Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[El_Jay]

Originally Posted by Waboman

Watched Attack of the Clones last night. The AQ was outta site. Rivals TPM and maybe even tops it in terms of dynamics. Plus there was less Jar Jar.

Yeaaaaaah, the AQ in TPM and AOTC is freaking phenomenal! I'd venture to say they are both reference-quality to the max. Just beautiful.

It's just a shame the PQ can't match it, because upon repeated viewings I have managed to force myself to like the PT. With great PQ I'd be much more stoked on the PT flicks.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Howdy

I watched the holiday special for the first time not that long ago and it was unbearably bad, I wished I hadn't.

You do know that I wasn't being serious, right?

[JTH182]

Originally Posted by chip75

It might have been worse though. He might have shouted Luke instead. When golf fans shout it after Luke Donald it sounds like 'Boo' worst case scenario Vader shouts 'Boo!' then 'Boooo!!' then throws Palps down the reactor's shitter....

Hey was saying Boo-urns.

[Howdy]

Originally Posted by amoergosum

You do know that I wasn't being serious, right?

Doesn't matter! Once you see it, you can't unsee it But yes, of course I know you weren't.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by El_Jay

Watching AOTC again today it's clear how over-processed and DNR'd it is too. It's really not much better than TPM.

I'm still happy with the set, but it's with so much reservation, I can't just be like 100% YAY, I have to be like 80% YAY and 20% BOOWTF...

Compared to the revisionist nonsense and the questionable quality in the SW saga, the green tint in LOTR is looking pretty tame. I think I'll watch the LOTR trilogy again to remind myself how good the Star Wars PT could have been.

I completely agree. I don't know exactly what they did wrong, but it has a somewhat waxy look to it. The audio is outstanding for sure, but for whatever reason, AOTC and TPM seem very very soft in PQ. No idea WHY that is. ROTS looked fantastic though and the majority of the OT looked very good. The LOTR set was awesome.

[MrJoeKalel]

Originally Posted by Jay444

Okay, so back on topic. I just finished watching the whole saga and I have to say I am a bit disappointed in the set as a whole. TPM looks like crap, the sound was a bit low on ROTS (nothing adjusting my volume couldn't solve, but it should have the same levels as the other five films), and several minor issues with the OT still are there (not going to bother going into them). The extras (IMO) are of the one and done variety, nothing I will ever want to watch again.

So, to me, its a 'good' set but there is plenty of room for improvement (no idea how TPM made it past three levels of quality control looking the way it does). Certainly NOT the best release of the year for sure. I am happy to say I have it, but am not going to recommend it to my friends at all. Did anyone else feel let down a bit?

I think TPM is processed like that to 'fit' with the digital look of the other two, but the issue with ROTS and the audio, it's correct. I thought I wasn't gonna notice it (let's get real, once we start a movie we actually like, we forget about anything else), but the audio IS underwhelming, a shame since it has the best space battle ever.

The extras? Well, underwhelming too. I've stated many times as to how the DVD releases of the PT could be the best single-movie releases of all-time, since (besides TPM), all had stellar PQ, AQ, and obviously, the extras, starting with 'The Beginning' on TPM. In this set, well, navigation isn't simple, and even when you have the extras under 'systems', they aren't as encompassing as they could be. Even so, they're 'boxed' and not in their aspect ratio.

Again, missed opportunity to create the most encompassing set released, and after getting the Batman, Superman and Alien Anthologies, this set falls short of greatness.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by georgec

I humbly ask out of curiosity - which subjects are on topic and which aren't? I 100% agree with keeping the thread focused and on topic. However, every week there's some subject that brings out some personal attacks and dissent, but it all starts with something SW-related, I suppose. May we discuss broader SW topics beyond the blu-rays or should it stay with the format discussion?

I'm simply tired of things going off the rails from the instigation and baiting that occurs (and is occurring now).

Leave it to say that things had definitely gotten off track into some rather uncomfortable areas and things were getting extremely ugly.

Those posts have been removed and the thread was cleaned up.

Rich

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MrJoeKalel

I think TPM is processed like that to 'fit' with the digital look of the other two....

I think The Phantom Menace turned out to be quite soft (Pro-Mist filters were added to the camera's). Whether this was to soften or blend the visual effects with the live-action footage I don't know. Attack of the Clones was designed to follow suit but they found the HD cameras were a lot sharper than expected, they showed up deficencies in make-up, props and sets.

Even though the DNR wand has been waved over TPM I don't think there was that much more detail under the wax.

[jwoodwar]

So I watched episode 1 a couple nights ago. Never seen it. So here is what I thought. First 30 minutes were awful. Then for an hour it's good then back to awful! Watching Attack of The Clones right now the picture is amazing! I thought episode one looked really bad.

[Zuiun]

Originally Posted by Shaft Windu

You would really spend your time better of first trying to understand the movies instead of watching a spiteful and destructive documentary.

You keep making these jabs about how people supposedly must not "understand" the prequels if they don't like them.

I understand the 6 films just fine. I understand the way the Lucas tried to shoehorn the prequels into the storyline he created in the original films (and also the way he tried to shoehorn Empire and Jedi into the as-originally-filmed standalone story of Star Wars).

I simply don't like the story Lucas chose to tell with the prequels. But even THAT isn't the crux of the problem for me. I didn't really care for the story in Jedi, either. Yet I find Jedi to be a measurably more enjoyable experience than any of the prequel films.

The difference is style.

It's lacking from the prequels.

And I don't mean visual appeal. From a pure eye-candy standpoint, the prequels are pretty spectacular. I don't deny that they are entertaining to watch for just that reason.

But the story, the writing, and especially the dialog all lack the "snap" of the original films. The simple exchange of dialog in the detention center rescue in ANH is more "alive" than anything in the prequels. Even despite Harrison Ford's famous quip ("George, you can type this shit, but you sure as hell can't say it"), there is still a spark to the dialog.

So I could forgive - even enjoy - the story of the prequels if the presentation had been better, or if the characters weren't continually reciting mechanical and wooden exposition. Even sequences intended as "banter" feel forced and stiff.

For this reason, to me, the prequels represent a story that was weak to begin with and made worse by sub-par delivery. And since many of the actors involved are highly talented, the delivery can only be blamed on the writing and directing.

Do I think that George Lucas "raped" my childhood or in some other way personally insulted or offended me? Nope.

But I do think he missed the mark. By a very wide margin.

With the original films, he delivered a fun and entertaining product wrapped in a package that was nice, but a little scuffed and dented.

With the prequels, I feel he delivered a boring and flat product wrapped in a shiny, pristine package.

The blurays make all of this even more evident to me.

[Matty_J]

Originally Posted by Zuiun

You keep making these jabs about how people supposedly must not "understand" the prequels if they don't like them.

I understand the 6 films just fine. I understand the way the Lucas tried to shoehorn the prequels into the storyline he created in the original films (and also the way he tried to shoehorn Empire and Jedi into the as-originally-filmed standalone story of Star Wars).

I simply don't like the story Lucas chose to tell with the prequels. But even THAT isn't the crux of the problem for me. I didn't really care for the story in Jedi, either. Yet I find Jedi to be a measurably more enjoyable experience than any of the prequel films.

The difference is style.

It's lacking from the prequels.

And I don't mean visual appeal. From a pure eye-candy standpoint, the prequels are pretty spectacular. I don't deny that they are entertaining to watch for just that reason.

But the story, the writing, and especially the dialog all lack the "snap" of the original films. The simple exchange of dialog in the detention center rescue in ANH is more "alive" than anything in the prequels. Even despite Harrison Ford's famous quip ("George, you can type this shit, but you sure as hell can't say it"), there is still a spark to the dialog.

So I could forgive - even enjoy - the story of the prequels if the presentation had been better, or if the characters weren't continually reciting mechanical and wooden exposition. Even sequences intended as "banter" feel forced and stiff.

For this reason, to me, the prequels represent a story that was weak to begin with and made worse by sub-par delivery. And since many of the actors involved are highly talented, the delivery can only be blamed on the writing and directing.

Do I think that George Lucas "raped" my childhood or in some other way personally insulted or offended me? Nope.

But I do think he missed the mark. By a very wide margin.

With the original films, he delivered a fun and entertaining product wrapped in a package that was nice, but a little scuffed and dented.

With the prequels, I feel he delivered a boring and flat product wrapped in a shiny, pristine package.

The blurays make all of this even more evident to me.

Thank you Zuiun, I totally agree. There is much in the feeling in the OT that seems to be left out for a cut and dry, or cut and run PT...Yes I liked the PT well enough, but couldn't put my finger on why or what those episodes seemed to lack that made the OT magical.

[georgec]

Originally Posted by Zuiun

You keep making these jabs about how people supposedly must not "understand" the prequels if they don't like them.

I understand the 6 films just fine. I understand the way the Lucas tried to shoehorn the prequels into the storyline he created in the original films (and also the way he tried to shoehorn Empire and Jedi into the as-originally-filmed standalone story of Star Wars).

I simply don't like the story Lucas chose to tell with the prequels. But even THAT isn't the crux of the problem for me. I didn't really care for the story in Jedi, either. Yet I find Jedi to be a measurably more enjoyable experience than any of the prequel films.

The difference is style.

It's lacking from the prequels.

And I don't mean visual appeal. From a pure eye-candy standpoint, the prequels are pretty spectacular. I don't deny that they are entertaining to watch for just that reason.

But the story, the writing, and especially the dialog all lack the "snap" of the original films. The simple exchange of dialog in the detention center rescue in ANH is more "alive" than anything in the prequels. Even despite Harrison Ford's famous quip ("George, you can type this shit, but you sure as hell can't say it"), there is still a spark to the dialog.

So I could forgive - even enjoy - the story of the prequels if the presentation had been better, or if the characters weren't continually reciting mechanical and wooden exposition. Even sequences intended as "banter" feel forced and stiff.

For this reason, to me, the prequels represent a story that was weak to begin with and made worse by sub-par delivery. And since many of the actors involved are highly talented, the delivery can only be blamed on the writing and directing.

Do I think that George Lucas "raped" my childhood or in some other way personally insulted or offended me? Nope.

But I do think he missed the mark. By a very wide margin.

With the original films, he delivered a fun and entertaining product wrapped in a package that was nice, but a little scuffed and dented.

With the prequels, I feel he delivered a boring and flat product wrapped in a shiny, pristine package.

The blurays make all of this even more evident to me.

Nah, man, you just don't get it.

[Shaft Windu]

That you guys "get" each other is the important thing! Have fun!

[brianh78]

I love the set as a whole, havent watched the special features yet except the spoofs (loved Spacey as everyone as SW characters!!! ), but my question is since there seems to be a definate noticable sound diffrence with ROTS, are/would/could they do anything about it? Is is a transfer issue or when they cleaned it up just messed it up?

[jwoodwar]

Alright I watched Attack of the Clones today. I think its the best of the prequels. It was a lot more fun and enjoyable than 1 and 3. Picture was fantastic! Sound was amazing!

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by brianh78

...but my question is since there seems to be a definate noticable sound diffrence with ROTS, are/would/could they do anything about it? Is is a transfer issue or when they cleaned it up just messed it up?

It was very similar on DVD. Episode 1 & 2 nearly overloaded the crappy Bose-esque(Samsung) setup that I used to have, but I could turn the sub and surrounds wide open on RotS with no problem at all.

[Aerodude73]

Freakin Amazon.UK --- The STAR WARS COMPLETE SAGA is now back UP to about $93, the U.S. version

[Show spoiler](that I bought for just $45 @ B&N & then sold due to the better UK packaging)

is $84.99, & the Best Buy price is $79.99 !!!

Looks like my recent plan to Wait for BF for Lower Pricing is still in effect...

[Phoenix Theory]

still haven't got a chance to watch these yet.

[NYorker]

Originally Posted by Zuiun

You keep making these jabs about how people supposedly must not "understand" the prequels if they don't like them.

I understand the 6 films just fine. I understand the way the Lucas tried to shoehorn the prequels into the storyline he created in the original films (and also the way he tried to shoehorn Empire and Jedi into the as-originally-filmed standalone story of Star Wars).

I simply don't like the story Lucas chose to tell with the prequels. But even THAT isn't the crux of the problem for me. I didn't really care for the story in Jedi, either. Yet I find Jedi to be a measurably more enjoyable experience than any of the prequel films.

The difference is style.

It's lacking from the prequels.

And I don't mean visual appeal. From a pure eye-candy standpoint, the prequels are pretty spectacular. I don't deny that they are entertaining to watch for just that reason.

But the story, the writing, and especially the dialog all lack the "snap" of the original films. The simple exchange of dialog in the detention center rescue in ANH is more "alive" than anything in the prequels. Even despite Harrison Ford's famous quip ("George, you can type this shit, but you sure as hell can't say it"), there is still a spark to the dialog.

So I could forgive - even enjoy - the story of the prequels if the presentation had been better, or if the characters weren't continually reciting mechanical and wooden exposition. Even sequences intended as "banter" feel forced and stiff.

For this reason, to me, the prequels represent a story that was weak to begin with and made worse by sub-par delivery. And since many of the actors involved are highly talented, the delivery can only be blamed on the writing and directing.

Do I think that George Lucas "raped" my childhood or in some other way personally insulted or offended me? Nope.

But I do think he missed the mark. By a very wide margin.

With the original films, he delivered a fun and entertaining product wrapped in a package that was nice, but a little scuffed and dented.

With the prequels, I feel he delivered a boring and flat product wrapped in a shiny, pristine package.

The blurays make all of this even more evident to me.

Bravo! Every word a bull's-eye.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by Jay444

The extras (IMO) are of the one and done variety, nothing I will ever want to watch again.

How can you watch the spoofs only once ?

Some are classics.