Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Class316

Despecialized versions are better.

Yeah, I will not support those for various reasons.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Yeah, I will not support those for various reasons.

Admirable... and I mean that sincerely.

Personally, the way I rationalize my Despecialized Editions -- cuz it does bother me -- is the fact that I do own the official 2011 blu-rays of all six "Lucas" films... plus the 2006 DVDs with the 4x3 laserdisc transfers... plus the 2004 DVDs of the Special Editions... plus the "faces" laserdiscs of the original trilogy from the mid-90's... plus the "black box" Trilogy laserdisc set from the early 90's... plus the pre-black-box laserdiscs from the late 80's... plus the "widescreen VHS" editions from the late-80's... plus the pan-n-scan original VHS releases from the early-to-mid 80's. Plus, I will buy any future official re-release of the original, unmolested trilogy... guaranteed.

So that's how I sleep at night, even though I'm 100% anti-piracy. My Despecialized Editions are literally not taking one penny away from the Lucasfilm coffers.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Admirable... and I mean that sincerely.

Personally, the way I rationalize my Despecialized Editions -- cuz it does bother me -- is the fact that I do own the official 2011 blu-rays of all six "Lucas" films... plus the 2006 DVDs with the 4x3 laserdisc transfers... plus the 2004 DVDs of the Special Editions... plus the "faces" laserdiscs of the original trilogy from the mid-90's... plus the "black box" Trilogy laserdisc set from the early 90's... plus the pre-black-box laserdiscs from the late 80's... plus the "widescreen VHS" editions from the late-80's... plus the pan-n-scan original VHS releases from the early-to-mid 80's. Plus, I will buy any future official re-release of the original, unmolested trilogy... guaranteed.

So that's how I sleep at night, even though I'm 100% anti-piracy. My Despecialized Editions are literally not taking one penny away from the Lucasfilm coffers.

I own the 2011 BD complete saga set, the BD steelbooks for all 7 films, the 3D version of VII, the 2006 DVD set, and the 2004 DVD set. In the past I have also owned all of the original VHS tapes as well as the gold 1997 Special Edition VHS set.

With that said I still will not go the 'despecialized' route.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by octagon

And in a related vein, he made some (to my eye) really odd editorial decisions. I'll cite a TPM pet peeve as an example. I was already in a fairly skeptical headspace by the time we got to the underwater chase but was still totally blown away by the underwater city reveal. It was quite on a par with that Death Star looming into the frame in the opening minutes of Star Wars but it was awfully freaking cool.

But where did we go from there? To cartoon aliens channeling Yosemite Sam which - again, to my eyes - just undercut the awesomeness of that reveal. It made the whole sequence feel cartoony which is a shame because the awesome part was actually pretty awesome.

I love the Otoh Gunga reveal too. That's the thing about Lucas' "oil and water" style of filmmaking on the prequels. One minute they're kid's movies filled with bumbling eejit characters. Next minute they're examining the finer points of galactic politics. One minute they're trashy space adventures. Next minute they're laden with all kinds of subtext.

I don't think Lucas himself ever truly nailed down just what the hell they WERE supposed to be which is why they're so astonishingly uneven, as you say, and that wasn't helped by (or is perhaps because of) the endless fascination that Lucas also had with his digital goodies that were literally evolving in front of his eyes. I know you're an advocate of artists letting their imaginations run wild as we've discussed previously re: the usage of CG, but the reach of Lucas' imagination exceeded his storytelling grasp on this occasion.

[Morsoth]

The only real change that bugs me in the 2011 Blu-ray editions is the new song by Sy Snootles . Everything else, I can live with it. Another (smaller) bug is the fact that they made the entrance to Jabba the Hutt palace bigger in the Blu-ray editions, however, it doesn't match the original size seen in The Clone Wars animated series anymore...

However, I have the "despecialized editions" movies burned on DVD-R discs (until I can get a Blu-ray burner) just because I think that we *should* also get them. I'll gladly buy the OT on Blu-ray if it ever gets released, but I'll surely watch the new 2011 versions during a binge-watch....

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Right. It's just a shame that, for history's sake, it had to be the freakin' Star Wars prequels that were this key digital battleground, and Lucas didn't just learn how to walk but went from baby steps to running the 100 metres in 10 seconds flat. He pitched digital filmmaking into lightspeed like he was Han flying the Falcon, unfortunately he left the story behind as he did so.

Maybe the PT would have benefited from happening a bit earlier? Say, in the late '80s-early '90s. They'd be closer on the heels of the OT and technology wouldn't have advanced fully as much yet, so perhaps Lucas would have been a bit less rusty (hell, they may very well have been made OT-style, with other directors being brought in) and could also have focused on the story without getting too boggled down in all those new, shiny toys.

But it's all water under the bridge now. They were made when they were made and the trilogy we have is what we've got, for good or ill. I do think there genuinely is a lot to appreciate about them, for all their faults. That's always something.

[Cedric T Sealion]

Anyone who prefers the special editions to the theatrical cuts is ill as far as I'm concerned.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Admirable... and I mean that sincerely.

Personally, the way I rationalize my Despecialized Editions -- cuz it does bother me -- is the fact that I do own the official 2011 blu-rays of all six "Lucas" films... plus the 2006 DVDs with the 4x3 laserdisc transfers... plus the 2004 DVDs of the Special Editions... plus the "faces" laserdiscs of the original trilogy from the mid-90's... plus the "black box" Trilogy laserdisc set from the early 90's... plus the pre-black-box laserdiscs from the late 80's... plus the "widescreen VHS" editions from the late-80's... plus the pan-n-scan original VHS releases from the early-to-mid 80's. Plus, I will buy any future official re-release of the original, unmolested trilogy... guaranteed.

So that's how I sleep at night, even though I'm 100% anti-piracy. My Despecialized Editions are literally not taking one penny away from the Lucasfilm coffers.

I haven't gotten around to getting the Despecialized editions myself yet, mostly because it would involve torrenting which I don't ever want to do anymore, but also because I've been optimistic about an official release in the not-too-distant future based on what we've heard about new 4k versions being prepared (granted nothing has been specifically confirmed about them).

But yeah, I feel the same as you-- I have the Blu-Rays (and I previously bought the DVD set and two different VHS sets), and regardless I'd buy an official set on day one. If it turned out that they were never going to do it, or were stalling too long and had kind of a "maybe some year" mentality about it, I'd definitely go for the Despecialized versions then, and have no qualms about doing so.

[Hardback247]

Originally Posted by Cedric T Sealion

Anyone who prefers the special editions to the theatrical cuts is ill as far as I'm concerned.

Does Adywan's Star Wars Revisited count?

[Petey Parker]

Originally Posted by Cedric T Sealion

Anyone who prefers the special editions to the theatrical cuts is ill as far as I'm concerned.

Unfortunately there's an entire generation that has grown up only on the Special Editions so you can't really fault them when that's what they know. I would imagine that the % of people who grew up with the theatrical versions and prefer the special editions is probably on the smaller side.

[GasmaskAvenger]

I hope that 4K remaster of New Hope that was made (and was used as a reference point in "Rogue One") is of the original theatrical cut.

[fontcow]

Originally Posted by Morsoth

The only real change that bugs me in the 2011 Blu-ray editions is the new song in the Mos Eisley cantina.

Surely you mean the substitution of "Jedi Rocks" for "Lapti Nek" at Jabba's palace? As far as I know, the Mos Eisley cantina scene still has Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes playing the original "Cantina Band" and "Cantina Band #2".

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (1977) Soundtrack 11 Cantina Band - YouTube

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (1977) Soundtrack 12 Cantina Band #2 - YouTube

[Morsoth]

Originally Posted by Cedric T Sealion

Anyone who prefers the special editions to the theatrical cuts is ill as far as I'm concerned.

Well, I'm ill then. I'm grateful that you are concerned by it. Where do I go to get better?

Originally Posted by fontcow

Surely you mean the substitution of "Jedi Rocks" for "Lapti Nek" at Jabba's palace?

Yes, absolutely!! Call this a "newby" mistake!!! I fixed it!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Morsoth

Well, I'm ill then. I'm grateful that you are concerned by it. Where do I go to get better?



Yes, absolutely!! Call this a "newby" mistake!!! I fixed it!

There's no hope for you. Sorry.

The Price is Right losing horn - YouTube

[Morsoth]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

There's no hope for you. Sorry.

The Price is Right losing horn - YouTube

There is A New Hope, unless you watch the unaltered OT, then, there is no subtitle for "Episode IV"...!

Anyway, I get your point, but I'm the weirdo that love the prequels and the Special Editions. But be reassured, I also wish Lucas or Disney could release the unaltered OT -- Even if I love the new look of the original trilogy, I'll still be in line to get the theatrical versions on Blu-ray if they ever get released...

[ElvisForever]

Originally Posted by Petey Parker

Unfortunately there's an entire generation that has grown up only on the Special Editions so you can't really fault them when that's what they know. I would imagine that the % of people who grew up with the theatrical versions and prefer the special editions is probably on the smaller side.

The 6 films don't make sense in their unaltered form. When I see Shaw after seeing the prequels, I think...who is that old dude? When you see him behind the mask it is forgiveable because most of his face is blocked.

Empire with bugged eyed woman is just goofy at best.

There were powerful parts put in that set up Han as being more domesticated as oppposed to the stark contrast between Empire and Star Wars (in original form). I think the Storm Troopers arsenal made him more realistic in his retreat....if sequels are to exist.

As for altering the blurays and pasting in inferior sources to get back to original form, it is admirable, but the original 35mm is the way to go..

Empire and Return are more beta versions and stand as a relics from an artist not finished with his work hence the inferior sales of both versions compared with the original masterpiece.

As it stands, one doesn't have to choose. Go track down the laserdiscs or limited editions if you must. Good luck with that

The special editions have their flaws for sure, but other than the first, I will never ever go back.

As for Vaders Nooo or Hadyn's Noooo, both are hated by OT unaltered fans. To each his own. It doesn't bother me at all, and I say enhances the connection between all of the movies. Lucas made some great movies and I am glad for what he gave us. He has nothing to be ashamed of.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Maybe the PT would have benefited from happening a bit earlier? Say, in the late '80s-early '90s. They'd be closer on the heels of the OT and technology wouldn't have advanced fully as much yet, so perhaps Lucas would have been a bit less rusty (hell, they may very well have been made OT-style, with other directors being brought in) and could also have focused on the story without getting too boggled down in all those new, shiny toys.

But it's all water under the bridge now. They were made when they were made and the trilogy we have is what we've got, for good or ill. I do think there genuinely is a lot to appreciate about them, for all their faults. That's always something.

Yeah, I think earlier when he was still coming off of the OT or later when the CG tech had properly matured would've resulted in tighter stories either way (though them coming later results in a good old-fashioned 'chicken and the egg' scenario), but as you say it's all water under the bridge. At least it's not sand under the bridge though, poor Ani hates that stuff.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Maybe the PT would have benefited from happening a bit earlier? Say, in the late '80s-early '90s. They'd be closer on the heels of the OT and technology wouldn't have advanced fully as much yet, so perhaps Lucas would have been a bit less rusty (hell, they may very well have been made OT-style, with other directors being brought in) and could also have focused on the story without getting too boggled down in all those new, shiny toys.

I doubt it, as Lucas was already headed down the downward spiral in terms of storytelling ability during the ROTJ era. He had already purged all the people who helped make ANH and TESB the successes that they were and surrounded himself with yes-men (along with the non-entity he selected to direct ROTJ, Richard Marquand) who were unable to rein in George's worst impulses. In the end, the lack of collaborative support is the core reason behind ROTJ being seen universally as the lowest-regarded OT film.

Because of that, even if the PT were made in the late '80s - early '90s it still would have been just as bad. The only difference would be the SFX quality would have been even worse, and some other actor would have to ruin the entire concept of a young Anakin Skywalker instead of Hayden Christensen. Perhaps Corey Feldman would have fit the bill?

Originally Posted by ElvisForever

Giant wall of nonsense

It's amazing to see a person who is so completely wrong on each and every point stated. Tell me, how is it like over there in Bizarro-world?

[Geoff D]

Giant wall of nonsense

^ That just made me LOL good and proper. Not that I'm gloating, it's just as true of my posts as much as anyone else's!

[Yojimbo68]

Originally Posted by doctor_who

Would you like an award?

My nephew has only seen the special editions AND he likes the prequels as much. This probably horrifies you lol.

I actually think that Return of the Jedi is improved (for the most part) with the special edition cut when it comes to the effects. The Rancor sequence looks a lot better and the sarlacc pit seems a bit more dangerous. But some current additions like the Vader "Noooo!" and Hayden Christensen hanging with Yoda and Alec Guinness at the end are a bit maddening. If only George could stop tinkering...

As for the prequels, I really like Revenge of the Sith. And I've said it here before but I would love to get that Imax cut of Attack of the Clones. The cuts that Lucas had to employ in order to fit a 2 hour running time actually really improve the movie.

And yes, I would love an award!