Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[steel_breeze]

FWIW, my contact who told me about the 4K restoration also noted that Empire still had the "20th Century Fox" fanfare/logo at the beginning. Of course, that could always be dropped later… but it's there as of now.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It really would be a shame if those versions are lost forever, which makes the various fan preservations all the more important.

So it looks like we're getting an officially restored version in terms of PQ at some point (which I still say will be the 40th anniversary), but not the originals. Maybe that was one of the conditions of ol' George signing it all over, that they couldn't redo the originals until he's dead or something.

It would not surprise me at all.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It really would be a shame if those versions are lost forever, which makes the various fan preservations all the more important.

Well, the way I look at it: it gives the various fan preservation creators presumably much improved source material to re-construct new despcialized versions.

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Spielberg back in the Jaws, Close Encounters, E.T, Raiders, Schindler's List days, sure. Spielberg today, no. I'm not sure what the issue is and I only met the guy once, but I think it might be that in the early days, he really felt the need to prove himself and now he feels totally in control. So back then, everything he did seemed either new or presented at such a high level of quality that it seemed new and exciting. But I really don't want to see "Star Wars" brought down to the level of "Crystal Skull".

In fact, I never realized this until this moment, but I actually believe that "Crystal Skull" was a far worse film than the Star Wars prequels.

Crystal Skull is what you use as the Spielberg now? He's evolved and an even better filmmaker in some ways than he was. Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds, Munich, Tintin, Lincoln all great recent movies by him.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

Crystal Skull is what you use as the Spielberg now? He's evolved and an even better filmmaker in some ways than he was. Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds, Munich, Tintin, Lincoln all great recent movies by him.

Yep, Crystal Skull clearly resembled a strong Lucas influence from the opening scene of the movie with that stupid prarie dog - PURE George Lucas there! Those traits are peppered throughout the prequels and special edition originals with their changes.

[Gold Ranger]

[stvn1974]

If that gunner had just shot the escape pod carrying C3PO and R2D2 then the saga would have been 10 minutes long.

Also why did the Empire wait to orbit the planet to get to the moon with the rebel base on it giving them time to front an attack? They just blew a planet up earlier in the film, blow the planet up and the moon would probably go with it.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

If that gunner had just shot the escape pod carrying C3PO and R2D2 then the saga would have been 10 minutes long.

Also why did the Empire wait to orbit the planet to get to the moon with the rebel base on it giving them time to front an attack? They just blew a planet up earlier in the film, blow the planet up and the moon would probably go with it.

Yavin is a gas giant, there's no telling what it would have done to the laser.
Disperse it, make the planet bigger, divide it, reflect it...
Orbiting was an ok idea...
They should have taken some Star Destroyers with them and have them attack from the other side of the planet while the Death Star went on it's way around the planet...

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

I don't get this either. Why make all of these alterations but not fix the one thing that truly needs to be fixed?

Because cocaine's a hell of a drug.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

I don't get this either. Why make all of these alterations but not fix the one thing that truly needs to be fixed?

These discs just got half-a**ed treatment all the way around.

[The Fallen Deity]

Does anyone else prefer Vader's & Luke's original lines in TESB?

"Bring my shuttle" & "You're lucky you don't taste very good".

Vader sounds proper pissed and Luke's line is priceless.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Does anyone else prefer Vader's & Luke's original lines in TESB?

"Bring my shuttle" & "You're lucky you don't taste very good".

Vader sounds proper pissed and Luke's line is priceless.

I didn't care for those changes, but they are not a dealbreaker. The one I hate the most in Empire is the changing of Fett's voice.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I didn't care for those changes, but they are not a dealbreaker. The one I hate the most in Empire is the changing of Fett's voice.

Ugh I'm not a fan of that change either.

Fett's original voice is awesome imo.

Really cool and sinister.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Ugh I'm not a fan of that change either.

Fett's original voice is awesome imo.

Really cool and sinister.

I don't care for Morrison's line readings but the original Fett voice sounds cliche bad guy.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I don't care for Morrison's line readings but the original Fett voice sounds cliche bad guy.

I think he sounds like a genuine badass with his original voice.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

Crystal Skull is what you use as the Spielberg now? He's evolved and an even better filmmaker in some ways than he was. Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds, Munich, Tintin, Lincoln all great recent movies by him.

Evolve? I'd say more like regressed. War of the Worlds and especially Tintin were far from great. Lincoln was a well-acted bore. Minority Report was solid but it's not a movie I keep coming back to. Munich was good, but it lacked a certain something. That leaves Catch Me If You Can, which is very good, but even there, the ending for me kind of fell flat. And then there's War Horse, which is a mess of styles and clashing tones, and the mediocre The Terminal, which could've been made by anybody.

IMO Spielberg's strongest era as a filmmaker is well behind him. Every time he's tried to recapture his glory days as an "escapist" director we've had crap like THE LOST WORLD (in some ways one of his worst movies) and KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, which sucks in more ways than merely the opening sequence. I also agree with the other poster -- CRYSTAL SKULL is certainly worse than at least two of the prequels.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

Crystal Skull is what you use as the Spielberg now? He's evolved and an even better filmmaker in some ways than he was. Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds, Munich, Tintin, Lincoln all great recent movies by him.

Only Tintin, War Horse and Lincoln were made after Crystal Skull. War Horse and Lincoln were both excellent films, but they didn't have the majestic sweep and excitement that a Star Wars movie would need.

[Galactus123]

I'm sure they have the originals on film in some form. Some fans are scanning the prints they have so I'm pretty sure Disney/Lucasfilm has them too. Even if it isn't the original camera negative I think it should be released on Blu-Ray if it's the only option.

[Panama Jack]

The only way to make everyone happy is to release both the originals and the special editions. Then people can watch the version they want and/or make their own dream fan edit.


Some of the things I would actually like to see ADDED to the Special Editions are:

1. Fix the white saber in ANH.
2. Fix the jump cuts in ANH when the saber ignites.
3. When the Falcon is evading the Star Destroyers above tatooine in ANH, Han says, I know a few maneuvers, but then just flies straight. Show him making a few maneuvers.
4. Give Chewy a medal!!!
5. Find a subtle place to work in imperial march in ANH.

6. Sync up the saber sound effects in the ice cave on Hoth in ESB.
7. Fix Cloud City window discontinuities

8. Might be sacrilege, but replace the matte painting of the imperial platform on Endor in ROTJ.
9. Maybe the rebel hanger matte painting too.
10. I Prefer Shaw's Force Ghost, but I don't hate Hayden being there. That said, if they want to keep Hayden, at least bring him back in, age him up with some makeup, and then have him refilm his part.


Of the existing changes, I really would like to see them revert to the originals on:

1. Han / Greedo
2. Cut Jabba scene in AHN
3. Remove R2 rocks or at least show him projecting them as a hologram or something like that.

4. Lucky You Don't Taste Very Good line in ESB

5. Get rid of Vader's awful NOOOOOO... (while you're at it, get rid of it in ROTS too. Both scenes are/would be much more powerful with Vader staying silent).


All other changes in the classic trilogy I either prefer, really like, and/or don't mind enough to care whether they stay or go. (For example, I prefer Morrison as Fett for the sake of continuity).

Last, believe it or not I actually really like the prequels and am not ashamed to admit it. That said, I still would love to see those 3 movies get the "Special Edition" treatment as well, including top to bottom updates in CGI. Mostly though, I'd love to see a really good editor or team of editors get access to everything and take a good shot at completely re-editing all 3 movies.

None of that is too much to ask, right?

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I think he sounds like a genuine badass with his original voice.

The problem being, Boba Fett is never shown to be a badass. He's a narc who hides in garbage, and it only gets worse for him in the next film.