Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Would you guys subscribe to Disney+ if it included the unaltered original trilogy as a carrot? Will they show up as digital bonus features next year for the inevitable nine-film box set? Both? Who knows. I doubt they'll never be seen again, it's a matter of how consumers will eventually be able to access them.

I'm probably subscribing to Disney+ anyway, because I want to check out Jon Favreau's Mandalorian show among other things. Having new 4K versions of Star Wars that end up being exclusive to the service would be a pretty lame thing to do, though.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Would you guys subscribe to Disney+ if it included the unaltered original trilogy as a carrot? Will they show up as digital bonus features next year for the inevitable nine-film box set? Both? Who knows. I doubt they'll never be seen again, it's a matter of how consumers will eventually be able to access them.

I’m a fan of all the films.
While I would like the original trilogy unaltered, I’m not drawing any lines in the sand. I made my peace with it long ago and have been experiencing smooth sailing ever since.
Whatever happens, happens.
I’ve got the DVDs and BDs. I even have some store bought film reel snippets if I’m ever inclined to break out the projector and watch some B&W subtitled episode IV, if I so choose.
I would join Disney+ more for animated/Pixar fare for my kids if we are traveling, but I don’t see that demand happening. Or maybe for new exclusive content. Certainly not for UOTs.
I’m guessing the further we get removed from the original films, the less the demand. As the diehards fan base ever shrinks, and history moves on.

[stvn1974]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Would you guys subscribe to Disney+ if it included the unaltered original trilogy as a carrot? Will they show up as digital bonus features next year for the inevitable nine-film box set? Both? Who knows. I doubt they'll never be seen again, it's a matter of how consumers will eventually be able to access them.

Nope. The Mandalorian does sound promising but not even it and/or the UOT will get me to bite on the Disney+. I would buy both on BD though. If they are only released on 4K I won't be falling for that either.

[XavierTheaterPotato]

Subscribing to the Disney Streaming Service says something to them, but they're full on diving into Streaming anyway, since they push it on the packaging of Blus. The only things that look promising to me that's going there is The Mandalorian and possibly Clone Wars S7(if a Blu isn't provided after).

I'd love to see the original unaltered versions of the OT. I never grew up watching those original cuts, just the special editions, so I'd love to see them.

I feel I'm kind of alone in hoping the Steelbook artworks is on the UHDs if they're individuals if/when they happen.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

But everyone knows there is a high demand for them. Why can't they give them what they want already??

You don't know what the demand is. Anecdotally, there is high demand for them by people who populate sites like this one, but compared to the larger consumer market that judgement is most likely a false reading. On sites like this one, one gets the impression that UHD and Blu-ray are dominant mediums when the reality (in North America) is that Blu was a $2.3 billion business in 2013 and was only a $1.9 billion business in 2018. So far this year, of the top 20 titles each week with the highest UHD share, the average UHD share is only 9.81%, which is pretty awful.

Thru March 2nd this year, Blu still only has (compared to DVD) a 45.3% revenue share and a 30% unit share and it's only that high because DVD is declining at a fast pace, whereas Blu is actually up 6.3% in revenue and 6.7% in units YTD compared to last year (which is surprising, but good). So one has to look at the demands of the wider market, not just the fanboys who now seem to hate it all anyway.

Since Star Wars has already sold quite well on DVD and Blu-ray, the question becomes how many consumers would double-dip (at least) to get the uncut originals? While "everyone" likes to complain that Lucas ruined the films, I suspect that in the end, not that many people would double-dip and there aren't that many fans who never bought. (If you look at e-Bay prices for the originals on VHS, they actually command very little).

And you know no matter what they do, there will be complaints. Something will be a few frames off or they'll forget to restore two words that were different over time or it will match the 70mm version instead of the 35mm version or vice-versa or surround will be in mono and they'll be complaints it's not in stereo, or the opposite: they'll make the surround stereo and they'll be complaints that it's not the original mix, etc.

At one point I thought they could re-master the current versions of the OT in UHD and include in that "box" the unaltered originals (but maybe not in UHD), but with the low UHD share rates, that might not work.

Now I think that after IX is released, they can create a box with VII, VIII and IX, Rogue One and Solo and include the original unaltered in that (or in a deluxe version of the box) and maybe that would get consumers who already bought one or all of the current trilogy to double-dip to get the rest.

But that's just my fantasy - I don't actually think Disney is going to bother. With the $71 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox and the huge levels of debt Disney took on (even though it was reportedly an all-stock deal) and because Disney is getting less for the regional sports networks than they originally anticipated, Disney is looking for some big wins. The original unaltered trilogy would get them a lot of publicity, but not necessarily a lot of cash.

Furthermore, the whole reason for the acquisition was to provide content for Disney's new streaming service. If Disney did release the unaltered originals, I bet they'd show up on the streaming service long before they showed up in physical formats, if they were released on physical formats at all.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Bring the UHD releases, since physical isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

It depends upon how you define "going anywhere". If you define it as "not existing", then you're correct - it will exist for years to come. They'll just be fewer titles, special features, deluxe packaging, extras, restorations, etc.

If you define it as a "healthy business that the studios care about strategically", it's already gone. Physical was an $11 billion business in North America in 2009 and it declined to just $4.1 billion in 2018. Throw in subscription services and kiosks and it was a $5.8 billion business. Subscription Streaming, Electronic Sell Through and VOD was a $17.5 billion business in 2018. That's larger than theatrical box-office which was $11.9 billion. What do you think studio executives are going to pay attention to and invest in - the growing businesses or the smaller declining ones?

Certainly the new big box-office titles will continue to be released on physical for many years to come because it doesn't really take much to release a title on physical. But smaller titles and vintage titles that haven't yet been released won't be as much and smaller/vintage titles that have been released probably won't be repressed unless they sold very well.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

It depends upon how you define "going anywhere". If you define it as "not existing", then you're correct - it will exist for years to come. They'll just be fewer titles, special features, deluxe packaging, extras, restorations, etc.

If you define it as a "healthy business that the studios care about strategically", it's already gone. Physical was an $11 billion business in North America in 2009 and it declined to just $4.1 billion in 2018. Throw in subscription services and kiosks and it was a $5.8 billion business. Subscription Streaming, Electronic Sell Through and VOD was a $17.5 billion business in 2018. That's larger than theatrical box-office which was $11.9 billion. What do you think studio executives are going to pay attention to and invest in - the growing businesses or the smaller declining ones?

Certainly the new big box-office titles will continue to be released on physical for many years to come because it doesn't really take much to release a title on physical. But smaller titles and vintage titles that haven't yet been released won't be as much and smaller/vintage titles that have been released probably won't be repressed unless they sold very well.

You forgot to mention boutique labels that license from big studios. All businesses shift over time, and physical media is no different. There will be peaks and valleys, and this never ending line of discussion will go on for however long this site is on a server. All the while discs will be made avaialbe.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Bring the UHD releases, since physical isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

But whats soon ?

If the age of the universe was crammed into 1 yr humans dont show up til about an hour & a half until the ball drops on new years eve.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

But whats soon ?

If the age of the universe was crammed into 1 yr humans dont show up til about an hour & a half until the ball drops on new years eve.

I know the exact date, but I’m not allowed to communicate it.

[JediKnight2]

I found a fix for the green tint on Episode II, put the color settings of your tv on "cold". This works very well on Panasonic and the movie looks way better and more accurate like this.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by JediKnight2

I found a fix for the green tint on Episode II, put the color settings of your tv on "cold". This works very well on Panasonic and the movie looks way better and more accurate like this.

You had better found a way to fix the actual movie

[JediKnight2]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

You had better found a way to fix the actual movie

Booze and snacks work pretty well for that

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by JediKnight2

Booze and snacks work pretty well for that

I'd pass out, that's how much booze is needed for me lol.

[Takeshi666]

I'm not having much faith in Disney bothering with the UOT, especially when they can't even be bothered to treat their own animated canon with respect.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

I'm not having much faith in Disney bothering with the UOT, especially when they can't even be bothered to treat their own animated canon with respect.

We did get season sets of Rebels and season 6 of The Clone Wars.


Just sayin'.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

We did get season sets of Rebels

And half of them had deliberately gimped audio.

[Narcissus]

OTC Or GTFO.
You Own Them All Now Dizznee. Make it happen.

[Gold Ranger]

I have a bad feeling about this... Again...

[Travis]

I know someone may have said it, but I gotta say it again, we need the theatrical releases of the original trilogy on BD or UHD.

Just finished Jedi, and f’cking hell. That song added in Jabba’s palace is awful. The final song too....they really ruin the experience.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Travis

I know someone may have said it, but I gotta say it again, we need the theatrical releases of the original trilogy on BD or UHD.

Just finished Jedi, and f’cking hell. That song added in Jabba’s palace is awful. The final song too....they really ruin the experience.

Oh, you think someone might have mentioned it?