Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Not really.

George Lucas didn't want to.

Why do you (we, etc.) want higher resolution scans? So we can see more detail and clarity.

When Lucas thinks/thought about us seeing the OT in more detail and clarity, he thinks about all the work he "has to do" because when he looks at Star Wars he doesn't see what we see. He sees a very long series of "unfinished shots". And the more detail he lets us see of them, the more he feels he needs to fix/tinker.

The truth is, any UOT that comes out still would need a great deal of clean-up, particularly digital recompositing. It's not just about scanning the film, and depending on which state of the O-Neg you subscribe to, likely substantially more.

The good thing is, technology is good enough at this point that if done well, we shouldn't notice, except that the OT would look more amazing than ever. So that's why I keep my fingers crossed, LOL.

As close as George and others were to the making of the film, I'm not sure that they ever truly saw them look as good as what could be achieved with today's technology re: restorations. As you say, it's not just digital clean-up but recompositing that could bring the UOT back to life in a way that George never thought possible, free from transparencies, matte lines, garbage mattes etc and with the VistaVision comps transferred directly from the 8/35 originals rather than the 4/35 anamorphic blowdowns. Even the 1997 SE used several new optical comps rather than outright digital redos.

If Lucas could've seen his work look shiny and gorgeous at that time, would he have been so hard on the movie over the years? I wonder. The negative of Star Wars deteriorated pretty quickly too, with the over-handling and the fading of the CRI stock and whatnot, so Lucas saw this film that he was already disappointed with get worse before his very eyes, and when it hit home video it just got smaller and fuzzier. But even those faded shots that they had to swap out for sep or IP material in the 1997 SE could now be reconstructed digitally (as with the faded Technirama negative for Spartacus which couldn't be rescued photochemically in 1991 but which is the basis for the new digital restoration).

Normally I don't mind seeing all the old artefacts of film production laid bare, but if they were to completely reconstruct the UOT digitally then I'd be the first in line.

[Dylan34]

I still have faith that Disney will give us the UOT. It's just a matter of when. Hopefully by the end of the year, that would be fantastic. But, maybe not until the 40th anniversary. If they re-release the special editions again, at least give them a proper remaster!!!

[stvn1974]

Hope of getting the UOT

[PotterFan02]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I still have faith that Disney will give us the UOT. It's just a matter of when. Hopefully by the end of the year, that would be fantastic. But, maybe not until the 40th anniversary. If they re-release the special editions again, at least give them a proper remaster!!!

Considering Fox still owns the rights to Episodes IV - VI so won't happen till 2020 at the latest

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Hope of getting the UOT

I find it weird that they would play the original Ewok song though?

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by kamphausd1

I find it weird that they would play the original Ewok song though?

Maybe to mess with our heads? Heh

No idea when they'd release them. I'm not going to expect them anytime soon, but I hope they surprise me.

[Donl1282]

Is the convention over or still going?

[Angel Eyes]

Originally Posted by PotterFan02

Considering Fox still owns the rights to Episodes IV - VI so won't happen till 2020 at the latest

Why do people keep saying this? FOX is not going to turn down a bunch of money to do this. They will partner with Disney to get this done if Disney pushes this.

[Falaskan]

I was dumb and sold my blu-ray set in anticipation of a UOT set, but it would've been announced by now. lol

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

I was dumb and sold my blu-ray set in anticipation of a UOT set, but it would've been announced by now. lol

Whoops, lol. If I were you I'd just get the despecialized editions or something (I haven't seen those myself yet, but people are pretty impressed with them so far).

There's still May the 4th, or the London Celebration in July. Or if they really take their time, maybe as part of some mega box-set with Episodes I-IX.

I'm a little disappointed we didn't hear about a set now, but honestly, the new stuff coming out looks so good I'm too excited for that to get worked up over UOT blu-rays.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

If I were you I'd just get the despecialized editions or something (I haven't seen those myself yet, but people are pretty impressed with them so far).

While an official release would trump the Despecialized Editions, they are just as great as you've heard. Truly wonderful presentations of classics that deserve to preserved as they were originally released.

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by electricloseyland

Now that the Celebration has come and gone without a Han Shot First Edition announcement, do you guys think that quashes any hopes of the unaltered trilogy coming out this year? Or could there still be a chance of an announcement coming on May 4th, the way the last Blu Ray set was announced?

This year, most likely not happening.

But I do believe they'll release them before EpIX or thereabouts. That'll be the end of the original cast, and the window will begin closing.

Disney likes money, they WILL make a profit it is simply a matter of when.

[bkfountain]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I still have faith that Disney will give us the UOT. It's just a matter of when. Hopefully by the end of the year, that would be fantastic. But, maybe not until the 40th anniversary. If they re-release the special editions again, at least give them a proper remaster!!!

i dont even get why they can't just bundle it with the special editions. Why can I buy something like Avatar with three cuts in the same package, but not Star Wars with the OT.

I've bought these movies numerous times across formats in my life since the vhs days, and will only buy again in the future for the original cuts.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Short question, probably answering it myself. I own the OT in form of the 1995 THX LDs, and Ep. I in form of the Jap LD. If I want the closest thing to the theatrical versions of Ep. II and III on home video, I'd have to go for the original DVD releases? I'm guessing so, just seeking confirmation.

Nope, VHS for Episode 2 and Blu-Ray for Episode 3!

[Roy_Batty]

Originally Posted by bkfountain

i dont even get why they can't just bundle it with the special editions. Why can I buy something like Avatar with three cuts in the same package, but not Star Wars with the OT.

I've bought these movies numerous times across formats in my life since the vhs days, and will only buy again in the future for the original cuts.

The easiest answer to that is that George Lucas does not want to give them to you. The only remaining question is, will disney as a company follow the same party line, or will they give the fans what they want.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Is the convention over or still going?

Still going

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

There's only two versions of episodes II and III out there, the DVD cuts and BD cuts, and I don't think either is radically different from the other. The DVDs of those movies have much more robust special features however.

Just out of curiosity, is there a breakdown somewhere of the specific minor differences (where applicable) between the theatrical, DVD, and BD releases of II and III?

Also, are there any differences to Ep I besides the extended podrace sequence and the Yoda pupper being replaced with CGI for the BD release?

I'm not super concerned about them, just curious more than anything.


The only differences that I recall, if my memory is accurate, is that theatrically in Ep II, in that one part where Padme is laying in the sand after falling, a clone trooper runs up to her asking if she's okay, and she simply and plainly says "yes" and stands up... which was later changed to her saying "uh huh" or something like that to make it seem more realistic that whilr she was fine, she was still effected by the fall.

The other difference that I recall is some variation on Anakin and Padme holding (or not holding) hands at the end of Ep II when they are getting married. And if I'm recalling this correctly, that was actually different even in theather depaending on whether you were watching it on a film print or through digital projection.

I'm going off of roughly 13 year old memories here, so I could be off on some of these.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Hope of getting the UOT

May 4th, 2017

Bank on it.

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

May 4th, 2017

Bank on it.

Well I just wish they would tell us something about it. Because ever since the acquisition, they haven't said a single thing about the UOT, like what their policy is on it now that Lucas is no longer calling the shots or if they have any plans for it at all or if we should ever expect a release.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

Nope, VHS for Episode 2 and Blu-Ray for Episode 3!

Some time after the release of Episode I on VHS and before the release of Episode II on VHS, I bought my first DVD player. So my last VHS purchase was The Phantom Menace; I never picked up II or III (only on DVD).