Star Wars upgrades

[CrYoG]

I was thinking of upgrading to the Blu-Rays of Star Wars I-VI, but w/so many different sets, I'm wondering which I should get.

What I would like:
1. Episodes I-VI on Blu-Rays
2. A Bonus Blu-Ray for each movie
3. A Digital Copy of each movie

I already have I-VI on DVDs w/a bonus DVD for each movie, but I would like the upgrades.
I already have VII-IX on Blu-Rays w/a bonus Blu-Ray & Digital Copy of each movie.

[starsteam]

If you want the bonus features discs and a digital copy in the same package, then it'll be the 4K releases.

[Mikezilla3k]

Yeah, from what I've heard, Sith is the only 4K worth getting.

[BNex99]

In terms of official releases, I honestly find Disney's UHDs (and accompanying remastered Blu-rays) of IV-VI to be a considerable upgrade from the old Fox Blu-ray set from 2011. I'd prefer less DNR for sure, but the more accurate colors on the newer masters almost makes up for it, IMO.

As for the changes, the only really noticeable new one is "Maclunkey" (there are also apparently a few subtle tweaks to certain shots), but otherwise it's still the same silly stuff that's been there for a while now. And it seems like we're stuck with that for the foreseeable future (unless you go looking in unmentionable places).

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by CrYoG

I was thinking of upgrading to the Blu-Rays of Star Wars I-VI, but w/so many different sets, I'm wondering which I should get.

What I would like:
1. Episodes I-VI on Blu-Rays
2. A Bonus Blu-Ray for each movie
3. A Digital Copy of each movie

I already have I-VI on DVDs w/a bonus DVD for each movie, but I would like the upgrades.
I already have VII-IX on Blu-Rays w/a bonus Blu-Ray & Digital Copy of each movie.

You'll need to get the 4K releases. They have Blu-ray copies with the movie and some bonus features included with the 4K:




That said, the 2011 Blu-rays have exclusive bonus content:

[Burt Lancaster]

Empire, Jedi and especially Menace look atrocious on 4K. Menace is worse since it isn't even a new scan, it's an upscale (though thst doesn't mean anything) from a very old dnr source. Empire and Jedi got a 4K negative scan but smeared out grain...done by disney. New Hope 4K looks good, done by fox.

There is no difference in quality between any bluray and 4K of Clones. Shot on prototype(?) digital camera, looks awful no matter what. One of the worst-looking high-budget movies ever made.

Sith bluray and 4K look good.

[milo bloom]

Originally Posted by Roonan

That said, the 2011 Blu-rays have exclusive bonus content:

I've had this set for several years, I think the transfers hold up well enough and there's some decent extras.

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by milo bloom

I've had this set for several years, I think the transfers hold up well enough and there's some decent extras.

It's a great set, but the new original trilogy remaster (which was done the year after that set was released) does show how aged the old remaster really was.

At least in Europe it's available separately, you don't need to get the 4K.

[steel_breeze]

I go back and forth on my opinion of the OT upgrades. Even though they're a friggin' DNR nightmare, the color grade GENERALLY* looks much much better to my eyes -- especially all scenes in space, like the Imperial Star Destroyer fleet in Empire or the space battle in Return of the Jedi. Just WOW, on those. And you also gain a LOT by no longer having the anamorphic "twitch" in effects shots in Return of the Jedi (a slight, weird rotational judder most noticeable on shots of the Emperor comped with stars outside his circular window) -- oh, and that whole segment when the Shuttle Tyderium is approaching Endor finally looks greater than 480p on the new releases.

*However... the color grade of the Hoth battle drives me bonkers. The new 4K color almost looks like digitally captured footage that was left "RAW", with no grade applied. (Not literally; I'm being hyperbolic; but ain't too far off.) Here's just a quick comparison I whipped up using my Movies Anywhere copies; apologies the example on the left isn't the exact frame.

Top is old Blu-ray, bottom is the new color grade.



I absolutely hate the new color on that lower right-hand image of the walkers closing in on the fleeing Rebels -- and it hurts, 'cuz it's one of my all-time favorite shots. Arrgh. I similarly don't love the new carbon freeze chamber colors, but they're "fine".

Overall, the upgrades are still a "win" for me (even for the prequels), but it's... complicated.

[DarthMarino]

The new ones look cropped on all sides.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by Burt Lancaster

Empire, Jedi and especially Menace look atrocious on 4K. Menace is worse since it isn't even a new scan, it's an upscale (though thst doesn't mean anything) from a very old dnr source. Empire and Jedi got a 4K negative scan but smeared out grain...done by disney. New Hope 4K looks good, done by fox.

Jedi has some really bad DNR, all deep shadows are detail erased and some scenes even have mids and brights all DNR'ed and in one spot they even accidentally appear to have dropped a giant blur photoshop type brush on a redwood tree and smeared the bark to less than VHS detail within a perfect circle! That said, some scenes do have oodles more detail than any other release.

I know certain some here disagree, but I feel ROTJ suffered more overall than ESB with DNR by a good bit, elswhere than here I see more agreement with myself.

Menace UHD is still easily the best home release. They at least brought back some of the original theatrical pop and saturation and turned a few key super beautiful scenes looking theatrically great again. For those reasons, I consider it one of the real upgrades. It is though still DNR'ed like all the rest of the home releases, although it pulls a trace more detail than the prior home releases. There is an unofficial grindhouse level fan scan of it that is free of all the DNR, although it's not quite all color timed and graded perfectly yet and I think still only released in somewhat more compressed options as of yet.

Star Wars is weird in that it has fairly natural seeming colors and grading, moreso than the other home releases, and oodles of detail, but then it has so little grain it feels a bit odd, like for the first time way more theatrical but then you feel the reduced grain even more. But at least the DNR was done more carefully than with ESB and by than with ROTJ.

There is no difference in quality between any bluray and 4K of Clones. Shot on prototype(?) digital camera, looks awful no matter what. One of the worst-looking high-budget movies ever made.

The UHD has a tiny trace more detail. But they didn't seem to bring back the colors and pop the way they did with TPM UHD for some reason.

I recall the theatrical 35mm of this actually looking pretty beautiful. For whatever reason, unlike with TPM, the theatrical digital seemed a little bit dull though, perhaps more like the home releases, not sure. The 35mm theatrical had some nice pop and rich colors.

Sure the digital camera has some blocky noise in certain shadows and colors and so on (but it looks better with that than on post theatrical releases with it DNR'ed out to some extent), but the film can still look cool:

Sith bluray and 4K look good.

Yeah the Sith releases for home always seemed pretty decent.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

The newest blus tend to have somewhat more theatrical color grading than the earlier ones. The UHD tend to carry that off a bit better still. (although AOTC, for some reason, didn't seem to get changed much and Sith didn't really need much changing, so this applies more to TPM,SW,ESB,ROTJ, and, of course, the new trilogy never had an old release).

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Burt Lancaster

There is no difference in quality between any bluray and 4K of Clones. Shot on prototype(?) digital camera, looks awful no matter what. One of the worst-looking high-budget movies ever made.

I'm sorry, but statements like that reek of ignorance about the whole thing.

First, the digital camera used for Attack of the Clones was not a prototype. It took years of development and actual prototypes until they got the HDW-F900.

Second, these are effects-heavy movies. The captured footage is usually just a portion of the final frame. Whatever perceived resolution limitations are not and never would be noticeable because most people don't even know what to look for in the frame. You'd need a layer breakdown of a frame to even make that argument, and even then, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in quality from one element to the next. And even if you would, you're no longer judging the picture quality of the actual movie.

And third, the film was finished on 2K, like many other movies.

And "one of the worst-looking high-budget movies"? Please... Hyperbole aside, it's not a bad looking movie at all. Never was.

[rexcrk]

Originally Posted by CrYoG

I was thinking of upgrading to the Blu-Rays of Star Wars I-VI, but w/so many different sets, I'm wondering which I should get.

What I would like:
1. Episodes I-VI on Blu-Rays
2. A Bonus Blu-Ray for each movie
3. A Digital Copy of each movie

I already have I-VI on DVDs w/a bonus DVD for each movie, but I would like the upgrades.
I already have VII-IX on Blu-Rays w/a bonus Blu-Ray & Digital Copy of each movie.

Unfortunately there’s no practical set for everything you’re looking for, as far as I’m aware. The 2019 releases are single disc Blu-rays and a digital copy. No bonus disc. The single 4K releases include the movie on 4K and Blu-ray, and each have a bonus disc and a digital copy. That would be a good option if you’re planning on upgrading to 4K at any time. The bonus discs only have a handful of features not on the Complete Saga set.

The 2011 Complete Saga (as well as the 2015 repackage) gives you all the movies on Blu-ray and three bonus discs (one disc for prequel features, one disc for original trilogy features, and one disc for other various documentaries). That’s probably the best bang for your buck. AND a few of those features are exclusive to that set.

You could also go for the Skywalker Saga set at Best Buy which includes all nine movies on 4K and Blu-ray and bonus discs for each, as well as digital copies. But while the set is really nice looking, it’s kind of impractical.

[HD Goofnut]

If you're a Star Wars nut like myself you'll need the 4Ks, the 2011 set for the extras, and the prequel DVDs for their exclusive extras.

[rexcrk]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

If you're a Star Wars nut like myself. You'll need the 4Ks, the 2011 set for the extras, the prequel DVDs for their exclusive extras.

Same. I’m not proud of how many editions of these movies I have. The original DVD box set, the single releases of the originals with the original cuts, the prequels on DVD, the 2011 set, the 4Ks, retail exclusives with exclusive discs

In fairness, with the way George tinkered with these movies, each edition is slightly different from previous ones (aside from repacks) lol

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

If you're a Star Wars nut like myself you'll need the 4Ks, the 2011 set for the extras, and the prequel DVDs for their exclusive extras.

If you're a Star Wars nut like myself, you'll need to own the 4K versions on DVD.

[Burt Lancaster]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

Jedi has some really bad DNR, all deep shadows are detail erased and some scenes even have mids and brights all DNR'ed and in one spot they even accidentally appear to have dropped a giant blur photoshop type brush on a redwood tree and smeared the bark to less than VHS detail within a perfect circle! That said, some scenes do have oodles more detail than any other release.

I know certain some here disagree, but I feel ROTJ suffered more overall than ESB with DNR by a good bit, elswhere than here I see more agreement with myself.

Menace UHD is still easily the best home release. They at least brought back some of the original theatrical pop and saturation and turned a few key super beautiful scenes looking theatrically great again. For those reasons, I consider it one of the real upgrades. It is though still DNR'ed like all the rest of the home releases, although it pulls a trace more detail than the prior home releases. There is an unofficial grindhouse level fan scan of it that is free of all the DNR, although it's not quite all color timed and graded perfectly yet and I think still only released in somewhat more compressed options as of yet.

Star Wars is weird in that it has fairly natural seeming colors and grading, moreso than the other home releases, and oodles of detail, but then it has so little grain it feels a bit odd, like for the first time way more theatrical but then you feel the reduced grain even more. But at least the DNR was done more carefully than with ESB and by than with ROTJ.



The UHD has a tiny trace more detail. But they didn't seem to bring back the colors and pop the way they did with TPM UHD for some reason.

I recall the theatrical 35mm of this actually looking pretty beautiful. For whatever reason, unlike with TPM, the theatrical digital seemed a little bit dull though, perhaps more like the home releases, not sure. The 35mm theatrical had some nice pop and rich colors.

Sure the digital camera has some blocky noise in certain shadows and colors and so on (but it looks better with that than on post theatrical releases with it DNR'ed out to some extent), but the film can still look cool:







Yeah the Sith releases for home always seemed pretty decent.

Respectfully disagree! .

Phantom Menace/Clones look identical to their blurays and I'll stand by it. They did nothing to improve either's picture. They took old masters (well, can't do much for Clones) and slapped it on a 4K disc. A New Hope doesn't look dnred to me, it just looks like a 4K negative scan where the grain is finer. Perhaps some shots of Empire and Jedi look good but that is only because of no dnr.

Edit: looking at screenshots, I take back what I said about A New Hope not being DNRed . . . I'm not sure. I sure hope not.

2nd edit: https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...141307&i=8&l=0 Yeah, it looks dnred! My apologies! You are correct sir!

[Burt Lancaster]

Originally Posted by Roonan

I'm sorry, but statements like that reek of ignorance about the whole thing.

First, the digital camera used for Attack of the Clones was not a prototype. It took years of development and actual prototypes until they got the HDW-F900.

Second, these are effects-heavy movies. The captured footage is usually just a portion of the final frame. Whatever perceived resolution limitations are not and never would be noticeable because most people don't even know what to look for in the frame. You'd need a layer breakdown of a frame to even make that argument, and even then, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in quality from one element to the next. And even if you would, you're no longer judging the picture quality of the actual movie.

And third, the film was finished on 2K, like many other movies.

And "one of the worst-looking high-budget movies"? Please... Hyperbole aside, it's not a bad looking movie at all. Never was.

I disagree with a lot of this

Attack of the Clones is an ugly movie. The cgi is unconvincing and the image is fuzzy and dark. The movie looks unprofessional and off-putting. I'm not reading too deep into the technical side, I'm giving my honest thoughts of sitting down and watching the movie casually.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Burt Lancaster

I disagree with a lot of this

Attack of the Clones is an ugly movie. The cgi is unconvincing and the image is fuzzy and dark. The movie looks unprofessional and off-putting. I'm not reading too deep into the technical side, I'm giving my honest thoughts of sitting down and watching the movie casually.