Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

Still haven't taken the plunge on the "Star Wars" blu-rays. Waiting till I am sure these aren't getting a redux before the next chapter is released.

Well, they'll probably re-release the Saga set wit new packaging, dubbed it "Star Wars: The Original Saga", maybe even release the first 6 individually.

But whether they release to tie-in with VII or the original's 40th anniversary, I'll still be waiting and hoping for a set of the OOT (maybe the OOS).

[Geoff D]

The original versions of the OT were what they used to entice people to buy the individual releases on DVD, so I wouldn't be surprised if they did something similar with the Blu-rays. They could use the 3D versions as an incentive for the prequel standalones.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

Still haven't taken the plunge on the "Star Wars" blu-rays. Waiting till I am sure these aren't getting a redux before the next chapter is released.

I was holding off too -- largely 'cuz I'm a GOUT purist and was NEVER going to get the prequels or digitized originals… but finally purchased the two 3-movie blu-ray sets two months ago and am very glad I did.

First of all, I've somehow learned to embrace the prequels AND the OT Special Editions. Go figure. I used to be the biggest "hater" and "purist" of 'em all. Somehow the newest Episode VII trailer cured all my hate and made me love everything STAR WARS again. I've even been watching the CLONE WARS episodes on Netflix and really digging 'em (of course, I've been avoiding all episodes with Jar Jar or younglings, LOL).

Secondly… What really made me pull the trigger on buying these: this blu-ray release most likely represents the last version ever to feature the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of every film. That may sound like an insignificant thing to most people, but to me (at age 44), that's a HUGE part of what makes the beginning of a STAR WARS film feel like a STAR WARS film. Had to buy 'em while the logo was still attached!

And finally… love him or hate him (or both), these blu-rays now represent George Lucas's definitive FINAL vision for the saga. Everything else that happens to them henceforth will be someone at Disney's second guessing. I wish someone had been second guessing him all along, but now that it's done any changes will seem even more unforgivable since they won't come from him. For better AND for worse, this is the final product of all his OCD madness.

Having said all that… if the original unaltered trilogy appears on blu-ray or UHD, I will snap that sucker up and never again watch the 2011 versions of those films, LOL! (I do have the Despecialized editions, and am most grateful for them, but my versions of them are 720p and are not 24fps. Just not the same projected on my 100-inch screen)

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I was holding off too -- largely 'cuz I'm a GOUT purist and was NEVER going to get the prequels or digitized originals… but finally purchased the two 3-movie blu-ray sets two months ago and am very glad I did.

First of all, I've somehow learned to embrace the prequels AND the OT Special Editions. Go figure. I used to be the biggest "hater" and "purist" of 'em all. Somehow the newest Episode VII trailer cured all my hate and made me love everything STAR WARS again. I've even been watching the CLONE WARS episodes on Netflix and really digging 'em (of course, I've been avoiding all episodes with Jar Jar or younglings, LOL).

Secondly… What really made me pull the trigger on buying these: this blu-ray release most likely represents the last version ever to feature the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of every film. That may sound like an insignificant thing to most people, but to me (at age 44), that's a HUGE part of what makes the beginning of a STAR WARS film feel like a STAR WARS film. Had to buy 'em while the logo was still attached!

And finally… love him or hate him (or both), these blu-rays now represent George Lucas's definitive FINAL vision for the saga. Everything else that happens to them henceforth will be someone at Disney's second guessing. I wish someone had been second guessing him all along, but now that it's done any changes will seem even more unforgivable since they won't come from him. For better AND for worse, this is the final product of all his OCD madness.

Having said all that… if the original unaltered trilogy appears on blu-ray or UHD, I will snap that sucker up and never again watch the 2011 versions of those films, LOL! (I do have the Despecialized editions, and am most grateful for them, but my versions of them are 720p and are not 24fps. Just not the same projected on my 100-inch screen)

I would be shocked if any new revisions were made on the originals unless Lucas was involved.

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

Star Wars IS on Blu-Ray....

He meant the REAL versions.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I would be shocked if any new revisions were made on the originals unless Lucas was involved.

I would be surprised too, but it isn't impossible to imagine a 4K restoration that restores something closer to the 1997 Special Editions, since all subsequent changes have been done at HD resolution.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Secondly… What really made me pull the trigger on buying these: this blu-ray release most likely represents the last version ever to feature the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of every film. That may sound like an insignificant thing to most people, but to me (at age 44), that's a HUGE part of what makes the beginning of a STAR WARS film feel like a STAR WARS film. Had to buy 'em while the logo was still attached!

Thank you! You get it! They're still Fox films to me and they're always going to be that way. I'm still hoping Disney and Fox can work something out and keep the logo and fanfare.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Thank you! You get it! They're still Fox films to me and they're always going to be that way. I'm still hoping Disney and Fox can work something out and keep the logo and fanfare.

I was hoping that too… but then Disney went ahead and replaced the 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare on the streaming editions of the films (except Episode IV, which Fox still owns), so I wouldn't hold your breath. That was the proverbial "last straw" for me; their new opening logo is what made me run out and buy these Fox blu-rays.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

but my versions of them are 720p and are not 24fps.

The despecialised versions are 23,976 fps.
What do you mean?

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I was holding off too -- largely 'cuz I'm a GOUT purist and was NEVER going to get the prequels or digitized originals… but finally purchased the two 3-movie blu-ray sets two months ago and am very glad I did.

First of all, I've somehow learned to embrace the prequels AND the OT Special Editions. Go figure. I used to be the biggest "hater" and "purist" of 'em all. Somehow the newest Episode VII trailer cured all my hate and made me love everything STAR WARS again. I've even been watching the CLONE WARS episodes on Netflix and really digging 'em (of course, I've been avoiding all episodes with Jar Jar or younglings, LOL).

Secondly… What really made me pull the trigger on buying these: this blu-ray release most likely represents the last version ever to feature the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of every film. That may sound like an insignificant thing to most people, but to me (at age 44), that's a HUGE part of what makes the beginning of a STAR WARS film feel like a STAR WARS film. Had to buy 'em while the logo was still attached!

And finally… love him or hate him (or both), these blu-rays now represent George Lucas's definitive FINAL vision for the saga. Everything else that happens to them henceforth will be someone at Disney's second guessing. I wish someone had been second guessing him all along, but now that it's done any changes will seem even more unforgivable since they won't come from him. For better AND for worse, this is the final product of all his OCD madness.

Having said all that… if the original unaltered trilogy appears on blu-ray or UHD, I will snap that sucker up and never again watch the 2011 versions of those films, LOL! (I do have the Despecialized editions, and am most grateful for them, but my versions of them are 720p and are not 24fps. Just not the same projected on my 100-inch screen)

And how sad is it that 3 amazing, iconic and infinitely re-watchable movies had to fall victim many years later to the original creator's complete loss of perspective.

But I do still wonder at times if he'll ever try to make more pointless changes to the films from here on out. Or if the people running the show now will even let him.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

The despecialised versions are 23,976 fps.
What do you mean?

For my Oppo 83 and Panasonic projector, the motion looked a little strange when I was forcing 23.976, so I put the Oppo 83 on Source Direct to check it out… and my projector displayed the video at "30p" (which is really 60i displayed as progressive). I don't think I have the most up-to-date Despecialized version, however; it was given to me as a gift a while back.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I was hoping that too… but then Disney went ahead and replaced the 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare on the streaming editions of the films (except Episode IV, which Fox still owns), so I wouldn't hold your breath. That was the proverbial "last straw" for me; their new opening logo is what made me run out and buy these Fox blu-rays.

Well hopefully that was for the streaming version only. I called Disney a while back regarding this and they are going to try to do something (maybe now in this case for all other forms of media).

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I was holding off too -- largely 'cuz I'm a GOUT purist and was NEVER going to get the prequels or digitized originals… but finally purchased the two 3-movie blu-ray sets two months ago and am very glad I did...

What really made me pull the trigger on buying these: this blu-ray release most likely represents the last version ever to feature the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of every film. That may sound like an insignificant thing to most people, but to me (at age 44), that's a HUGE part of what makes the beginning of a STAR WARS film feel like a STAR WARS film. Had to buy 'em while the logo was still attached!

Actually, 20th Century Fox, who distributed the original trilogy, owns the worldwide theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video distribution rights for all six 'Star Wars' films until 2020. And when Disney gets distribution rights in 2020 it will not include the original "Star Wars," aka "A New Hope" because 20th Century Fox fully financed the film. So I have some time to wait. And Disney will have to play nice if they want to include the film that started it all.

[Blu-Curry]

The only blu-ray changes that I remember truly bothering me was the unnecessary rock in front of R2 when he's hiding from Sand People, Jabba's Palace's huge new gate, and - most importantly - Vader screaming "NOOOOOOO" at the end of Ep 6. It was such a powerful moment when he did that without saying a word. For the previous changes: Hayden in Ep 6. As far as my memory can recall, I was fine with everything else.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Blu-Curry

The only blu-ray changes that I remember truly bothering me was the unnecessary rock in front of R2 when he's hiding from Sand People, Jabba's Palace's huge new gate, and - most importantly - Vader screaming "NOOOOOOO" at the end of Ep 6. It was such a powerful moment when he did that without saying a word. For the previous changes: Hayden in Ep 6. As far as my memory can recall, I was fine with everything else.

That Rock wouldn't have been so bad if it was consistent between shots.
Same with Jabba's Gate, if they kept the size, it'd be more widely accepted.

Vader's double "NOOOOOOO!" was will never be OK!

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

Actually, 20th Century Fox, who distributed the original trilogy, owns the worldwide theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video distribution rights for all six 'Star Wars' films until 2020. And when Disney gets distribution rights in 2020 it will not include the original "Star Wars," aka "A New Hope" because 20th Century Fox fully financed the film. So I have some time to wait. And Disney will have to play nice if they want to include the film that started it all.

That doesn't include the digital distribution rights, which remained with Lucasfilm except for Ep IV (that's why the streaming release was Disney/DMA except Ep IV which was Fox/UV). Disney's need "to play nice" with Fox on Ep IV didn't keep them from stripping the Fox logo off the streaming versions of the other five.

I think the concern is it's unclear whether or not Fox will release any more disc versions of the OT (UOT or SE) or PT between now and 2020, simply because they may not make their investment back before then. There are other possibilities (UHDBD, possibly together with the UOT on regular BD), but in this business only hindsight is truly 20/20.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

The despecialised versions are 23,976 fps.

24 thousand a sec wow thats alotta frames.

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

That Rock wouldn't have been so bad if it was consistent between shots.
Same with Jabba's Gate, if they kept the size, it'd be more widely accepted.

They'd still exist for no reason. There's no justification or logic for either change: they were done solely "just 'cause."

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

They'd still exist for no reason. There's no justification or logic for either change: they were done solely "just 'cause."

I agree, but I think that they would have at least been slightly better received if they weren't done so poorly, is all I was saying.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

They'd still exist for no reason. There's no justification or logic for either change: they were done solely "just 'cause."

That still really puzzles me-- I mean, compared to the changes that actually really bug me, I don't really care that he added some rocks or made Jabba's door bigger. It wouldn't really affect my enjoyment of the films much, but it's just such a bizarre thing to do.

I'm not saying this to trash Lucas or insult him or anything, sincerely, but he's got to have some kind of OCD thing that makes him do stuff like this. Almost like he feels compelled to go do SOMETHING to the films every time he does a new release. It's especially weird when you consider that he only added the alterations to a portion of the footage, leaving the other shots and angles without the alteration making it stick out and be inconsistent.

I wouldn't be surprised if one of his reasons for finally selling off Star Wars was to free himself from his self-imposed burden of endlessly trying to tweak the films to the way he wants them.