphic Rushmore:
(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/23516x9tv16x9.jpg)
Nothing has changed at all about the film itself--but the anamorphic version looks much better on widescreen displays, that's all.
There's a handy guide to anamorphic-osity here, if you're interested:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/index.html
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I don't know. I gathered from that link to The Digital Bits that it would be changing the film, but I forgot you love to jump down people's throats about this one just because you think you know more than everyone else about everything. Don't they have a place out there somewhere else where all you home theater know-it-alls can jerk each other off over fighting about aspect ratios?
I was typing out my most recent reply before I saw this.
I don't think I know more about everything than everyone else, but if you still think that "anamorphic = changed film," even after it's been gone over several times in this very thread, then I certainly know more about this particular issue than you do. This can be a confusing issue for newcomers, and if you're spouting off about things you don't fully understand, then you're muddling it up even more for them, and I'm gonna call you on it.
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I'll be picking these movies up next week, the only question is which promo I'll pursue (Tin set, graphic novels, artwork, etc...). Thank God no ones offering an exclusive figure with purchase.
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You know damn well that next year Lucasland will release a boxed set that will tempt the hell out of all of us. You can bet that there will be cut scenes from the OT (as well as the PT) included (as extras).
Plus, we might even see an anamorphic version of the OT.
I say patience on this one (though that boxed set at BB is tempting).
Remember, 2007 is the 30th Anniversary...we're bound to see SW plastered everywhere...
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You know damn well that next year Lucasland will release a boxed set that will tempt the hell out of all of us. You can bet that there will be cut scenes from the OT (as well as the PT) included (as extras).
Plus, we might even see an anamorphic version of the OT.
I say patience on this one (though that boxed set at BB is tempting).
Remember, 2007 is the 30th Anniversary...we're bound to see SW plastered everywhere...
All points well taken. STAR WARS DVD releases have become a holiday tradition, and I hope next years super set has everything everyones been waiting for. Of course the cynical side of me is convinced Lucas will leave something out to make us want more. If next years set has everything that this years set has and more, I'll pick it up and give my old set to my nephew.
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I'll be picking these movies up next week, the only question is which promo I'll pursue (Tin set, graphic novels, artwork, etc...). Thank God no ones offering an exclusive figure with purchase.
Who has what special offers...
Best Buy - Collectors Tin
Wal- Mart - Graphic Novels
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Target; Mcquarie art, postcard size
Circuit City; classic poster art portfolio
SWS.com; Topps card
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I kind of forgot you really do not neet to buy all 3 DVD's at once. So, I just might pick up A New Hope instead. That's really the one that has the most changes from the Special Editions. I might pick that one up and call it quits until next year's set. Damn you Lucas. Tempting me again.
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Who has what special offers...
Best Buy = Collectors Tin
Wal- Mart = Graphic Novels
Target = Mcquarie art, postcard size
Circuit City = classic poster art portfolio
SWS.com = excusive Topps card
FYE = 7-pack of Topps cards
TRU = $5 gift card
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Circuit City probably has the best deal; $14.99 with free lithograph.
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I'm passing on the new releases as well.
I know I waited until the very last minute (last night,) but I finally talked with my contact who could NOT confirm that next years release will contain the 'anamorphic' cleaned up transfers. He only had the same info as released on Digital-Bits. However, given 9 more DVD releases, I think it's a safe bet that one of them is going to be the anamorphic cleaned-up transfer. Until then, I'll just get someone else to make me a copy from the Laserdisc which will be the same thing we're getting today.
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I just picked mine up at Wal-Mart, they sell them with or without the graphic novels, for the same price. Picked up the DVD figure sets too.
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I picked up the collectors tin at Best Buy, they were moving pretty good from what the teller told me.
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What does the tin cost?
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What does the tin cost?
Too much IMO. $59.99 I believe.
These things were rotting at Target and WM. Looks like the ROTJ DVD was a bit more popular at Target as there were 2-3 copies taken from the new release stands. Otherwise it was chalked full at both stores (unless both stores restocked this evening.) I could care less about a tin, lithographs, or comics so I'm going to wait as I bought the original set last year of which I'm very satisfied with. I'm glad that my OCD doesn't extend to my DVD collecting habits.
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Yeah, cheaper in the US than up here in Canada. >:(
2006 DVD Releases Thread (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10740.510)
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I picked up the collectors tin at Best Buy, they were moving pretty good from what the teller told me.
Me too. I figured if I'm going to be buying all of Hasbro's 4" collectible tin sets next year, I guess I better have this tin to keep the "set" complete... ::) Not to mention, I already have the (Target) concept art, and the original (WM) comics, and didn't really want the (CC) lithographs, so I figured the Best Buy set was the way to go, despite the $60 tag. I suppose the fact that I had a ****load of store credit there helped, since it essentially made this package free for me.
I also wasn't going to take the risk of the originals not getting re-released again in the future, so I figured I'd just bite the bullet and nab 'em now, just in case.
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I just bought each of the Limited Edition with Graphic Novels at Wal-Mart for $13.99 each. I wasn't going to buy them but I just couldn't pass the price up.
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I watched the unaltered version last night, and it looked fine to me. It was refreshing watching this movie without the distraction of the elements added to the SE.
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i will never understand the need to have these versions on dvd, but atleast you guys can quit whining about it. if anything i can be extremely pleased to not ever haft to see a message board devoted to complaining about "improvements" made to films that diden't age very well. well atleast you guys finnally got your way, if anything thats great.
but one quick question, what will be the future gimmick for rehashing the films on dvd? first time on hd dvd, then you guys haft to whine for the unaltered trilogy on hd, then another format? or will there be a prequel trilogy special edtion to create the new wanted unaltered hd versions? much like the action figures rehashing became sad long ago, any thoughts?
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i will never understand the need to have these versions on dvd, but atleast you guys can quit whining about it. if anything i can be extremely pleased to not ever haft to see a message board devoted to complaining about "improvements" made to films that diden't age very well. well atleast you guys finnally got your way, if anything thats great.
but one quick question, what will be the future gimmick for rehashing the films on dvd? first time on hd dvd, then you guys haft to whine for the unaltered trilogy on hd, then another format? or will there be a prequel trilogy special edtion to create the new wanted unaltered hd versions? much like the action figures rehashing became sad long ago, any thoughts?
Oh believe me I'll find more things to whine about, but the good news is reading those comments are optional. The fact is, for me, the DVD format is the best way to watch and store movies, and I've been looking forward to my favorite movies, the way I originally enjoyed them, on this format for years.
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but one quick question, what will be the future gimmick for rehashing the films on dvd?
The next gimmick will be getting the entire Saga of all 6 films in one complete boxset, probably with a few more digital upgrades here and there (like CG Yoda in TPM).
Gimmick after that, will be going to HD DVD.
After that, more CG changes.
Etc.
Glad to hear you're going to finally find some peace of mind when perusing the message boards though.
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i will never understand the need to have these versions on dvd, but atleast you guys can quit whining about it.
No whining here, just discussion. But I was always 'whine' about schmucks that don't respect that discussion. ::)
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Has anyone watched these on a 16x9 TV yet? I know they're not anamorphic transfers, but for some reason, Sansweet insisted at Comic Con that they will still fit 16x9 TV's without bars on the sides. ??? I wanted to see if he was just blowing smoke.
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Has anyone watched these on a 16x9 TV yet? I know they're not anamorphic transfers, but for some reason, Sansweet insisted at Comic Con that they will still fit 16x9 TV's without bars on the sides. ??? I wanted to see if he was just blowing smoke.
I don't need to physically watch these to know that they would look like ass on my 16x9 TV. They're non-anamorphic, so there's no way to get them to horizontally fill the screen without using some sort of zoom feature--which is most likely gonna make them look even worse.
Sansweet either didn't have any idea of what he was talking about, or he was, as you say, blowing smoke. Probably both. He was there for damage control and to sell product. He's one of the last people I'd listen to when it comes to the quality of these "fun bonus features for the fans."
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My new 61 inch tv has a way to change the aspect of the picture to "fit " the screen. It does this by stretching the image...basically, you can get the image to fit the screen, but it will be a little distorted.
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I wouldn't be a fan of having to stretch **** to fit my TV screen. That's just not acceptable, really.
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Has anyone gotten any discs with any defects yet? My Star Wars has a blip right after Tarkin says "Terminate her. Immediately!" (Chapter 27). Actually, there's quite a noticeable sound anomaly concurrent with the visual hiccup. If they're all like that, obviously I won't return it. But I'd kind of like to know if I got a bad one?
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I may be wrong but I think that "blip" is the disc transition to the second layer. It is a little distracting, you'd think they could put it in a less noticeable scene.
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I may be wrong but I think that "blip" is the disc transition to the second layer. It is a little distracting, you'd think they could put it in a less noticeable scene.
That's what someone said on RS. And it sure is distracting. :(
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I had another "unofficial" official conformation that the anamorphic, cleaned up versions of the unaltered films are in the works. The Fox Exec who shared the info with one of my contacts called the Star Wars titles "Evergreens," meaning that they can release slightly different versions constantly and they will still sell. No word on when they will be released, but they will be.
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I found an error. Finally got around to watching "Jedi" and there are some blue dots on the screen, doesn't look like pixillation, about an hour into it. I was just hunting around to see if it's reported anywhere else, and so far, I haven't found any reference to it. I guess I'll be swapping it out for a new one.
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Honestly, I think these things look fine. I'm not a tech-head and really don't ever care about having up-to-the-minute gizmos in my house. Anyway, these look more like movies to me than the 2004 DVDs did. The thing is, if you actually saw SW in 1977, the prints were always run down and a but washed out. The movie played for months at a time, and they wore out. My memeories of ANH are that it was always faded and dirty...like it was from another galaxy and another time.