Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

This guy seemed well informed... until I got to the part where he claimed Lawrence of Arabia had a 35mm original negative. LOL WUT?

Yeah, I found that very strange also!

, but that doesn't mean all the other info is wrong too.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I am more than willing to accept the OT the way it is, I am just saying that it won't be reference V/A like Sunshine, simply because it is so much older, the sound is very dated, but still quite good.....

As is everyone else on this thread, I just don't go along with putting in new stuff to sell it to a younger crowd or to make them blend better with the PT.

Overall, I think it's going to be wonderful, and clearly the best presentation we will ever have seen at home, but I do hope that they do everything they can to create flawless HD masters, because the article I read sounds kind of scary.

Here is the link:

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/savingstarwars.html

Ugh, it makes me sad reading that again. George Lucas and ILM has always appeared to be at the forefront of technology but they really started to slack off dramatically both in regards to the "restoration" and shooting AotC and RotS in 1080p only. Gives me a mental image of Lucas banging his fists against his head, exclaiming: "Stupid, stupid, stupid!". I find it sadly hilarious that the (imo) least likeable part of the PT, The Phantom Menace, was shot on 35mm.

At least there is some hope of restoring the originals, whether it will be in my lifetime remains to be seen. I don't care if Lucas won't admit defeat and he makes Robert Harris sign an NDA just as long as he (or anyone for that matter) can make an all-out restoration happen.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/savingstarwars.html

Thanks for posting that Yoda. That sure answers quite a few questions that I had regarding Lucas's thought process regarding the quality of the 2004 DVD release.

"Robert Harris, the man who had hand-restored Vertigo and Lawrence of Arabia, and later The Godfather, went on record saying he knew there were pristine 35mm elements available for use, and offered his services to restore the film [63]. Lucasfilm did not respond. The efforts of fans and professionals like these will probably result in the aforementioned restoration at some point, if only for the callousness of making money, but it seems that day is not today."

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/savingstarwars.html


A must read for any fan of these films.


.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

As is everyone else on this thread, I just don't go along with putting in new stuff to sell it to a younger crowd or to make them blend better with the PT.


Ugh, it makes me sad reading that again. George Lucas and ILM has always appeared to be at the forefront of technology but they really started to slack off dramatically both in regards to the "restoration" and shooting AotC and RotS in 1080p only. Gives me a mental image of Lucas banging his fists against his head, exclaiming: "Stupid, stupid, stupid!". I find it sadly hilarious that the (imo) least likeable part of the PT, The Phantom Menace, was shot on 35mm.

At least there is some hope of restoring the originals, whether it will be in my lifetime remains to be seen. I don't care if Lucas won't admit defeat and he makes Robert Harris sign an NDA just as long as he (or anyone for that matter) can make an all-out restoration happen.

ILM certainly cannot be blamed for it. They only did what Lucas asked them to do.

It'd only be 1 million $ for Lucas to get the films restored, which is like nothing to him anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'd like him to go back to the original negatives, and get them cleaned, scan them in at 4-8k resolution, so we have the Orginal versions and then he lets ILM redo all of the 97/04 visual effect shots and perhaps some more fixes.
This would assure the best possible quality.

Regarding AOTC and ROTS being in full HD only, so is Avatar, and they all looked great, even in IMAX.

I would really like to know how that is possible though, since the screen size is way bigger than any home theater, and it still holds up so well!
That baffles me!

What upconvert techniques do they have?

Can anyone shed light on this?

Blu-ray is the perfect format for these movies, but I have to admit, that I wouldn't shoot in Full HD only, but rather 70mm, even though it'd cost much more, but the quality is the best possible, and that's all that matters in the end.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by al cos.

I saw Kershner give a talk once and he was asked about the special editions. He really liked the windows in cloud city but not the new ice monster shots.

You know, that's why I actually prefer the SE of ESB. They only minimally messed with it. The ice cave stuff didn't matter to me, but Bespin looks amazing. In truth, that's the only thing I really notice when I watch it. Seeing the old version now actually feels like something is missing - it just seems silly now that this beautiful Cloud City had no windows to speak of.

ANH, on the other hand, is virtually ruined for me in many sections because ai can't stand all the cartoons stuck over so many scenes. ROJ I am pretty neutral on, although I can't believe that they still can't mak the ranco battle look right.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

What upconvert techniques do they have?

Can anyone shed light on this?

Most movies have 2K DIs, it's not like it's a huge difference.

[Riddler95]

I am really hoping that Lucasfilm get their act together and does a full HD restoration of the Original Versions for this Blu-Ray boxset coming out in a year and a half.

I don't want to re-buy the trilogy again and not get a HD version of The Original Version.

I don't even want the prequels on Blu-Ray, I'd rather buy a boxset with just the original three movies.

[Coov]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

Ok I'm catchin' your drift.

Sorry for the "maturity", lack there of, of my post but there's a fine line in the debate. Sorry though, didn't mean to bash your favorite childhood movie.

Just out of curiosity, what did you think about the new Clash of the Titans?

I was not being facetious about the maturity bit. You did not approach the conversation with a virtual baseball bat like others who want to defend Lucas. Star Wars was a staple of my childhood and I hate that it is being messed with.

Anyhoo... I was like 8 years old when I saw Clash of the Titans. That one was full of magical memories for me as well. I tend to embrace movies that are more character driven. I love watching the unfolding of characters and their development. The new Clash of the Titans did not do that for me. Like so many other movies most of the attention is toward the CGI, and action where the character development gets lost. To bring this conversation full circle that was the difference between the original trilogy and the prequels for Star Wars. So much attention was set on making the movies bigger and more elaborate, they lost focus on making them what they should have been. The fun of Star Wars was it's simplicity with characters you could appreciate. Now it's simplicity is being lost more and more as it continues to be tinkered with.

[Spike Killer]

Originally Posted by Coov

I was not being facetious about the maturity bit. You did not approach the conversation with a virtual baseball bat like others who want to defend Lucas. Star Wars was a staple of my childhood and I hate that it is being messed with.

Anyhoo... I was like 8 years old when I saw Clash of the Titans. That one was full of magical memories for me as well.

A virtual baseball bat? I have never heard that before. Can you explain how one uses a "virtual baseball bat"? And what is a "virtual baseball bat"? Do you following the logic that an online argument can only turn ugly when the post is in opposition to your own?

I watched a lot of VHS when I was a child too, but I would hardly consider it a staple of my childhood. I considered friends, family, and education to be a staple of my childhood. But to each their own I suppose.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Spike Killer

I watched a lot of VHS when I was a child too, but I would hardly consider it a staple of my childhood. I considered friends, family, and education to be a staple of my childhood. But to each their own I suppose.

It's seem a lot of fans from my generation consider Star Wars more important to their childhood then what you mention, go figure I don't know when that happen? As much as I love Star Wars when I first saw it in June 1977 at the age of 9, it never really change or took over my life. It's a fun hobby yes but that's pretty much all it is. It never define my childhood. I supose everyone is different

[Flyfisherman]

Originally Posted by Cookson

Seriously, I hope this set contains the un-tampered original versions along with the "edited" versions from 1997.... so it can make ALL the SW fans happy.

I hear ya!

How can you have a complete Star Wars set and not include the actual films that were released in the theaters and made all the money? It was not the special editions that made the money. How can you just try and wipe away historical film history and its original fans? Who cares if Lucas makes his changes but a box set without what was really released originally (in 1080p) would be a crime.

[Flyfisherman]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It's seem a lot of fans from my generation consider Star Wars more important to their childhood then what you mention, go figure I don't know when that happen? As much as I love Star Wars when I first saw it in June 1977 at the age of 9, it never really change or took over my life. It's a fun hobby yes but that's pretty much all it is. It never define my childhood. I supose everyone is different

Because it's film history! Its called film preservation and ALL Star Wars fans should want them included in ANY set in that would be released.
I just can't understand for the life of me why a handful of posters on this site just can't grasp that one simple concept. Who cares if you like the revisionist history cuts better. You should still be supportive about having them the way they were shown, remembered and loved by an entire generation.

[Lincoln6Echo]

Originally Posted by Flyfisherman

Because it's film history! Its called film preservation and ALL Star Wars fans should want them included in ANY set in that would be released.
I just can't understand for the life of me why a handful of posters on this site just can't grasp that one simple concept. Who cares if you like the revisionist history cuts better. You should still be supportive about having them the way they were shown, remembered and loved by an entire generation.

And I can't understand why some people are so anal about having the original cuts which are extremely dated now, especially since the PT.

Look, here's what I believe what happened here in the '90s. After Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and the first use of CG, George decided that he'd create the Young Indy Chronicles as kind of a test bed of digital film making. That seemed to work and he figured, hey, maybe I can finally go back and add some things into my OT that I always wanted to have there, but didn't have the technology for. But he was also thinking that, hey, I'm also thinking that I wanna go back and do a PT, but in order to do so, I need to bring the OT up to date a little bit.

That said, even as a big childhood fan of the OT, I was never satisfied with the look of the films either as filmmaking technology advanced. So when the '97 SEs came out, I was thrilled. Except I was a bit disappointed that they didn't change even more. The lighsaber effects STILL weren't improved enough and the hand blaster effects were still just pinkish red smears across the film. If Lucas really wanted to create a definitive editon of the OT, they'd go back and digitally scrub ANH and to some degree, TESB as well, of all laser blasts and redo them to what we know they look like in ROTJ and the PT. And that is white cores surrounded by orange, red, or green glows. But that's just me. And if they do at least one thing for these BD editions, please fix all the light saber effects. Bring them all up to date. Shouldn't be too hard. Hell, fan films do it all day long.

[Jumpman]

Are people really going to argue back and forth for the next 18 months on whether or not the original cuts will be included?

I just don't see the point anymore. He's not going to include them. Personally, I don't think Lucas is concerned with film history with these films. I think he's more concerned about the story of Star Wars and what future generations will think of it after he's gone...hence the reason he's been working over a decade and some change into fixing the films to where he can die in peace with how they are. Because, once he's gone, nobody will touch them ever again. This is his last shot in getting them right.

Maybe, maybe after he's gone, the original theatrical cuts will see the light of day. It just depends on who has the authority over Star Wars when that day comes. I would hope, who ever has the power, up holds Lucas' wishes in the end and not back down due to fanbase pressure....

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Flyfisherman

Because it's film history! Its called film preservation and ALL Star Wars fans should want them included in ANY set in that would be released.
I just can't understand for the life of me why a handful of posters on this site just can't grasp that one simple concept. Who cares if you like the revisionist history cuts better. You should still be supportive about having them the way they were shown, remembered and loved by an entire generation.

What I care about as no meaning. I have the originals on Laserdisc and on DVD (heck I still have my VHS copies of them) The fact of the matter is, this argument as no longer any meaning. Lucas as said that he won't work on the original cause he think's of Star Wars as the Special Edition. That is the fact. He's the creator, he's the director, producer....the big cheese and that is how he see's them, as the Special Edition. The facts are that the Special Editions VHS and then DVD sold extremely well. The facts are that more then a good portions of Star Wars fans have no problem with the Special Editions. The facts are that the creator see's no point in releasing the originals. I understand all of your points. I want him to release the Holliday Special. I have wrote a total of 5 letters to Lucasfilms personaly about it, that yes he might be embarass at how bad it is, how cheesie it is and so on but it's TV history, it's part of Star Wars and he should release it. The point is, he does not want to and he as the right to do so. Is he being a stubborn old guy? Yes he is but the fact of the matter is, if he want's to so be it.

As fans of Star Wars we have 2 choices. Accept it or don't. If you don't, stop posting rants on the Internet and write a letter to Lucasfilms, like I did. Mention that you have been a fan of Star Wars but will no longer buy any products related to Star Wars (Blu-ray, DVD, toys, books...) since you feel that personaly the originals should be made available. Say that yes Mr. Lucas as every right not to release them if he so want but as a customer I also have the right to keep my money for something else since you refuse to give us what we want as customers. But arguing with me and the others here, posting your anger here will have no affect.

Will such letters by those who are not happy change anything? Probably not, afterall the Special Editions like I said are selling. But you will have at least made your anger know to the person who should know of it and you can then stop buying Star Wars products and have a clear mind about it.

[Porkchop Express]

Oct 2011 right in time for my birthday My 30th birthday

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

ILM certainly cannot be blamed for it. They only did what Lucas asked them to do.

Lucas does have final say but it doesn't mean that anyone at ILM is uncapable of telling him he is making a big mistake and/or make some suggestions. Heck, I shoot my big mouth of at the foreman at work when he's effin' up so why shouldn't they? Shooting AotC and RotS at 1080p only is so incredibly stupid the fault for that should be shared by everyone involved, from Lucas all the way down to the lady cleaning the toilets at ILM.

Yes, $1million would be pocket change for Lucas but then it has been pocket change for a while now.

[Jumpman]

Can't go at Lucas unless you go after Dennis Murren as well..."the godfather" of visual effects. He's been quoted as saying that he, like Lucas in preparation for the Special Editions in '97, wanted to make changes as well....

This really wasn't an all Lucas decision, people. There were some in the inner circle, who worked on the original films, wanted a few changes here and there back in '97.

[simon_hrdng]

I thought I might as well throw my opinion on here.

Personally, I prefer the updated versions of the trilogy. I'm a Star Wars fanboy and am one of those individuals who watch these films imagining they are real places and real characters. This is why I would prefer if the Original Trilogy matched up to the Prequel Trilogy, to show that it is still the universe. I can't remembered when i watched the original versions, but I have kept the VHS of both the original trilogy and the Special Edition versions. I am more than happy with the DVD versions, with the exception of one thing. The lightsabers. They need to redo those to make the PT, especially Vader's Pink lightsaber.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by simon_hrdng

I thought I might as well throw my opinion on here.

Personally, I prefer the updated versions of the trilogy. I'm a Star Wars fanboy and am one of those individuals who watch these films imagining they are real places and real characters. This is why I would prefer if the Original Trilogy matched up to the Prequel Trilogy, to show that it is still the universe. I can't remembered when i watched the original versions, but I have kept the VHS of both the original trilogy and the Special Edition versions. I am more than happy with the DVD versions, with the exception of one thing. The lightsabers. They need to redo those to make the PT, especially Vader's Pink lightsaber.

I watch the original version between May 21st & May 25th of every year, just a personal thing of mine