Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[JamesKurtovich]

The 3D was really well done. Live action films only look so good. I'm looking forward to Episode II and III as Coruscant especially looked really cool.

And of course I can't wait for the OT. Never seen them in theaters.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by iamsometal

My thoughts, exactly. Well said! The Blade Runner Complete Collection is the prime example of a filmmaker really caring for the fans that made him an insanely wealthy man. Lucas, if he still had the slightest amount of sanity left, would have followed suit. Sadly, Lucas has lost touch with reality a very long time ago, and couldn't care less what the people that made him filthy rich want.

Good points here - all of Ridleys films seem to be released the proper way: With all versions available.

Without getting into the debate again, Im OK with enough of the updates and minor changes in the SE's that I dont personally care if they ever release the unaltered OT ever again. That being said, I can certainly see why some people do want that and they should get it.

This Star Wars release should have had all 9 films in set. Period, as should ALL box sets of films.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by insomniac013

Lucas is a better world-builder/producer than he is a director and especially screenwriter. A Star Wars film with him doing neither would be amazing! (cough*Empire*cough)

Every plot point of Empire was written by Lucas, as well as quite a bit of dialog.

I love how the fans rewrite history just as much or more than what they criticize Lucas for.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Every plot point of Empire was written by Lucas, as well as quite a bit of dialog.

I love how the fans rewrite history just as much or more than what they criticize Lucas for.

Exactly. Couldn't agree with you more - Lucas ceded just as much as he was comfortable with, hiring Kershner to direct and getting Kasdan and Leigh Brackett on board for the screenplay.

It was a pretty scary time for him, probably, since he more or less funded ESB with his own money, and there was a lot riding on it being even halfway as successful as the first SW. Had it been a commercial failure, it would probably have been the last SW movie ever made - never mind that Han was still encased in carbonite!!

And while ROTJ was a relative disappointment for me in 1983, I was still kind of happy to see the trilogy completed and was anxiously waiting news of the next SW film.

[Falaskan]

I've finally started getting around to watching some of the retro docs (I bought this on its release date). It makes me wish I could've worked in film production then. I get the idea that a lot more of it would be done on computers now - not as fun.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Every plot point of Empire was written by Lucas, as well as quite a bit of dialog.

I love how the fans rewrite history just as much or more than what they criticize Lucas for.

Thirty-five to forty years years ago GL wrote some very good stuff.

This was right around the time Sylvester Stallone was writing Rocky.

What, if anything, does that tell about about their current screenwriting abilities?

Edit: I missed the (coughEmpirecough) in the post you quoted...never mind...

[Aquel]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Good points here - all of Ridleys films seem to be released the proper way: With all versions available.

Without getting into the debate again, Im OK with enough of the updates and minor changes in the SE's that I dont personally care if they ever release the unaltered OT ever again. That being said, I can certainly see why some people do want that and they should get it.

This Star Wars release should have had all 9 films in set. Period, as should ALL box sets of films.

Blade Runner was only released in the final cut version here in Europe (at least, the UK and the Netherlands). Still haven't come across the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven either (not that anybody is likely to miss it, but still). Both AFAIK

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Aquel

Blade Runner was only released in the final cut version here in Europe (at least, the UK and the Netherlands). Still haven't come across the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven either (not that anybody is likely to miss it, but still). Both AFAIK

Actually, yeah - you are right about KOH. In this case though, its a good thing since the TE of that film was weak and the EE is Ridleys preferred version and a fantastic film.

Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner - all were released with each version.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by octagon

Thirty-five to forty years years ago GL wrote some very good stuff.

He wrote most of the SW story 35 to 40 years ago, then just tinkered with it a bit over the years. Biggest obstacle to getting prequels made sooner was lack of digital tech.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Aquel

Blade Runner was only released in the final cut version here in Europe (at least, the UK and the Netherlands). Still haven't come across the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven either (not that anybody is likely to miss it, but still). Both AFAIK

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner - all were released with each version.

Here in the UK we've only had the other versions of Blade Runner on DVD, the Final Cut was released on HDDVD and BD. Same with Watchmen, we still haven't had the Ultimate Cut. And unless you want to spend a lot ET The Extra Terrestrial is only available as the anniversary edition (with Walkie-Talkies).

You're 100% write about Kingdom Of Heaven the theatrical cut was an awful film, I can't see why FOX would think that it was preferable to have extra screenings with a shorter runtime than have a possible awarding winning longer film in theatres. I'm sure a lot of people watched the theatrical then heard of the extended edition and thought 'why would I want to watch more of that?'

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Aquel

Blade Runner was only released in the final cut version here in Europe (at least, the UK and the Netherlands.)

That must be an issue with European distribution because Ridley Scott was definitely eager to get every version out there available for fans.

The US release is region free so luckily there's nothing preventing European fans from importing.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by chip75

You're 100% write about Kingdom Of Heaven the theatrical cut was an awful film, I can't see why FOX would think that it was preferable to have extra screenings with a shorter runtime than have a possible awarding winning longer film in theatres. I'm sure a lot of people watched the theatrical then heard of the extended edition and thought 'why would I want to watch more of that?'

They sure did - and thats why hardly anyone has seen or even remembers the film. It also came out at a time when people had been worn down from too many sword and sandal based epics. Bad timing + Terrible theatrical version = failure.

Its a sin too because the EE version of KOH is one of Ridleys BEST efforts and I mean that. Its unfortunate that lots of people wont give it another chance though, you are right. They got burned already and wont risk it. Their loss.

[moumou1210]

This is good news. [IMG][/IMG]

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by moumou1210

This is good news. [IMG][/IMG]

Just a heads up, this dude is a spam bot.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Just a heads up, this dude is a spam bot.

FINALLY!!!!

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Chordata

FINALLY!!!!

I hope his solution to the problem isn't like Hitler's final solution, otherwise at least 95% of us in this thread are in for a terrible surprise. I won't start to panic until I know for sure what his "solution" is, but I'm not going to lie - I am super nervous right now.

[Chordata]

If only there was a link for me to click on to find the mysterious solution. Hmm...

[Rambaldi47]

I watched Attack of the Clones on blu-ray last night. It was the first time I've watched the movie since the dvd came out, I think, and wow! The picture looks great, the movie itself is just BAD. A lot of the dialogue was just painful to listen to. Some made me cringe, some made me literally laugh out loud. I honestly think The Phantom Menace is better. I didn't remember it being so bad. I knew Hayden's acting was terrible, but when you have good actors like Ewan MacGregor, Christopher Lee, Natalie Portman, etc. and they're terrible too, you know it's the writing as well. I think they did the best with what they had, and were only ok, but Hayden Christiansen is just UNBEARABLE as Anakin, from his first line in the elevator with Obi-Wan. "You fell into that nightmare, master, and I got you out." PUKE. I've seen better acting on soap operas. The only redeeming thing about Clones is the battle at the end.

[hsox05]

Originally Posted by Rambaldi47

I watched Attack of the Clones on blu-ray last night. It was the first time I've watched the movie since the dvd came out, I think, and wow! The picture looks great, the movie itself is just BAD. A lot of the dialogue was just painful to listen to. Some made me cringe, some made me literally laugh out loud. I honestly think The Phantom Menace is better. I didn't remember it being so bad. I knew Hayden's acting was terrible, but when you have good actors like Ewan MacGregor, Christopher Lee, Natalie Portman, etc. and they're terrible too, you know it's the writing as well. I think they did the best with what they had, and were only ok, but Hayden Christiansen is just UNBEARABLE as Anakin, from his first line in the elevator with Obi-Wan. "You fell into that nightmare, master, and I got you out." PUKE. I've seen better acting on soap operas. The only redeeming thing about Clones is the battle at the end.

I agree with you. I think Episode 1 is better all around, except for Jar Jar. He's a little too prominent and it was actually worse than i remembered when I watched it again. I just watched Episode II over the weekend, and it was a much slower movie than I remembered. The last 30 minutes or so of the movie was fantastic, but everything before that was just ok. And you are right, Christiansen is horrendous.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

He wrote most of the SW story 35 to 40 years ago, then just tinkered with it a bit over the years. Biggest obstacle to getting prequels made sooner was lack of digital tech.

No, he really didn't. They were several drafts into Empire before Anakin and Darth Vader became the same character and even that wasn't carved into stone until Jedi. When he made the OT he had a general outline and some specific fragments (Anakin dying in molten lava, a city covering an entire planet, etc) but that was about it.

But even if we were to accept this notion that he had the entire saga mapped out from the start that doesn't really tell us too terribly much about whether the guy that wrote and directed American Grafitti was a better writer or director than the guy who wrote and directed the fireplace scene in Clones.

Me? I don't think it's even close.