Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Don't you remember the line from Obiwan, this message is a fake do not reply? It was made in order to have the queen respond or pinpoint her location for Darth Maul, it never was a real message.

Thats true - but this whole thing is still sort of hard to believe. Such an advanced planet with what apear to be resources galore. They are all dying like some thrid-world country or something. Just doesnt fly.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by svenge

The concept of the Ewoks being an analog to the Viet Cong wasn't the problem, it was the execution of the concept. The VC were humans fighting other lightly-equipped humans who really didn't want to be there, whereas the Ewoks were 2ft Teddy Ruxpin clones fighting what was supposed to be crack Imperial troops with freakin' body armor, posted at what was at the moment the Empire's most important installation.

Sure it was established in ANH that their armor was useless against blasters, but against sticks and rocks? That's where it fell apart for me....

If I recall correctly, the Ewoks were originally supposed to be Wookies which would make the Battle of Endor a bit more realistic (and be a better analogy to the VC). But budget concerns made the change in the script to Ewoks (smaller and easier to make/produce, and thus more cost effective). So, Lucas just changed them to 'smaller versions.' Something like that.

However, most of the Ewoks weapons were rendered ineffective against the Imperial forces on Endor on the front lines (the AT-STs did a very good job against the catapolts, gliders and other devices). The Ewoks gets their butts handed to them for the first half of that battle, until they lead the Imperials deeper into the forest where they had traps set up. Which is key to remember when making the anology of the Vietnam war. On the front lines US and Allied forces did well, but when they traveled deeper into enemy territory, home field played a big role in stalling their efforts. Much like the battle of Endor.

Regardles, the entire Battle of Endor is one of the greatest action sequences ever put to film (Ewok battle, Death Star attack and Luke's confrontation with Vader) and was a very satisfying ending imo. Lucas FINALLY had his chance to make a battle with an army of wookies, but it is rather underwhelmingly short in ROTS.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Don't you remember the line from Obiwan, this message is a fake do not reply? It was made in order to have the queen respond or pinpoint her location for Darth Maul, it never was a real message.

Exactly.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Thats true - but this whole thing is still sort of hard to believe. Such an advanced planet with what apear to be resources galore. They are all dying like some thrid-world country or something. Just doesnt fly.

The Trade Federation had set up a blockade not allowing ships to land or get off Naboo, much like trade sanctions the UN puts on certain countries. Starves their people/cuts their resources in an effort to bring them to the bargining table.

Seeing this fail, it is not out of the stretch of imagination that (if need be) the TF would employ other tactics. They do mention sending prisoners to 'camps' and you could imagine a droid army camp wouldn't really give much thought to the 'human condition.' What does a droid care about giving someone food? They probably weren't executing them, but they certainly weren't helping them surivive either. Just my thoughts, but the 'death toll' line was ploy to capture the Queen, and Obi Wan doesn't fall for it. How truthful it was, can be debated. Lucas could have done a better job of making the TF seem more evil, but its a movie largly designed for children so there is only so much you can do.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by KS76

As for the battle of Endor, I think the Ewoks set up lots of effective booby traps for the Imperal troops and their heavy armor.

And HOW is that even explained, since they were constructed right outside the bunker entrance without being noticed???

Also, how did that Ewok fly that speeder bike at all if it could not even reach the controls?


And with all this talk about changing the Ewoks over to Wookies for the end battle, how about the first half of the movie? It's a lot worse then the second half, so you have got to find some way to repair that part too.

I don't think even Adywan can fix that mess.

.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

And HOW is that even explained, since they were constructed right outside the bunker entrance without being noticed???

Also, how did that Ewok fly that speeder bike at all if it could not even reach the controls?


And with all this talk about changing the Ewoks over to Wookies for the end battle, how about the first half of the movie? It's a lot worse then the second half, so you have got to find some way to repair that part too.

I don't think even Adywan can fix that mess.

.

Actually now that I think about it, I'm surprised more people don't prefer the PT to the OT. The OT starts off strong, produces the best sequel ever and then ends poorly. The PT starts off poorly, gets a bit better and then ends strong. Seems the personal preference of a lot of SW fans is backwards.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Jay444

The Trade Federation had set up a blockade not allowing ships to land or get off Naboo, much like trade sanctions the UN puts on certain countries. Starves their people/cuts their resources in an effort to bring them to the bargining table.

Seeing this fail, it is not out of the stretch of imagination that (if need be) the TF would employ other tactics. They do mention sending prisoners to 'camps' and you could imagine a droid army camp wouldn't really give much thought to the 'human condition.' What does a droid care about giving someone food? They probably weren't executing them, but they certainly weren't helping them surivive either. Just my thoughts, but the 'death toll' line was ploy to capture the Queen, and Obi Wan doesn't fall for it. How truthful it was, can be debated. Lucas could have done a better job of making the TF seem more evil, but its a movie largly designed for children so there is only so much you can do.

I gotchya - I can "make it work" but I have to suspend belief a lot more than I would have had to if Georgy thought it through more. And, ironically, being aimed at kids would then maybe mean that he didnt need such a convoluted plot to begin with. Oh well.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

And HOW is that even explained, since they were constructed right outside the bunker entrance without being noticed???

Also, how did that Ewok fly that speeder bike at all if it could not even reach the controls?


And with all this talk about changing the Ewoks over to Wookies for the end battle, how about the first half of the movie? It's a lot worse then the second half, so you have got to find some way to repair that part too.

I don't think even Adywan can fix that mess.

.

I am sooo looking forward to ESB revisited! This year I hear! Woo!

Anyway, as far as those Ewok traps, they more than likely had been there for a while (probably used to hunt as the Ewoks are carnivores, and Endor probably had some large animals they hunted, after all that was a HUGE net they caught Luke, the droids, Solo and Chewie in). The Imperial Forces probably thought those traps to be insufficient against their superior fire power and never bothered destroying them. Probably to keep the natives at bay. Just came back to bite them when they chased the Rebels and Ewoks deeper into the forest.

The Ewoks probably had some experience with the Speeder bikes as the Empire had several scouting the grounds around their base. It clear the Empire had been there a while and I think the Ewoks own scouts had watched the Imperial move about and probably learned a thing or two. But as we all saw, the Ewok doesn't drive that speeder bike very well...lol. Chewie drove the AT-ST for the most part.

I love ROTJ, so I am probably making more excuses than necessary..lol.

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Thats true - but this whole thing is still sort of hard to believe. Such an advanced planet with what apear to be resources galore. They are all dying like some thrid-world country or something. Just doesnt fly.

Kinda like France.

[Blu Balls]

I just picked up the Original Star Wars Trilogy at Best Buy last weekend. I'm not a huge Star Wars fanatic, in fact I've never seen these all the the way through but, I did like the charactors when I was a little kid. Hopefully the transfers live up to all the hype and the films themselves don't seem too outdated. I was on the fence about getting either the prequel trilogy or the original but, in the end I figured the originals are what made the series so successful in the first place. Although I am interested in seeing the special effects and cgi of the prequels in HD.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Actually now that I think about it, I'm surprised more people don't prefer the PT to the OT. The OT starts off strong, produces the best sequel ever and then ends poorly. The PT starts off poorly, gets a bit better and then ends strong. Seems the personal preference of a lot of SW fans is backwards.

Well a lot of fans complain that there's a strong trilogy of Star Wars films and a weaker one.

Except the stronger trilogy is Episodes III-IV-V

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Well a lot of fans complain that there's a strong trilogy of Star Wars films and a weaker one.

Except the stronger trilogy is Episodes III-IV-V

I actually agree with that, even if I don't like IV as much as I used to since it's so slow and not much happens, still the movie that started it all. Still not sure why Jedi is so loved, even if I enjoyed it a lot when I was younger. Still enjoy it now, just not as much.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

I actually agree with that, even if I don't like IV as much as I used to since it's so slow and not much happens, still the movie that started it all. Still not sure why Jedi is so loved, even if I enjoyed it a lot when I was younger. Still enjoy it now, just not as much.

A New Hope is still easily the best one of the bunch. It has the clearest storyline, the best end battle, and the best pacing ever.

If anything, TESB is a tad(I said a TED so dont get the wrong idea) over-rated, some of which IMO comes from George-haters who love to dwell on how he didnt direct that one. Its also the darkets and has the revelation of all revelations

[NYorker]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Don't you remember the line from Obiwan, this message is a fake do not reply? It was made in order to have the queen respond or pinpoint her location for Darth Maul, it never was a real message.

Good call - I honestly don't remember that. Maybe I should watch TPM again...
Come to think of it, I haven't seen it in maybe 5-6 years.

[Blu Balls]

So, I guess I made a wise decision in getting the original over the prequel trilogy?

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by Blu Balls

So, I guess I made a wise decision in getting the original over the prequel trilogy?

yes

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Also, how did that Ewok fly that speeder bike at all if it could not even reach the controls?

If I recall, the novelization actually goes into some detail on this point, his thought processes, and his dreams of one day telling his grandkids of the adventure.


Yeah, I've always said that RotJ was a pretty weak conclusion. The whole "Jabba" sequence never made any sense to me -- what was the plan, exactly?

It's not a terrible movie, but it doesn't match the first two very well. Hindsight has shown why, I think. But at the time, it just seemed rushed and out-of-place.

[Laservampire]

Got my second hand copy (none of my $$$ for Lucas!) of the OT in the mail yesterday. The PQ is astounding, but some of these new changes REALLY do suck. The rock in front of R2 looks so fake!

I am definitely looking forward to seeing the films again though, and introducing my gf to them (the poor girl has only ever seen Ep. I )

[ObiTrentKenobi]

I've started my Star Wars Saga Bluray Marathon, and have finished Episode I and II so far. Here is my review of these 2 films.

Keep in mind, I have ALMOST every version of Star Wars on every format except laser disc.

Episode I: (Technical rating 9.5/10)
PQ: The only issues I had with Episode I is small technical issues with some backgrounds/non important elements. Whenever we are shown the Jedi Council room, the backdrops outside the windows seem very poorly rendered. It looks somewhat "underdeveloped", not pixely but half-finished... Surely it happened because of the higher resolution render of 1998-1999 graphics capabilities. Amazing work on the video transfer!!! Every detail was clear and sharp as it should have been. The first thing I noticed when the film started though was the colors, I am amazed and shocked at how much the coloring is improved over the DVD version, and VHS version of course. Even Jar Jar Binks, the worste thing about the entire Star Wars galaxy seems to have gotten a render upgrade, he looks so much better than before ( but I still want to kill him ).

AQ: Superb compared to any other Bluray I own, on par with Transformers. But then again, I don't have a very expensive audio setup for my TV (40$ 2.1 system from walmart)

Other Notes: I've heard complaints that Episode I's video quality was poor, with artificial grain and over-smoothed textures. I didn't notice any of that! The picture throughout the whole movie was astonishing and clear! I didn't notice any "artificial grain" or overly smooth anything.
___

Episode II: (Technical rating 9.5/10)
PQ: As with Episode I, AWESOME transfer! Episode II was shot in digital HD 1080p originally, (on "digital tapes" technically), and I didn't notice a hint of digital noise or unwanted video glitches. The video presentation is dang near perfect. I know some people complain that the source of the film is "only 1080p". Boo hoo, what's the big deal?!?!?! It looks amazing!!! 1080 is superb.

AQ: No complaints here! I didn't notice anything "off" or any issues, 100% satisfied.

Other Notes: There is nothing I can say bad about the transfer or technical specs of Episode II.
______

Packaging:
I like the "style" of packaging, i.e. a book-like cardboard based item with a cardboard sleeve to hold it. However, I know rounded cardboard shouldn't scratch the discs, but it does still scare me, I paid 80$ for the set and don't want individual discs getting ruined... especially since each film isn't offered seperately on bluray.

Instead of the discs having to be slipped out of a cut-out pocket, I wish it had those center tabs that held the disc by the hole in the center, I've NEVER had an issue with those.

As for the art on the packaging... it's simply the worste art that could have been chosen throughout the entire packing. It's the worste that any Star Wars release has had (with the exception of the outter case for the Definitive Laser Disc edition which was just plain black and said "Star Wars Definitive Edition" on the front)

Films watched on a 40" Dynex LCD, 1080p 60hz through HDMI from a Sony BDP-S370

Episode III review to come tomorrow.

[AlexSing]

One thing I forgot to mention; I have heard all about the potentially damaging audio "pops" and "bangs" from this set (especially affecting Onkyo receivers - there are dedicated threads to this on sites such as AVS forums / xtremeplace here in Singapore etc) which occur when you press pause and then restart. Although I have been lucky and suffered neither, two things happened when pausing and pressing play that have never, ever happened to me before.

First, when pausing and pressing play in Ep1 my reciever shut itself off and went on standby. This has never ever happened before and although I immediately assumed it was the disc causing it I also thought that it could just have easily been a power surge or my reciever acting up.

Then, when watching Ep2 I paused again and when I pressed play my blu ray player shut down. Again this has never ever happened before. Very strange indeed. This was surely not coincidence.

Anyone else have anything similar happen to their equipment?