Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Original & Prequel Trilogy - Sept 16, 2011 - Review

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by srinivas1015

I hope we don't get the switching aspect ratios like we did with the dark knight and tron legacy bds .I find switching aspect ratios really irritating..what about you guys?

Does not bother me, as I do not watch movies that bore me to the point that I am watching for the black bars. As long as I'm always getting the full picture the way the director intended, I do not care.

Besides, I'm not buying the prequels. Do they have any IMAX shots?

[Beast]

Originally Posted by srinivas1015

I hope we don't get the switching aspect ratios like we did with the dark knight and tron legacy bds .I find switching aspect ratios really irritating..what about you guys?

We won't. In those cases, the movies (or scenes in them) were filmed with IMAX cameras. The PT wasn't. It was just shown in IMAX.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by King_Spade

I love the Dark Knight when it goes to IMAX ratio. And I have the IMAX version of Transformers 2 and that is orgasmic

In second thought, tron never bothered me that much but with tdk, it switched every 5mins..it really breaks the third wall for me when that happens, especially when I watch on the projector.

[georgec]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

It's not that he didn't have anyone that could not question him, it's that he fired anyone that did. He removed creative tension from the equation, and isolated his vision where he wouldn't allow anyone else access to it. So there were no checks and balances present for the prequels, like there had been with the original films.

You can also see some of this in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, although that film isn't nearly as bad as Epi I-III. At least with KotCS, Lucas had both Harrison and Spielberg to contend with, and Ford said no to Lucas over and over with his initial script ideas. That's why KotCS is watchable, and the SW prequels are not.

That's what I'm saying, though - Lucas parted ways with anyone who challenged him creatively (e.g. Kurtz), and the remaining people dare not question him too much. You can just see it in that the documentary about making TPM. Go to the 3:45 mark - Burtt tries to kindly tell George the movie stinks. Look at Rick McCallum's face - disgust. We don't know what was discussed behind closed doors, but you can see restrained disappointment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enzULRZAo68

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Yeah, it's too bad GL became so jealous and protective of his ideas like that, and that he hired a yes man like RC to back him up.

Oh well, it is what it is now...ain't it.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by Beast

We won't. In those cases, the movies (or scenes in them) were filmed with IMAX cameras. The PT wasn't. It was just shown in IMAX.

Oh ok..I thought they were due to the IMAX editions present..I take it they were panned-&scanned or something..
I always had this idea of the ultimate star wars blu ray for the ot where there is seamless branching and before starting the movie, the viewer gets to choose which version of the altered scene they want in the movie(Han shoots first/greedo shoots first) and also whether they want certain deleted scenes or not(jabba in ep4). There can also be presets such as unaltered,special edition,2004 edition, etc. I think this would have been the ultimate cut which would have pleased every fan, with him/her choosing his/her favorite alteration or unaltered scene.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Hmm. So are we getting the '97 and '04 versions, or just the '04's?

[Stinky-Dinkins]

This thread is always good for a laugh.

For someone to say that the new Indy film was just as good, if not better in parts, than Raiders gives you some insight into how someone could consider AotC the best out of all the SW movies - originals included.

No accounting for taste I guess.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by Beast

Pretty much impossible. Given the number of minute changes, especially in A New Hope. Seemless Branching is next to impossible.

Besides, there's a number of other reasons why it won't happen. For the reason you leave out, it goes against the desires of the film's creator.

Well, I don't know too much about seamless branching but with Harry potter and the deathly hallows which has maximum movie mode, it branches out every 5mins or so. You should open up the folder on a pc..you'll see what I mean.

Also, like you said there are so many changes that a fan should the right to choose for himself..also, seeing how one third of the beginning of the saga is filled with a character such as jar jar, I couldn't care less about going against THIS film's creator... Judging by the vid posted above, somebody has to

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Blu Ray McHone

I agree that alot of the dialogue in the PT is atrocious. But, in a way, that's why I like them, that cheesy dialogue, gives them kinda a 1930's type, serial resonance. Which obviously is what Lucas was shooting for, now whether or not he hit the target, that is up for discussion. To each, their own. You either love these films or you hate them, there is no in between.

Nail --> Head. You only have to dig out King Kong '33 to witness stilted performances and hammy dialogue in amongst some astonishing special effects. Gee, that sounds familiar...

So yeah, Lucas did exactly what he meant to do, which was to bring his treasured black-and-white serials to candy-coloured digital life. Trouble is, it's such an out-dated style of movie making that it comes across as laughable most of the time. That said, turn down the volume while Anakin is declaring his love for Padme in Clones and the performances shine through.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

OK, here's my two cents on "Episode II"...

First, I'll openly admit that I like the film. In fact, I'd personally place it right next to "Revenge of the Sith", in terms of overall quality. The story has so many elements to it (mystery, action, suspense, romance, etc.), and I often find myself almost totally immersed in it. When I'm watching this movie (or any of the "Star Wars" saga, for that matter), I'm not psycho-analyzing every detail; I'm paying attention to the characters, and letting the story unfold on its own. In all seriousness, I think a lot of people put way too much analysis into this. On the whole, "Star Wars" is meant to be a reflection of an older, more stylized form of storytelling. It doesn't adhere to the "norms" of present-day culture, and its not supposed to.

Right on! I particularly liked the mystery and romance, well, and action, and suspense, etc., but that was something we had never seen in a SW episode before. Awesome. Love it!
Regardless of what "they" say!

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It's one of the reason I find all this in depth look at these 6 movies to be funny. All 6 movies are not classic in the real sense, nothing deep, not major acting, no profound revelation, they are just darn fun to watch.

Didn't we discuss the meaning of SW once, and it just revealed how multi-layered they really are??? You have me stunned, as one time you go on about how profound they are, and then you say they are mere entertainment.

I don't get it!

Originally Posted by King_Spade

I apologize if this was discussed - does anyone know if we are getting the best aspect ratio? I can't say I am a genius when it comes to this stuff while I do know a bit but I know there are far more intelligent people on this site when it comes to this sorta stuff.

So are we getting the best possible aspect ratio? I heard different things on different sites.

They will be in their OAR, so no need to worry at all.

Originally Posted by Jay444

LOL, I love it. I am surprised he didn't refer to his seeing it as a 'test screening.'

That, sir had me crack up like mad!!! Good one!!!

Originally Posted by georgec

That's what I'm saying, though - Lucas parted ways with anyone who challenged him creatively (e.g. Kurtz), and the remaining people dare not question him too much. You can just see it in that the documentary about making TPM. Go to the 3:45 mark - Burtt tries to kindly tell George the movie stinks. Look at Rick McCallum's face - disgust. We don't know what was discussed behind closed doors, but you can see restrained disappointment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enzULRZAo68

Sorry, I have seen this documentary many times, and just watched the clip on Youtube again, but I cannot see what you see.
It's your interpretation. Nothing more.


And folks! Back to SW again! It won't have any switching aspect ratios.
That's a given!

[DarthMarino]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Hmm. So are we getting the '97 and '04 versions, or just the '04's?

Neither. You will be getting the 2011 versions which will likely be the '04 versions with additional changes.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by DarthMarino

Neither. You will be getting the 2011 versions which will likely be the '04 versions with additional changes.

Source?

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Source?

No source required.it's Lucas there is a better chance of us seeing a new star wars trilogy than him not altering these movies

[nametag]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Source?

Well we know they will at least be the 04 versions, and people are just making an educated guess that it will fix the problems those DVDs had, and so therefore be a 'new' version? Besides, I thought the replacement of puppet yoda with CGI in Phantom had already been confirmed, that's one change we do know about.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Source?

Well, the news that at least the Yoda Puppet from TPM has been replaced. So likely other tweaks have been made as well.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by srinivas1015

Well, I don't know too much about seamless branching but with Harry potter and the deathly hallows which has maximum movie mode, it branches out every 5mins or so. You should open up the folder on a pc..you'll see what I mean.

With A New Hope though, everything from the crawl to the starfields have been changed.

And there's so many minor CGI enhancements and tweaks, it just wouldn't make sense.

They would have to be presented on seperate discs. At least A New Hope in this case.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Yikes. I always assumed we would have branching or both SE versions of the films. I do not like the '04 versions of of either Empire or Jedi due to the changes in the story elements. I was hoping I could watch '04 New Hope and '97 Empire/Jedi.

The only thing the '04 release improved on was the bad CG Jabba from ANH being upgraded to a mediocre CG Jabba that I could actually stomach.

If this release is just going to be more tweaks on the '04's, then I will likely pass on the whole thing. With each modification made to the original trilogy, the less and less endeared I have become to them.

If all of this conjecture is true, then my last DVD set may have well been my final outing with the SW universe. I may have to hunt down those UOT DVDs that were ported from the laserdisks.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by Beast

Well, the news that at least the Yoda Puppet from TPM has been replaced. So likely other tweaks have been made as well.

I wanna ask you guys a question..why is it that the puppet in tpm bothers so many fans?I get so engrossed in esb that I never end up thinking about yoda..but even with tpm,it didn't bother me that much(although I noticed some lip sync issues)..but now-a-days, the puppet is all I think about every time I watch tpm.. This still doesnt happen with esb.
But I still prefer the puppet as compared to the fake cgi yoda in AOTC. To me, atleast the puppet looks more 'organic'.

[Geoff D]

Beast is correct. There are so many alterations to the first film that seamless branching is out of the question. The other two, maybe they could get away with it.

srinivas: the Yoda puppet in Phantom Menace looks very rigid and unexpressive. The original puppet wees on it from a great height, as does the CG Yoda (in Sith, anyway).