Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by georgec

It seems the thread has slowed down a bit two weeks after the release, as expected.

Thank God, because all the endless arguments were making me want to throw up.

This year we had two huge releases with controversial issues - LOTR EE (FOTR green tint) and SW (various alterations, PQ, 2004 colors). Not to derail, but what do you guys think will be the next BD release that inspires similar passionate discussion?

Not sure. Some have mentioned "Jurassic Park", but I think "Star Trek: TNG" has a much bigger following. I wouldn't be surprised if we wound up with a similar thread to this one, as that release gets closer.

[georgec]

Jurassic Park?

Better hold on to yer butts.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Does Lucas have THIS much power over mankind?

Well, he did revolutionize merchandising based on motion pictures, both for good (action figures and playsets are fun for children, after all) and for evil (creating major characters almost solely for their merchandising appeal [i.e. the Ewoks & Jar-Jar])...

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth5929

I'm not sure what you're getting at?

I was agreeing with you. I was directing my comment at folks who define themselves by what they don't like.

[Shaft Windu]

[s2mikey]

Well, we just knocked off EP6 and that completes that! We watched them in chronological order for a change this time around. Overal, Im quite pleased with the releases. The OT is a more impressive upgrade than the PT from what I can see. As for EP6:

- Jabbas palace/barge is still a fun part of the movie
- The Ewoks, while obviously a merchandising opportunity, arent so bad.
- The Vader "Noooo"(throws the Emperor over the railing) wasnt as bad as I thought it was gonna be.
- Luke and Anakin having their moment on the death star at the end is still an awesome scene.

EP4 is still my favorite and always will be.

[hendersd]

I know this is covering old ground, but I'd never seen the "updated" versions until I got this set. I was really struck by the awkward and unconvincing CGI added (some of the creature effects, and that first appearance of Jabba). That is some shoddy work IMHO. There may be some space scenes that are "improved" but those creature effects stick out like a sore thumb.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by hendersd

I know this is covering old ground, but I'd never seen the "updated" versions until I got this set. I was really struck by the awkward and unconvincing CGI added (some of the creature effects, and that first appearance of Jabba). That is some shoddy work IMHO. There may be some space scenes that are "improved" but those creature effects stick out like a sore thumb.

That Jabba scene in IV will always look bad to me. It looked awful in 1997 and then came back and cleaned him up for the 2004 DVD release, but it didn't really help that much. They of course didn't touch him for the BD release.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by hendersd

I know this is covering old ground, but I'd never seen the "updated" versions until I got this set. I was really struck by the awkward and unconvincing CGI added (some of the creature effects, and that first appearance of Jabba). That is some shoddy work IMHO. There may be some space scenes that are "improved" but those creature effects stick out like a sore thumb.

Some of them do - no args there. But as a whole, the effects edits are mostly welcomed, IMO. That whole Zabba scene in EP4 can just go away.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Well, we just knocked off EP6 and that completes that! We watched them in chronological order for a change this time around.

You know, we sometimes swap ideas regarding the order of the series, and how first-time viewers should watch the films. Should they watch them in release order? Or should they follow the order of the episode numbers?

I've long advocated my 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 order, as it preserves most of the surprises (even Palpatine's identity, to an extent) and puts a whopper of a reveal into the ending of Sith (Luke and Leia are siblings). But others have argued otherwise. For me, I simply think giving up the surprise in Empire Strikes Back is too high a price to pay for watching the series 1-6. Once you determine that the shock ending of Empire Strikes Back should remain a shock for first time viewers, then you have to then abandon the idea of beginning with the prequels.

I just saw this video, and I think it illustrates my point...who would want to deny someone this experience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5hn_ET0U&feature=player_embedded

[MrJoeKalel]

Anybody experiencing any aspect ratio problems while playing the 9th disc, specially the features that aren't HD?

[Monolithium]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

You know, we sometimes swap ideas regarding the order of the series, and how first-time viewers should watch the films. Should they watch them in release order? Or should they follow the order of the episode numbers?

I've long advocated my 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 order, as it preserves most of the surprises (even Palpatine's identity, to an extent) and puts a whopper of a reveal into the ending of Sith (Luke and Leia are siblings). But others have argued otherwise. For me, I simply think giving up the surprise in Empire Strikes Back is too high a price to pay for watching the series 1-6. Once you determine that the shock ending of Empire Strikes Back should remain a shock for first time viewers, then you have to then abandon the idea of beginning with the prequels.

I just saw this video, and I think it illustrates my point...who would want to deny someone this experience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5h...layer_embedded

George Lucas.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

You know, we sometimes swap ideas regarding the order of the series, and how first-time viewers should watch the films. Should they watch them in release order? Or should they follow the order of the episode numbers?

I've long advocated my 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 order, as it preserves most of the surprises (even Palpatine's identity, to an extent) and puts a whopper of a reveal into the ending of Sith (Luke and Leia are siblings). But others have argued otherwise. For me, I simply think giving up the surprise in Empire Strikes Back is too high a price to pay for watching the series 1-6. Once you determine that the shock ending of Empire Strikes Back should remain a shock for first time viewers, then you have to then abandon the idea of beginning with the prequels.

I just saw this video, and I think it illustrates my point...who would want to deny someone this experience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5h...layer_embedded

I believe you are right!

For myself having seen them over a billion times I now watch them 1-6 but everytime I introduce the serie to someone who as never seen them (and it does happen believe it or not) I prefer going 4-6 and then 1-3 to preserve the surprise. I know some will say after 31 years almost everyone know what Darth Vader is to Luke Skywalker but you are wrong, a lot of people just have no clue.

I love the kids faces in the video

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Monolithium

George Lucas.

*zing!*

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by MrJoeKalel

Anybody experiencing any aspect ratio problems while playing the 9th disc, specially the features that aren't HD?

Believe it or not, I haven't watched the discs yet. Netflix stated they were removing the old Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes episodes on the 29th of September, so my wife and I watched those the last three weeks. I spun the last hour of Jedi, though, to see what a blinking Ewok looks like.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I believe you are right!

For myself having seen them over a billion times I now watch them 1-6 but everytime I introduce the serie to someone who as never seen them (and it does happen believe it or not) I prefer going 4-6 and then 1-3 to preserve the surprise. I know some will say after 31 years almost everyone know what Darth Vader is to Luke Skywalker but you are wrong, a lot of people just have no clue.

I love the kids faces in the video

Lucas should buy the rights, pull all the ads currently on the market, and air that video instead.

[MrJoeKalel]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

You know, we sometimes swap ideas regarding the order of the series, and how first-time viewers should watch the films. Should they watch them in release order? Or should they follow the order of the episode numbers?

I've long advocated my 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 order, as it preserves most of the surprises (even Palpatine's identity, to an extent) and puts a whopper of a reveal into the ending of Sith (Luke and Leia are siblings). But others have argued otherwise. For me, I simply think giving up the surprise in Empire Strikes Back is too high a price to pay for watching the series 1-6. Once you determine that the shock ending of Empire Strikes Back should remain a shock for first time viewers, then you have to then abandon the idea of beginning with the prequels.

I just saw this video, and I think it illustrates my point...who would want to deny someone this experience?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5h...layer_embedded

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I believe you are right!

For myself having seen them over a billion times I now watch them 1-6 but everytime I introduce the serie to someone who as never seen them (and it does happen believe it or not) I prefer going 4-6 and then 1-3 to preserve the surprise. I know some will say after 31 years almost everyone know what Darth Vader is to Luke Skywalker but you are wrong, a lot of people just have no clue.

I love the kids faces in the video

It isn't until 3 that the revelation in 5 is proven true (in 6 you can still argue they said it 'from a certain point of view'). So for me, one should always watch 5 before both 3 and 6.

Now my view on the saga has changed just a bit. I've changed my order to exclude Ep. I. Yes, to exclude it. I'm not Lucas basher, PT lover, LFL employee, I have NEVER been paid to say something nice about something...but in the end, Ep. I adds NOTHING to the equation.

My preferred order now stands as IV-V-II-III-VI. That way, II and III are the 'flashback' to the love store of Anakin and to prove the revelation of V true or not.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by MrJoeKalel

[Show spoiler]

It isn't until 3 that the revelation in 5 is proven true (in 6 you can still argue they said it 'from a certain point of view'). So for me, one should always watch 5 before both 3 and 6.

Now my view on the saga has changed just a bit. I've changed my order to exclude Ep. I. Yes, to exclude it. I'm not Lucas basher, PT lover, LFL employee, I have NEVER been paid to say something nice about something...but in the end, Ep. I adds NOTHING to the equation.

My preferred order now stands as IV-V-II-III-VI. That way, II and III are the 'flashback' to the love store of Anakin and to prove the revelation of V true or not.

Yes, and removes some of the jolting awkwardness of the Luke/Leia storyline in Jedi. to be frank, you really don't even need Episode II. You could just go in the order of 4, 5, 3, 6.

Episode I was intended to be crucially important, in that it established the mystery of Anakin's birth. He was willed into being by Darth Sidious/Palpatine after Palpatine learned the power of creating/extending life. That's why Anakin's midichlorian count is off the chart, and why the Sith theme starts to play at the end of the sequence in Episode I where Qui-Gon tests Anakin's blood. Shoot, that's the reason for the whole midichlorian sub-plot in the first place.

By the time Revenge of the Sith rolled around, Lucas decided to back off of the intended shock reveal to Anakin that he was essentially Palpatine's son, and Lucas had Palpatine imply it instead (check the commentary, folks, not making this up). I think by making an orphan of that subplot, Lucas made Episode I somewhat irrelevant, even more so than Episode II and the "phantom" subplot of Sifo-Diyas (the resolution of which was also dropped from Episode III, because, as Lucas said, he just ran out of time).

[MrJoeKalel]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

[Show spoiler]Yes, and removes some of the jolting awkwardness of the Luke/Leia storyline in Jedi. to be frank, you really don't even need Episode II. You could just go in the order of 4, 5, 3, 6.

Episode I was intended to be crucially important, in that it established the mystery of Anakin's birth. He was willed into being by Darth Sidious/Palpatine after Palpatine learned the power of creating/extending life. That's why Anakin's midichlorian count is off the chart, and why the Sith theme starts to play at the end of the sequence in Episode I where Qui-Gon tests Anakin's blood. Shoot, that's the reason for the whole midichlorian sub-plot in the first place.

By the time Revenge of the Sith rolled around, Lucas decided to back off of the intended shock reveal to Anakin that he was essentially Palpatine's son, and Lucas had Palpatine imply it instead (check the commentary, folks, not making this up). I think by making an orphan of that subplot, Lucas made Episode I somewhat irrelevant, even more so than Episode II and the "phantom" subplot of Sifo-Diyas (the resolution of which was also dropped from Episode III, because, as Lucas said, he just ran out of time).

It's funny how while making a $125 million dollar movie, he 'ran out of time' to write simple scenes that couldn't have taken that long to shoot. HE got into this mess by himself, HE tried to make all this 'complexity' that did NOT need to be there. Again, one thing is leaving us wondering about more stuff, and another is confusing us with sub-plots that never get resolved (speciall the Sifo Dyas sub-plot, which, could've been an amazing thing to follow throughout the whole movie, even making Obi-Wan a more interesting character).

I don't think II serves other purpose than introduce the Clone Wars, which, the TV series is doing justice, not the movies. However, that movie is really good. Still stands in the bottom for me, but being the worse Star Wars movie (again, Ep. I is in a different league) still beats the today's bad movies.

By the way, anybody feels that Han's voice in Ep. V is a bit off? A bit muted? Or am I getting deaf?

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

I just saw this video, and I think it illustrates my point...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5h...layer_embedded

Something about the boy's reaction doesn't seem "real" to me, and the girl honestly looks like she'd rather be doing anything else.