Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[StankYouSmellyMuch]

Probably asked a thousand times but can anyone point out which version or where could I watch the unedited, no CGI added, original Star Wars A New Hope? I think it's on DVD but not really sure which one it is. Thanks.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by StankYouSmellyMuch

Probably asked a thousand times but can anyone point out which version or where could I watch the unedited, no CGI added, original Star Wars A New Hope? I think it's on DVD but not really sure which one it is. Thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FQ...ID=51u3YmzYxNL

The Limited Edition 2-disc DVD contains a non-anamorphic unaltered version of the film.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by StankYouSmellyMuch

Probably asked a thousand times but can anyone point out which version or where could I watch the unedited, no CGI added, original Star Wars A New Hope? I think it's on DVD but not really sure which one it is. Thanks.

Harmy's Star Wars: Despecialized Edition v2.5 - Video Sources Documentary - YouTube

[Blu-21]

The CGI version of Yoda in the BD of TPM (which is the same model as the one in ROTS) looks much better and more faithful to the orignal puppet from the OT. Its the CGI model of Yoda in AOTC which is looking a little worse for wear nowadays.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But, weirdo that I am, I'm kinda used to seeing the puppet there in Phantom Menace, no matter how goofy it looks. Whenever I watch the BD (which ain't often, granted) I'm thrown off by the CG version. Still, the transition from the puppet to the more traditional looking CG design between Ep I and II is another thing that always made me feel like TPM is that much more 'disconnected' from the rest, so you'd think I'd be grateful for the alteration to the CG version in Ep I.

You might want to see this:

All Yoda Scenes Comparison - The Phantom Menace [1080p HD] - YouTube

You can tell the Yoda puppet is way too exaggerated in its movements. It's almost as if Oz decided to move him in a more "muppet" way. The CG version is much more in line with the thoughtful, reserved Yoda of The Empire Strikes Back. Especially the mouth animation. You can tell the guys at ILM were clearly trying for that look.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Rating logos

That's normal in the UK; it's the law there. Think of it as a badge of honor (or rather "honour"); the BBFC usually seems a bit more enlightened than the MPAA.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

That's normal in the UK; it's the law there. Think of it as a badge of honor (or rather "honour"); the BBFC usually seems a bit more enlightened than the MPAA.

Yes, I know. I've been RF and importing for years.
Doesn't change my opinion that they are unsightly as hell, and destroy the great artwork of many UK releases.
It's also why almost every steelbook from the UK(and other regions)either has the logos as removable stickers, or on the 1/4 slip. I wish that practice would become much more widespread.

[StingingVelvet]

Yeah, I wish Arrow Video used stickers for their ratings logos. It really hurts their cool new cover art.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

That's normal in the UK; it's the law there. Think of it as a badge of honor (or rather "honour"); the BBFC usually seems a bit more enlightened than the MPAA.

A badge of honor? It's really much more of a reminder that their Nanny State is all-pervasive.

Regardless of their failings, at least the MPAA doesn't have to rate a film for it to be legally sold in the US (nor have thirteen copies of the same ratings logo on every conceivable surface of the packaging).

[tigertron]

Yeah, our rating logos are awful, but it's been this way for a very long time so unfortunately I don't see them removing the logos any time soon.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

You might want to see this:


All Yoda Scenes Comparison - The Phantom Menace [1080p HD] - YouTube


You can tell the Yoda puppet is way too exaggerated in its movements. It's almost as if Oz decided to move him in a more "muppet" way. The CG version is much more in line with the thoughtful, reserved Yoda of The Empire Strikes Back. Especially the mouth animation. You can tell the guys at ILM were clearly trying for that look.

You might want to read my post again. It's not that the CG version isn't better, it's that I'm used to seeing the puppet there in TPM, flaws and all.

[steel_breeze]

As I've often said, I'm a longtime original-trilogy snob who's only recently embraced the prequels (a transformation that occurred just this year, to my great surprise), and I'm currently re-watching the whole saga with my wife. I find the prequels to be utterly fascinating and infuriating creatures. They're so rich with possibility and so troubling in their execution (in my opinion)… but if I'm being honest, they really do deliver just about everything I ever wanted to see from the Star Wars universe, dating all the way back to when I was a kid.

The original Star Wars flicks came out when I was 6, 9 and 12, respectively ('77, '80, '83)… and my friends and I would have endless conversations about:

--the Clone Wars
--"General" Kenobi's adventures/friendship with Anakin Skywalker
--the Republic before the wars started
--what it would look like to have an army of lightsaber-wielding Jedi Knights fighting together, side-by-side
--Obi-Wan/Anakin's final duel around the lava (which was mentioned in the novelization of Return of the Jedi)

And you know what?… the prequels deliver all of this. The execution might not be great, but it's all there. And I'm only now starting to appreciate that. I feel like I've tapped into the Matrix and can see the intellectual INTENT behind each scene and every story beat. Behind all the awkward performances and wince-inducing dialogue, there is a lot going on which I can actually enjoy. In the great balance of things, I believe the prequels deliver more than they detract.

[Geoff D]

Sure, there's a lot going on under the surface in these films, but the clever symbolism etc etc tends to drown the simpler things like snappy plots, interesting characters and/or performances, zesty dialogue and so on. I suppose it could be said that the prequels are the brains and the originals the brawn, but for methere's so much of a stylistic mismatch between the two trilogies (and indeed from Ep I to II) in terms of look and tone and feel that I've always found it to be really tough to reconcile them being as part of the same 'saga'.

And the more that Lucas retconned the OT the more I found it distanced them from the PT, I know that sounds weird but every time he adds this or changes that I'm reminded of what the movie was, not what it's supposed to be now. I've put my money where my mouth is too, I've just sold my Blu-ray boxset because I can't stand most of the 2011 revisions.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And the more that Lucas retconned the OT the more I found it distanced them from the PT, I know that sounds weird but every time he adds this or changes that I'm reminded of what the movie was, not what it's supposed to be now. I've put my money where my mouth is too, I've just sold my Blu-ray boxset because I can't stand most of the 2011 revisions.

I can totally respect and relate to that point of view; I was 100% in that head-space for the last fifteen years. Never watched any STAR WARS except the original unaltered trilogy. Didn't own the blu-rays at all until after that Force Awakens trailer with the "crashed star destroyer", back in March. But now I'm lovin' everything. I bizarrely feel much happier since I've become more free in my "STAR WARS love". My wife and I are having a blast watching the whole saga… which would've been impossible for me just one year ago. I don't know if I've joined the light side or the dark side, LOL… but there's definitely been a shift.

[Geoff D]

I've kinda gone the other way, I was there on opening day for each prequel (saw Sith twice that day, in fact) and I've always liked plenty of things about them but even then Clones stood out as being the poorest one, and as time goes on I've come to dislike it with a passion. I guess it's soured my stance on the prequels as a whole.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I've kinda gone the other way, I was there on opening day for each prequel (saw Sith twice that day, in fact) and I've always liked plenty of things about them but even then Clones stood out as being the poorest one, and as time goes on I've come to dislike it with a passion. I guess it's soured my stance on the prequels as a whole.

I'm DEFINITELY the only one on these boards that has always liked Clones the best among the prequels. Basically, when Menace came out in '99 I was already wary since I hated the '97 Special Editions… but I was optimistic enough to wait 12 hours in line on opening day, at a theater in Westwood. Hated it. With a passion. Almost gave up on STAR WARS, but saw Clones in '02 about two weeks after it came out… and actually LIKED it. A lot. Battle of Geonosis was best sci-fi action I'd seen since '83. Saw it three more times in the theaters and started to try to like Menace. Was very optimistic for Sith in '05, had just gotten married, was on top of the world… but proved to be (and remains) my absolute least favorite STAR WARS flick -- by far. My deep dislike for Sith caused a domino effect that rippled backward and made me hate Menace more AND dislike Clones for leading up to such a colossal disappointment. Sold my Clones dvd (the only prequel I had bought, up to that point) and never looked at anything but the original trilogy again… until this year, as I mentioned in my earlier post.

Even now, after I've come to terms with (and even embraced) the prequels, Clones remains my favorite and Sith is by far my least favorite. Which pretty much makes me a minority of one in these boards. And hey, I'm okay with that. Different strokes, right? (Different Snokes, perhaps.)

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sure, there's a lot going on under the surface in these films, but the clever symbolism etc etc tends to drown the simpler things like snappy plots, interesting characters and/or performances, zesty dialogue and so on. I suppose it could be said that the prequels are the brains and the originals the brawn, but for methere's so much of a stylistic mismatch between the two trilogies (and indeed from Ep I to II) in terms of look and tone and feel that I've always found it to be really tough to reconcile them being as part of the same 'saga'.

And the more that Lucas retconned the OT the more I found it distanced them from the PT, I know that sounds weird but every time he adds this or changes that I'm reminded of what the movie was, not what it's supposed to be now. I've put my money where my mouth is too, I've just sold my Blu-ray boxset because I can't stand most of the 2011 revisions.

I've considered selling my 2011 boxset, but I actually like the extras of the original trilogy and probably the main reason I keep it. I don't like watching the originals because of the changes and fairly poor quality. I really need to watch the Harmy versions one day.

[Geoff D]

Eh, even the OT extras haven't had me revisit them in 4 years, that's partly why I sold it because the extras are so typically Lucasfilm: half-arsed something chronic. The OT deleted scenes and other lil' titbits are cool but the PT bonus disc is a bust, they could've at least put the existing deleted scenes on there in HD. And the documentaries disc is filled with either watch-once fluff IMO (a collection of clips? Really?) or some vintage docs which I've had for years anyway (I appreciate that others weren't so fortunate).

I've still got my DVDs of 1-6 (inc the non-anamorphic originals) plus the Harmy versions of Star Wars and Empire, so I'm good until we get something better than that 2011 set. If that never happens then I'll pick it up again, but for now the £70 I got for it will do me just fine.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Eh, even the OT extras haven't had me revisit them in 4 years, that's partly why I sold it because the extras are so typically Lucasfilm: half-arsed something chronic. The OT deleted scenes and other lil' titbits are cool but the PT bonus disc is a bust, they could've at least put the existing deleted scenes on there in HD. And the documentaries disc is filled with either watch-once fluff IMO (a collection of clips? Really?) or some vintage docs which I've had for years anyway (I appreciate that others weren't so fortunate).

The original documentaries are all I really wanted, but could get those elsewhere. Now I am really considering dumping it. lol The prequel extras don't matter to me at all and I rarely watch the movies anyway.

[jdw89]

I have the complete saga, is it worth it to get the steels?