Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[binarymelon]

Originally Posted by JamesKurtovich

He's already done that.



I think a lot of Directors would prefer their own cuts too but a lot of people still enjoy the theatrical editions as well as the DC.

I've been wondering lately if Lucas would have received as much flack if he had called the SEs Director's Cuts instead.

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by Jay444

Exactly WHAT does the probe droid being hit over the head by the worker droid in a ANH add to the film? Or the 8 rats running away from Mos Esley? Or Boba Fett nodding to the audience in the Jabba scense.

Don't forget about turning Mos Eisley into a huge cartoonish looking Metropolis that really stands out from the live action footage. I'm not sure if I buy Lucas' claims that it was always intended to be like that, but if it was, well, then that's just another case of how the limitations at the time made it better. I've personally always liked Mos Eisley better as a small, seedy old west like town, because it made more sense on a desolate planet like Tatooine and it kept more in tune with the notion that Star Wars was basically like a western in space. That's just my opinion though.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by Beast

Nothing would satisfy them. Even if he did release the original versions, they'd just find something else to complain about.

Yeah, undoctored blu-ray releases of arguably the most beloved films of all time. We're so unreasonable.

Mark my words, Beast: There will come a time when a work of art you love is compromised. Not with a bang, but with a whimper of an unenhanced, borderline-unwatchable DVD. Soon it fades from memory, and as you howl against the injustice of it all, you're faced with stalwart party-liners who can't understand why you're so "unreasonable".

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Kinetic_Blue

ok, fine, ANH did have it, BUT most cinema's did NOT.
The majority of people here probably only heard it in MONO.

And we can't conduct a poll, because i bet most people:
1 - didn't care then
- or -
2 - wouldn't remember

Originally Posted by chip75

You forgot to add:
- or -
3 - are now dead...

.

Almost every large U.S. city eventually had at least one 70mm 6-track Dolby print of ANH. And there were hundreds of cinemas that eventually showed the 35mm Dolby Optical version in stereo. So as the film moved down the chain to the B- and C- move theatres, as was the practice in those days when films played for months, not weeks, those B- and C- theatres probably played the film in mono. But almost anyone who saw it first run in a city of any size, saw it in at least Dolby Stereo.

And if someone was 27 in 1977, that makes them 60 or 61 now, which gives them a pretty good chance of being alive, considering that life expectancy is about 80 these days. Unless you think that at SEs have had such an impact that they've eroded the lifespan of those who were forced to watch them.

Here's the premiere week engagements (thanks to fromscripttodvd.com)
I count 8 70mm presentations and 18 35mm Dolby stereo presentations out of a total of 43.

Presentation Legend

* 70mm Dolby Stereo (magnetic)
** 35mm Dolby Stereo (optical)
*** 35mm mono (optical Dolby Stereo print)



Opened Wednesday, May 25, 1977:

ARIZONA
Phoenix: [Plitt] Ciné Capri ***

CALIFORNIA
Hollywood (Los Angeles): [Mann] Chinese *
Orange: [Plitt] City Center *
Sacramento: [Syufy] Century 25 ***
San Diego: [Mann] Valley Circle ***
San Francisco: [UA] Coronet *
San Jose: [Syufy] Century 22 ***
Westwood (Los Angeles): [GCC] Avco Center *


COLORADO
Denver: [Cooper Highland] Cooper **

DELAWARE
Claymont (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric Twin Tri-State Mall ***

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington: [RKO/Stanley-Warner] Uptown **

ILLINOIS
Milan (Quad-City, IA/IL): [Redstone] Showcase **

INDIANA
Indianapolis: [Y&W] Eastwood **

KENTUCKY
Louisville: [Redstone] Showcase **

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston: [Sack] Charles **

MICHIGAN
Southfield (Detroit): [Nicholas George] Americana Complex **

MINNESOTA
Roseville (St. Paul): [Northwest] Roseville 4 **
St. Louis Park (Minneapolis): [GCC] St. Louis Park ***

NEW JERSEY
Edison (New York, NY): [GCC] Menlo Park ***
Lawrenceville (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric Twin Lawrenceville ***
Paramus (New York, NY): [RKO/Stanley-Warner] Triplex Paramus *
Pennsauken (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric Twin Pennsauken ***


NEW YORK
Hicksville (Long Island): [Mann] Twin South *
Manhattan (New York): [Loews] Astor Plaza *
Manhattan (New York) [Loews] Orpheum *

OHIO
Springdale (Cincinnati): [Redstone] Showcase **

OREGON
Beaverton (Portland): [Luxury] Westgate **

PENNSYLVANIA
Fairless Hills (Philadelphia): [Sameric] Eric Twin Fairless Hills ***
Monroeville (Pittsburgh): [Redstone] Showcase East **
Philadelphia: [Sameric] Eric's Place ***

UTAH
Salt Lake City: [Plitt] Centre ***

WASHINGTON
Seattle: [UA] Cinema 150 **



Opened Thursday, May 26, 1977:

KANSAS
Overland Park (Kansas City, MO): [Dickinson] Glenwood **


Opened Friday, May 27, 1977:

ILLINOIS
Calumet City (Chicago): [Plitt] River Oaks ***
Chicago: [Plitt] Esquire **
Lombard (Chicago): [GCC] Yorktown ***
Northbrook (Chicago): [Lubliner & Sterns] Edens **


IOWA
Des Moines: [Dubinsky] River Hills **

MISSOURI
Creve Coeur (St Louis): [Wehrenberg] Creve Coeur **

NEBRASKA
Omaha: [Douglas] Cinema Center **

OHIO
Dayton: [Chakeres] Dayton Mall **

TEXAS
Dallas: [GCC] Northpark I&II ***
Houston: [GCC] Galleria ***

[binarymelon]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Unless you think that at SEs have had such an impact that they've eroded the lifespan of those who were forced to watch them.

I'm sure there's probably a study out there that proves complaining and stressing about unimportant shit reduces your life expectancy.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by Jay444

The only thing I did not like about Jedi was the Ewoks. However, it was GREAT commentary that a big military machine can be defeated by natives whom know the terrian and slightly more primative weapons (I think it was commentary on the Vietnam War when Jedi was first released).

Other than that I think Return of the Jedi wraps up the series perfectly. All the bad guys are killed, the guy gets the girl, and our hero rides off into the sunset. Great ending.

Yeah, I agree. Not my favorite SW movie overall, but the last 30 mins or so are pure geeky bliss. And it does tie a nice bow on everything that preceded it. You can definitely tell the actors were bored/distracted and the Ewoks were a bit overdone for my taste, but ROTJ is still a fun watch.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by kamphausd1

Don't forget about turning Mos Eisley into a huge cartoonish looking Metropolis that really stands out from the live action footage. I'm not sure if I buy Lucas' claims that it was always intended to be like that...

I'm reading "The Making of Star Wars" right now and there is documented that Fox and a lot of people were concerned about the way he shot things.

Even on huge sets he didn't take wide shots cause he was aiming for a documentary style and was taking the locations for granted (known to the viewer) and didn't bother to make (to him) fake looking distance shots.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by kamphausd1

Don't forget about turning Mos Eisley into a huge cartoonish looking Metropolis that really stands out from the live action footage. I'm not sure if I buy Lucas' claims that it was always intended to be like that, but if it was, well, then that's just another case of how the limitations at the time made it better. I've personally always liked Mos Eisley better as a small, seedy old west like town, because it made more sense on a desolate planet like Tatooine and it kept more in tune with the notion that Star Wars was basically like a western in space. That's just my opinion though.

Um, no. Lucas never intended "western in space". He did intend Mos Eisley to be a busy spaceport.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

And if someone was 27 in 1977, that makes them 60 or 61 now, which gives them a pretty good chance of being alive, considering that life expectancy is about 80 these days. Unless you think that at SEs have had such an impact that they've eroded the lifespan of those who were forced to watch them.

Orange: [Plitt] City Center *

I saw it at the City Center in 70MM. BIG screen, BIG sound. It's gone now of course.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Jay444

The only thing I did not like about Jedi was the Ewoks. However, it was GREAT commentary that a big military machine can be defeated by natives whom know the terrian and slightly more primative weapons (I think it was commentary on the Vietnam War when Jedi was first released).

And as it turns out, an Ewok is more able to defeat the Emperor than anyone else, including a Jedi!

Years ago, in the "Super Return of the Jedi" game for the Super Nintendo, you would play as a different character specific to the level that you were on (including, if I recall correctly, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, and Wicket the Ewok).

But, there was a code that would allow you to use any of the playable characters in any level as you choose. And who was the strongest against the Emperor and could defeat him with the fewest hits? Wicket the Ewok!!!


(I know this isn't canon by any means, but it's just funny).

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Um, no. Lucas never intended "western in space".

*BUZZER*

Incorrect.

He absolutely did.

And besides, it's widely considered that:
http://www.spacewesterns.com/articles/116/

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Um, no. Lucas never intended "western in space".

Um, yes, he did. It's commonly known that westerns were one of the many influences on the original film.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

*BUZZER*

Incorrect.

He absolutely did.

And besides, it's widely considered that:
http://www.spacewesterns.com/articles/116/

You are absolutely correct. In my film classes I took in college we studied Star Wars shortly after Westerns (was one of the best classes I ever fn took...lol). Several Western themes and characters in the first Star Wars and it also mixed with the Samurai films from Japan/China (Easterns as they are called). You know your stuff sir!

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by kamphausd1

Um, yes, he did. It's commonly known that westerns were one of the many influences on the original film.

Influence. Just as the serials of Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon were, as were the tales of knights, as were the WWII films, etc.

To say it was merely a "western in space" is only hinting at what it was.

[al cos.]

He specifically said he wanted to invoke Once Upon a Time in the West to Gil Taylor and John Barry when they were doing the tatooine stuff in north africa.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

And as it turns out, an Ewok is more able to defeat the Emperor than anyone else, including a Jedi!

Years ago, in the "Super Return of the Jedi" game for the Super Nintendo, you would play as a different character specific to the level that you were on (including, if I recall correctly, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, and Wicket the Ewok).

But, there was a code that would allow you to use any of the playable characters in any level as you choose. And who was the strongest against the Emperor and could defeat him with the fewest hits? Wicket the Ewok!!!


(I know this isn't canon by any means, but it's just funny).

I LOVED those games!

...and...yes... I did use Wicket to defeat the Emperor once... Was a wonderful "How do ya do?" after beating him with Luke (kinda tough..)

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Jay444

Is the Sebulba being killed by Ananking change a "Greedo shooting first moment" for you? Do you see how such a minor change might make a few people upset? Yes, Greedo shoots first. But Han Solo shoots first throughout the rest of the series.

I do agree that Greedo shooting first just change the dynamic of that scene, and therefore the dynamic of how Han's character is set up.

Is it quick? Yes. It's a very, very brief part of the overall movie. But, it's still a relatively major part of establishing his character. Communication, explanation, and character development doesn's always have to be a long drawn out thing, and doesn't always have to be done verbally (so, in other words, it does NOT require the movie to stop and for things to be explained at people, as Beast so often puts it ). So, while it doesn't ENTIRELY change Han's character.. it does change a very important part of his set up.


Having said that, the thing that bugs me most about that scene isn't the fact that Greedo shoots first (though I'm still not thrilled with that). It's that EXTREMELY CRAPPY effect/edit they did where Han does that weird little twitch to 'dodge' Greedo's blast. It's something they added in because Harison Ford never made an actual motion like that during filmming. And it just looks unnatural, crappy, and just plain out of place. It almost looks like a jump cut.

Something like this really calls into questions Lucas's decisions as an "artist". If this (as the Lucas defenders like to argue) is such an inconsequential, minor change, that in no way, shape, or form, changes the dynamic of Han's character or the story in any way... then why would Lucas choose to go out of his way to create such a crappy looking shot and leave it in there for 2 revisions now (the only difference being that the time between blasts in the 2004 edition is much shorter than the 1997 edition, but the crappy twitch is present in both) just to change something that supposedly doesn't effect the story or character at all, what so ever?

I thought he was using modern digital technology to improve his movies and hide the problems with the original special effects... not to create a new 'special effect' that looks 10 times worse than the absolute worst effects of the UOT.

So, it's really not a fair arguement to say that this scene "doesn't matter" when the "artist" is choosing a much more crappily-composed shot just to make this specific change.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by al cos.

He specifically said he wanted to invoke Once Upon a Time in the West to Gil Taylor and John Barry when they were doing the tatooine stuff in north africa.

Han's entrance in the reinserted Jabba scene looks like a direct homage to Leone.

[Shaft Windu]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

Yeah, undoctored blu-ray releases of arguably the most beloved films of all time. We're so unreasonable.

Mark my words, Beast: There will come a time when a work of art you love is compromised. Not with a bang, but with a whimper of an unenhanced, borderline-unwatchable DVD. Soon it fades from memory, and as you howl against the injustice of it all, you're faced with stalwart party-liners who can't understand why you're so "unreasonable".

Art can never be "compromised" by the artist himself! Lucas has never disappointed me but always exceeded expectations. That's why I look forward to the Blu-Rays with unshakeable enthusiasm! :-)

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Shaft Windu

Art can never be "compromised" by the artist himself! Lucas has never disappointed me but always exceeded expectations. That's why I look forward to the Blu-Rays with unshakeable enthusiasm! :-)

I can't comprehend anyone who doesn't find even a single flaw in any second of the 6 movies.