Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

There are a lot of special features on the Complete Saga set. It is a 9 disc set. 6 discs are for the movies, and the other 3 are all extra features.

There are a lot of extra features "missing" from this set that were on the previous DVD releases. For whatever reason, at least so far to date, rarely do bonus features carry over from one release to another (even when going from one format to another like Laser Disc, DVD, Blu-Ray, etc). But there are still a lot of extras to be had in this set.

I think that's the reason why some people say there will never be an "ultimate set". While each person's definition of "ultimate" may vary, in general things that I think many people want/hope would be included in a theoretical ultimate set would be any and all extras from past releases, as much additional extra and archival features as possible that have never been released before, probably both the original versions and newest editions of each the movies (and maybe in some people eyes, some of the other editions inbetween).

There's no news of another/newer box set dropping anytime soon, and I wouldn't expect it to happen. At most it might be essentially the same discs in a different packaging or configuration or something. That happened a lot with the DVD releases. With the exception of the fact that the original versions of the original trilogy movies were later included in some individual releases of the films, for the most part the various 'releases' of the movies on DVD were just the exact same discs in different packaging.

That would be a dream come true tons of extres with both versions of the OT cleaned up! It might happen in 2017 for the 40th anniversary you never know

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by Beast

It's about advancing the technology of filmmaking.

No, it's about whatever's cheaper. It's usually the hacks who like to shoot their movies on video.

[bkhage01]

Originally Posted by joliefan

That would be a dream come true tons of extres with both versions of the OT cleaned up! It might happen in 2017 for the 40th anniversary you never know

I agree but it will probably be 3017 before we see it

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

I disagree. While many diehard "Force addicts" would love to see the original versions restored, I think a lot of the fans don't care too much. Sure, having the option would be nice, but who besides those with an unreasonable "Lucas owes me" chip on their shoulder have cried foul? We all have opinions, but in the end, Lucas owns "Star Wars" outright, and as such, he's free to do what he likes...whether any of us like it or not. No amount of whining and complaining, online or not, will change that; in fact, its precisely because of such cruelty that Lucas has retreated; he's sick of selfish idiots demanding their way. He worked most of his professional life, trying to gain freedom to tell his stories his own way, only to have some repeatedly and hatefully condemn him personally for it.

And, just so we're clear, I'm not some obsessed "Lucas worshiper", either. There's some of his choices I don't agree with, but they're (mostly) minor compared to everything else in the series. I was born the year "Empire" came out, and grew up with the OT on VHS, like many of my generation. However, I didn't have a ton of expectations for what the prequels should've been, and overall, I think he did a great job. How and why anyone expected Anakin to be a cold-blooded killer from the start is beyond me.

Same here.

My failing with the series have to do more with the visuals than anything else, EXCEPT
1 - Luke screaming when he jumps down the shaft in Empire (thankfully this was fixed)
2 - Vader saying "No" at the end of Jedi. When I was a kid I always thought he was gonna let The Emperor kill Luke, this changes that scene for me greatly!

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

No, it's about whatever's cheaper. It's usually the hacks who like to shoot their movies on video.

It wasn't cheaper to shoot that way when the technology was new. So that makes no sense.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

No, it's about whatever's cheaper. It's usually the hacks who like to shoot their movies on video.

First time I can recall reading that directors such as David Fincher and Michael Mann are hacks.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Beast

It's about advancing the technology of filmmaking. Just like it was when he made the original Star Wars.

Why do you think he's always pushing the advancement of technology? From the motion controlled camera to CGI to Digital Cameras.

Digital technology would've (and has) advanced with or without George Lucas. In fact, at the time he was shooting the movie, the digital revolution in photography was in full swing. Most cinematographers/directors are just more reluctant to jump on technologies in their infancy than George.
From interviews and such I gather that he did it mostly because it was a more convenient, faster workflow. With Star Wars budgets (and given the studio-bound nature of the shoot) he could've shot the whole thing on Vistavision or 65mm or something.

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by Beast

It wasn't cheaper to shoot that way when the technology was new. So that makes no sense.

Yes, it was. In fact, I remember Rick McCallum bragging about how they saved like 2 million shooting digitally when Episode II came out.

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

First time I can recall reading that directors such as David Fincher and Michael Mann are hacks.

I said "usually". But anyway, video has turned them into hacks.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Kinetic_Blue

Same here.

My failing with the series have to do more with the visuals than anything else, EXCEPT
1 - Luke screaming when he jumps down the shaft in Empire (thankfully this was fixed)

Yeah, they actually used Palpatine's scream from "Jedi" for that, before it was reversed.

2 - Vader saying "No" at the end of Jedi. When I was a kid I always thought he was gonna let The Emperor kill Luke, this changes that scene for me greatly!

Well, I admit it was unexpected, and took some getting used to...but now, it doesn't bug me much. I figure Lucas wanted to tie it in with the end of "Sith", but instead of screaming at what he's become, Vader screams in defiance of his master, to save his son.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

I said "usually". But anyway, video has turned them into hacks.

Add Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Peter Jackson and Martin Scorsese to your list of "video hacks".

Digital is the future of all filmmaking. Lucas was one of the first. Get used to it and stop with the petty name calling.

[42041]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Add Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Peter Jackson and Martin Scorsese to your list of "video hacks".

Digital is the future of all filmmaking. Lucas was one of the first. Get used to it and stop with the petty name calling.

Ridley Scott and Scorcese and Jackson weren't shooting digital in 2002. Shooting 4K data or even full-res 10-bit 1080p is not the same as shooting HDCAM tape. Lucas was too eager to go digital and AOTC will forever be a testament to it

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by 42041

Ridley Scott and Scorcese and Jackson weren't shooting digital in 2002. Shooting 4K data or even full-res 10-bit 1080p is not the same as shooting HDCAM tape. Lucas was too eager to go digital and AOTC will forever be a testament to it

Hardly. Someone had to be first. We wouldn't have the higher resolution cameras today if Lucas hadn't been pressuring Sony and Panavision to come up with something better. Bleeding edge: he was using prototype cameras.

He has *always* been eager to be on the forefront of new tech: visual effects, sound, editing systems, CG, etc.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

There is no doubt that some of the changes are irritating - such as the ones you brought up. Im with ya 100% there. However, there enough positives mixed in that Im willing to take the good with the bad. Not everyone is. Thats cool too.

This really about being to able to accept changes you dont care for and enjoying the ones you do. If you can get past the nagging changes, like Jabba @ Mos Eisley or the new barge dance number, then the other edits arent so bad. If all of it really irks ya or you cannot ignore the lame changes, then I can respect that as well.

Absolutely. For me personally, the "Noooo!" addition to Return of the Jedi was the last straw. That was one of my favorite moments of the trilogy-- the genius of that moment is that he isn't saying anything, he's wearing a mask, and you can still feel what is going through him at that moment. By adding the "noooo!" IMO it destroys what makes that moment so great, and being the finale of Star Wars, it kind of undermines the entire story which was building up to that moment. That's my take on it, anyway-- if it wasn't for that alteration, I would've gone ahead and bought the Complete Saga.

I was actually one of the few people who bought the Prequel-only release. While I'm not a huge fan of those movies, I ironically liked the alterations he made to those for the Blu-Ray-- Digital Yoda for Episode I was an improvement, and I really liked the dialog he added of Shmi Skywalker in Episode II. That actually made Anakin's nightmare pretty dramatic, whereas I thought originally it was laughably silly.

[poke smot]

i think i know why he added the "No!" in jedi. All three OT movies now have a big NO! at the end. Lame. but i still love them.

[fat_rancor_keeper]

Originally Posted by tuck301

i think i know why he added the "No!" in jedi. All three OT movies now have a big NO! at the end. Lame. but i still love them.

LoL...good point. Actually the only SW movie w/o a "nooo" at the end is AOTC.

ep 1 - Obi wan Noooo
ep 2 - -------
ep 3 - Vader Noooo
ep 4 - Luke Noooo
ep 5 - Luke Noooo
ep 6 - Vader Noooo


Something for GL to keep in mind for his next go around with changes.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by tuck301

i think i know why he added the "No!" in jedi. All three OT movies now have a big NO! at the end. Lame. but i still love them.

Aye. Plus Lucas is big on this whole tone poem/repeating themes aspect. He's talked about it at length in interviews.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by fat_rancor_keeper

LoL...good point. Actually the only SW movie w/o a "nooo" at the end is AOTC.

ep 1 - Obi wan Noooo
ep 2 - -------
ep 3 - Vader Noooo
ep 4 - Luke Noooo
ep 5 - Luke Noooo
ep 6 - Vader Noooo


Something for GL to keep in mind for his next go around with changes.

I know where all of the other ones are, but I can't picture that one.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by tuck301

i think i know why he added the "No!" in jedi. All three OT movies now have a big NO! at the end. Lame. but i still love them.

But if he wanted to keep it consistent, he should have given Luke the big "No" in Jedi.
In New Hope, Luke screams "No" when Obi-Wan is killed; in Empire, he gives his big "Noooo, No" when Vader tells him he's his father. He should have dubbed in Luke's "No" from Empire as the Emperor's zapping him.

[dyne]

Originally Posted by frogmort

I know where all of the other ones are, but I can't picture that one.

Cloud City where it's revealed Vader is his father?